The Old Crocodile Man Theory

 

“The Old Crocodile-Man Theory” is an engrossing and intriguing novel of love and atonement, deceit and bribery, often shrouded in African sorcery and black magic beliefs. A variety of environmental issues are central themes to the storyline. Philip Hunsicker's debut novel hits a home run with his readers.

Book Synopsis and Review 

Kael Husker, a fish biologist in Southeast Alaska, is on the brink of unemployment. The salmon hatchery where he works is facing a company closure. An unexpected news clipping sends Kael into a tailspin: Crocodile Man Kills American Researcher. A shock to read as Molly McGinley was his former Peace Corps co-worker from 10 years ago. The article listed her death as accidental drowning and a Crocodile Man has been accused of the crime and imprisoned. And Kael knows all too well from living there, it's a commonly held belief by Central Africans that certain individuals have the mystical power to change into a crocodile, commit murder, and then change back to a regular man. Haunted by Molly's recent death there are many unanswered questions, Kael decides a new fork in the road has now presented him with several unexpected opportunities. Since he will soon need a new job he reconnects with his friend Nick Cinzano, still involved in Central African Republic projects while living in Washington D.C. Kael is offered a job as a Director of Doli-Nagili Project in Central Africa.

The project involves elephant protection, as elephants are being slaughtered to fuel the ivory trade and to help stop logging companies' illegal activities. Corruption and bribery from the top down to local leaders are the norm for those living in the Central Africa Republic. Besides wanting to uncover the truths of Molly's death, rescue an innocent man in jail framed for killing Molly, Kael hopes to reconnect with his son Josie left behind ten years ago and make things right. Throughout the story, Kael is known for devising theories to explain life's little riddles such as height, tide tables, elephant culling, and even the validity of the crocodile man. His deductions are approached with subtle humor and tenacity as he searches for more answers. His Hidden Cove Theory proves to be the story's piece de resistance.

Hunsicker's wealth of real-life experiences lend an authentic voice to a well-crafted story that parallels the protagonist, Kael Husker. The storyline is unique which keeps the reader's attention right down to the last page as new events unfold. Sentences are crisp and flow easily as the author employs a natural speaking dialogue where the reader feels like he/she is right in the middle of conversations. The story's pace moves right along keeping the readers engaged. The descriptive language gives the reader a sense of place in both Southeast Alaska and Africa. It's easy to imagine the sights, sounds, and smells in each location. Learning about new places one may never visit is an enriching benefit of the story. It's evident the author hopes readers will come away with a new appreciation of a beautiful country with gentle people who have had to deal with more than their fair share of problems.

The chapters alternate between Kael's story and Bolo, a hired-to-kill elephant poacher who shows no mercy for his victims. While Kael's chapters appear lighter, more human peppered with humorous dialogue and many one-liners, Bolo's chilling chapters are tense, violent, robotic with no humor. Readers are kept guessing throughout the novel how these two stories told in different voices are going to come together.

Books can be purchased on  https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-old-crocodile-man-theory1 

Hunsicker is a talented writer who has woven a fascinating heartfelt story of love, compassion, and the reconnection between Kael and son Josie and a country he once spent time in. Hunsicker has dedicated his life to environmental issues. He hopes elements of the story will resonate with readers long after it's read, bring about a change in behaviors and thinking, which ultimately protects the environment for future generations.

Bio

Phil is a writer, musician, and radical environmentalist – the three things his pragmatic high school guidance counselor specifically told him not to pursue. Phil’s writing, whether in a novel, a song, a poem, a children’s book, an article, an opinion piece, or even a professional work product, includes varying degrees of his sense of humor, which he thinks is as important to his survival as coffee spiked with Irish Cream, John Prine songs, a good boat, and his vintage Martin D-28 guitar.

At the age of three months, Phil flew to Japan (with some assistance from his mother), and that trip, according to his father, is when Phil caught the travel bug. This desire to see what was over the next hill led to stints as a student of marine biology in Florida, a Peace Corps volunteer in Central Africa, a fishery biologist in Alaska, a grad student in Vermont, a game park director for the World Wildlife Fund in the African rain forest, a ghostwriter for Minnesota Public Radio, and more recently, a part-time bluegrass musician and full-time expert on aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Minnesota.

Phil and his wife, Denise, live on a quiet lake in Minnesota where he continues to write, play music with his band – Hans Blix and the Weapons Inspectors – and fight the good fight to preserve the natural world. And yes, he still enjoys doing what others tell him he shouldn’t.