In a seedy bar, John Clarke begins his journey. We learn that John was like the rest of us, not so long ago. He had a steady job, a wife and a place in the world. By working hard and playing by the rules, he believed got you security. Unfortunately, life tenders no promises; he lost it all; marriage, job, sight and sanity. Now, living in a shabby hotel on the government’s dime, stumbling from one misadventure from another, he is urged on by a seductive, enigmatic voice in his head. At midnight of the winter solstice, the voice gives him a simple offer, survive one year and a day and he will get his sight back. With this desperate hope hung on an insane premise, Prof takes up her challenge. Unsure of his own perceptions, John navigates this dark urban landscape built from funhouse mirrors, populated by; • A lonely, betrayed grad student who rejects that final cab drive we all take and finds love with an arms-dealing creature of darkness • A con-artist who is looking to make a legendary score and ends up auditioning to be the next great trickster god • The last good cop in a city gone bad who learns the difference between law and justice • A fashion-conscious fox spirit who wrestles with her own base instincts lest she loses her franchise on humanity Between sinister government agents, tutelary bikers and a chess game between voodoo Loas, Prof threads his way through these events and prepares to face his own demons and reclaim his life. Reviewed By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite Remanded To The Night Café by ME Smith is a debut novel telling the story of John Clarke, an ever so ordinary man. A man who once had a wife, a home, and a job. A man who believed that if you did everything right you got the security you wanted. He learned the hard way, losing everything, including his sight. Now on the down and out, a voice in his head offers him a deal - survive for one year and one day and his sight will be restored. John has nothing to lose so he accepts. But John's deal is far from ordinary and the people he meets along the way are an eclectic mix of con artists, a good cop, government agents and more than one spirit, not all of them good. John Clarke prepares to do battle and claim back the life he lost. Remanded To The Night Café by ME Smith is a fast, action-packed story that seems to be multi-genre. There is a bit of the supernatural, mythology, pulp fiction, urban myth, noir and not a small amount of action and adventure thrown in for good measure. It is a mixture of hard-hitting and casual fun, very hard to pull off but ME Smith has managed it admirably. It is very descriptive, drawing the reader right into the story effortlessly. It is unique, with a weird but strangely compelling plot and characters that are very well developed, taking us on a strange but enjoyable journey. I recommend this to anyone who fancies a riveting tale that is just a little bit different; an excellent first novel. "A deftly crafted and inherently fascinating read from cover to cover which is all the more remarkable when considering it is his debut as a novelist, " Remanded To The Night Cafe " showcases author M. E. Smith's genuine flair for originality and narrative driven storytelling. " -Midwest Book Review Small Press Watch, May 2018