praise
“These three superb novellas by a former foreign correspondent are some of the best short fiction this reviewer has seen in years.” —Kansas City Star
“Kestin’s clear knack for clever banter shines throughout the piece. What could have been stock characters in a classically clichéd Hollywood plot are rendered genuine, fleshed-out individuals through Kestin’s skill with language. These characters have gumption, they have heart, they have panache. And they’re not afraid to talk back. Another bonus: “Based on a True Story” is frequently hilarious. This gem in Kestin’s collection makes Based on a True Story worth checking out.” —NewPages
“Based on a True Story is witty and funny. It is also sad, wise and wistful. Parts of it are heartbreaking. The language is masterful. The knowledge it took to write these three novellas is clearly evident on every page—not just Kestin’s knowledge of the human heart, but also his large grasp of world geography, his understanding of the history of the various locations he uses to ground the stories, and his notable use of the languages spoken by various characters, from the natives of Atu-Hiva to the people of Mombasa to the Latin spouting Fritz von Blum in Hollywood. It’s an opulent read created by what is plainly a simmering talent, a bountiful mind.” —Perigee
about the author
An honors graduate of the Brooklyn streets, where he grew up across from the former headquarters of Murder, Inc., Hesh Kestin reported on war and civil mayhem in the Mideast, Europe and Africa, and—as European correspondent for Forbes—on global terrorism and its nastier counterpart, global business.