Thriller

Don's Stimulus Package, The

Title: The Don's Stimulus Package
Author: Karl Boyd Hoepfner
Genre: Fiction Thriller/Mystery
Reviewer: E. Franklin Evans

ISBN (links go to the MWSA Amazon store): 1105013391

While robbing a small bank in the Don's area of operation, cousins Stu & Lefty stumble across the twenty million dollars in loot from "The Texas Two Card Hold 'em Heist" and make off with the money, incurring the Don's wrath. When both are captured by the Don's men, Stu informs The Don the purpose of the robbery was to provide funds for the largest con in history; bilking the U.S. Govt out of one Billion Dollars in stimulus money. Intrigued by the plan, the Don calls his son-in-law, Roger Odem Booth and his partner, Carl Jesse James out of hiding to assist Stu in his efforts. With cunning and careful planning, plus the aid of greedy Senator Boehk, nearly one billion dollars is appropriated and the con game becomes a success. When faced with the present economy and the resulting clamor for jobs offered as a front to their actions, Roger and Carl take the Stimulus Package to new heights and once again prove these two con men have hearts as big as Texas. In the end, everyone is a winner, or are they?

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Boyd, Karl

Dragonslayers: Battle Rhythm

Title: Dragonslayers: Battle Rhythm
Author: K. Rowe
Genre: Fiction, Military
Reviewer: John Cathcart

ISBN (links go to the MWSA Amazon store): B006CBFKA6

Blood is thicker than water… and when it’s the blood of a Dragonslayer, there will be hell to pay.

The Dragonslayers return with a vengeance to fight terrorism with in another installment of the exciting Dragonslayers Saga. The unorthodox team comes under fire from the most unlikely source, so they must stick together, or be destroyed. They find out that state-of-the-art body armor isn’t the only thing that will save them when bullets are flying.

Not all of their battles happen on the battlefield. For many, there’s a battle raging within, as they grapple with their own demons and a society that doesn’t accept them. In Australia, Captain Tige St. Ivor is faced with his own dilemma: an assignment that involves killing one of his best friends. Captain Cabbott Westmoreland fights to be accepted by his own family. And terrorism hits too close to home for Major D.M. Elliott, as he must find a way to protect his father from extremists. Through it all, they live by the code of honor, valor, and sacrifice.

Be sure to read: Project: Dragonslayers, the book that started it all, which was nominated for the Military Writer’s Society of America Fiction—Thriller Award for 2011.

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Rowe, K.

Borderland War

Title: Borderland War
Author: Daniel Thompson
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Reviewer: Joyce Faulkner

ISBN (links go to the MWSA Amazon store): B0062GM28Y

What would really happen if the President of the United States decided to use the Army's Delta, Special Operations Command of Fort Bragg to attack drug cartel operations along our southern border? If Mexico's economy, once supported by American tourist dollars fell flat after drug violence brought death to American tourists who would he call upon?

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Thompson, Daniel

Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning)

Title: Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning)
Auhtor: David McKoy & Lynn Hallbrooks
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Reviewer: Joyce Gilmour

ISBN (links go to the MWSA Amazon store): 0982792352

CIA Special Ops Team, Call Sign: Wrecking Crew is sent overseas on a Top Secret mission. Once the mission is completed, they rapidly realize they are merely Pawns in an International Chess Game that turns into a Political Firestorm. As a result, they are disavowed. Accompanied by Firefights, Fate, and Faith, they finally find a way home. After arriving, they discover governmental abuses of the Constitution. Will they survive long enough to thwart these enemies of the State?

Author(s) Mentioned: 
McKoy, David & Hallbrooks, Lynn

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense - Definition and Evaluation Criteria

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense genre may be broken up into two categories depending on the number and type of books submitted in a given year. They share many of the same elements and the aim is similar -- to entertain and excite the reader. The author does this by heightened expectation, surprise, uncertainy, unknown villains, and terror. He/she uses literary techniques like cliff-hangers, plot-twists, and clues that lead the reader to wrong conclusions. 

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