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  • The Old Block: A Novel

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Mark Scott Piper
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The Old Block: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Mark Scott Piper (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.9 out of 5 stars (24)
Shortly after his father dies, 24-year-old Nick Castle discovers what seems to be a draft of the novel his father had always hoped to write. But a clue at the end causes Nick to fear that this story of a serious federal crime and escape from the U.S. may not be fiction at all. When Nick sets out to find out the truth about his father’s past, he learns more than he ever expected—about his father and about himself.

The Old Block appeals to anyone who understands the coming of age process, who appreciates the complexities of self-discovery, who enjoys touches of humor, and who remembers the experience of a first-love romance.

The Old Block is the latest contemporary fiction by Mark Scott Piper, the author of the award-winning crossover YA novel, You Wish. It takes you on an emotional journey with young Nick Castle, as he sets off on a cross-cultural adventure to unfurl the mystery of his father’s true identity. Along the way, Nick’s quest to discover the truth about his father becomes a journey of self-discovery.

Nick Castle is as close to his father as any son could be. Nick patterns his life, his personality, and his world view after Jim Castle. He is truly a "chip off the old block" and he's extremely proud of it. Nick gets his whole identity from his dad, and when Jim dies in 2012, Nick is devastated.

Jim Castle has left behind a manuscript for Nick's eyes only. It is the story of young Braden Delaney, who gets caught up in a cross-cultural adventure. During the student anti-war protests of 1970, he commits a violent act of rebellion that destroys government property--and ends in the death of an innocent victim. Braden escapes the U.S. to avoid government agents and spends the next 15 years of his life on the run in Central America. Finally, he returns to the States with a new name and identity.

That new identity is a clue that leads Nick to fear that his beloved father and Braden Delaney are in fact the same person. Nick’s suspicion sends him on an emotional quest to prove his dad is not the protagonist of his own story. He retraces the steps of Braden Delaney to find facts that will prove his fear unwarranted and put the mystery of his father’s identity to rest. Nick’s dilemma: If his father is not the man he thought he was, where does that leave his son?

As he pursues his quest to discover the truth about his father, Nick meets Sophie Cole and falls truly in love for the first time in his life. Nick's quest also helps him uncover something else important--his own unique identity--and that opens the door for him to truly become his own man.

Amazon Categories:
“Fiction: Contemporary”
“Romance Contemporary”
“Fiction: Coming of Age”
“Romance: 20th Century”
“ Romance: Multicultural & Interracial”
“Fiction: New Adult”
“Fiction: Literary”
“Fiction: Mystery”
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  1. Print length
    264 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    September 15, 2020
  5. File size
    865 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08J89TKYR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blue Zebra Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 15, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 865 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1735504407
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #5,457,055 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars (24)

About the author

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Mark Scott Piper

Mark Scott Piper

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Mark Scott Piper has been writing professionally his entire adult life. He is a longtime freelance writer and video director/producer. Mark holds an MA and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon, and he has taught literature and writing at the college level for several years. His debut novel, You Wish, is the 2019 American Eagle Book Awards first-place gold winner. His second novel, The Old Block, was published in 2020. His third, Until Proven Innocent was released in 2022.

Mark’s bookshelves are overflowing. Among his favorites are Christopher Moore, John Irving, Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen Crane, William Faulkner, Tony Hillerman, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Anne Lamott—all of whom successfully conspire to keep him humble.

His stories have appeared in Short Story America, The California Writers Club Literary Review, and online literary magazines, including, Scrutiny, Writing Raw, Fabula Argentea, Animal, Slurve, and others. In addition, two of his short stories have been Honorable Mention selections in Short Story America Prize for Short Fiction contests. See more of his work at www.markpiper.net.

