Review: Captives by Travis Tougaw

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

A child disappears, leaving behind a broken and grieving family. With no witnesses, no motives, and no evidence, Hadley, Vince, and Eddie must delve deep into the past to piece together what really happened, unaware of the powerful enemies they’re about to make.

Two-year-old Jonah Davidson disappeared from his family’s front yard 15 years ago. While most people believe he’s dead or will never be found, his desperate sister turns to the Fleck, Collins, and Marcotte Agency for help. As the detectives dig up clues from the past, they uncover a web of secrets, including some of Hadley’s own. As she struggles to come to terms with her past, the team confronts present-day adversaries who will do anything to keep their deceit from coming to light. The case takes the team on a chase across Colorado, where one misstep could prove deadly.

Captives is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Well-crafted and surprising, Travis Tougaw’s latest novel will keep you turning pages until the end. Don’t miss Vince and Hadley’s new adventure!

Favorite Lines:

“A flock of Canada geese flew overhead, squawking their way south. The air held a chill like it could snow any moment, and Hadley smelled a wood-burning fireplace nearby. She loved fall in Colorado.”

“We have way too many cases that end with one of us in a hospital bed.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was racking my brain trying to come up with the last time I read a true detective novel and the only thing that came up was Nancy Drew….Suffice to say it has been quite some time but after this book, I know I’ll be reading more in this genre in the near future.

This is book two in the series – you can find book one here – but I don’t think it is a requirement to read book one before this. Each book follows the same group of detectives but features a separate case. In this one, the detective agency doesn’t usually take on this type of case – a missing child cold case – but Hadley Collins has personal reasons for wanting to get involved. Readers follow along with the detective team through a suspenseful mystery as they try to solve the case.

This was suspenseful, a thriller, mysterious, captivating, and addicting! I couldn’t put it down and ended up staying up until 2am to finish it!  It had me on the edge of my seat and threw me for a loop with a plot twist that I didn’t see coming. I thought Tougaw did an excellent job with this one and I will definitely be going back to read the first book in the series after this!

Summary:

Overall, if you like mysteries, investigative thrillers, and/or detective stories, then this book could be for you. Word of advice, start it earlier in the day so you aren’t up until 2am trying to finish it because you can’t put it down! Happy reading!

Check out Captives here!

 

Review: To Do Justice by Frank S. Joseph

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Set during the riots of 1965-66, To Do Justice tells the story of Pinkie, a mixed-race child of Chicago’s meanest streets … and Mollie, a lovelorn (white) reporter in the Chicago bureau of The Associated Press. Together this unlikely pair will track down the white woman who gave Pinkie birth, and score a Pulitzer-worthy scoop in the bargain.

Favorite Lines:

“Now I’m a pretty solid person. Most of the time I’m good at ignoring my impulses. It’s the German blood on Mom’s side maybe.”

“I responded that I’d felt discriminated myself – about my weight, my acne, the fact that I’m a single woman in a man’s world.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

To Do Justice is book three in Joseph’s The Chicago Trilogy. I have not read the other two in the series yet but it seems like each book can serve as a stand alone. In this book, readers find themselves dropped in the middle of the 1960s Chicago riots and all that comes with them. While there are many characters in this story, the main characters include a biracial girl who is forced to the streets by her foster parents and a white reporter who befriends her and agrees to help solve the mystery of her parentage. This vaguely reminded me of the TV show “I Am the Night” which also takes place in the 1960s and has a reporter helping a girl uncover her heritage. The show is set in Los Angeles and Nevada and is inspired by true events with secrets surrounding the Black Dahlia murder.

This story is for anyone who is interested in reading about the conflicts that arose during the 1960s, especially in Chicago. I felt immersed in the world that Joseph created from the descriptions of the scenes to the dialogue used during the conversations. Joseph does an excellent job at examining questions around gender and identity, racial politics, and the over arching question of what the value of human life is. While the story takes place in the 1960s, a lot of these themes are still prevalent today and Joseph shines a light on them in a creative way.

Summary:

Overall, if you like historical fiction that revolves around racial conflicts that examine race, identity, and politics especially in the setting of the Chicago riots in the 1960s, then this book could be for you. You can find the book trailer here. Happy reading!

Check out To Do Justice here!

