Reviews and Praise

“Thickafog is insightful and beautifully written. There were so many things I liked about the novel, including the description of the island and how up-to-date the author is about all sorts of things.”

— Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize-winning author

"In this stunning literary mystery, a gruff carpenter becomes the primary suspect in the murder of his father.  Nine months ago, alcoholic loner Jon Davis's estranged father, Bobby, moved in with him on Maine's Archer Island. When Bobby is found dead at the bottom of a popular scenic overlook, Jon's fingerprints are found on the rock that police assume to be the murder weapon. A plot thread following Jon's mentorship of a troubled teenage carpenter illuminates the novel's central theme: "the good that comes from the bad." Mason burrows deep into Jon's battered psyche and paints nuanced portraits of his main characters without ever letting the intrigue slacken. Readers who like their whodunits on the meditative side will love this." 

—  Starred Publishers Weekly Review

“Crime and Punishment meets Demon Copperhead in this fast-paced philosophical novel that had me guessing until the final pages. Is the narrator reliable? Is he truly capable of patricide? And, if so, does the father have it coming? The author’s inventive use of first-person narration with omniscient point of view added to the overall mystery.”

— Anna Blauveldt, author of The Leavetaking and Awakening

“Thickafog invited me into a community on an island off the coast of Maine, made me glad to have discovered it and, having gotten to know it and the personalities who live there, made me sad finally to leave it.  Using the device of a murder mystery and set on that isolated island, which becomes a character itself, the novel does what all good mysteries should do: it reveals the humanity of its characters, with all their failures and triumphs, hatreds and redeeming love, and above all the ways a community can test and nurture and connect us to each other.”

— Wayne Karlin, author of eight novels including A Wolf by the Ears and The Genizah

“Thickafog is as much a psychological novel as a mystery, and so much of narrator Jon’s voice sings. The author has skillfully created a believable world, a sense of place, with characters who are fully dimensional, as well as a suspenseful plot well-orchestrated.”

— Joyce Kornblatt, author of The Reason for Wings and Mother Tongue

 "Peppered with musical references, the authors take us on a joyous tour through jazz and blues history, introducing new musicians to explore and addressing occasional cultural and political issues. This multicultural tale would be enjoyed by many, especially those caring for an elderly loved one or who find themselves nearing Mabel's age."  -- FYI50+ Magazine

"A second chance at youth with all the wisdom intact could grant us a unique opportunity to right some wrongs and avoid some mistakes. Yet, a meddlesome neighbor and an over-enthusiastic journalist turned the story into a comedy. Romantic advances from a handsome doctor further complicated the scene, providing no shortage of hilarious incidents. I loved how Mabel used her experience to nudge others toward fulfilling their goals."  Five-Star Review, Readers' Favorite

“What if you could be young again, if only for a week? That is the provocative question explored in this touching novel by Don Trowden and Valerie McKee. Young Again is also a delightful love story, filled with insights about family, aging, religious faith, and the importance of music for human flourishing.”  -- Michael Kinnamon, author of Summer of Love and Evil

"There is a lot to like about 90-year-old Mabel, a sympathetically crafted character who is wise, witty, generous, and open-minded. She's seen it all and done it all, the embodiment of hard-won fortitude.  Mabel's week, heaped high with blues and jazz and a side helping of classical music, unfolds in steamy, pre-Covid Mississippi. 

Rich in sensory appeal, abundant in authentic detail, this story showcases the authors' impressive ability to weave supernatural elements into the real world Mabel shares with the very human, and occasionally eccentric, characters who surround her."   -- Anna Blauveldt, author of To Play at God   

"In Young Again the authors weave a heartwarming tale of inter-generational magic, love, respect, and support. Carefully crafted characters, vivid imagery of the American South, and a close-knit Black community all come together around music."  -- Wendy Shaia, author of The Black Cell (2022)     

 "Provides a fascinating look at an important time period in the American arts."

  Allen Lacy, The New York Times

 “Every once in a while a book comes along that is so different from what you expected your reaction shocks you. That’s what happened to me when I finished Normal Family by Don Trowden: I burst into tears! Why on earth did that happen? It happened because the description and a few reviews I read on Amazon prepared me for a good laugh. And laugh I did…often. I mean, visualizing Granddad dropping his hearing aid in the toilet or bumping his noggin every time he exits the bathroom or crashing headfirst into the beautifully decorated Christmas tree when he’s had a little too much Christmas cheer before dinner is funny…especially when I can see my own husband doing exactly the same. And it’s hard not to laugh when the grandchildren discover the contents of Granddad’s secret bomb shelter and decide to share a joint down there, only to have Granddad ask to join in their fun. What? Yes, this is definitely not a Normal Family in some respects, and yet so very normal in others e.g. everyone keeping secrets, older siblings picking on younger siblings and a father who marries a bit of a witch after a divorce and hopes the kids will like her and vice versa. Yeah right!

Young Henry Pendergast, the 10-year-old narrator of Normal Family, watches, observes, eavesdrops and becomes increasingly puzzled by the behavior, not just of his gifted older brother and sister, but by all the adults around him…except for his beloved grandfather who imparts the wisdom of years to his attentive grandson. Oddly enough, it is young Henry who opens Granddad’s eyes to his own failings. If only all families could be so honest with each other. Normal Family will have you thinking about your own family, identifying with the various characters, and questioning, as young Henry does, why we do what we do and indeed wondering just what the heck is a normal family. Will it make you cry at the end? Perhaps not if you’re made of sterner stuff than I am. 

But I can promise that you won’t come away untouched by Don Trowden’s beautifully delivered and brilliant story. And if you love it as I did, you might find yourself keen to read the two books that follow this one. I certainly am.”

Reviewed by author Viga Boland

 "The second novel in what is going to be a trilogy moves on some years and is again a sometimes humorous yet even more moving account of the troubled Pendergast family some years on. This volume focuses more on the Asperger’s brother Albert and the father’s decline. If family life in the first volume is dysfunctional, here it is even more so and I found this a much darker book all round. Pain and tragedy are always present here, only slightly alleviated by Trowden’s sense of the absurd and his talent for dialogue. I enjoyed the book very much indeed and look forward to volume three. Highly recommended." 

Goodreads Reviewer

"In this gripping finale to Don Trowden’s Normal Family trilogy, we get to share the later years of Henry Pendergast’s life. This time the family meets up on a remote island off the coast of Maine, with a hurricane brewing, as preparations get underway to celebrate Henry’s eightieth birthday. As regular readers will know, nothing goes quite to plan, and we’re in for a fascinating journey.  I loved the first two novels, and All the Lies We Live was equally hard to put down. 

Don Trowden’s writing is exceptional, possessing a rare honesty, and it’s refreshing to find a book which treats older characters as real people with hopes and dreams for the future, as well as regrets for the past.  As a UK reader, I was captivated by the island setting of Vinalhaven, with its beautiful scenery and lovable characters such as lobsterman Wilbur Warren. The author brings the island to life so vividly, I feel as though I’ve been there. 

By turns funny and sad, the book brims with insight into life’s challenges, and it’s written with love and hope. I’m looking forward to more works from this talented author."   

Reviewed by author Teresa Stepping