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The Versailles Conspiracy
Robert "Digger" Cartwright
2015 Honorable Mention
328 Pages
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite
When building inspector Max Spalding dies in a terrible car accident, something just doesn’t seem right. Detectives Graisco and Wickland, assigned to the case by the local Myrtle Beach police department, quickly realize that his death was no accident. And when they start to look into what really happened, they realize that they're in for more than they ever expected. In an investigative novel that leads from the highest echelons of Myrtle Beach’s elite all the way to a Russian crime syndicate, The Versailles Conspiracy by author Robert “Digger” Cartwright leads the reader on a wild ride of mystery, suspense and action, from its beginning all the way to its exciting end.
Digger Cartwright’s new book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. A fantastic police procedural, the descriptions, explanations and backstory provided make it difficult for me to believe that Mr. Cartwright doesn’t have a background in investigation himself. The plot is engaging and complex enough to keep even those who are tired of mysteries and thrillers to stay involved. The development of the characters is fantastic; you’ll find yourself rooting for Graisco and Wickland, and despising the Russian Vladimir Stratavynski as well as the other unsavories this book reveals. The Versailles Conspiracy is much more than a simple story, and would appeal to any reader who loves mysteries, detective novels, police procedurals, action/adventures, political intrigue, or just a plain good book. This was the first novel of Robert “Digger” Cartwright’s that I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
When building inspector Max Spalding dies in a terrible car accident, something just doesn’t seem right. Detectives Graisco and Wickland, assigned to the case by the local Myrtle Beach police department, quickly realize that his death was no accident. And when they start to look into what really happened, they realize that they're in for more than they ever expected. In an investigative novel that leads from the highest echelons of Myrtle Beach’s elite all the way to a Russian crime syndicate, The Versailles Conspiracy by author Robert “Digger” Cartwright leads the reader on a wild ride of mystery, suspense and action, from its beginning all the way to its exciting end.
Digger Cartwright’s new book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. A fantastic police procedural, the descriptions, explanations and backstory provided make it difficult for me to believe that Mr. Cartwright doesn’t have a background in investigation himself. The plot is engaging and complex enough to keep even those who are tired of mysteries and thrillers to stay involved. The development of the characters is fantastic; you’ll find yourself rooting for Graisco and Wickland, and despising the Russian Vladimir Stratavynski as well as the other unsavories this book reveals. The Versailles Conspiracy is much more than a simple story, and would appeal to any reader who loves mysteries, detective novels, police procedurals, action/adventures, political intrigue, or just a plain good book. This was the first novel of Robert “Digger” Cartwright’s that I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
Recommend this book:
Temper the Winds
Wilma Hamill
2015 Finalist
450 Pages
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Fiction - Southern
Reviewed by Kathy Golden for Readers' Favorite
In Temper the Winds, Wilma Hamill engages readers in the lives of people grappling with love on multiple levels. Readers encounter people whose existence is filled with the kind of stimulating realism that keeps a person invested in the story. In some cases, Hamill’s tale pushes the envelope of credibility with behavior that forces one to think: yes, as disconcerting as they seem, things like this could have happened. Hamill also gives us children who behave like children and men who are both strong and fragile. I especially like the way the subplots wrapped themselves so conveniently around the life of Maggie, the main character. Her need to make a life for herself and for her daughters after her husband dies drives this story. However, the overall plot provides readers with a feast, much like a Thanksgiving dinner where the turkey is surrounded by an abundance of great side dishes.
The characters in Wilma Hamill’s Temper the Winds have a raw honesty that makes one glad to be privy to their thoughts and to the motives behind those thoughts. The author’s choice of multiple points of view is the right one. I would not consider the story to be predominantly a romance, though the romantic element is there. I categorize it as a family drama with believable intersections of lives in a way that maintains tension throughout the book and compels a person to finish it. Sex is handled tastefully. The n-word is used; yet, I don’t feel that the word was used in a manner that should be offensive to anyone, given the time period in which the story takes place. I would enjoy reading some novellas or novelettes that provide back story for some of the principal characters such as Claude and Leona, and Sara and her family. There’s also room for new stories about some of the other characters. This is the kind of book I would like to see made into a movie.