Review: Paris Lost and Found: A Memoir of Love by Scott Dominic Carpenter

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

After his hilarious introduction to Paris in French Like Moi, Scott Dominic Carpenter returns to the scene of the crime with more tales of intrigue. 
 
This time, though, the story takes a surprising turn as his wife struggles with dementia. Humor may be the best medicine, but even the antics of a vandal in their building can’t cement the tiles of her memory for long. Before he expects it, Carpenter finds himself alone in a capital that is also blighted by the pandemic. 
 
It’s against this backdrop that the city comes roaring back to life. From bizarre encounters on the Metro to comical clashes with authority figures, and even a quixotic battle against a flock of migrant parrots, Paris Lost and Found unveils sides of the great city that are as quirky as they are authentic. With his unique blend of wit, insight, and wistfulness, Carpenter charts a path through his new labyrinth of solitude—only to emerge on the other side, squinting into the bright light of hope and new beginnings.

 

Favorite Lines:

“France is a paradise inhabited by people who believe they’re in hell.” (This is technically cheating because it is a quote by Sylvain Tesson in the start of this memoir but I thought it really set the tone for what the rest of the memoir would be and I loved it)

“It confirmed my hunch that emotion is the mortar that cements memoires in place.”

“In France, the experience is different. If you want to get a handgun here, there’s really just one recommended course of action: forget it. They put you through an obstacle course of required training, applications, waiting periods, and even letters of recommendation from the head of your local shooting club.”

“They say the senses compensate for one another. You lose you your sigh, but your ears perk up. You go as deaf as a post, but suddenly you can read the bottom line of the eye chart. So, too, with people. You lose one, and others grow in importance. It was the unknown population around me who mattered now.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is a follow up to Carpenter’s first travel memoir, French Like Moi: A Midwesterner in Paris, which I have not read but will definitely be reading after this. This memoir details Carpenter and his late wife Anne’s adaption to living in France. Carpenter not only takes us on the journey of their start in France but also the journey Carpenter must later embark on alone through loss and new beginnings after the passing of his wife.

I thought this book flowed very nicely and kept me engaged throughout. Carpenter did an excellent job at making me feel like I was right there along with him and Anne, living the experiences they were living. As an American who has never been to Europe, I thought the comparisons between French and American mentalities were really helpful, and quite frankly, sometimes humorous, to understand how different life can really be over there. Carpenter did a great job at combining serious topics and experiences with humor in a way that kept this book light-hearted and most definitely a page turner.

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was a really engaging read that gave a Midwesterner’s perspective on life in France. If you like travel memoirs that detail culture and are full of humor, life, and love then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out Paris Lost and Found: A Memoir of Love here!

 

Monthly Features – May

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

The Midnight Rose by Catalina Paris

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis:

The Alchemyst
The Faerie
The Witch
The Warlock

Leo is a sixteen-year-old apprentice at the Alchemical Court until one night changes everything. When the castle is attacked and Leo is told to flee, he creates a new portal using the strange runes left behind in his missing master’s notebook. Arriving in the mysterious Realm of the Fey, a place long forgotten by mortals and Alchemysts alike, Leo meets the enchanting Lady Lisandre, a young faerie in need of his help. Together they quickly learn both their worlds are under threat from the elusive Dark Alchemyst; unless they find the mythical Talismans of Atlantica before he does. . Along the way they encounter Flora, a charming witch on a search for the truth of her family, as well as Leo’s former classmate, a warlock with questionable intentions, Lucien. The four of them are soon drawn together as they face numerous dangers and challenges to find and retrieve the talismans. Set in an alternative magical renaissance, The Midnight Rose is a spell-binding fantasy adventure unlike any other.

Summary: Overall, this was a creative fantasy story and I am interested to see where Paris takes this next. If you like fantasy, alchemy, action, adventure, and magic, then this book could be for you.

