Published by: Howard Books
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
ISBN-10: 1451654693
ISBN-13: 978-1451654691
Pages: 384
Review Copy from: Author and Partners In Crime Tours
Edition: ARC TPB
My Rating: 4
Synopsis (from Amazon): After scattering her mother’s ashes in Vietnam, photojournalist Xandra Carrick comes home to New York to rebuild her life and career. When she experiences supernatural visions that reveal atrocities perpetrated by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, she finds herself entangled in a forty-year-old conspiracy that could bring the nation into political turmoil. Launching headlong into a quest to learn the truth from her father, Peter Carrick, a Pulitzer Prize Laureate who served as an embedded photographer during the war, Xandra confronts him about a dark secret he has kept–one that has devastated their family.
Her investigations lead her to her departed mother’s journal, which tell of love, spiritual awakening, and surviving the fall of Saigon.
Pursued across the continent, Xandra comes face-to-face with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to prevent her from revealing the truth. But not before government agencies arrest her for murder, domestic terrorism and an assassination attempt on the newly elected president of the United States.
My Thoughts and Opinion: This book was my first introduction to this author, but I can tell you it won’t be my last. Let’s start at the beginning. The prologue was 1.5 pages and I was hooked. The author then takes the reader to Viet Nam and introduces us to the main character, Xandra, and her father. The descriptive narrative of the setting, as seen through the eyes of Xandra, was detailed and it was easy to vividly conjure up the location in my mind. His writing style flawless and format was the type of novel I have enjoyed for years. Short chapters that alternate between characters, time and place, which is the type of read where it’s a “few more chapters” book to find out what happens from the mini cliff hanger chapters and you find that you have read more than a few more chapters. A 366 page novel that was read in a couple of days due to the suspense and page turning events. A cast of characters that were realistic, even with a psychic like sub plot. The author has a flair to interweave the characters but not letting the reader know the connection until the very end. The book was captivating and engrossing, and held me hostage since it was hard to put down. Also included were questions for a book club read and something that I had never seen before but very much enjoyed, an eleven Q&A interview with the author. A great read!!
It must be well written to capture your attention after a page and a half!