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Index Interviews: Gary Tigerman A Marathon Children's Book Week The Hardest Question of All Return to This Issue's Index Return to Homepage Subscribe
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Mystery/Thriller Book ReviewsPage One of TwoThe Orion Protocol by Gary TigermanWilliam Morrow, December, 2003Hardcover, 336 pages ISBN: 0380976706 Ordering information: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 
Ambitious science journalist Angela Browning
receives a mysterious package which contains
photographs of archeological ruins on Mars.
Angela researches the photos and finds that they
came from the Mars Observer probe, which NASA
said was lost over ten years ago. The photographs turn out to
contain incontrovertible proof of ancient life on Mars and
a concerted conspiracy by the U.S. government to keep
the fact of alien life concealed from the public.
After verifying the source of the photos, Angela
sets out to find one of the men who last walked on the Moon:
astronaut Jake Deaver. Together, Jake and Angela
begin to explore the puzzle of the photographs and what they
could mean for humanity. But by now, certain elements have become
aware of Angela's discovery and are determined to
discredit both Angela and Jake. The governmental cover-up
machinery necessary to suppress the information from the Mars
Observer probe is vast in scope, and Jake and Angela quickly
find both their professional reputations and their lives are
in grave danger.
Gary Tigerman delivers the goods in his first novel, a tightly plotted, exciting work of speculative fiction. Tigerman deftly weaves in true facts with the fictional to create a gripping, believable narrative. Included at the back of the book is a fascinating list of true facts which support the book's premise: such as the fact that former U.S. president Jimmy Carter repeatedly requested certain documents from the Vatican on the subject of UFOs, but was denied access to the documents. Fast paced, with plenty of action, an intriguing puzzle and appealing characters, The Orion Protocol is a compelling novel which will appeal to fans of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. Gary Tigerman is definitely an author to watch. --Claire E. White Mean Woman Blues by Julie SmithForge, August, 2003Hardcover, 304 pages ISBN: 0765305526 Ordering information: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 
New Orleans police detective Skip Langdon has
been hoping that she's seen the last of
psychotic killer and megalomaniac Errol Jacomine,
but that hope is about to be dashed. Errol has
gone for an extreme makeover in order to
start his life over again. With a little help from
his ex-wife and a lot of plastic surgery, Errol
has now emerged as a charismatic talk show host
whose show is quickly becoming a national hit. But Errol
hasn't forgotten his old enemy, Skip Langdon and
has some nasty plans for his old nemesis.
A former reporter, author Julie Smith once actually met the notorious Jim Jones, whose followers killed themselves by drinking the infamous "Guyana punch". Inspired by that magnetic personality -- who could induce followers to lay down their lives for him -- Errol Jacomine embodies the worst of Jones' characteristics plus some others, solely dreamed up by this imaginative and skilled author. Julie Smith uses the backdrop of a steamy, sexy and moody New Orleans to great effect here, as the characters confront Formosan termites and muggy heat while battling both their inner and outer demons. With a raw energy and smooth writing, this series is as vibrant as the Big Easy itself. Mystery/Thriller Reviews Page One | Page Two Click Here to Return to the Book Reviews Index ** To visit the archives of mystery books reviewed in The IWJ, please click here. |