Book Review: The Letterbox by Layton Green

This ghostly thriller brings some soul searching.
The Letterbox
by Layton Green

File Size: 2336 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Publication Date: September 2, 2016
ASIN: B01LHMCTSA
Genre: Mystery, Supernatural, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

What if you had the chance to uncover tangible evidence of the divine? How far would you go, what dangers would you brave, in pursuit of the greatest mystery of all?
Four companions of varying beliefs, on a journey to the forgotten corners of Europe, are about to find out.
On a desolate English moor, a team of scientists unearths a two-thousand-year-old wooden box, preserved in silver and inlaid with a map of patterned gemstones. A set of runes inscribed on the box claims the map is a pathway to God.
In an attempt to decipher the map, a wealthy New Orleans collector assembles an unlikely team: a specialist in cultural antiquities who dabbles in the occult; a jaded attorney searching for meaning; a brilliant linguist who loathes organized religion; and a Catholic historian with a reputation for acquiring pieces no one else can or will.
Shackled by secrets and hidden motives, pursued by a sinister religious order, driven by an insatiable desire for answers, the four companions trek across Europe as they search for a connection among the ancient sites revealed by the map. As the hunt for truth takes them deeper into the unknown, their lives and perhaps their souls in peril, they must determine whether the letterbox is part of an elaborate, centuries-old deception—or the answer to mankind’s ultimate questions.
From critically acclaimed and bestselling author Layton Green, The Letterbox is a thrilling new mystery that weaves danger, exotic locales, breathless suspense, romance, and ancient secrets into the tapestry of an unforgettable novel.

Review:
A unique artifact is found on a desolate English moor. A wealthy New Orleans collector, Lucius, is hired to retrieve the letterbox and investigate its origins and purpose. The collector calls in a brilliant linguist, Lou, an atheist, who drags along his best friend, Aidan, an attorney who is disgusted with his work and seeking some greater meaning to life. Lou determines that runes on the box may be interpreted as the “God path”. Not all the writing and mosaic work on the box matches the described or expected setting and historic time which adds to the puzzle. Lucius’ assistant, Asha, who dabbles in the occult, joins the team and they head off to Dubrovnik to pick up the team guide, Jake, a Catholic historian skilled in collecting, and protecting, rare pieces.

The four are quickly drawn in and committed to the search by individual drives and secret motives. Even as strange visions, ghostly apparitions, threatening druids and dangers stalk them across Europe, they cannot let go of the quest. Will the map lead them to a hidden treasure, druid secrets concealed centuries ago, or an encounter with God? It is a quest that may steal their lives if not their souls.

This is a fascinating mystery guided by a puzzle that might have readers thinking of The Da Vinci Code while the quest is reminiscent of a modern day Indiana Jones adventure traveling to spiritually rich sites. The history, action and danger of the quest are engaging, but I was anxious to discover the end result. I found the four varied reactions to the revealed ending to be consistent with their beliefs and preset attitudes, which provides an interesting psychological argument.

The writing is strong with unique and well researched settings. The story is told from Aidan's view which worked well since he is the one seeking meaning without a preset belief system. I recommend this as engaging reading to those who like a puzzling thriller with a touch of soul searching.

I received this from the author for an honest review.

Book Review: The Shadow Cartel (The Dominic Grey Series) by Layton Green

This is an intense thriller with interesting connections between drug cartel and cults.
The Shadow Cartel (The Dominic Grey Series)
by Layton Green

File Size: 6827 KB

• Print Length: 434 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1477827811
• Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (May 1, 2015)
• ASIN: B00O4FK868

Genre: Thriller, Mystery Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 1, 2015
The sins of the past always return…
Called upon by a former love to look into the death of a family friend in Miami, veteran investigator Dominic Grey is sucked into the darkest reaches of international narcotics trafficking. The murders of multiple drug dealers during a bizarre religious ceremony, combined with the appearance of a mythical assassin, take DEA agent Federico Hernandez and CIA operative Lana Valenciano down the same deadly path.
Lying in wait is an enemy known only as the General: a criminal mastermind whose uncanny ability to avoid detection while cowing even the most ruthless of rival cartels has made him a legend.
Thrown together on a covert manhunt, Grey and the two government agents race across the Americas to unearth a dark chapter in the history of the CIA that has spilled into the present—and put them in the crosshairs of an underworld puppeteer with a frightening reach.

Review:
Dominic Grey is a private investigator who grew up hard and rough on dark streets. He works with a cult expert, Viktor, but Viktor is currently away battling his own dark demons. Dominic misses his former lover, Nya, and is surprised when the fragile and healing young woman arrives to ask a favor. Nya’s neice has been killed in Miami by a bad batch of ‘designer’ drugs. Nya asks Dominic to track down the man responsible.

Dominic takes up the search, joining with a local DEA agent, Fred. The first trail leads to four dead men and a sighting of a blue lady who wields a deadly blow pipe. When another murder by the blue lady is reported Lana, from the CIA, steps in to aid the search. However her goal reaches higher. She wants to follow the cartel link to find a mysterious leader known as “The General.”

The team’s first few leads are successful but reveal that there is a mole leaking their every step. Lana takes the mission off record hoping to avoid leaks. This leaves the three of them very vulnerable especially when they start traipsing around Mexico and South America.

Dominic is finally able to reach Viktor who begins researching the Blue Lady. He determines she is part of a little known religious cult that uses black magic and voodoo type curses. As the good guys get closer to discovering the truth even Viktor becomes a target for an unexpected killer.

The story got my attention quickly although there are numerous characters to sort in the first few chapters. Once I was able to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys, I enjoyed the brisk pace of action and the twists in the mystery. I enjoyed the real descriptions of Miami and the Everglades since I am familiar with those areas. The descriptions of the third world countries cities and jungles, is distinct and made me thankful I don’t live in those dire conditions. The history and intricate connection of the cults and scopolamine being used in drug cartels is scary. Mr. Green uses an engaging technique by interspersing chapters that give the reader knowledge of the brilliant enemy without fully revealing him until later in the book.

There is cursing but the "F" word is only used once. Although this is part of a series, and I imagine that reading them in order would build better background, it read acceptably as a stand alone. It engaged me enough in strong characters of Dominic and Viktor that I would be interested in their next dangerous adventure.

I received this title from the author through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley challenge.