For this final Friday in June, Barry Ergang is back
with another review for Friday’s Forgotten Books. Today he reviews The
Sixteenth Man by Thomas B. Sawyer. After you read Barry’s review, head over to Todd
Mason’s Sweet Freedom blog for
the full list of suggestions.
THE SIXTEENTH MAN
(2000) by Thomas B. Sawyer
Reviewed by Barry
Ergang
If and when you decide
to acquire a copy of this novel, I urge you to avoid reading the lengthy synopses at Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
and probably elsewhere, lest they spoil some of the tense and pleasurable
surprises you’ll encounter by reading the actual story.
A mystery thriller
featuring two timelines which ultimately converge, The Sixteenth Man opens in the present with archaeologist Dr. Matthew
Packard nearly killing himself in a motorcycle accident in Moab, Utah, where he
and his crew are on a dig. The accident results in his discovery of an ancient burial
site containing the bones of sixteen skeletons, fifteen of which are possibly a
hundred thousand years-old, and one of which still has some hairs attached and
silver fillings in its teeth—and a bullet in its forearm, rendering its demise
far more modern. When one of his crew is seriously injured and another
murdered, Packard realizes he’s stumbled onto something of archaeological,
historical, and—possibly—criminal significance. Now if he can only live long
enough to uncover who and why….
In November of 1963,
private investigator Charlie Callan, a man whose own personal and professional
issues are in a state of chaos, is contracted by a wealthy friend to obtain
evidence supporting his wife’s blatant infidelity. Charlie tails the woman and
her lover from Nevada to Texas, and it’s there that he stumbles into trouble
that includes a murder charge, a murderous conspiracy at the highest level of
government (note the time of this part of the story at this paragraph’s
beginning), and an opportunity to make a great deal of money for those he loves
despite the likelihood that he’ll be killed no matter what.
Beyond mentioning that
the way these two storylines play out and come together will keep readers
turning pages as they get to know some intriguing characters, their backgrounds
and relationships to others, lethal and otherwise, in a terrific page-turner, I
don’t want to say anything more lest I
spoil the fun and excitement.
Except to say: read it—unless those doing so find
graphic language and some sexuality disturbing or outright offensive.
While non-prudish
21st Century readers are at it, they should check out author Thomas B. Sawyer’s
qualifications—http://www.thomasbsawyer.com/—where
it should become immediately apparent that the man knows how to tell—and what
drives—a compelling story.
Recommended!
© 2017 Barry Ergang
Some of Derringer
Award-winner Barry Ergang’s work is available at Amazon
and at Smashwords.com
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