Why would a cardiothoracic surgeon become a janitor at a retirement village? That is the interesting question that drives P.D. Bekendam’s novel, Prime of Life, and keeps the reader turning pages.
One of the strengths of this novel is the characters. Ben, a former surgeon, is quirky. For example, he hates the number four and has a fondness for prime numbers. Ben’s many retired friends are equally as fascinating.
Questions about Ben’s past keep the reader intrigued, and the plot broadens when the retirement village, Heritage Gardens, lands in financial jeopardy. Ben and his friends must work to find a solution that will prevent residents from having to move. There is a thread of romance when Ben’s relationship with Dr. Lex Kentucky, the retirement village’s podiatrist, blossoms. However, he has to face his unresolved feelings for Hailey, a woman from his past.
This humorous novel was the winner of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest. P.D. Bekendam is an eye surgeon who is using the novel’s proceeds to fund cataract surgery for patients in developing countries.
Because of the novel’s fun plot, humor, and eccentric characters, I recommend Prime of Life.