Here at Book Blast® we believe in promoting literary diversity and innovation by occasionally reviewing self-published books, especially since their authors often lack the visibility that traditionally published authors enjoy. The traditional publishing industry has, at times, been criticized for gatekeeping and failing to spot the writers of the future, hence the boom in self-publishing which provides an alternative path for overlooked authors to publish their stories. We like to showcase a wide range of books to encourage innovation in the bookish world and introduce fresh voices and perspectives into the mainstream. After all bestsellers like The Martian by Andy Weir and Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James both set off on the road to success as self-published works.
The Dyatlov Pass Mystery: Not a Cold Case by Henning Kuersten (non fiction)
“The Dyatlov Pass Incident (DPI) of 1959 is one of the most prominent unsolved mysteries of modern times, and probably the most famous mountaineering tragedy in Russia. There aren’t many incidents over half a century old, that still shock and puzzle so many people around the world. It includes so many bizarre psychological and forensic elements and twists, that it’s hard to believe this is a true story and not something cooked up by some bestselling author or horror movie scriptwriter. If you thought the movie The Blair Witch Project was thrilling, the Dyatlov Pass declassifies it to a warming bedtime story.
“What is striking about the incident is the range of theories it has spawned over the years. Even today, more (and mostly stranger) theories are born, and it is no understatement to say, that the nine unfortunate mountaineers have become international legends. Coverage on the internet has reached one tenth of that of the Chernobyl tragedy, yet six decades later the case remains unsolved. Not even a definite timeline of the incident has surfaced. There is no leading theory, no majority, no favoured scenario. This is by far the most intriguing and irritating phenomenon of the sixty-two-year-old mystery. I have the feeling, as this case is considered to be part of the Russian folklore and heritage, that no one really, wants it solved.”
Real-life disappearances and their dramatic, tragic nature provide compelling material which catches the popular imagination, fuelling speculation and providing ample fodder for books, films, TV shows and documentaries. Henning Kuersten’s The Dyatlov Pass Mystery is an exploration of the mysterious death of nine experienced hikers in the Ural Mountains of Soviet Russia in 1959. The author has clearly done thorough comprehensive research, and includes professional image analysis and video footage, aiming to shed light on the numerous theories surrounding the case. The group, led by Igor Dyatlov, set off on a two-week ski hike to Mount Otorten, about 10 km south of which lies the Dyatlov Pass, but never returned. The nine trekkers were experienced in mountain expeditions. Their winter excursion was done at the most difficult time in terms of the weather conditions for the region.
When a search party found their tent, it had been cut open from the inside, and their bodies were found scattered across the area, some with an odd assortment of severe injuries and others showing signs of sudden, inexplicable trauma. The official investigation concluded that an “unknown compelling force” had caused their deaths. Several theories have been put forward over the years, ranging from avalanches to a military ambush (the incident occurred during the Cold War), and wilder explanations like UFOs or yeti attacks. “In 2021, the Dyatlov Foundation issued the following statement: ‘Close to the time of death of the group, a phenomenon occurred near the tent that caused a thermal effect on the snow surface (confirmed by Bartolomey, Karelin, Sogrin, Sedov)’.”
Kuersten is a computer scientist with over twenty years of experience in the field of professional image analysis. Initially he studied computer science at the Technical University of Munich, and took two semesters of Psychology at Queens University in Ontario, Canada. Currently his company writes software for digital image manipulation and analysis. He has been a life-long photographer, and comes from a generation that learned to manually develop analog film rolls in the lab. He excels in outdoor activities like mountaineering (climbing, ski-hiking), sailing, kite surfing and treasure hunting. All of this adds depth to his analysis. His narrative is balanced and engaging and keeps you on the edge of your seat. A disturbing read, The Dyatlov Pass Mystery is bound to keep your anxiety levels high, and the adrenaline coursing through your veins to the very end . . .
The Palermo Stone by Gary McPherson (fiction)
DJ Gary McPherson from the Rotten Hill Gang and Big Audio Dynamite launched his first novel, The Palermo Stone, at The Ruby Zoe Hotel in Notting Hill Gate in September. Well over 100 guests from the local creative community and friends, the music industry, and the media gathered to celebrate his foray into the bookish world. (He is not to be confused with Gary McPherson, the US-based author of Joshua and the Shadow of Death and Harold and the Angel of Death.)
Gary McPherson, Paul Oakenfold & others at The Palermo Stone book launch, Ruby Zoe Hotel, London W11“The new office allocated to Scozia’s team was an abandoned air-raid shelter that dated back to the Second World War. Built at the centre of the city under Piazza Pretoria. It was accessed by a small door near the lion’s statue on the square’s steps. The building had been restricted since the 1960s and hid the narrow corridor leading to the office entrance.
The crude lighting was powered by a diesel generator, which filled the room with petrol fumes. The heat from the small enclosure caused condensation, making it smell like a damp squat. Four computer screens were added to the light, and a lit-up wall sign read NO SMOKING. Not that Scozia paid much attention to it. He would put his cravat over it whenever he lit another.
The main office was cramped; a table and two chairs filled most of the space, and that, plus four people working, made it worse. The air conditioner consisted of a pipe drilled through the concrete, exiting to the street above.
Next to the office was the bathroom. An unhinged cubicle with one cold water tap and a cistern that didn’t flush . . . Now, in the chamber of Dante’s Devil, in this unearthly place, they went to work.
“Welcome to the Hotel Palazzo Pretoria. You are in room 101,” said Scozia loudly.
His hearing was slowly returning. He felt relieved that Gabriella wasn’t as bad as he feared. He got up from his seat and offered it to her.
“I always knew you’d make it!” he shouted before realising his disability.
She smiled awkwardly, aware that Scozia and Allegri pretended not to notice the bandaging around her nose which had now swollen to twice its size.
“It could have been worse,” said Scozia.
Allegri offered a packet of painkillers and a glass of water just as Djembali arrived. He looked like he hadn’t slept; his eyes were dark and bloodshot, and his dreads were more disheveled than usual.
“Vice has emailed video footage from specific refugee centres,” said Gabriella, opening her backpack and taking out the memory stick. She put it in the computer’s USB port and opened the file. The film showed Adriana Corelli arguing with Emmanuel Valletta and Ruben Canello . . .”
Think Pulp Fiction meets Trainspotting, throw in The Italian Job and The Godfather, and you’ll get the general idea. The adventures of the Valletta Brothers, knights of the Cosa Nostra; heavyweight Turks and Africans; hit men; femmes fatales Gabriella – a journalist at Vice magazine – and Letizia – chief photographer of Palermo’s violence; alongside Uriel Scozia of the Sicilian Guardia di Finanzia; and a cast of oddball characters, populate the pages of this engaging, surreal and breathless first novel. Characterised by a blend of irreverence, slapstick humour, meandering chaos, violent situations and a chilling fearless attitude in the face of murder and mayhem, by the end of The Palermo Stone I was exhausted yet exhilarated by the emotional rollercoaster of it all. McPherson successfully blends the mundane with the extraordinary to create an off the wall, engaging read.
McPherson’s voice, vivid imagination and creative vision have potential: working with a professional editor on his next novel could enhance its strengths. Collaboration in areas such as character development, plot transitions and pacing would improve narrative cohesion, while refining the language to flow smoothly and clearly. With these enhancements, his distinctive style could truly shine.
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