Russian Roulette: A Hannibal Jones Thriller
Austin S. Camacho
ISBN-13: 978-0979478840
Intrigue Publishing
Trade paperback, 264 pages
$14.95
Reviewed by Christopher Ryan
Austin S. Camacho’s new Hannibal Jones Thriller doesn’t start with a bang, an explosion or hot sex. The pace isn’t break neck, the prose doesn’t tingle the spine with a cliff hanger every three pages, and yet Russian Roulette keeps you coming back for more. This novel doesn’t pit its protagonist against the End of The World, a presidential assassin, or the germ that will kill everyone, and yet Russian Roulette insinuates itself into the reader’s mind with impressive ease.
That’s a neat trick. How does Camacho do it? Characterization. Hannibal Jones is likable, really easy to root for, and so approachable this novel feels like you’re hanging out with a friend, riding around the D.C. area with him as he handles some business before going for a beer. That’s striking in a way mass-produced best sellers just aren’t. Camacho has developed an easy pacing that slow cooks the mystery and intrigue, luring you further into his tale like an old friend recounting this amazing thing that happened just the other night. The result is a relaxing, engaging, entertaining read that satisfies like a long call from an old friend.
Known as the D.C. area’s “professional troubleshooter”, Hannibal is forced to take the case of a Russian assassin who promises to kill his beloved Cindy Santiago if help is refused. But the simple investigation into a wealthy Algerian who has apparently stolen the heart of the woman the assassin loves becomes ever more complicated, intriguing, and dangerous. We see some returning characters from Camacho’s previous Hannibal Jones thrillers, and the protagonist finds himself working with surprising new partners as layer upon layer of discovery is peeled back, the plot slowly simmers and the tension steadily rises to an action-packed climax. Hanging out with Camacho’s Hannibal Jones is time well spent, and as this is the fifth in a series, there is much to enjoy and recommend here.
Copyright ©2009 Christopher Ryan