In Temper the Winds, Wilma Hamill engages readers in the lives of people grappling with love on multiple levels. Readers encounter people whose existence is filled with the kind of stimulating realism that keeps a person invested in the story. In some cases, Hamill’s tale pushes the envelope of credibility with behavior that forces one to think: yes, as disconcerting as they seem, things like this could have happened. Hamill also gives us children who behave like children and men who are both strong and fragile. I especially like the way the subplots wrapped themselves so conveniently around the life of Maggie, the main character. Her need to make a life for herself and for her daughters after her husband dies drives this story. However, the overall plot provides readers with a feast, much like a Thanksgiving dinner where the turkey is surrounded by an abundance of great side dishes.
The characters in Wilma Hamill’s Temper the Winds have a raw honesty that makes one glad to be privy to their thoughts and to the motives behind those thoughts. The author’s choice of multiple points of view is the right one. I would not consider the story to be predominantly a romance, though the romantic element is there. I categorize it as a family drama with believable intersections of lives in a way that maintains tension throughout the book and compels a person to finish it. Sex is handled tastefully. The n-word is used; yet, I don’t feel that the word was used in a manner that should be offensive to anyone, given the time period in which the story takes place. I would enjoy reading some novellas or novelettes that provide back story for some of the principal characters such as Claude and Leona, and Sara and her family. There’s also room for new stories about some of the other characters. This is the kind of book I would like to see made into a movie.
Recommend this book:
Killing the Curse
Dennis Hetzel
2015 Honorable Mention
368 Pages
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Fiction - Sports
Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite
OK, full disclosure here. I am not a Cubs fan. And I mean, really not a Cubs fan. So when I picked up Killing the Curse by Dennis Hetzel, I wasn’t sure if I would like it, just because it follows the team through the end of a gasp winning season. Hard to believe, I know. But Killing the Curse is a fantastic read, Cubs fan or not. When a crazed fanatic tries to tip the scales in the direction of their favorite team, first by attacking the father of rival Boston’s pitcher, and then by even more diabolic means, involving the sports reporter the Cubs fans ‘love to hate’ Bob Walters, his beautiful daughter, Aimee, and no less than Bob’s best friend and the President of the United States, Luke Murphy, the book takes us on a wild and intriguing ride.
This book was fun, fast-paced and an easy read. I got sucked in early and spent the majority of an evening and into the night reading this one, as I just couldn’t put it down. The information about the games being played came across as realistically as if I was watching a game myself. Killing the Curse is a book that would appeal to any person who enjoys reading fiction with a tie-in to sports, mysteries, or those Cubs fans who continue to live in hope that their team will actually win the big one. Dennis Hetzel has a winner with Killing the Curse, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable, exciting and absorbing read.
OK, full disclosure here. I am not a Cubs fan. And I mean, really not a Cubs fan. So when I picked up Killing the Curse by Dennis Hetzel, I wasn’t sure if I would like it, just because it follows the team through the end of a gasp winning season. Hard to believe, I know. But Killing the Curse is a fantastic read, Cubs fan or not. When a crazed fanatic tries to tip the scales in the direction of their favorite team, first by attacking the father of rival Boston’s pitcher, and then by even more diabolic means, involving the sports reporter the Cubs fans ‘love to hate’ Bob Walters, his beautiful daughter, Aimee, and no less than Bob’s best friend and the President of the United States, Luke Murphy, the book takes us on a wild and intriguing ride.
