Thursday, September 25, 2008

Kllrs-Phil Bowie

Kllrs
Phil Bowie
Medallion, Nov 2008, $7.95
ISBN: 9781605420608

In the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, pilot John Hardin hides from his past; twice the Federal Witness Protection Program has given him new identities including his current one. However, he knows his dark history including a murder could surface at any time.

Former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Nolan Rader informs John he has video proof that he committed a homicide. He demands John save his brother Clint or he will expose him. The plan is for John to join the dangerous powerful drug running Satan’s Ghosts as a pilot smuggling drugs from Canada; Nolan believes a special cell of the biker gang, Satan’s Wraith kidnapped his sibling.

Reluctantly John agrees, but to keep his beloved girl friend Kitty Birdsong and others safe, he tells no one. At the same time he makes contact at a dive, the Satan’s Wraith leader Kurt “the Brain” Ganz conducts a psychological research study using Clint as a subject on stress.

The third Phil Bowie North Carolina thriller (see GUNS and DIAMONDBACK) is an engaging action-packed tale from the moment Nolan blackmails John into rescuing his sibling. The story line is fast-paced but also contains deep characterizations at least of Harden’s friends; how profound they prove to be comes across with their concern for him as he is forced to end his relationships with his beloved Kitty and others to keep them safe and to hide the undercover truth. Although the Brain is too psychopathic especially with his experiments, thriller fans will appreciate this entertaining tale.

Harriet Klausner