A review by hannahleelovestoread
The Lonely Prisoner by Michael J. Kundu

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The Lonely Prisoner by Michael J. Kundu is a fast-paced mystery about a man wrongly convicted of a terrible crime. Michael, as the author interestingly chooses to call him, barely remembers the fateful night he left a local bar after a fun night with friends. The legal system shows no sympathy, however, and he is given a lengthy sentence. While enduring the horrors of solitary confinement, Michael befriends a prison guard named Jack and comes to trust the man even via the communicative limits of the food slot at the front of the high-security prison cell. There is a twist, however, that Michael never sees coming. While I enjoyed the book overall and did not predict the exact ending, I guessed the gist of what would happen from early on. This book has potential, but the mystery element could have had more depth, and much of the dialogue felt a bit stilted. This piece is a solid effort with numerous promising components, and I look to see more from Kundu in the future. 

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