This book was fun, fast-paced and an easy read. I got sucked in early and spent the majority of an evening and into the night reading this one, as I just couldn’t put it down. The information about the games being played came across as realistically as if I was watching a game myself. Killing the Curse is a book that would appeal to any person who enjoys reading fiction with a tie-in to sports, mysteries, or those Cubs fans who continue to live in hope that their team will actually win the big one. Dennis Hetzel has a winner with Killing the Curse, and I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable, exciting and absorbing read.
Recommend this book:
Over The Monster
Douglas Folsom
2015 Finalist
278 Pages
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Fiction - Sports
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Over the Monster is an inspirational baseball novel written by Douglas Folsom. Harding Ambler's nine-year-old world revolved around his author dad, artist mom, big brother, Charles, and baseball. He was already a promising player in the local Little League in Woodstock, Vermont, but unlike most of his family and friends, Harding was a Yankees fan and proudly wore his number two uniform when he played. His birthday was a big event: his mom had made a chocolate cake and the family was going to A&W for dinner, but they never made it back home again -- only Harding survived. His grandparents, Allen and Hattie Ambler, took him home to their house on Cape Cod and were warm, loving and supporting, but it took years for Harding to learn to cope with his grief and his confusion over his having survived. Despite it all, there was still baseball in his life, however, once he had recovered enough to accept it, and his grandfather, known locally as Ty Ambler, was a consummate coach.
Douglas Folsom's inspirational sports novel, Over the Monster, starts with a tragedy, but the reader quickly gets involved in the relationship between Ty Ambler and his grandson. Folsom's Cape Cod setting is marvelous, and I started seriously considering a vacation trip after reading about their trip over the coast on a friend's small plane. Over the Monster is a heartwarming coming of age story that seems to have everything finally going Harding's way until he accepts a ride from his old friend, James, and ends up ensnared in the wheels of justice. It's a drastic situation for an author to put his character into, but somehow it works marvelously, perhaps because these kinds of things do happen in real life, and the reader can identify with it so well. I loved the baseball theme of Over the Monster, especially that part of the book concerning Harding's vision and creation of the prison team. This is one of those books that you get wrapped up in and then feel just a bit disoriented and sad when it's finally over. It's most highly recommended.
Over the Monster is an inspirational baseball novel written by Douglas Folsom. Harding Ambler's nine-year-old world revolved around his author dad, artist mom, big brother, Charles, and baseball. He was already a promising player in the local Little League in Woodstock, Vermont, but unlike most of his family and friends, Harding was a Yankees fan and proudly wore his number two uniform when he played. His birthday was a big event: his mom had made a chocolate cake and the family was going to A&W for dinner, but they never made it back home again -- only Harding survived. His grandparents, Allen and Hattie Ambler, took him home to their house on Cape Cod and were warm, loving and supporting, but it took years for Harding to learn to cope with his grief and his confusion over his having survived. Despite it all, there was still baseball in his life, however, once he had recovered enough to accept it, and his grandfather, known locally as Ty Ambler, was a consummate coach.
Douglas Folsom's inspirational sports novel, Over the Monster, starts with a tragedy, but the reader quickly gets involved in the relationship between Ty Ambler and his grandson. Folsom's Cape Cod setting is marvelous, and I started seriously considering a vacation trip after reading about their trip over the coast on a friend's small plane. Over the Monster is a heartwarming coming of age story that seems to have everything finally going Harding's way until he accepts a ride from his old friend, James, and ends up ensnared in the wheels of justice. It's a drastic situation for an author to put his character into, but somehow it works marvelously, perhaps because these kinds of things do happen in real life, and the reader can identify with it so well. I loved the baseball theme of Over the Monster, especially that part of the book concerning Harding's vision and creation of the prison team. This is one of those books that you get wrapped up in and then feel just a bit disoriented and sad when it's finally over. It's most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
The Short Life of Sparrows
Emm Cole
2015 Bronze Medal
416 Pages
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Fiction - Supernatural
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
The Short Life of Sparrows by Emm Cole is a magical love story that, apart from romance, also has its moments of fantasy and intrigue. Told from the point of view of Calli and Isaiah, the story revolves around Seers and Nightbloods. Calli, a Seer, is turning eighteen and she has a vision of what will happen among the Ordinaries. Isaiah, the hero of the story, is an Ordinary who works with Calli's aunt. The book is about the unshakable bond between Calli and Isaiah, a story of two different people whose emotions and feelings are tangible. This excellent book will keep readers riveted.
