Wednesday, September 29, 2021

#Review - Requiem for the Dead by Victor Alvarez #Mystery #Thriller

Series: CID Agent Jacqueline Sinclair # 1
Format: Kindle, 397 pages
Release Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

When Helen Chapman, the beautiful sixteen-year-old daughter of Army Chief-of-Staff for the European Command in Germany, had gone missing, her father, Brigadier General Earl Chapman, assumed she sped off on yet another one of her adventures with her boyfriend. However, hours later the body of Helen Chapman’s boyfriend was discovered by German police on the side of the road; they found a ransom letter lying on the front seat of the young man’s car.

US Army CID criminal investigator, Special Agent Jacqueline Sinclair, and DIA Agent Tom Price are assigned to take the lead in the case by her chief on request of the Provost Marshal, Agent Sinclair’s father. She knows a SIR (Serious Incident Report) already filed through channels, will attract the close attention of higher command; they would watch Sinclair every step of the way. Later, Sinclair learns that they also kidnapped three other dependent children.

Their pursuit of the kidnappers will take them straight into the heart of the military establishment where conspiracy and intrigue are commonplace . . . and where truths are seldom spoken. Worse still they uncover a more sinister and diabolical plot—a plot to set off two nuclear Smart Bombs in Pyongyang—placing the North Korean Regime and the President of the Unites States, in its crosshairs.

They find themselves deep in enemy territory and the target of highly trained killers, tasked to threaten or even to shoot to kill—whatever it takes to conceal sensitive information. Bringing justice and staying alive becomes job number one as the duo finds their skills, and their courage tested under fire.


Requiem for the Dead is the first installment in author Victor Alvarez's CID Agent Jacqueline Sinclair series. Meet CID (Criminal Investigation Division) Agent Jacqueline Sinclair stationed in Germany. She received the Silver Star and Purple Heart for actions in Afghanistan, she has a black belt in Japanese karate since the age of fourteen, she's a close quarters combat expert, counter surveillance training, proficient in covert communications, jump qualified, expert in unarmed combat, expert in small arms and automatic weapons. And, she's about ready to face the real threat of World War III if she can't stop a rogue General from getting his revenge.
 
The story actually begins several years before when Jason Scott, son of Lt. General Thomas Scott, is captured, tortured, and left to die by the North Koreans. Forward 2 years, and Scott has assembled a private army for the intention of getting revenge on not only North Korea, but the American President. This is a group of both currently serving and former ranks of the U.S. military. Some of these men are pure evil, some have done terrible things, and some are in it for the pure pleasure of having the chance to kill someone for large amounts of money. All are highly trained and brutally efficient. Their first move is to kidnap (4) children of Generals of important statues. 
 
Standing in the way are Special Agent Jacqueline Sinclair and DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) Agent Tom Price who are tasked with getting to the bottom of the recent kidnapping. Then a second teenager is taken, and a third, and a fourth. The duo soon realizes that what happened to Helen Chapman wasn’t an isolated incident, and their investigation leads them into the dangerous and uncharted waters of international espionage. When the duo are targeted for assassination because they are getting too close to the truth, things take a twisted turn.
 
The theft of two nuclear weapons from the secure federal building raises the stake further. Also, disturbing Belle’s somber peace is a troubling attack on her father, Col. Richard Sinclair and the fact that fathers of the abducted victims seem to holding something back during their interviews. Belle and Price must do everything in their power to uncover the plot while keeping themselves alive. Alas, there is minor romance in this story as well as alternating points of view between a whole slew of characters outside of Belle and Price. Both Price and Belle’s working-outside-the-box style approach to their job makes the reader immediately take to them, while their undeniable chemistry and gradually burgeoning relationship add to the story’s intrigue.
 
I've been told that there is a sequel. I am looking forward to reading it soon. 
 




No comments:

Post a Comment