TopShelf Magazine August 2017 | Page 33

the switch ~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews thirsty days has september SUPERBLY VIVID, ULTRA-REALISTIC, AND STUNNINGLY AUTHENTIC! His only fear was not knowing if he had what it took to be a Marine officer––that is, until the day they sent him to Nam. An entitled second lieutenant, fresh out of training, lands in Vietnam full of wonder––an all consuming awe that quickly James Strauss descends into dread at the deplorable conditions he, as an officer, has to endure. Speaking his mind to a superior officer only makes matters worse as he is ordered to take command of a company of misfit Marines––men who have no respect for their newest untested commander, and whom they unaffectionately nickname, Junior. He quickly realizes they’re not only fighting the external North Vietnamese Army but the internal racial divide amongst them. But there's no going to the rear and there's certainly no going home. The only choice they have is to go deeper into the valley of death, known as the A Shau. One thing is certain, death will come, but will it come from the enemy or within? Superbly vivid scenes and ultra-realistic portrayals give this book stunning authenticity and depth. Thirty Days Has September is a riveting tale of impossible choices that flawlessly captures you in the moment and refuses to let go, even long after the final page is turned. www.TopShelfMagazine.net suddenly at risk simply because he knows too much. Abbott is an ambitious player behind the Congressional scene willing to take desperate measures to retrieve the laptop but he’s also an amateur at this sort of thing. The two become embroiled in a mess neither one can fully control. When a national security agency becomes involved, everyone’s future is at risk, and the price to be paid goes up. This is not a predictable tale, and the fact that Tanner is just your average nice guy plunged into a life and death situation through no fault of his own makes this timely novel even more intriguing.  Considering recent revelations about mishandling of sensitive information, the situation may not be all that far-fetched. This political thriller puts an everyday citizen in harm’s way after a simple mix-up at the airport. Michael Tanner mistakenly picks up the wrong laptop after going through airport security and finds himself in possession of a senator’s computer full of top-secret documents. Meanwhile, Joseph Finder powerful Senator Susan Robbins’ right-hand-man, Will Abbott, is frantically seeking the lost laptop, knowing that his boss’s career—and his—will be destroyed if this egregious breach of security is discovered. I found this to be a refreshingly different take on political intrigue. Tanner is not your usual highly trained special ops agent or guilt-ridden former cop seeking redemption through one last dangerous mission. He’s a regular guy whose life is REVIEWS AN UNPREDICTABLE TALE STRAIGHT OUT OF TODAY’S HEADLINES! reviews ~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews TOPShelf magazine AUGUST2017 33