“Can you help me, Mr. Ludef…?”
There is something to be said about the combination of a writer who also is an actor that somehow makes tension scenes more credible. At least that is the case with author Behçet Kaya who is also known by his stage name as an actor Ben Kaya (`Fast Food', `The Practice', `Being American' on film and numerous roles on the legitimate stages such as The Noise Within among others). Whether it is the fallout of thinking though a storyline or actually taking on the role of a fictional character, the result in the case of Behçet Kaya heightens the verismo as is evident in his short stories and his novels VOICE OF CONSCIENCE, MURDER ON THE NAVAL BASE, ROAD TO SIRAN: ERIN'S STORY and now his new novel TREACHEROUS ESTATE. True, his background of having been born and raised in a small village in Turkey, secretly consuming the exemplary works of the Turkish writer of Kurdish origin Yaşar Kemal, his subsequent rebellious flight to Istanbul and London, compelled and succeeding to earn a degree in engineering, his successful introduction to the stage while attending the inner London Education Authority and his subsequent move to the United States where he gained citizenship and worked successfully to achieve is Screen Actors Guild card after studies in Georgia, and then moving to Los Angeles to embrace both his acting ambitions and writing skills - all of this is the progress of a man committed to his art - and it shows.
To invite the readers unfamiliar with Behçet’s skill the books opening is offered – ‘Bayside Restaurant is a well-known, popular eatery situated on Santa Rosaria Sound in the small beach town of the same name. Due to its central location in the Panhandle of Northwest Florida,
its regular customers number in the hundreds, with people traveling from as far east as Panama City, as far west as Mobile, and some as far away as New Orleans. Friday nights are always filled with families and single people alike; all enjoying their meals. The atmosphere is that of a big log house with sturdy wooden tables and chairs. The restaurant has open patio dining and a bar looking over the marina which is the favorite spot of most diners. Across the sound one can see the highrise condominiums situated along the thin strip of Santa Rosaria Island and in the distance the beginning of the pristine nine-mile Gulf Islands National Seashore. The condos and homes along the Gulf are owned by a wealthy clientele, with homes priced into the millions. In the evenings, even when there is no moonlight, how beautiful the landscape is. The twinkling lights of cars look like kindling-light crossing over Santa Rosaria Bridge on the horizon. There is that luxuriant influence passing on like a celestial presence, with the bright and colorful lights from the high-rises reflecting in the waters of the sound, reminding one of a Disney dreamland. From the vantage point of the restaurant patio, it looks as if night and day are intermingled into one. In reality, it is neither day nor night; yet beyond the deep darkness, the night is smiling. On this particular late July Friday night, I was among the throng of diners sitting outside on the patio, enjoying a cooler than usual summer evening. After my dinner of barbecued ribs, baked beans, and Cole slaw, I settled my bill, moved to the patio bar and ordered a Samuel Adams. As I was taking a gulp from the large glass mug, I noticed a woman walk up to the stool next to me and sit down heavily. I glanced over, never missing an opportunity to check out a beautiful woman.’ And so the curtain rises on this brilliant little mystery.
The plot is well distilled – ‘While enjoying his usual Friday night after dinner beer at a local restaurant, Jacques (Jack) Ludefance’s evening is suddenly shattered when a beautiful young woman sits down next to him, whispers, “Mister, can you help me?” then falls dead. After her death is ruled ‘natural causes,’ Jack digs in to unravel the reasons she came to him desperately asking for his help and to investigate her mysterious death. To complicate matters further, her husband is a prominent, highly respected local business man. As Jack begins to unravel the pieces to the unsolved puzzle, the more heinous the crimes of the dead woman’s husband become and Jack finds his own life is in danger.
Behçet Kaya's gift is not limited to the creation of brilliant intriguing stories: his style of writing captures the exotic flavors, the traditions and social amenities of social encounters, giving the reader a sense of place like few other writers are capable of achieving. He is obviously one of our more important writers of the times and his niche in literature appears secure. Highly recommended on every level.
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