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Josh Bartlet is on the cusp of positivity in his life, living in the bucolic confines of interior North Carolina. He is a reporter for the local newspaper, where he is working on an interview with a notable resident of the community. He is ready to reach out to a former flame and proclaim his maturity when a blast from the past reappears to disturb his tranquility. Josh is living in a self-imposed exile due to the actions of a dangerous gangster named Zharko. Josh witnessed Zharko’s murderous impulses but thought he was free of his grip. But now Zharko is back and threatening to tear Josh’s life into pieces unless he acquiesces to the thug’s demands. Josh needs to figure out a strategy to banish Zharko from his life permanently, or else.
The suspenseful aspects of this excellent dramatic story are felt instantly as a dark presence hovers over Josh, rendering him paranoid. Josh is a man whose past has largely dictated his present, with freedom from fear never factoring into his life. In Josh, the author has crafted a protagonist who is intelligent but reserved. He is frustrated by not only the powerful grip Zharko holds on him but also his mother. The solutions to escape his predicament could just as easily turn into his demise if not handled correctly, and this frustration is appreciable. His adversary longs for revenge while not ruling out making a financial killing in the process. The author teases readers with suspense in a methodical manner, leaving room for one to be pleasantly surprised. This is a winning effort from start to finish.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review