The story has many dimensions, many layers that will take readers on a roller-coaster ride of myriad emotions; love, laughter, friendship, suspense and sacrifice. The plot is unique and the secondary characters are also well portrayed as the story progresses. The detailed narration makes the scenes clear and visual. There are a lot of things happening in the story other than just romance, and that makes it a compelling read. The story is original and the whimsical angle of the plot makes it more appealing and magical as readers flip through the pages. The author's style of writing is creative and imaginative and that adds to the haunting and seductive elements of the story. The unexpected happenings, twists and turns as the story progresses pull readers into the book until the very end.
The Short Life of Sparrows by Emm Cole is a magical love story that, apart from romance, also has its moments of fantasy and intrigue. Told from the point of view of Calli and Isaiah, the story revolves around Seers and Nightbloods. Calli, a Seer, is turning eighteen and she has a vision of what will happen among the Ordinaries. Isaiah, the hero of the story, is an Ordinary who works with Calli's aunt. The book is about the unshakable bond between Calli and Isaiah, a story of two different people whose emotions and feelings are tangible. This excellent book will keep readers riveted.
The story has many dimensions, many layers that will take readers on a roller-coaster ride of myriad emotions; love, laughter, friendship, suspense and sacrifice. The plot is unique and the secondary characters are also well portrayed as the story progresses. The detailed narration makes the scenes clear and visual. There are a lot of things happening in the story other than just romance, and that makes it a compelling read. The story is original and the whimsical angle of the plot makes it more appealing and magical as readers flip through the pages. The author's style of writing is creative and imaginative and that adds to the haunting and seductive elements of the story. The unexpected happenings, twists and turns as the story progresses pull readers into the book until the very end.
Recommend this book:
The Cost of Crude
Inge-Lise Goss
2015 Silver Medal
292 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Sink into a novel of mystery and suspense with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure as Inge-Lise Goss takes you through the murky depths of the oil and gas industry and reveals The Cost of Crude. Gwynn is devastated when Julie, her best friend and colleague at the Wilton Oil & Gas Company, dies in a car accident. It soon becomes apparent that it was no accident and that is confirmed when a private investigator, Ruben Dordi, turns up at her apartment. His team is investigating a string of suspicious deaths, all of employees who worked for Wilton. Hired by Julie’s grandmother to determine who killed her, part of his job is to keep Gwynn safe. She suddenly finds herself being watched by the people who killed her friend and her life is in danger. But that doesn’t stop her trying to determine what happened and why. Gwynn’s life is thrown into compete turmoil as she falls in love with Ruben, tries to stay safe, and discovers a heinous plot to cause a destructive “accident” with a major gas pipeline. Can she and Ruben’s team solve things before anyone else has to die or will they be too late?
Wow! The Cost of Crude by Lise-Inge Goss is an amazing thriller, full of mystery, suspense, romance and so many twists and turns it was hard to keep up at first. However, I soon sank into the story as it grabbed hold and wouldn’t let me go until it was all over. There were a number of different characters in the book with a lot of activity going on – what I would call a busy book. But, all the pieces do fall into place and all becomes clear. There is a neat little twist at the end and an unexpected person in the frame – and that’s all I will say except I hope to read more from Ms. Goss in the very near future.
