Blue Madagascar

As I begin to write my review I’m wondering if I can truly capture the adrenaline spikes, the unforeseen adventures, the detours leading to more breathtaking twists, and the wonder if truth will prevail. There can always be various interruptions by the news outlets favorably titled, "Breaking News" especially days prior to a U.S. Presidential Election. However, no one would anticipate the death of the most likely-to-succeed candidate. The exquisite presentation in the "Prologue" introduces 5 ½ seconds of video from a cell phone across the sphere of news outlets and social media to a person that becomes known as the “Invisible Woman.” Speculation is rampant to learn if she is relevant to the news headlines. In the ensuing chapters show more the reveal beginning "Six Weeks Earlier"to "Four Weeks Earlier" to "Two Weeks Earlier" to "Two Days Earlier" to "The Night Of" the "Breaking News" leads to international intrigue at its finest!

How many adjectives may I use without being excessive? Edge-of-the-seat, galvanizing, spectacular, high-voltage, and powerful convey only a tingle of the goose bumps, the grip of nerve-endings, and acceleration of suspense that is a complicated puzzle to unravel. I found Mr. Kaplan’s writing in a class by itself and any quantity of descriptive adjectives should not be deemed extravagant. It’s a disquieting and thought-provoking thriller that captivated this reader from beginning to end. Each detail heightened my awe to share it is the "best-of-the-best" suspenseful writing I’ve ever read.

My sincere thanks to Andrew Kaplan, and Smugglers Lane Press for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

#BlueMadagascarThrillerSuspense #NetGalley show less

Blue Madagascar by Andrew Kaplan

The prologue grabs,
The story unfolds,
Speeding up rapidly,
As the end is in sight.

Never having read this author I was intrigued by the book description. As one thread after another was introduced with numerous characters named, I wondered where the story would go, how the characters would intersect, and if the threads would be woven together and completed seamlessly. It was slow, or seemed so, at first but the pace picked up and I felt I was in the middle of what could easily be a movie or perhaps a TV program ~ Perhaps not a surprise if I had twigged to the fact that Kaplan authored Homeland and that did become a popular TV show.

What I liked:
* Jessica’s Rules and how they played a huge part in one show more character’s life ~ If this IS to be a series, perhaps she will eventually take part in the cast of characters.
* Casey: Government “employee” with a wicked skillset, nerves of steel, quick thinker, lethal, and intriguing.
* Natalya: lethal, chameleon, working for a government other than and often opposed to the one that Casey works for, intelligent, pragmatic, could be a sister of another mother to Casey
* Bochard: the French connection and sometime counterpart working with Casey
* Not knowing everything too soon
* Wanting to find out what lead up to the prologue…as it actually occurred before most of the rest of the book.
* The way evil was often thwarted
* Feeling immersed in the story
* That feel of La Femme Nikita and/or the movie SALT that popped up from time to time
* Rooting for a positive conclusion to the story with my favorite characters surviving till the end
* Wondering if this is the first in a series and if so, what will happen next.

What I didn’t like:
* Exactly who and what I was meant NOT to like. The wicked evil people were easy to hate and wish the worst for.
* Not knowing what will happen next in the lives of the characters I became invested in…including Jessica.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley, Smugglers Lane Press, and Book Whsiperer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars show less

This book jumped all over the place and was often confusing due to having too many places and characters which lacked enough development to satisfy me and make me care about them. The story was very detailed regarding the spy game and the depraved things some men do, which made it seem realistic in that aspect. I had hoped for a different ending regarding Casey's sister, but at least the foil was satisfying. It was not my usual genre, but I didn't mind stepping out of my comfort zone on it. I rounded up from 3.6 to give it 4 stars because the story, writing and editing were solid.

Just finished Blue Madagascar by Andrew Kaplan. This was a very fast paced book set over a six week period. A very enjoyable book that kept you guessing on what was going to happen next and the ultimate outcome.

The novel starts with a prologue describing the suicide of the leading presidential candidate several days before the election and a mystery woman shown in headlights of a cell phone video. The start of the novel is set six weeks earlier in a jewelry story in Nice, France where one of the customers is killed and his girlfriend joins the robbers in their exit. The story then jumps to a Homeland Security agent in Zamora, Mexico where she is trying to find links a Thai girl that was abducted. These seemly random events are tied show more together into a fascinating story involving an ex-CIA agent and something called Blue Madagascar. Don't want to say to much more about the plot, because I don't want to spoil an excellent plot and well told story. There is a whole laundry list of alphabet agencies from CIA, DHS, Secret Service, FBI, KGB/SVR, Russian mafia, French Intelligence, French police, etc. that are involved in this story. show less

This is one entertaining story I thoroughly enjoyed I am grateful to Smuggler Lane Press and Netgalley for bringing this tittle to my attention and for the opportunity to read and review this book.

If you were or are a fan of Robert Ludlum thrillers and of authors with similar genre you will love “Blue Madagascar”. Along with its characters the plot takes us through the most dangerous locations. The focus is on Casey Raminez, she is fearless and very talented. Homeland Security counts her among their best investigators and do not shy from sending her to help or delay any investigation. She is a fascinating character, well-drawn to play an exciting role. Her latest mission is to find out who was the American killed during a botched show more jewel heist in Nice, France. Her involvement starts a worldwide hunt and soon a trail of bodies follow her every move to places and where people are more dangerous than she could have believed. But where does Blue Madagascar fit into this ....Looking for it is the thrill of the chase and what makes this thriller one of the best.

The opening is taut, very effective and frightful. There is a lot to sink our teeth in. A lot goes on and many characters pop in and out so it is important to stay focus on the few main characters that repeatedly show up. I enjoyed the ride and the constant intrigue and twists and the many bad guys clashing with each other. The story gives us a lot from car chases, murder and deadly threats ...what a cat and mouse game and what an adrenaline rush the story gives us.

“Blue Madagascar” is intense, fast-paced, and dynamic and most of all very entertaining. show less

I received a free copy of this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewers scheme.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It started well and then went in a completely different direction and I spent several chapters wondering about the first, and with this book you need to pay attention. I loved the different locations and characters and the plot was well done and plausible.

The pace of the book was just right and kept me reading to the end fairly quickly.

A surprisingly good read and highly recommended.

Review of eBook

The shocking suicide of a presidential candidate on the verge of winning the election leaves everyone stunned. Why? Why would someone on the verge of being elected to the highest office in the land kill himself?

On the French Riviera, a botched jewelry store heist leaves a bystander dead. American, unidentified; his death triggers a worldwide for something left behind by the dead man.

United States Homeland Security Special Agent Casey Ramirez uncovers a clue about the American killed in the jewelry store and finds herself thrown into a deadly cat-and-mouse game that keeps her barely one step ahead of a deadly assassin.

Racing against time, other agents, and assassins, every major intelligence agency is in the hunt for the show more explosive secret left behind by the dead man. Who will emerge victorious? And what is Casey’s role in this deadly hunt?

This amazing, thrill-a-page, heart-stopping, can’t-put-it-down tale of secrets and cover-ups is guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats as the plot twists and turns, leaving readers to wonder just who can be trusted . . . and exactly what is the explosive secret?

The narrative, bolstered by a strong sense of place, a cast of believable, interesting characters, and an all-too-believable plot, keeps the suspense building. Tension underlies every page as the unfolding story reveals unexpected secrets. There’s a pervasive sense of peril in this tale that is both intriguing and captivating. Fans of the genre will find much to appreciate in this well-crafted tale of international political intrigue.

Highly recommended. show less