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Soul of the Matter
When a middle-aged white man has a terrifying, deadly chance encounter with an older Black man on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, it leads him on an epic search for answers. Harrison Ovitz – a quick witted, ice cream guzzling, pot smoking, classical music loving and compassionate fund raiser for an organization dedicated to preventing the trauma of child abuse – reaches out for help to solve the mystery, first from his police officer friend, then from his rich and rebellious big sister, and finally from the man who once was his most feared bully in middle school. Risking the best-paying job he’s ever had, Harrison’s search leads first to Port Chicago where, 55 years earlier, 50 Black sailors had been courtmartialed and sent to Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. His odyssey then moves from California to Georgia, and finally to Hawaii, where the answer to Harrison’s obsession to understand what he experienced is finally – and shockingly – revealed.
152 pages, Paperback
Published May 21, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 25, 2021
I first heard of Michael A. Kroll when he interviewed my late husband, Rick Sikes, for a magazine article he was writing about inmates in Leavenworth Prison. So, when I saw Kroll had written a book, I grabbed it, and am I glad I did. This story goes deep into some very big social issues but does it in such a way that it is entertaining, yet while being brutally honest. The story begins with a traffic catastrophe on a bridge. Cars and people are stuck for hours. The main character, Harrison Ovitz, is an observer. He takes notice of each vehicle and person around him. Next to him is a pickup with a janitorial advertisement on the door. A black man sits in that pickup holding his phone to his ear but never speaking. When the man suddenly exits the pickup, Harrison makes eye contact with him, then locks his car door. That simple act of fear is reflected in the man's eyes as he calmly walks to the edge of the bridge and hurls himself off. That sets the story in motion. People flock to the side of the bridge to try and get a glimpse of the man, but the black deep waters have swallowed him up. Harrison looks in the pickup and finds a small dog curled up on the seat asleep next to a suicide note. Over the next few days, Harrison is haunted by what he witnessed, the way the man's eyes locked with his, and the horror that followed. It sends him on a mission. He is obsessed with discovering why Joshua Jeppard committed suicide. I do not want to leave any spoilers here. But I do want to express my thoughts about this story. It is well-written, as I would expect from a journalist, and it addresses some raw social issues such as sexual child abuse and racism. It also exposes an unspeakable incident that is a huge blight on American history which has all but been swept under the rug. I did not know about the tragedy that took place at Port Chicago a Naval port in 1944. I do now, thanks to Kroll's story. If you enjoy a story that deals with real issues, the human psyche, and raw honesty, you will enjoy this book. I do highly recommend it!
May 1, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read, well worth the time and money spent!
Though I was a professor in seven different decades, I am undoubtedly the slowest reader you will ever encounter. "Six minute reads" take me 15 minutes. I, therefore, am very picky with what I read, beyond what I have to. Actually, I "had to" read "Soul of the Matter," too, as I have known the author for more than 2/3 of a century. I have always been proud of my friend, but never more than now. He has written an engaging book I put down only to attend an important event, yet still finished the same day I started reading the book. In spite of the good dialogue and fast pace, I will long remember certain things from the book, not least of which is the shocking, yet shockingly true, Port Chicago information, which triggered further research on my part. I highly recommend this memorable, yet entertaining, fast-read mystery, not so much a who-done-it than a why-it-done.
Though I was a professor in seven different decades, I am undoubtedly the slowest reader you will ever encounter. "Six minute reads" take me 15 minutes. I, therefore, am very picky with what I read, beyond what I have to. Actually, I "had to" read "Soul of the Matter," too, as I have known the author for more than 2/3 of a century. I have always been proud of my friend, but never more than now. He has written an engaging book I put down only to attend an important event, yet still finished the same day I started reading the book. In spite of the good dialogue and fast pace, I will long remember certain things from the book, not least of which is the shocking, yet shockingly true, Port Chicago information, which triggered further research on my part. I highly recommend this memorable, yet entertaining, fast-read mystery, not so much a who-done-it than a why-it-done.
December 19, 2021
Two amazing experiences: reading Soul of the Matter and listening to the audio book. Michael Kroll is a master storyteller and a charismatic narrator. This book was actually my initiation into the world of audio books and I am a convert. As a writer, Kroll tells a compelling, layered, and entertaining story through a social justice lens that reveals disturbing truths and a shameful and nearly forgotten part of our history. As a narrator, he brings unforgettable characters to life with pathos, tension, humor, forgiveness and compassion. It’s a story that, once begun, is practically impossible to put down ─ and one that begs for a sequel!
March 10, 2022
A story of two men who are strangers yet on one fateful day their lives were forever intertwined. A white man who is struggling with the quality of his life witnesses an older black man jump from the San Francisco Bay Bridge. The reader will learn about the Port Chicago event that was horrific, kept a secret, and affected the lives of hundreds.
This book is a page-turner. The author has a beautiful gift for writing. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I believe it should be required reading for every high school student.
This book is a page-turner. The author has a beautiful gift for writing. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I believe it should be required reading for every high school student.
September 21, 2024
This cozy mystery by an award-winning journalist was a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. The author manages to make a fun, quick-to-read book whilst also imparting awareness about social issues, and bringing to light an important and tragic historical event that actually happened and yet few of us know about.
In the narrator of Harrison Ovitz, we have the (okay, I'm taking this from the cover blurb, as it's perfect:) "quick witted, ice cream guzzling, pot smoking, classical music loving" protagonist who gets pulled into a mystery he is determined to solve.
His job as a fundraiser for an organization for abused children becomes sidelined to his growing obsession with following various paths to solve this. Side characters appear and are briefly if aptly described, and descriptions of life in Oakland California and a visit to Hawaii play into the plot, with some fine descriptions.
The historical event, which happened at a place called Port Chicago, was explained well enough. However I wish it had been made clear at the outset that this Port is in the San Francisco Bay Area, as that was a bit confusing to me. It is worked into the plot well, though; we learn about it through the connection with the mystery to be solved.
The book addresses racism, childhood sexual abuse, and suicide, though only the suicide is in the present time storyline, and nothing is graphic.
This was published in 2021, but set in 1999, and I enjoyed how he wove in some appropriate touches like princess phones instead of our current cell phones!
This book is an enjoyable read while being informative; a short book one can polish off in an evening or two, and is well-written and a thus breeze to consume.
In the narrator of Harrison Ovitz, we have the (okay, I'm taking this from the cover blurb, as it's perfect:) "quick witted, ice cream guzzling, pot smoking, classical music loving" protagonist who gets pulled into a mystery he is determined to solve.
His job as a fundraiser for an organization for abused children becomes sidelined to his growing obsession with following various paths to solve this. Side characters appear and are briefly if aptly described, and descriptions of life in Oakland California and a visit to Hawaii play into the plot, with some fine descriptions.
The historical event, which happened at a place called Port Chicago, was explained well enough. However I wish it had been made clear at the outset that this Port is in the San Francisco Bay Area, as that was a bit confusing to me. It is worked into the plot well, though; we learn about it through the connection with the mystery to be solved.
The book addresses racism, childhood sexual abuse, and suicide, though only the suicide is in the present time storyline, and nothing is graphic.
This was published in 2021, but set in 1999, and I enjoyed how he wove in some appropriate touches like princess phones instead of our current cell phones!
This book is an enjoyable read while being informative; a short book one can polish off in an evening or two, and is well-written and a thus breeze to consume.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews