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A Talent and Skill to Build On
The Red Deuce follows twin sisters working in different government agencies who accidentally wind up uncovering an international conspiracy, putting their lives at risk. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I was serving as the general counsel of a public company, I was visited by a CIA agent who requested that our company employ agents used by the intelligence service in the former USSR. More recently, the counterintelligence chief of the NY office of the FBI was charged and convicted for passing intelligence secrets to China. These were the two incidents leading to my book, Red Deuce.
Twins are known to have a special bond, making them an intriguing choice for your main characters. What was your inspiration for the characters and their relationship?
I come from a family with twins, though they preceded me by a couple generations. I felt that the interplay between twins would make for a rich personal context for protagonists.
Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself?
Yes, I see myself now as a creative person, a talent and skill that I now have a chance to build on and improve.
I find a problem in well-written stories in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned for the sisters?
Absolutely! Books two and three are done but in different stages of editing. I have plans for books four and five, with possibly more to come.
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One fiery redhead in the family can be a caution. When the redhead comes in a pair it means double trouble for anyone who bets against them.
Mandy Doucette is a by-the-book corporate lawyer whose work includes vetting acquisitions. Her twin sister, Reggie, is an FBI pathologist. Both are happy in their respective comfort zones.
But things are about to change. First, Mandy senses something is wrong with a proposed acquisition. She spots a mystery behind why a major corporation made a whistleblower’s complaint disappear—along with the whistleblower.
Soon Mandy’s up to her eyeballs in trouble. She’s risking her life to stop moles from stealing American defense technology and trying to figure out who is trying to frame, then kill her. At the same time, Reggie is investigating corpses dug up in cornfields and forests. Could they be the key to what Mandy is investigating? Suddenly, Reggie’s life is also at risk.
As the sisters dig deeper and come out of their comfort zones, one thing is for certain—you don’t want to get these redheads mad. If they can stay out of the assassin’s crosshairs, they might just bring down your international conspiracy.
Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets. The twists and turns are about to begin.
Red Deuce
Thomas Roehlk’s The Red Deuce thrusts protagonist Mandy Doucette into the treacherous waters of international espionage. Working as a compliance lawyer for LaSalle Enterprises, Mandy’s life spirals into chaos when her job intertwines with shadowy international plots, thanks in part to her twin sister Reggie, an FBI agent. As the narrative unfolds, the sisters find themselves ensnared in a conspiracy that not only endangers their lives but also threatens to destabilize global intelligence networks and international relations.
Roehlk deftly manages the novel’s complex web of events with strategic summaries that clarify the unfolding mystery. This narrative technique proves essential as the story diverges between the sisters’ perspectives—Reggie in the field and Mandy navigating the corporate world—introducing a broad cast of characters early on. The dynamic between Mandy and Reggie adds a lighter, often humorous dimension to the narrative.
The novel skillfully incorporates business jargon to enhance its themes of corporate espionage, providing an authentic experience. While the jargon adds to the realism, it also presents an opportunity for readers to expand their vocabulary, though it may initially seem challenging to some.
The story’s pacing is one of its strengths. Roehlk skillfully maintains tension and suspense throughout. The plot, grounded in a believable mystery, advances steadily, revealing just enough to keep the reader engaged and guessing without becoming predictable. Interestingly, the reader often knows slightly more than the characters, adding an engaging layer of anticipation.
The Red Deuce is a compelling political thriller of intrigue and familial bonds, weaving a thoughtful exploration of trust and deception across the backdrop of high-stakes espionage.
Pages: 294 | ASIN : B0CQDNBNC9
LITERARY TITAN 