They say your past never defines your future, but Mickey Frank felt that’s exactly what was happening. A stint in Somalia during his years in the military left him with memories he wished he could forget, and despite leaving the service behind for a quiet job and life as a family man, it seemed as if those days were back to haunt him. However, once Mickey learned what the military was investigating, he not only breathed a sigh of relief, he became eager to help. He had known all along that some members of his crew were unpleasant people, but suddenly he learned just how heinous they indeed were.

The Mongoose Crew by Marcus Fair packs a whole lot of punch into a pretty small package. Beginning with just a few paragraphs about American troops in Somalia in the early ’90s, it quickly turns to Mickey and the tranquil life he leads. But, just as quickly, it looks as if that life is on the verge of being upended. Fair does a fantastic job of crafting his story with less than 100 pages, showing incredible skill and illustrating the idea that sometimes less is more. Despite its length, there is a ton of action and backstory included, leading up to the conclusion. Fair also excels at pacing his reveals, again, an incredible feat when the length is considered. What exactly happened to Mickey and his crew in Somalia? Why is the military asking questions after all these years? Where did everyone else end up in life? Everything is answered and explained in due time, heightening the mystery and the tension.

It’s not often you come across a story that is so complete yet still able to finish in one or two sittings, and that’s part of what makes this work so well here. The theme also reaches beyond a basic military story, although that is the foundation, which helps broaden the appeal.

The Mongoose Crew is a military fiction novel that grabs readers from the first page and continues to the end. This short read will entertain readers of all kinds with mystery and action.

Pages: 64 | ASIN : B09HNB5LSK