See the full review here: The Midnight Rose
Purchase here

Death’s Flow by Victor Klayin

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Sometimes, you’re your own worst enemy…
Zaleck, a young albino farmer’s son from a little backwater town, wakes up not to the comfort of his home, but to the confines of a prison cart. His limbs bound, his voice stolen by a gag, panic mounts as he contemplates his fate, unaware of why he even became a target.
Yet, amidst despair, fate — or perhaps something more arcane — intervenes as he’s freed with the help of two other captives: Arneth and Vellis. Arneth, a scholar belonging to an obscure order of master manipulators, who wields knowledge as well as a sword, and who seems to manipulate fate itself. Vellis, a master markswoman whose prowess with the bow is matched only by the shadows of her past. Her ties to the nobility are as complex as the web of secrecy around her. An ex-soldier, she carries the weight of her skills and the burden of her past, her eyes always on the lookout for the next threat, her hand always steady.
Pursued relentlessly by their captors, in service of a dark priest from the powerful “Death Kingdom”, the trio must fight not only to survive, but also learn to trust and work together, uncovering the true reason for their capture.
Soon, they find they might even be able to hide from the slavers, but they can’t ever outrun the consequences of their actions.

Summary: This book has it all – adventure, suspense, mystery, magic, action, and fantasy. Klayin did a fantastic job of weaving these themes together into an addictive experience that will leave readers wanting more. I would recommend to anyone but especially those that have interests in one of the themes I mentioned previously.

See the full review here: Death’s Flow
Purchase here

 

This Kind of Man by Sean Murphy

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships. These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of contemporary life, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound.

Many of these stories live within a slow implosion of coping, and often failing, as well as those who refuse to succumb, addressing concerns oft-discussed, or not discussed enough, in mainstream print: gun violence, the recent history of coal country Appalachia, sports-related concussions, illegal immigration (and the jobs many of these ostensibly unwelcome folks are obliged to do), homelessness, and the inability of men to honestly connect or communicate.

Far from excusing or exonerating toxic males, this collection locates their violence (toward others, against themselves) in the context of a deadening culture and the false narratives that prevail in an exploitative, zero-sum game capitalist model, where those without are encouraged to quarrel with similarly overworked and underpaid, mostly blue-collar workers. We see that our received notions of manhood and masculinity are inculcated-from the beginning and by design-to ensure willing participation in a system where the overwhelming majority are excluded from the start. We witness the way these dysfunctions are handed down like inheritance, and how every cliché, from fighting to drinking to intolerance of dissent and distrust of others, is a carefully constructed trap, preventing solidarity, empathy, and love (for others, for one’s self).

Summary: Overall, I thought this was a creative way to tackle complex subjects while keeping readers engaged. It is an extremely clever way to get readers to answer some hard questions themselves through reflection brought on by the stories. I think this is an important read for anyone but would especially recommend it to those that are interested in the complexities of manhood and all that may go with it.

See the full review here: This Kind of Man
Purchase here

 

 

Review: Aftermath Boy by Robert E. Honig

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

History has its way with Billy Cohen, charmed offspring of Holocaust Survivors Rozsa and Bertie Cohen. His mother’s story of survival from the 1944 Vienna Death March to Dachau’s deadly forced labor, disease and starvation, Bergen-Belsen’s typhus, and inhuman conditions, to her last minute escape with her sister, Lili, and the continuing struggle to survive in Soviet occupied Budapest after the war challenges Billy to grasp the incompressible while growing up with homegrown antisemitism in the 1950s and 60s. Billy’s father, Bertie, came to the U.S. with a mission, to save his father, mother, sister and brother-in-law, but his failure casts a pall over his only son. An only child, Billy dreams of putting his parents shattered world right as his own history sweeps him toward the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, feminism, and a nation headed not only toward division, but doubling back upon the mistakes, the cultism, and the threats of fascism that led to the Holocaust. After a lifetime of Don Quixote pursuits, including a seductive brush with a left wing lover that leads him to join the Communist Labor Party, Billy finds himself the subject of an FBI inquiry into his investigation of the theft of hundreds of Wisconsin ballots cast during the 2024 Presidential Election, an election that hangs in the balance

Favorite Lines:

“A mature adult settles into himself, steadily gains confidence, and solves problems, even keeled, with or without assistance. One needn’t perform heroic deeds to achieve competence, but Billy Cohen has to save the world. Ironic that it takes a selfish ego to want to save the world and a selfless one to actually save it, even in small ways.”

