Shadow of The Dagger

A Secret Map to Priceless Treasure, A CIA Analyst Turned Detective

Three people are murdered and one kidnapped to find the solution to the map. As Nicole Phillips seeks to find her kidnapped brother, she doesn’t know whom to trust. No one is who they appear to be. All is deception.

To bring his brother’s murderer to justice, CIA Intel Analyst Josh Baruch puts his life on the line. Can he walk the tightrope between obeying the killers’ instructions and bringing them to justice?

Because Nicole Phillips’s husband died in a mysterious plane crash, she fears falling in love again with a reckless, danger-loving type like her late husband. Josh Baruch, the CIA analyst using her as bait to track her brother’s kidnapper, is just such a risk-taking man. Besides living on the edge, Josh is bitter about women and questions God.

Shadow of The Dagger (Christian/Romance/Thriller)

By Anne Greene

Elk Lake Publishing

ISBN  978-1951080204

400 Pages

Price $12.99 (Paperback)

Price $2.99 (Kindle)

Rating 5-Stars

We meet Nicole Phillips when she travels to the crash site of the plane piloted by her husband. There was no body, but investigators believe coyotes may have dragged the body away. A year later her brother is invited to an archeological dig in Turkey, and he talks Nicole into joining him. Unfortunately, when she arrives in Turkey she discovers Ian has been kidnapped. In the meantime, CIA analyst, Josh Baruch believes the man who killed his brother is responsible for the kidnapping, and is waiting in Turkey for Nicole Phillips when she arrives, as he plans on using her for bait to catch Helmut Meier, better known as The Viper, and the murderer of Josh’s brother.

The author sent me a copy of the book for an honest review. This is a complicated plot, with interesting characters, set in a location known for international spies and intrigue. Josh Baruch is a Jewish American, and well familiar with Turkey, as he was stationed at Incirlik AFB in Adana, Turkey, a place I am also very familiar with. I was stationed there with the Army in 1964, at TUSLOG, as a squad leader with the rank of corporal. 

This was a great read, though a few things did bother me. The villain is supposedly the third richest man in the world, but seems to be after small profit in current crime, and a man so rich should have enough lawyers to keep him out of jail (in this case, an American federal prison). Plus, we find that there is someone pulling his strings also, a minor criminal that is behind the whole mess, and he is after Nicole Phillips, as well as the treasure. Now for detective Pavlik, a Russian with the Turkey police, and master of disguise who plays many parts that just don’t seem to fit. In the end an American Air Force rescue team saves the day on Turkey soil, which also was a worrisome finale to a great plot – personally, it would have appeared more legit if the team was led by a Turkey command. Over all, the Christian background is a delight in this international thriller set in Muslim controlled Turkey, and well worth the read. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE MAN IN THE BLACK FEDORA

The Good News

The Good News (Faith)

By Nelson Canha

Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN #978-1370301751

Price (Not None Yet)

55 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“For Beginner Christians, And The Rest.”

This is an easy to read discussion for Christians to learn about being saved, and the Promise of Salvation. What we should know, and how we should walk in our new life as children of God. Biblical verses are credited, and we are encouraged to read them for ourselves, but the author explains the verses to us in a way we can understand, and tells us how we should begin our walk with Christ, and how to avoid the lies of the devil.

I really enjoyed reading the author’s words, as they were easy to understand and follow. I think that young Christians, as well as old timers, will get a Blessing from reading this book.  God hasn’t forgotten the world, the world has forgotten God, and we need to come back to Him before it’s too late. Highly recommended for Christians and non-believers alike. The message is the same. Come!

Tom Johnson

Author of THE SOUL STEALERS

Protection For Hire by Camy Tang

Tessa Lancaster's skills first earned her a position as an enforcer in her Uncle Teruo's Japanese Mafia gang. Then they landed her in prison for a crime she didn't commit. Now, three months after her release, Tessa's abilities have gained her a job as bodyguard for wealthy socialite Elizabeth St. Amant and her three-year-old son. But there's a problem or two ... or three .... There's Elizabeth's abusive husband whose relentless pursuit goes deeper than mere vengeance. There's Uncle Teruo, who doesn't understand why Tessa's new faith as a Christian prevents her from returning to the yakuza. And then there's Elizabeth's lawyer, Charles Britton, who Tessa doesn't know is the one who ensured that she did maximum time behind bars. Now Tessa and Charles must work together in order to protect their client, while new truths emerge and circumstances spiral to a deadly fever pitch. Factor in both Tessa's and Charles's families and you've got some wild dynamics---and an action-packed, romantic read as Tessa and Charles discover the reality of being made new in Christ.

Protection For Hire (Mystery/Action/Suspense)

By Camy Tang

Zondervan Publishing

ISBN #978-0310320333

336 Pages

Price $11.65

Rating 5-Stars

“An Action Hero With A Christian Attitude.”

After finding the Lord, Tessa is trying to build a new life after serving seven years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Once an enforcer for her yakuza mob boss uncle, as a Christian she knows she must turn away from that life. But finding a job, as an ex-con isn’t happening, and the police still want to harass her for her past. While volunteering at Wings Shelter for abused women, she meets Elizabeth St. Amant who is running from her abusive husband. Elizabeth hires Tessa as her bodyguard, and things get rough when it appears that her husband now wants her dead, and Tessa will defend Elizabeth with all her martial arts skills. But why does he want her dead? The answer may be bigger than Tessa can imagine, and reach into the very past she’s trying so hard to forget.

This was an action-packed suspense, written by a Christian author about a Christian character with a criminal past, and I loved it. It shows that novels can be written without sex and profanity, and Christian writers are as good with action as the next author. There is a touch of romance, but not overly done, and Tessa worries that she is not capable of forgiveness in her new life as a Christian, yet the author is not preachy.  The story is well written, and the characters come to life. Not only recommended for Christians, but highly recommended for all action and suspense lovers.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories

Necessary Proof

Necessary Proof

5-Star Rating
Camy Tang’s writing is smooth, and her story kept my interest throughout. It would make a great novel length romantic suspense. It has a nice plot, and good characterization. I especially appreciate the Christian aspect of the story, and wish more writers would follow Camy’s example. Highly recommended.

Ginger Johnson

Fading Shadows