Review of Quest: Finding Freddie
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Danielle Zdranik
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Review of Quest: Finding Freddie
[Following is a volunteer review of "Quest: Finding Freddie" by Thomas Richard Spradlin.]
In the book Quest: Finding Freddie, lawyer Richard Spradlin recounts his assignment to locate the missing businessman, Freddie Nachman, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Nachman International Trading Corporation (NITC). Spradlin was hired by Freddie’s wife, Ruth, and instructed to “spare no expense” in the locating and return of her husband. From the onset, the mission is daunting. It becomes clear that nothing is going to come easy and being overly prepared is the best course of action if Freddie is going to be found, hopefully alive.
Spradlin proves to be “worth his salt” by understanding the importance of and committing to learning the customs of the country to which he is traveling (Nigeria), as well as a specific dialect of the native language. He also builds a highly effective, multi-cultural task force to assist him in this life-saving endeavor. It was easy to become invested in every member of Spradlin’s team, from his co-counsel, Peter, to his cab driver, Chima. I cared about what happened to them and was anxious to see the roles they would play in the success of Spradlin’s quest.
“Money talks” is a recurring theme of the journey. When Spradlin padded the pockets of the people he was seeking help from, they were largely inclined to assist. He showed great class and diplomacy as he expertly “wined and dined” the highest political dignitaries, yet great compassion, grace and humility as he offered rescue and shelter to less-fortunate victims of greed that he encountered in various countries along the way.
While slow-moving at times, due to the legal deposition style of writing, the account is chock-full of mystery and building suspense, some old-fashioned bar brawls, a touch of romance, good versus evil showdowns and a smattering of humorous comments/inner dialogue. Much of the humor is tucked away in the footnotes at the end of each chapter. I recommend not skipping over these tidbits as they were helpful for translating some foreign phrases, giving historical background and significance to places and events that Spradlin encountered, adding a human element to some of the drier sections of writing and breaking up intense stretches of information and observation with a good chuckle as Spradlin interjects his personal commentary. The footnotes contributed significantly to my 3 out of 4 star rating. My only reason for deducting a star was some minor grammatical errors and the formatting of the dialogue. Spradlin doesn’t use line breaks/indentation when switching speakers which can lead to some confusion regarding who is talking.
I found it impossible to walk away from this book without being fascinated by the life and career of Richard Spradlin. He gives us a very different picture of being a lawyer and what one might possibly be called on to do in such a profession. The intricacies of international travel and the fragility of political and business relations abroad were tactfully, but accurately portrayed. If in trouble, one can only hope they have a contact as knowledgeable, reliable and honorable as Richard Spradlin.
******
Quest: Finding Freddie
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In the book Quest: Finding Freddie, lawyer Richard Spradlin recounts his assignment to locate the missing businessman, Freddie Nachman, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Nachman International Trading Corporation (NITC). Spradlin was hired by Freddie’s wife, Ruth, and instructed to “spare no expense” in the locating and return of her husband. From the onset, the mission is daunting. It becomes clear that nothing is going to come easy and being overly prepared is the best course of action if Freddie is going to be found, hopefully alive.
Spradlin proves to be “worth his salt” by understanding the importance of and committing to learning the customs of the country to which he is traveling (Nigeria), as well as a specific dialect of the native language. He also builds a highly effective, multi-cultural task force to assist him in this life-saving endeavor. It was easy to become invested in every member of Spradlin’s team, from his co-counsel, Peter, to his cab driver, Chima. I cared about what happened to them and was anxious to see the roles they would play in the success of Spradlin’s quest.
“Money talks” is a recurring theme of the journey. When Spradlin padded the pockets of the people he was seeking help from, they were largely inclined to assist. He showed great class and diplomacy as he expertly “wined and dined” the highest political dignitaries, yet great compassion, grace and humility as he offered rescue and shelter to less-fortunate victims of greed that he encountered in various countries along the way.
While slow-moving at times, due to the legal deposition style of writing, the account is chock-full of mystery and building suspense, some old-fashioned bar brawls, a touch of romance, good versus evil showdowns and a smattering of humorous comments/inner dialogue. Much of the humor is tucked away in the footnotes at the end of each chapter. I recommend not skipping over these tidbits as they were helpful for translating some foreign phrases, giving historical background and significance to places and events that Spradlin encountered, adding a human element to some of the drier sections of writing and breaking up intense stretches of information and observation with a good chuckle as Spradlin interjects his personal commentary. The footnotes contributed significantly to my 3 out of 4 star rating. My only reason for deducting a star was some minor grammatical errors and the formatting of the dialogue. Spradlin doesn’t use line breaks/indentation when switching speakers which can lead to some confusion regarding who is talking.
I found it impossible to walk away from this book without being fascinated by the life and career of Richard Spradlin. He gives us a very different picture of being a lawyer and what one might possibly be called on to do in such a profession. The intricacies of international travel and the fragility of political and business relations abroad were tactfully, but accurately portrayed. If in trouble, one can only hope they have a contact as knowledgeable, reliable and honorable as Richard Spradlin.
******
Quest: Finding Freddie
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Donny, Mary Grace and the Ugly Marbles by Catherine A. Pepe
