Jeremy Chester

This is a good book, but it could be better. On the positive side, the story-line is novel and interesting; on the negative side, the editing left a lot to be desired. The typos and grammatical errors were terribly distracting and are the primary reason I rate this book only two stars. If you like a good murder/spy/mystery thriller, you will probably like this book, despite the flaws.

I admit up front that I haven't finished this book. It is an Early Reader book and I have been trying for over a month to get "into" it. It may not happen. I am from Miami, loved the premise.....I lived through the Colombian Drug wars there and thought it had the basis for a great plot. But someone needed to tell Chester that he had too many characters with too little clarification and they were soooo confusing. Between the Witness Protection Program, the CIA and all the people who were show more either victims or bad guys, it was very hard to stay involved. It could be a good story......just need to simplify and grab the reader a little earlier. I am determined to finish. I owe it to the Early Reader Program. But, it isn't easy. And a good book needs to be engrossing enough to make multiple character confusion worth figuring out. This one isn't yet. show less

Twice, I put this book down with no intention of finishing it. About mid-way through I decided to finish it. The plot develops like a shaggy dog story. One mystery along the way is solved only to uncover two more. the ending is so astonishing that one has to ask oneself was that really what I read. I will recommend it to others as completely escapist readings.

The author explores the idea that a good person, in bad circumstance and forced into bad decisions can be redeemed though action. His conclusion is that redemption is possible but not without cost.

While not the fastest read, Smoke is an enjoyable thriller, cum spy story; set in Florida and Central America in the Nixon/Watergate era. Arguably the best part of the story is that there is plenty of good character development, of the not only the main character, Smoke aka. Jim Symth/Frank show more Janovic, but supporting characters as well; lots of intrigue and plot twists leave the reader, “wondering who done it,” keeping interest high. The unfortunately, clichéd ending, makes one wonder if the sequel is not already in the works. Which, when published, I will read. show less