You can email him at mark@markpiper.net

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book's story compelling, particularly appreciating its heartwarming twist at the end and wonderful mystery elements. The writing style receives positive feedback for being clean and cleverly structured as a story within a story.
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10 customers mention story, 10 positive, 0 negative
Customers find the book's story compelling, describing it as a wonderful mystery with heartwarming twists at the end, and one customer notes the surprising turns throughout the narrative.
...This tale of self-discovery, grief, adventure, mystery, suspense, and romance is artfully-written and certain to hold your interest from start to...Read more
...I loved this book. It's a wonderful mystery with twists and turns throughout that keeps you hunkered down in your chair, eager to find out what...Read more
...It’s characters are believable and well fleshed out, the story is compelling, the settings evoke memories, and the humor is infectious....Read more
It is very easy read. Love the story. Love the father son points in this book. I could write more but don’t want to give out a lot....Read more
9 customers mention content, 9 positive, 0 negative
Customers enjoy the content of the book, finding it a wonderful read that holds interest from start to finish, with one customer noting it combines elements of thriller and family drama.
...It's about life, family, and one’s past. A great read.Read more
...I loved this book....Read more
...I know a book is a good one when it brings tears to my eyes....Read more
...This tale of self-discovery, grief, adventure, mystery, suspense, and romance is artfully-written and certain to hold your interest from start to...Read more
6 customers mention writing style, 6 positive, 0 negative
Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as clean and cleverly crafted with a story within a story structure.
...The Old Block is a cleverly written story within a story....Read more
...Piper is an amazing author. I read his book You Wish a short time back and loved it as well....Read more
I really enjoyed 'The Old Block'. I found the author's writing style easy to read and the characters well-developed....Read more
...The author’s writing style is very clean … no wasted words or descriptions … scenes and emotions easy to visualize … and very believable....Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • KD McNiven
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue at its best
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Everyone must face the loss of their father. Such is the case with Nick Castle. Nick idolized his father. They did everything together. Nick's dad was his greatest encourager and when his father died, it devastated Nick. After the funeral, Nick discovers a manilla envelope inside a storage unit with a note asking Nick not to open it until he passed away. Upon opening the envelope, Nick discovers a manuscript, and as he begins to read a story about a man named Bradey Delaney, he notices a true likeness to his father. This is where the story takes off.
    Nick is determined to fit the puzzle pieces together. If the story turned out to be about his father's past, then he questions whether he ever really knew his father, and begins questioning his own identity as well.
    I loved this book. It's a wonderful mystery with twists and turns throughout that keeps you hunkered down in your chair, eager to find out what happens (I could not put it down and read it in one day).
    This is also a love story. I loved the characters, the plot, and the creativity. Piper has leaped to the top of my favorite writer's list.
    Piper is an amazing author. I read his book You Wish a short time back and loved it as well. The Old Block is even more fun because the story takes place in the state I live in and can identify with all of Nick's wanderings.
    A fabulous book that checks all my boxes. I can't wait to read his upcoming book, soon to be released. A five-star winner!! I highly recommend it.
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  • Mark A. Scantland
    5.0 out of 5 stars My 5 star review! The Old Block is a cleverly written story within a story!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The Old Block – Mark Scott Piper

    The Old Block is a cleverly written story within a story. Author Piper's story begins as we explore the loving relationship between a son and his dad. The Castles own and operate a family-run bookstore. The dad succumbs to cancer. His dad leaves a secret manuscript for his son Nick. He eagerly dives into reading the manuscript. He is amazed at how well his dad could have written such a detailed story without any writing experience. Nick had little to no knowledge of his dad's personal history before he married his mother. The mystery begins when Nick seeks the truth about his dad's history and takes the story on a journey with many twists and turns. There are elements of action-adventure, mystery, and romance. A real page-turner.
    Author Piper's writing skill describes scenes so realistic that you will feel like you are a witness in the story. I gave The Old Block the highest 5 Star rating for creating an entertaining and emotional read. I tip my hat to this master writer! I also just ordered… You Wish, by Mark Scott Piper, for my next reading adventure.
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  • Lavendar Lilly
    5.0 out of 5 stars A thriller mused with family drama and legacy.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The Old Block starts on a somber note. Nick’s father has died. He has also left Nick a manuscript that has been hidden away in a storage unit. No one else appears to know about this manuscript. Why? With that question, the tone of the book immediately turned mysterious, drawing me in.

    I explored this mystery through chapters from Nick’s father’s book, which Mark Scott Piper strategically integrated into the novel. Nick’s father’s story takes place in the early 1970s. A young man named Braden is involved with activists. When he takes a stand to protest the Vietnam War, tragedy happens. Braden flees, leaving his heartbroken girlfriend in his wake. Braden’s story turns Piper’s book about Nick Castle into a thriller.

