The Lagarto Stone (A Book Review)

6/30/2006

Format:

Perfect Bound Softcover(B/W)

Pages:

278

Size:

6x9

ISBN:

978-0-59536-727-6

A mortally wounded Mexican stranger passes Doug Sutherland a cryptic note about a "shipment" and warns him that "your mother is in danger" Sutherland, a young Chicago entrepreneur, tries to convince himself that the message was meant for someone else. Even if true, why should he care? His mother abandoned his father and him when he was an infant. Besides, his world is already complicated by his love life, his real estate project, and debilitating nightmares echoing gruesome memories from his infancy, images associated with his phobias and his mother.

But then armed men invade his apartment, a Mexican smuggler threatens him, the police accuse him of drug dealing, and a DEA agent harasses him, all because of what he supposedly possesses or knows. Sucked into a maelstrom, he must overcome his life-long fears and resentment toward his mother to rescue her, save his kidnapped girlfriend, recover a priceless pre-Hispanic artifact, battle a ruthless smuggler, and survive multiple murder attempts, the last from an unexpected source.

Whew! That was the synopsis from both the Amazon blurb and the book website...I knew when I read it, that the premise was one that had the potential to hold my interest...it was right up my alley. I mean, what's not to like? It has archaeology, a little romance, a lot of adventure and some mystery thrown in and a few twists too. 

The author did not disappoint. Once I started this book, I did not want to put it down. Even though Doug is just your every day real estate developer/former lawyer and his girlfriend is also a lawyer they sure do have the brains and the guts to get themselves out of some real scrapes...

This was an action packed, adventure filled ride from beginning to end. I tell you Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt and Giordano would be proud...

Fans of those two will enjoy this one. I know that I enjoyed the ingenuity and luck that these two employed throughout the book in order to try to stay a step ahead of the bad guys.

I don't really want to say too much about the plot itself because I make it a policy as a reviewer not to be a spoiler...

I will just say that when I finished the book I thought to myself that these characters were such that I would like to spend more time with them...I wondered if Mr. Gordon McIntosh had considered writing another book with Doug Sutherland and his Girl...I looked it up, and guess what!?! He sure did! It is called, Death's Crooked Shadow! I have already loaded it onto my Kindle and I have already read the prologue! I have to tell you that as soon as I finish this review and publish it to all of the places that I promised I would...I will be reading that one...

So 5 HEARTS for this one!

The Lagarto Stone

by Gordon N. MccIntosh

About the author:

 Mr. McIntosh began writing mysteries thrillers after a successful real estate career and a Masters degree from the University of Chicago. He and his wife spend the temperate months in their Chicago home and venture south for the winter.

You can read more about the author and his books at these two websites:

TheLagartoStone and GordonMcIntosh

So do yourself a favor and pick this one up...you won't regret it! I can't wait to start the next one...