Sink into a novel of mystery and suspense with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure as Inge-Lise Goss takes you through the murky depths of the oil and gas industry and reveals The Cost of Crude. Gwynn is devastated when Julie, her best friend and colleague at the Wilton Oil & Gas Company, dies in a car accident. It soon becomes apparent that it was no accident and that is confirmed when a private investigator, Ruben Dordi, turns up at her apartment. His team is investigating a string of suspicious deaths, all of employees who worked for Wilton. Hired by Julie’s grandmother to determine who killed her, part of his job is to keep Gwynn safe. She suddenly finds herself being watched by the people who killed her friend and her life is in danger. But that doesn’t stop her trying to determine what happened and why. Gwynn’s life is thrown into compete turmoil as she falls in love with Ruben, tries to stay safe, and discovers a heinous plot to cause a destructive “accident” with a major gas pipeline. Can she and Ruben’s team solve things before anyone else has to die or will they be too late?
Wow! The Cost of Crude by Lise-Inge Goss is an amazing thriller, full of mystery, suspense, romance and so many twists and turns it was hard to keep up at first. However, I soon sank into the story as it grabbed hold and wouldn’t let me go until it was all over. There were a number of different characters in the book with a lot of activity going on – what I would call a busy book. But, all the pieces do fall into place and all becomes clear. There is a neat little twist at the end and an unexpected person in the frame – and that’s all I will say except I hope to read more from Ms. Goss in the very near future.
Recommend this book:
The Boys Club
Angie Martin
2015 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Suspense
Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
The Boys Club by Angie Martin is a fast-paced thriller with a touch of romance. Gabe Logan has never been on the right side of the law until at age fifteen he’s offered a chance at turning his life around by a man named Jim Schaffer. Schaffer specializes in working jobs that other law enforcement organizations will not touch. He trains Logan to be one of the best. Then, a job comes along bringing an old nemesis back into Logan’s life, someone who took away Logan’s dearest possession. The daughter of this man, Sara Langston, is wanted by the FBI to testify against her father. Sara has been placed into an arranged marriage to further the career of one of her father’s employees, his right hand man. Will Logan be able to get Sara safely away from the controlling man, or will all the plans fall to pieces?
I really enjoyed reading The Boys Club. The characters were very well-written and relatable. I loved that each had flaws they struggled to overcome. Sara was my particular favorite, and I wanted to know more about her relationship with her mother. The story flowed beautifully, with just the right amount of twists and turns. I thought there could have been a bit more detail about how Logan gains Sara’s trust, but that was really my only possible criticism about the novel. I hope Miss Martin plans to write a sequel because I would very much like to see where the story would go from here. The Boys Club by Angie Martin is a brilliant read, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a bit of thriller and suspense.
The Boys Club by Angie Martin is a fast-paced thriller with a touch of romance. Gabe Logan has never been on the right side of the law until at age fifteen he’s offered a chance at turning his life around by a man named Jim Schaffer. Schaffer specializes in working jobs that other law enforcement organizations will not touch. He trains Logan to be one of the best. Then, a job comes along bringing an old nemesis back into Logan’s life, someone who took away Logan’s dearest possession. The daughter of this man, Sara Langston, is wanted by the FBI to testify against her father. Sara has been placed into an arranged marriage to further the career of one of her father’s employees, his right hand man. Will Logan be able to get Sara safely away from the controlling man, or will all the plans fall to pieces?
I really enjoyed reading The Boys Club. The characters were very well-written and relatable. I loved that each had flaws they struggled to overcome. Sara was my particular favorite, and I wanted to know more about her relationship with her mother. The story flowed beautifully, with just the right amount of twists and turns. I thought there could have been a bit more detail about how Logan gains Sara’s trust, but that was really my only possible criticism about the novel. I hope Miss Martin plans to write a sequel because I would very much like to see where the story would go from here. The Boys Club by Angie Martin is a brilliant read, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a bit of thriller and suspense.
