Guns, blood, chaos and suspense. This is what most readers expect from a murder mystery. However, Vitae Bergman, author of "Afga: a mystery set in Harrisonburg," proves you don't have to be Mary Higgins Clark or Dean Koontz to produce a page-turner.

The story focuses on Afga Somerset, a fictitious graduate of JMU and once-promising poet who has lost direction in the shuffle of post-college life. Living in his own world of demons, bizarre metaphors and random outbursts, Afga is commonly dismissed by others as strange, not exactly the brightest ornament on the tree. However, as the story unfolds, the reader views life through a different set of eyes, experiencing life and its many trials from a perspective not commonly taken, and learns there is more to this odd character than what first meets the eye.

A twisting and, at times, seemingly pointless plot leads the reader in pursuit of a mysterious murderer, a long-lost father and a diminishing love life that surround the central character. "Afga" includes Laundromats, chess, missing fathers, hippies, marijuana, snow, lesbians, Africa, JMU and poetry.

Bergman demonstrates a fine command of the written language as he creates refreshing and unique references to everyday experiences. This spices up an otherwise bland buffet of thoughts and storylines.

"Afga" is not your everyday, run of the mill mystery. It goes deeper than superficial plots and characters for a more personal, humanistic meaning. The author said that the book is supposed to be of "organic quality" about people, life and revelation.

Ellie Loveman / contributing writer JMU's Student Newspaper, The Breeze