Outlaw by Ted Dekker

My dearest son, whom I was allowed to birth for reasons far beyond my own understanding.

This begins a note from one character to another and is not interesting to quote in full. Moving right along to the real beginning:

The story of how I, Julian Carter, and my precious two-year-old son, Stephen, came to be on that white sailboat, tossed about like a cork on a raging dark sea off the northern tip of Queensland in 1963, is harrowing, but it pales in comparison to being abandoned in that tempest.

Another beginning which functions more to plug a story than to begin a story. Though in all fairness, this begins a story more than only plugging one, as it reveals two people caught in the open sea, in a storm and promises worse things to come. But readers have strong hearts, no need to ease us into the conflict, or warn us of it, just lay it on us as suddenly as possible. Let us feel that rush of beginning without preambling.

By page two the reader is being carried along as a tense scene unfolds. Back story is lightly scattered throughout and not distracting. If it wasn't for the preamble, this would get a solid pass.

First thing said:

"Slave Regina, what have you done with my slippers?"

Verdict: Pass (barely)

Sincerely,
Theodore Moracht