Recommend this book:
The Schwarzschild Radius
A Thriller
Gustavo Florentin
2015 Finalist
292 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
The Schwarzschild Radius is a crime thriller written by Gustavo Florentin. Rachel Wallen is a brilliant science student at Columbia University who's embarked singlehandedly on a mission to rescue her missing younger sister, Olivia. Olivia volunteered at a mission for homeless kids which was run by the charismatic priest, Evan Massey, before she disappeared. Rachel is working undercover, posing as an underage runaway who knew Olivia, and she enters Transcendance House seeking shelter. She's told that Olivia was dismissed after her stripping and sex work was exposed. Rachel joins forces with a young woman who caters to men who like underage girls and child pornography in her attempt to find the man who's taken Olivia. The detective on the case, John McKenna, a veteran sniper whose marriage had floundered after his return from service, is unaware of Rachel's efforts.
Gustavo Florentin's crime thriller, The Schwarzschild Radius, is an awesome read. The Webmaster is genuinely scary, and Rachel is filled with naive optimism and determination that the reader just knows is going to get her in trouble. The New York City setting for this novel is inspired; I loved the chases along the highways that connect Long Island to the mainland of New York and shivered at the scenes that took place in the abandoned subway tunnels. John McKenna is a marvelous character. I'm hoping that this book is the start of a police procedural series featuring this complex and multi-faceted detective. The action in The Schwarzschild Radius is riveting and filled with suspense, and the ending is not at all predictable. I really enjoyed reading The Schwarzschild Radius and highly recommend it.
The Schwarzschild Radius is a crime thriller written by Gustavo Florentin. Rachel Wallen is a brilliant science student at Columbia University who's embarked singlehandedly on a mission to rescue her missing younger sister, Olivia. Olivia volunteered at a mission for homeless kids which was run by the charismatic priest, Evan Massey, before she disappeared. Rachel is working undercover, posing as an underage runaway who knew Olivia, and she enters Transcendance House seeking shelter. She's told that Olivia was dismissed after her stripping and sex work was exposed. Rachel joins forces with a young woman who caters to men who like underage girls and child pornography in her attempt to find the man who's taken Olivia. The detective on the case, John McKenna, a veteran sniper whose marriage had floundered after his return from service, is unaware of Rachel's efforts.
Gustavo Florentin's crime thriller, The Schwarzschild Radius, is an awesome read. The Webmaster is genuinely scary, and Rachel is filled with naive optimism and determination that the reader just knows is going to get her in trouble. The New York City setting for this novel is inspired; I loved the chases along the highways that connect Long Island to the mainland of New York and shivered at the scenes that took place in the abandoned subway tunnels. John McKenna is a marvelous character. I'm hoping that this book is the start of a police procedural series featuring this complex and multi-faceted detective. The action in The Schwarzschild Radius is riveting and filled with suspense, and the ending is not at all predictable. I really enjoyed reading The Schwarzschild Radius and highly recommend it.
Recommend this book:
Taming the Telomeres
A Thriller
R.N. Shapiro
2015 Gold Medal
424 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
In Taming the Telomeres by Richard Shapiro, we meet Andrew Michaels, an attorney. A Hemispheres airplane crashes, killing his brother and sister-in-law; only his niece Amanda survives. Amanda has a mild brain injury leaving her with amnesia; she must wear a halo until her bones heal. Andy Michaels is suing the airline on behalf of his niece and several others who lost loved ones. Kent is a volunteer at the hospital. He and Amanda become close. Someone has bugged Amanda’s hospital room. Amanda’s father was a blood biologist and had given Amanda special treatments. The PRC is after her father’s research and the US has a mole. Can Amanda be protected?
Taming the Telomeres is a thriller that hooked me from the beginning. The scene in the introduction was a real attention grabber. Chapter one was filled with tension as the author allowed the momentum to build. Author Richard Shapiro has included plenty of twists and turns. The characters are well developed and the plot flows smoothly from scene to scene. The plot is interesting and falls into the genres of intrigue, mystery, suspense, and a little sci-fi. I really liked the character of Amanda Michaels, although at times she seemed out of control - who wouldn’t be in her circumstances? I enjoyed watching the relationship between Amanda and David grow. Taming the Telomeres is a great read. Author Richard Shapiro has created a tale that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next.
