The Karma Factor by Thomas Lane

Accomplished musician, poet and author Thomas Lane takes readers on an exciting and enlightening journey through time and space in The Karma Factor (Waterside Productions). After a series of unexplainable events, NYPD Detective James Early must harness a newly discovered inner power to find a ruthless serial killer bent on carrying out a sinister plan. 

Demonstrating remarkable literary talent, Thomas Lane transcends the troubled police detective trope by incorporating elements of Eastern philosophy, predestination and reincarnation in this fast-paced thriller. In the tradition of The DaVinci Code and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Lane’s debut novel The Karma Factor is entertaining and thought-provoking; introducing readers to characters and concepts that are not often given center stage in Western culture.

Combines Eastern Philosophy and Classic Detective Novels

James Early has a reputation in the NYPD for taking risks and following his gut to put away the city’s most infamous criminals. His success belies an inner turmoil that conversely makes him reckless and desperate. When he finds himself on the wrong end of a bullet, Early and his partner Sam witness something completely unexplainable as his life is miraculously spared. The bullets simply vanish, redirected by a cosmic force that has a much higher purpose for the young detective.

Early slowly hauled himself to his feet. Sam stood across the room, ten feet away – mouth hanging open, eyes popping with hysteria. A strange voltage passed between them: Are we hallucinating? Crazy? Dead?

Early soon meets an experienced medium and amateur musician, Trakker, who re-educates him on the nature of existence, karma and elevated consciousness. Additional figures from Early’s past lives come forward, teaching him of a higher calling and helping him to unlock power and intuition to face his greatest challenge yet. One of the unexpectedly moving scenes in the book comes when Early encounters a woman with whom he shared a close bond in a previous incarnation and struggles with how to disclose their connection. They stop to look at items in a storefront window when Desda notices something startling.

Slowly, like a photograph taking form in developer, their images began to morph in the glass. Staring back at them were a boy and girl no more than fourteen years old. Both were of Asian descent: high cheekbones, olive skin and almond-shaped eyes. With smooth young faces, they peered back through the window at their future selves. An instant later, the mirage dissolved.

Cosmic Battle Between Good and Evil

The Karma Factor features an exciting origin story and a classic battle between good and evil, but this book reaches deeper than any comic superhero story. The plot highlights many fascinating principles of Buddhist philosophy and also explores complicated themes of lineage, legacy and redemption.

 Additionally, this tale features a unique challenge for our protagonist: beyond stopping the nefarious serial killer stalking the streets of New York City, Early is charged with repairing and reversing the damage that his opposition has wrought over multiple lifetimes. In order to balance the cosmic scales upset by this powerful enemy, the detective must unlock the power of an immortal database of past lives, the Akashic Records.

Gritty, Tangible Setting and Highly Imaginative Plot

Author Thomas Lane grounds this wonderfully imaginative account with carefully chosen, tangible details of setting and relatable human emotions. Gritty, street-level depictions of New York City create a firm foundation from which the story launches into more imaginative scenes. The result is a very vivid and realistic world in which the reader can reside, allowing the author to inject far-reaching plot elements and abilities while remaining believable. The author also leverages basic emotions of loyalty, lust, jealousy and anger to accomplish a similar grounding effect.Integrating intriguing elements of Buddhism in an action-packed story, The Karma Factor reads less like a primer on philosophy, and more like an enthralling detective novel. Debut novelist Thomas Lane introduces us to unforgettable characters and an array of devious bad guys that will have readers fully immersed and wanting more.