“To take another life rends the threads of your conscience.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I would say that this isn’t my typical read but it sounded interesting and I think it is important to read books such as this from time to time. This story revolves around Billy who finds his life to be molded by his parents’ experiences, like many children, although unlike many children, Billy’s parents were Holocaust survivors. Billy is accused of election fraud that took place during the 2024 election and the story ends open ended where the reader is left to decide whether Billy is guilty or not.

This story flashes back and forth between past and present events. Billy is in present times being accused for election fraud but we see flashes back to during the Holocaust and what his family had to endure. I thought this book was interesting because while fiction, Honig used real testimonies from his two aunts who lived through the Holocaust. So while fiction, the events described in this book were very real realities for those who experienced the tragedies that took place during the Holocausts.

If I were to be nit-picky, the chapters were quite short and came off at times as choppy – this could have been because they were single spaced rather than double in the version I received for this review though. There were also some spelling/grammar errors scattered throughout that could be cleaned up.  However, neither one of these were distracting enough to take away from the overall well written story.    

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was an interesting book that melded together fiction with reality with Honig weaving true experiences throughout the story. I would recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction involving the Holocaust. Happy reading!

Check out Aftermath Boy here!

 

Review: This Kind of Man by Sean Murphy

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships. These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of contemporary life, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound.

Many of these stories live within a slow implosion of coping, and often failing, as well as those who refuse to succumb, addressing concerns oft-discussed, or not discussed enough, in mainstream print: gun violence, the recent history of coal country Appalachia, sports-related concussions, illegal immigration (and the jobs many of these ostensibly unwelcome folks are obliged to do), homelessness, and the inability of men to honestly connect or communicate.

Far from excusing or exonerating toxic males, this collection locates their violence (toward others, against themselves) in the context of a deadening culture and the false narratives that prevail in an exploitative, zero-sum game capitalist model, where those without are encouraged to quarrel with similarly overworked and underpaid, mostly blue-collar workers. We see that our received notions of manhood and masculinity are inculcated-from the beginning and by design-to ensure willing participation in a system where the overwhelming majority are excluded from the start. We witness the way these dysfunctions are handed down like inheritance, and how every cliché, from fighting to drinking to intolerance of dissent and distrust of others, is a carefully constructed trap, preventing solidarity, empathy, and love (for others, for one’s self).

Favorite Lines:

“How much do we become like the animals we feed on?”

“When you’re not certain where your next meal is coming from and don’t know if you’ll be sleeping indoors ever again, there’s one thing you learn to count on. Coffee.”

“Question, I asked: Who wears a ring on their thumb? Anyone, she said. Anyone who feels like it”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was actually really excited to read this book when I got the review request because I find the topics that it covers to be so interesting but also important. Don’t be fooled, this may be a collection of fictions but the topics they discuss are quite real. Murphy tackles provocative social issues surrounding masculinity, the role of men in society, and much more in a way that is both extremely creative and also brutally honest.

I think that by writing this from a fictional perspective, Murphy was able to more freely tackle the topics being discussed in a way that is reflective of modern day society. I found this to be extremely thought provoking but also informative as a woman to get an inside look at what could be considered the modern day struggle of an average man and, with that, how it in turn can affect others including women.

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was a creative way to tackle complex subjects while keeping readers engaged. It is an extremely clever way to get readers to answer some hard questions themselves through reflection brought on by the stories. I think this is an important read for anyone but would especially recommend it to those that are interested in the complexities of manhood and all that may go with it. Happy reading!

Check out This Kind of Man here!

Review: Death’s Flow by Victor Klayin

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Sometimes, you’re your own worst enemy…
Zaleck, a young albino farmer’s son from a little backwater town, wakes up not to the comfort of his home, but to the confines of a prison cart. His limbs bound, his voice stolen by a gag, panic mounts as he contemplates his fate, unaware of why he even became a target.
Yet, amidst despair, fate — or perhaps something more arcane — intervenes as he’s freed with the help of two other captives: Arneth and Vellis. Arneth, a scholar belonging to an obscure order of master manipulators, who wields knowledge as well as a sword, and who seems to manipulate fate itself. Vellis, a master markswoman whose prowess with the bow is matched only by the shadows of her past. Her ties to the nobility are as complex as the web of secrecy around her. An ex-soldier, she carries the weight of her skills and the burden of her past, her eyes always on the lookout for the next threat, her hand always steady.
Pursued relentlessly by their captors, in service of a dark priest from the powerful “Death Kingdom”, the trio must fight not only to survive, but also learn to trust and work together, uncovering the true reason for their capture.
Soon, they find they might even be able to hide from the slavers, but they can’t ever outrun the consequences of their actions.