In Taming the Telomeres by Richard Shapiro, we meet Andrew Michaels, an attorney. A Hemispheres airplane crashes, killing his brother and sister-in-law; only his niece Amanda survives. Amanda has a mild brain injury leaving her with amnesia; she must wear a halo until her bones heal. Andy Michaels is suing the airline on behalf of his niece and several others who lost loved ones. Kent is a volunteer at the hospital. He and Amanda become close. Someone has bugged Amanda’s hospital room. Amanda’s father was a blood biologist and had given Amanda special treatments. The PRC is after her father’s research and the US has a mole. Can Amanda be protected?
Taming the Telomeres is a thriller that hooked me from the beginning. The scene in the introduction was a real attention grabber. Chapter one was filled with tension as the author allowed the momentum to build. Author Richard Shapiro has included plenty of twists and turns. The characters are well developed and the plot flows smoothly from scene to scene. The plot is interesting and falls into the genres of intrigue, mystery, suspense, and a little sci-fi. I really liked the character of Amanda Michaels, although at times she seemed out of control - who wouldn’t be in her circumstances? I enjoyed watching the relationship between Amanda and David grow. Taming the Telomeres is a great read. Author Richard Shapiro has created a tale that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next.
Recommend this book:
The Advance Man
Rick Robinson
2015 Honorable Mention
272 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Reviewed by Paul Johnson for Readers' Favorite
In The Advance Man by Rick Robinson, David Unger is working in his dream job as the advance man for the Vice President. By all accounts, he is unassuming and good at his job. Suddenly, in a flash all that changes. With the nation in mourning over the death of the Vice President, all law enforcement agents are searching for his alleged killer, David, and want him found ASAP. It doesn’t matter that there are major holes in the story. With some unconventional help and a new makeover, the young man has no choice but to hide in DC's trendy DuPont Circle neighborhood - and in this case, hide in plain sight. Richard Thompson, former Congressman, is appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate. Reluctant to return to public life, little does he know he will become an integral part in a well designed conspiracy.
The Advance Man by Rick Robinson is a well developed and well written story. It is not your run of the mill political thriller and is more of a good mystery with some intrigue thrown in for good measure. The reader will quickly identify the varied cast of characters from political insiders to FBI special agents to members of the DC Gay community and even a pair of nasty hit men. The plot moves along at a steady pace that will keep the reader's attention and desire to see what happens next. The dialogue is excellent without the use of excessive bad language or violence. I would recommend this to readers who like good mysteries along with a little political intrigue. A very good story.
In The Advance Man by Rick Robinson, David Unger is working in his dream job as the advance man for the Vice President. By all accounts, he is unassuming and good at his job. Suddenly, in a flash all that changes. With the nation in mourning over the death of the Vice President, all law enforcement agents are searching for his alleged killer, David, and want him found ASAP. It doesn’t matter that there are major holes in the story. With some unconventional help and a new makeover, the young man has no choice but to hide in DC's trendy DuPont Circle neighborhood - and in this case, hide in plain sight. Richard Thompson, former Congressman, is appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate. Reluctant to return to public life, little does he know he will become an integral part in a well designed conspiracy.
The Advance Man by Rick Robinson is a well developed and well written story. It is not your run of the mill political thriller and is more of a good mystery with some intrigue thrown in for good measure. The reader will quickly identify the varied cast of characters from political insiders to FBI special agents to members of the DC Gay community and even a pair of nasty hit men. The plot moves along at a steady pace that will keep the reader's attention and desire to see what happens next. The dialogue is excellent without the use of excessive bad language or violence. I would recommend this to readers who like good mysteries along with a little political intrigue. A very good story.
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