Building his cabin near the Clearwater River in Idaho, Travis Mays hoped for solitude, peace…renewal. A cleansing of his soul. Yeah, right. And just how does an ex-cop wash the darkness from his past when he holds himself responsible for the brutal death of the woman he loved?
He doesn’t.
Not immersing himself in the criminology classes he teaches at Washington State University. Or plunging headlong into the bracing white water rafting he’s enlisted guide Jessie White Eagle to help him conquer. Certainly not getting himself caught up in another homicide investigation.
Travis Mays bade good riddance to police work five years ago. He lives the simple life now. No worries, no attachments. Other than his dog, Sam. Part wolf, part mutt. Part crazy.
But here he is—and there’s sweet, tough Jessie. Grieving the death of her brother, Tommy, a lawyer whose clients ran the gamut from members of the Nez Perce tribe with their troubles over water rights to the glitzy Whitewater Casino.
Tommy White Eagle’s body, feet together, arms outstretched as if crucified, was discovered on a boulder-strewn slope. Three bullet wounds, one to the head. Why? He was one of the good guys, or so it seems. Talented attorney, loving brother, reliable son.
Where does an ex-cop who counted on a permanent detour from his “old” life begin to help Jessie and her father, Frank, the Nez Perce police chief?
In Revenge: A Travis Mays Novel, author Mark Young invites the reader to accompany Travis on his journey of newfound love, cold-blooded murder, baffling clues, vengeance and resolution…with enough probable baddies to fill a clubhouse—or a casino.
Is the killer Joseph Baptiste, the hot-headed Nez Perce deputy and Jessie’s former lover? Could it be Special Agent Clay Lafata, FBI? Or maybe McPeters at the University? (Hey, there are no spoilers in this review. You have to read the book.)
MarkYoung deftly flexes his writing muscles as he moves Travis Mays from one clue, one possible and dangerous suspect, to the next. The author’s background in law enforcement adds credence to his protagonist. His vivid descriptions place readers in the moment, while believable dialogue and the depth of his main characters hold them there.
As with all good mysteries, Revenge: A Travis Mays Novel provides the readers ample twists and turns, and doesn’t ease up until the surprise ending. My one complaint with this novel is that there seems, at times, too many characters. I found myself trying to place them, to remember who was who and who did what. But that in no way, diminishes how well-crafted this novel is. I give Revenge: A Travis Mays Novel four stars and predict it is the start of a riveting series with a well-earned following. I look forward to the next installment.
Revenge: A Travis Mays Novel is available through Amazon (in both paperback and Kindle) and other fine booksellers. Author Mark Young was a police officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department in California for twenty-six years. He’s an award-winning journalist and a Vietnam combat veteran.
He doesn’t.
Not immersing himself in the criminology classes he teaches at Washington State University. Or plunging headlong into the bracing white water rafting he’s enlisted guide Jessie White Eagle to help him conquer. Certainly not getting himself caught up in another homicide investigation.
Travis Mays bade good riddance to police work five years ago. He lives the simple life now. No worries, no attachments. Other than his dog, Sam. Part wolf, part mutt. Part crazy.
But here he is—and there’s sweet, tough Jessie. Grieving the death of her brother, Tommy, a lawyer whose clients ran the gamut from members of the Nez Perce tribe with their troubles over water rights to the glitzy Whitewater Casino.
Tommy White Eagle’s body, feet together, arms outstretched as if crucified, was discovered on a boulder-strewn slope. Three bullet wounds, one to the head. Why? He was one of the good guys, or so it seems. Talented attorney, loving brother, reliable son.
Where does an ex-cop who counted on a permanent detour from his “old” life begin to help Jessie and her father, Frank, the Nez Perce police chief?
In Revenge: A Travis Mays Novel, author Mark Young invites the reader to accompany Travis on his journey of newfound love, cold-blooded murder, baffling clues, vengeance and resolution…with enough probable baddies to fill a clubhouse—or a casino.
Is the killer Joseph Baptiste, the hot-headed Nez Perce deputy and Jessie’s former lover? Could it be Special Agent Clay Lafata, FBI? Or maybe McPeters at the University? (Hey, there are no spoilers in this review. You have to read the book.)
MarkYoung deftly flexes his writing muscles as he moves Travis Mays from one clue, one possible and dangerous suspect, to the next. The author’s background in law enforcement adds credence to his protagonist. His vivid descriptions place readers in the moment, while believable dialogue and the depth of his main characters hold them there.
As with all good mysteries, Revenge: A Travis Mays Novel provides the readers ample twists and turns, and doesn’t ease up until the surprise ending. My one complaint with this novel is that there seems, at times, too many characters. I found myself trying to place them, to remember who was who and who did what. But that in no way, diminishes how well-crafted this novel is. I give Revenge: A Travis Mays Novel four stars and predict it is the start of a riveting series with a well-earned following. I look forward to the next installment.
Revenge: A Travis Mays Novel is available through Amazon (in both paperback and Kindle) and other fine booksellers. Author Mark Young was a police officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department in California for twenty-six years. He’s an award-winning journalist and a Vietnam combat veteran.