Favorite Lines:

“Lying is so classless. It’s much more fun having the truth work for you.”

“Blame and responsibility are different things, Vel. Maybe I’m not to blame, but I can stop this, so I choose to make it my responsibility.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Zaleck who is stolen away from his family’s farm when he is captured by slavers. He teams up with Arneth and Vellis as they try to uncover the mystery of why they were targeted in the first place and attempt to escape the very slavers that captured them.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I decided to read this book but I can tell you that I was not disappointed in my decision. I found myself drawn in from page one with an excellent hook and was hardly able to put the book down until the last page because I needed answers!  Klayin did a great job at building an immersive world that made me feel like I was there right along with the characters; readers will even get a map at the start of the book to reference whenever they need. I also thought that the character development was very well executed. I really enjoyed reading about Zaleck, Arneth, and Vellis’ journeys not only in the outside world but also within themselves. I also just thought that the concept of flow was really interesting and how you can never do the same thing twice with it.

I don’t really have any complaints with this one. I thought the story was unique, the character writing was well done, and the pacing was just right. 

Summary:

This book has it all – adventure, suspense, mystery, magic, action, and fantasy. Klayin did a fantastic job of weaving these themes together into an addictive experience that will leave readers wanting more. I would recommend to anyone but especially those that have interests in one of the themes I mentioned previously. Happy reading!

Check out Death’s Flow here!

 

Review: The Midnight Rose by Catalina Paris

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

The Alchemyst
The Faerie
The Witch
The Warlock

Leo is a sixteen-year-old apprentice at the Alchemical Court until one night changes everything. When the castle is attacked and Leo is told to flee, he creates a new portal using the strange runes left behind in his missing master’s notebook. Arriving in the mysterious Realm of the Fey, a place long forgotten by mortals and Alchemysts alike, Leo meets the enchanting Lady Lisandre, a young faerie in need of his help. Together they quickly learn both their worlds are under threat from the elusive Dark Alchemyst; unless they find the mythical Talismans of Atlantica before he does. . Along the way they encounter Flora, a charming witch on a search for the truth of her family, as well as Leo’s former classmate, a warlock with questionable intentions, Lucien. The four of them are soon drawn together as they face numerous dangers and challenges to find and retrieve the talismans. Set in an alternative magical renaissance, The Midnight Rose is a spell-binding fantasy adventure unlike any other.

Favorite Lines:

“Each is encouraged to follow their heart’s calling from an early age…It is for the greatest benefit of the whole to have each specialize in their passion, as we value what each contributes.”

“Elegant rose bushes lined the gravel pathway, their leaves shimmering in the warm glow of the torchlight…Purple and pink fuchsias grew in abundance everywhere, hanging from baskets underneath the stone balconies.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

First off, I wanted to quickly say that I really like the cover to this book; I think it is simple and beautiful. Now, let’s get into the review – this story follows Leo who must leave his home in the Alchemical Court and begin a quest to find scrolls and talismans that will be used as protection against the Dark Wizard. I thought this was an interesting premise and creative world building however, the story was hard to follow at times. In some areas there were very detailed descriptors but in others, I felt like details that were important were just skated over.

It is obvious that Paris put a lot of thought and effort into this book and while the premise is interesting, I just wish the whole thing slowed down and flowed more smoothly. Despite all of that, I still think it was still a decent read full of magic. Hopefully the rest of the series goes into more detail on the things that were missed in this book.

Summary:

Overall, this was a creative fantasy story and I am interested to see where Paris takes this next. If you like fantasy, alchemy, action, adventure, and magic, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out The Midnight Rose here!

Review: Yellow Bird’s Song by Heather Miller

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

In 1849, mercurial Rollin Ridge leaves his family behind to avoid hanging after avenging his father and grandfather’s assassinations.

