By Heidi Simmons
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Chance
By Kem Nunn
Fiction
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With over 37 million people in the state, California is a melting pot of characters each living out a story. For author Kem Nunn, it is a rich environment that he has found irresistible in his work. In Nunn’s sixth novel, Chance (Scribner, 336 pages) the setting is San Francisco and in the moody, foggy city, one regular guy will redefine his narrative.
Eldon Chance is a forensic neuropsychologist, MD, who has carved out a niche for himself as an expert witness. He spends his days evaluating patients who have suffered from violent crimes or terrible accidents.
After a psychological trauma, it is Chance’s job to succinctly articulate his patient’s current state of mind. He does not treat the patients, only takes notes and makes recommendations for legal proceedings.
Just an ordinary guy, Chance is in the middle of a crisis. His less than average wife finds him boring. She cheated on him with a personal trainer and filed for divorce. His teenage daughter blames him for the split and is angry that her life has been turned upside-down. If that were not enough, the IRS wants big money and he is forced to live in a tiny shit-hole apartment.
However, Chance does find comfort in his work. Everyday he sees the clients whose lives were destroyed by random accidents, criminal violence or abuse. At least he doesn’t have their crippling disabilities that are both mentally and physically debilitating.
Hard pressed for money and living space, Chance decides to sell his replica antique French furniture set. The dealer, who will sell the desk and tables, suggests they can get twice as much if they claim it’s authentic. He introduces Chance to Big D, who can make the furniture look genuine.
Big D is a huge guy, ex-military and martial artist. He lives at the back of the antique shop as an all-purpose “fixer.” Chance assumes D has post-traumatic stress syndrome and likely several other problems as well. D keeps his place tidy and has a small collection of books. He is a quiet dude and pseudo philosopher. Chance recognizes he is the antithesis of Big D, which frightens and intrigues Chance.
Jaclyn Blackstone, a beautiful and educated woman, comes to Chance for an evaluation. She believes she has a second personality, Jackie, who continues to have sex with her estranged husband – a jealous, corrupt, homicide detective who refuses to set her free.
Poor Chance becomes infatuated with Jaclyn and finds himself in a clandestine sexually charged relationship with the married woman. Soon the husband threatens, and then blackmails Chance.
Meanwhile the furniture sells for more than expected to a Russian gangster. Chance feels his world quickly spinning out of control and wants to set it straight again. But it’s too late. The seller and D won’t let him out of the deal. Chance shares his misconduct and the threats by the husband with D. D tells Chance to man-up and takes him on a walk where he witnesses D’s explosive violence on some Tenderloin muggers.
With D’s help — philosophical and physical — Chance makes a plan to rid Jaclyn of her husband and hopefully her personality disorder. The husband only sees Chance as a ridiculous fellow, weak and cowardly and in way over his head. That may be true, but it doesn’t stop Chance from having the best sex of his life with “Jackie” the hot alter personality.
Chance has crossed so many professional and moral lines that murdering the husband seems the logical next step. After all, the husband is a bad guy. Chance gets his opportunity to kill the husband. When the moment comes, all goes black.
Finally, Chance himself has become a victim of violence, trauma and a serious brain injury. An evaluation of Chance by the courts suggests he will never be the same. But this is okay with Chance. He likes the person he’s become. And when he returns to his practice, he intends to get even more “personally” involved.
Chance is a meaty psychological thriller. San Francisco creates a perfect noir backdrop as characters lose self-control and behave badly. Dr. Chance, like many ordinary citizens, may have thought of himself as a regular, law-abiding guy who avoids drama at all cost, but turns out he indeed is corruptible and subject to bad choices. The read is captivating as the good doc loses his way.
The story keeps the reader guessing and surprised. Chance is certainly not a noble protagonist and for most of the story he is unsympathetic. But the unlikely pairing of Chance and Big D energizes the story. The two men find something in the other that gives them strength and comfort.
The dangerous D is a fascinating, damaged, character who sees the world differently than most. He believes those who intentionally do harm must pay a price and that violence is the great equalizer.
Ultimately, Chance learns about himself – how far he’ll go and just what he is capable of. For the first time, he accepts who he is. He learns that to feel alive one must take risks.
At times, Nunn’s sentences can be challenging. The voice of the character is so internal, it sometimes requires another read to fully comprehend the meaning.
The author successfully delves into the dark recesses of people where the inner conflict finally takes its toll. Rich or poor, everyone struggles to keep it together. Sometime we only get it right by chance.
