Eve is a frustrated sixteen-year-old who uncovers a dark family secret. Muriel is trapped in managed care by the son who stole her fortune. Taking advantage of a twisted moment, this unlikely pair embark on a murky mission to rectify their wrongs. Together they confront Muriel’s wavering cognition, Eve’s emotional wounds, and sometimes each other. They’re on the road to salvation-unless their families catch them first!

Michael Jai Grant’s new novel explores people’s inclination to do the wrong things for the right reasons. He writes a provocative and spirited journey that challenges our notions of dementia and elder care, sexuality, the difference between religion and spirituality, and the complex world of Teenagedom. At its core, it delves into themes of friendship, family, liberation, and the circuitous routes we all take to finding our way home.

‘The Limited Edition Bicentennial Cadillac Convertible Joy Ride’ is an unconventional novel from the pen of Connecticut-based author, Michael Jai Grant. The long title suggests it’s going to be a quirky read and I can safely say it’s the first book I’ve ever read narrated by a car, although the idea is not unique.

We meet teenage Eve who works part-time as a hairdressing assistant at a salon in The Deerwood; a Broward County assisted living facility. She is at college and is attracted to Liam who is a year older. She’s frustrated that he hasn’t asked her to the homecoming event. Through the use of repetition, we also discover Eve has issues with her mother and we gradually discover why they are at loggerheads. Our other main protagonist is Muriel, owner of the Cadillac Convertible and reluctant resident at The Deerwood as a result of a dementia diagnosis. They recognise in one another a kindred spirit and when unforeseen circumstances dictate that they are thrown together, Eve takes Muriel on an epic road journey.

Leaving aside the moral and practical implications of kidnapping an elderly semi-incontinent lady with impaired mental function and the panic caused to both families, we travel with them from the Florida heat to up-state New York, where they plan to set about righting wrongs caused through duplicity. They must negotiate several difficult situations before they reach their destination.

The author explores the dynamics of family relationships and we witness lots of contrasting emotions. Good use is made of metaphors and the balance between description and dialogue is reasonable. I was distracted by the head-hopping as this inevitably affects the structure. However, there are some engaging empathic passages, making parts of this book touching and poignant with some gentle bitter sweet moments between Eve and Muriel.

At 472 pages, readers may need a degree of determination to reach the end as the plot intermittently seems to get lost in the foils’ lengthy backstories. I also wonder if introducing a character without anchoring her into the story is a good idea, particularly when her past adventures crop up in detail at intervals throughout the book. I can appreciate that the author wants to keep her identity a mystery until near the end but some might find it difficult to invest in a person when they have no idea of her connection.

Whilst layering is a valuable literary technique, the intriguing story of Eve and Muriel at times gets buried in the minutiae of the lives of others and I would have liked them to have been given more freedom to shine.

I wish the author success with this work as it is most definitely a labour of love and I also hope it appeals to more than a niche audience. Objectively, I award 3.5 stars.

Michael Jai Grant is an American fiction writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, he hails from a lineage of attorneys, teachers, and scientists who profoundly influenced his perception of justice and reason.

He subtly interweaves semi-autobiographical elements into narratives of heightened significance. Michael pursued his education at Syracuse and Boston Universities, where he distinguished himself as an Eastman Kodak Scholar. An ardent traveler and a devoted friend to all dogs, he currently resides in North Stamford, Connecticut, with his husband, the artist Jon Galt.