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The China Paradox
The China Paradox follows Walter Lummis, a freelance journalist in his 70’s who has spent most of his life reporting on Asia. The book starts when Lummis witnesses the real-world assassination of Kim Jong Un’s brother, Kim Jong Nam. Already privy to a conspiracy that threatens to change the world forever, Lummis is now wanted by North Korea’s deadly intelligence agency, the MSS. We follow Lummis as he both fights for survival and fights to reveal the conspiracy before it’s too late.
Lummis is not a traditional hero. He’s a man approaching the end of the line. He has spent his life chasing the next big story, and he’s never really amounted to much. A serial womanizer and borderline drunk, Lummis has pushed away everyone in his life. When Lummis stumbles across the story of the century he realizes it’s his path to a possible Pulitzer prize and a big payday. To Lummis saving the world is just an added benefit.
The China Paradox could serve as a textbook on current affairs. It’s rare to read a book that blurs the lines of fact and fiction so closely. This is a political thriller that hits far too close to home and at times can be downright terrifying.
The first half of the book is written as a first-person audio recording. Lummis dodges from location to location whilst speaking into his recorder, filling the reader in on the meat of the conspiracy. The second half turns to a more traditional third-person approach as Lummis attempts to get his story published whilst dodging various pursuers.
During the second half of the book there are several scenes where the 70+ year old protagonist dodges bullets and outruns assassins/spies half his age. At one point he is even ejected through a speeding car’s windshield into a solid object and dusts himself off as if nothing happened. Other than these scenes the book is realistically written. In a book with a compelling protagonist and an intriguing plot these action scenes are just an accessory to an already riveting political thriller.
All in all The China Paradox is an excellent political thriller. Shirar blends the lines between reality and fiction masterfully. The result is a book that works as a terrifying warning of what could come. I highly recommend this novel to readers with a healthy interest in current affairs or any fan of political thrillers.
Pages: 251 | ASIN: B0B655GNZN
Nantucket Summer
![Nantucket Summer by [Gerard Shirar]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41MY6H6Jr3L.jpg)
Nantucket Summer follows Greg Williamson, a seventy-one year old man, who has recently lost his wife. He decides to visit his younger sister in Clearwater Florida. While he is packing for the trip, he comes across a box filled with some items from his past and he remembers the summer he spent on Nantucket Island when he was a young man in 1946, before he started attending Purdue University. During that summer, he worked as a night watchman at a hotel where he meets a woman named Sydney MacKluskie. They fall in love, but ultimately part ways and lead different lives, until a chance encounter in a hospital. Was it Sydney that saves Greg’s life in the hospital? Greg must find out.
Author Gerard Shirar provides readers with an impassioned romance story following two intriguing characters that are easy to empathize with. I found the author’s writing style engaging and the story kept my interest all the way to the end. This sentimental novel reads very much like a real-life account, and there were times when I forgot that I was reading a fictional story. I liked the setting of the holiday atmosphere at the beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the descriptions of the quaint shops and cottages in the villages on Nantucket Island. The author has a knack for creating a scene and letting the readers live in it. The same is true for the historical time period the novel is placed in. The story always felt authentic and realistic, keeping the story grounded and focused on the emotional obstacles Greg faces. A small portion of the book takes place during Greg’s time fighting in the Korean War, and this section of the story makes a striking contrast to the carefree days Greg spent while working in Nantucket.
This is a character driven story that successfully pulls you along with emotionally charged plot developments that rely on your connection to the characters. I was not a fan of Sydney’s character when she was first introduced, but learning about the tragedy in her past helped me to understand her actions and attitude.
Nantucket Summer is a historical romance novel filled with wonderfully detailed observations and characters that you will love following.
Pages: 170 | ASIN: B0791M6Q2Y
LITERARY TITAN 