    I really enjoyed how the reader experiences Braden’s story through Nick’s eyes. Nick is uncovering his own mystery via his father’s manuscript. Is the story of “Braden” a work of fiction, or is it an event from the past? The Old Block builds suspense. Nick is a likable and curious protagonist. Relatable. He navigates his grief by solving the mystery of his father’s book. Along the way, he stumbles into love. Nick is also very human, as is this story. The Old Block has a heartwarming twist at the end that provides a meaningful conclusion for the reader
    One person found this helpful
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  • Eleanor Wagner
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Page-turner. This author knows how to spin a tale!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A young man uncovers a manuscript his deceased father wrote. He begins to read it and finds himself on an adventure of a lifetime and love in the process while unearthing pieces of a puzzle that would change his world forever.
    I know a book is a good one when it brings tears to my eyes. I would've liked to see a little more on the visits of the extended family in the end - felt like I was left hanging there a bit. Needed more resolution/closure with his dad's past when going back, as well, but overall touching, well-thought out story.
    In the manuscript, the main character Braden, an immature college student makes a sudden stupid, grave and irresponsible decision which impacts the course of his life forever forcing him to be on the run from authority at every turn.
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  • Vampire Hunter
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Deceased Man's Manuscript Raises a Disturbing Suspicion
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    24-year-old Nick is still grieving the untimely death of his father, James Castle, from prostate cancer when he makes a disturbing discovery. 2 years earlier, upon receiving his diagnosis, his father had given Nick an envelope with the admonition that Nick not open it until after his death. It turned out that James Castle, who had voiced the desire to one day write a novel, had indeed written a manuscript by hand. Nick read his father's words, a compelling story about a young man named Brayden Delaney, who went on the run after having inadvertently caused the death of a fellow college student. Nick begins to suspect that his father's writing was actually a memoir, and he attempts to discover the truth.

    This tale of self-discovery, grief, adventure, mystery, suspense, and romance is artfully-written and certain to hold your interest from start to finish!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Three Pebbles
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book within a book!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is one of my favourite reads this year. A book within a book and two great stories combined.
    Nick Castle is coming to terms with the death of his beloved father and finds an old, unfinished manuscript that belonged to his dad.
    He sits down to read it and as he does so, he wonders begins to wonder if it is fiction or autobiographical. The only way to know is to travel to the places where the events took place and find out for himself.
    Along the way, Nick also finds himself.
    This is a beautifully written book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
    Report
  • Kevin
    5.0 out of 5 stars An absorbing story!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    “Nick, when you read the contents of this envelope, you will have a decision to make…”

    When Nick Castle’s father, Jim, dies from prostate cancer the whole town turns out for his funeral. Nick had assumed he knew all there was to know about his beloved father … but did he?
    An unfamiliar key, provided posthumously, leads him to a storage facility where his father had stashed a secret manuscript – a hitherto unseen volume chronicling the life of a decent young man (Braden Delaney) who had become a fugitive, wanted for murder.
    And it’s here that the story really takes off. Set against a backdrop of peaceful student protests and police brutality, this enthralling tale has something of a ‘Les Misérables’ vibe: an honourable youngster forced into living his life in the shadows, knowing that just one false move would cost him his freedom.
    We watch over Nick Castle’s shoulder as he reads his father’s unpublished novel: a desperate story of sacrifice and enforced separation, of undying love and subterfuge. Who on earth was Delaney, the mystery main protagonist? And what connection did he have to Nick’s father?

    For several challenging years, Delaney ekes out a dirt poor existence, working alongside migrant workers on the coffee and sugar cane plantations of El Salvador and Honduras.
    Mark Scott Piper skilfully brings to life the dog-eat-dog atmosphere of such an itinerant life and one couldn’t help but root for our reluctant fugitive as he struggles to preserve his anonymity in the harshest of conditions.

    This is an absorbing story that spans several decades, and I really must congratulate the author for wrong-footing me – not once, but twice – after I’d presumptuously figured it all out from the very beginning.
    Bravo, Mr Piper!

    An unputdownable read!
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  • Martin Jackson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story unfolds, but can it be true?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Who, if truth be told was Nick Castle’s father? On the face of it he was a bookshop owner with a desire to write a novel. He never spoke of his early years, but when he dies of prostate cancer, he leaves a manuscript. Nick reads it, and begins to wonder if it’s not fiction at all, but fact. A journal-come-diary detailing a student rebellion, a homicide, and a young man on the run who is forced to leave the love of his life to escape the law. Nick is intrigued, and sets out on a journey of discovery to retrace the steps of his father’s protagonist.
    Mark Scott Piper is a most accomplished writer with the ability to hold the reader captive page after page—I couldn’t put the book down! Beautifully written and presented, THE OLD BLOCK easily sits within the top ranks of five-star thriller novels. Highly recommended.
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  • S Saywack
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An intriguing and compelling novel that begins with a funeral and an old manuscript left to Nick written by his father. The question of how true is the manuscript his father left him, makes him embark on a trip to discover it. His findings are a learning journey and he grows because of it, and the reader is gripped throughout. The book is something of a play within a play, and as the manuscript unfolds its secret, so Nick is transformed as well. We get an insight into America in the 70s, a time of protest against the Vietnam war and the shooting and bombings that took place at various universities, through Nick’s father’s story. A very emotional read and recommended thriller.
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