After his crime, Rollin runs west with his brothers to mine California gold, packing sin and grief in his saddlebags. Through letters home, he finds his justice only after unearthing how the father’s sins have followed the son. Within the frame, from 1827-1835, Rollin’s parents, Cherokee John Ridge, and his white wife, Sarah, uncover illicit slave running, horse theft, and whiskey dealings across Cherokee territory. To end these inhumane crimes and fight Cherokee removal with President Andrew Jackson, John runs for Principal Chief, opposing the incumbent, Chief John Ross. John and Sarah must decide-fight discrimination and land greed, defy Georgia’s violent pressures and remain on his people’s ancestral land, or sign a treaty and uproot a nation and their family west.

Favorite Lines:

“Under diagonal sheets of rain, falling beneath a canopy of God’s smoke, I rode one life back into another.”

“To rise from the ashes, one has to burn.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you have been following along with my most recent reviews, you would notice that this is the second historical fiction review in a row and I couldn’t be more pleased with the trend. This book seems to be a follow up to Miller’s other novel, Tho I Be Mute, which I have not read nor does it seem to be a requirement to follow along with this book. However, I will certainly be reading it after this! 

This story is told from the perspective of John “Rollin” Ridge, the son of John and Sarah Ridge but also includes narratives from John and Sarah. John is Cherokee while Sarah is white and they have mixed children which is relevant because this book primarily deals with the era of the Cherokee removal from Georgia and the events that took place during that time. Miller doesn’t sugar coat the realities of the time period but does handle them in a beautiful way. While I found this book to tragic and sad, I thought this was an extremely well written book full of complex topics that mostly surround human nature and all that it entails. 

I wanted to take a moment to recognize the beauty of Miller’s writing style. It has been quite some time since I have had my breath taken away simply by the way an author tells their story. Miller has a way with words that I think any description other than the word “breathtaking” would simply not due it justice. I hope readers experience the same sense of profound awe that I felt reading this story. Miller’s writing ability is simply a gift.

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was a tragic but beautiful book and I am excited to see what Miller has in store next. If you are a fan of historical fictions including Native American history fictions and/or American history fictions, then this book could be for you.

Check out Yellow Bird’s Song here!

Review: Burma Road by Brandon Crocker

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

How we view history and the continuity of past, present, and future underlie this classic action and adventure tale.
It is 2015. Clint Bennett, a married father and commercial insurance broker in Arizona is reading the unpublished WWII memoirs of his recently deceased British-born grandfather when he comes across some intriguing details. Clint’s grandfather pinpoints where he and a handful of his fellow Chindit commandos fell upon a mysterious ancient building in Burma while trying to elude pursuing Japanese in 1943. Armed with this information, Clint talks his way onto a small expedition with two college professors, one being a former member of the Thai Special Forces, to hunt for the unknown structure. But they soon find themselves being hunted, and, like Clint’s grandfather, their survival depends on making their own desperate trek through the jungle

Favorite Lines:

“I guess Texas Holdem is another of the world’s universal languages.”

“One day you’re a conqueror, the next day you’re the conquered.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I must admit that historical fictions are not my usual cup of tea but I have a friend that has been trying to get me into them a bit more so when I saw this review request, I figured I would give it a shot and I wasn’t disappointed. This story follows Clint, a man who seems to have a perfectly average and happy life, and who wonders if he has missed out on what could have been an adventurous life after reading a memoir by his grandfather from World War II. After reading the memoir, he is inspired to take a trip of his own which quickly turns into the very adventure he had been wondering if he had missed out on.

I should note that while I am calling this historical fiction, it is actually a blend of past and present times. Clint read the memoir from his grandfather in World War II so there are elements of that history in there combined with the present tale of Clint’s adventure.

I thought this was a very well written book with a plot that had me turning page after page to see what happens next. While fast paced, I didn’t think it left details out and I found it to be just enough to keep me interested without dragging. While a relatively short read at ~163 pages on my Kindle, I thought it had great pacing and was a perfect length to tell the story that Crocker set out to tell. I also thought the characters were well written and Crocker had me feeling like I was living the adventure right along with them. 

Summary:

Overall, I thought this was an interesting full of action, adventure, history, and a bit of suspense. I would recommend to anyone looking for a historical fiction read on a Sunday afternoon. Happy reading!

Check out Burma Road here!