Last Kid News:

David Benjamin’s next Last Kid Books title, An Apartment in Paris, has been delivered to his meticulous copy editor, Shannon Booth, and is—so far—on schedule for a release date of April Fool’s Day, 2025. Still in the works for this book is the cover art by Benjamin’s wife, Junko Yoshida. Junko’s preliminary sketches have already drawn praise from her many fans on social media.

An Apartment in Paris tends to demonstrate, in its author, either an eclectic approach to storytelling or a chronic inability to pick a genre and stick with it. Benjamin’s last three titles have been a) a thriller set in Brooklyn (The Voice of the Dog), b) a smalltown mystery (Cheat) and c) a holiday anthology (Christmas in a Jugular Vein). Now comes a memoir set in Paris.

Readers will have to decide whether they want this author to settle into a predictable pattern.

Meanwhile, Benjamin is five chapters deep into revision of a manuscript, The Town Hall Murders, originally drafted in the 1980s. Set in the fictional New England town of Bugler’s Falls, the story recounts the efforts of librarian Gladys Brambley, to unravel the reason why someone seems determined to assassinate Bugler’s Falls’ entire Board of Selectmen. It should be noted that Benjamin spent seven years as editor in chief of a weekly newspaper in New England, where he developed a fair understanding of local politics.

One of the challenges of independent publishing is finding sources of timely reviews from competent sources. Benjamin has discovered one such source in Reader’s Favorite, whose critics are both conscientious and well-read. And they deliver their responses swiftly. Recently, Benjamin submitted his 2021 novel, Fat Vinny’s Forbidden Love, for a Reader’s Favorite literary award and received five stars from reviewer from Carol Thompson. Her comments read, in part:

“[The character] Fat Vinny is masterfully drawn, simultaneously intimidating and pitiable, whose antics and misadventures drive much of the story’s humor and heart. The narrator’s evolving relationship with Fat Vinny is a compelling metaphor for the complexities of friendship and acceptance. Themes of forgiveness, loyalty, and the search for identity weave seamlessly through the narrative, making it relatable and thought-provoking. David Benjamin's narrative voice is self-deprecating and insightful, enhancing the humor and adding depth to his challenges. Fat Vinny’s Forbidden Love shows Benjamin’s skill as a storyteller. The novel transports readers to a nostalgic and profoundly human world. It is a delightful read for anyone who appreciates stories of youthful mischief, self-discovery, the enduring power of connection, and, of course, those who endured a Catholic school education and meatless Fridays. Benjamin will have you laughing from beginning to end.”