Vortex – Paul D. Marks

(Reviewed by Cathy Carey)

“We did more than just fight a war; we found a way to cash in on it. I guess we had larceny in us to begin with. And now they thought I had the swag. But I didn’t.”

Zach made it out of Afghanistan alive, only to be fighting for his life in his own back yard. This time, the enemies were his army buddies.

Four high school friends who called themselves the Four Musketeers enlisted in the Army after high school. Zach returned home after being injured in Afghanistan. He reunited with his old girlfriend, Jess and two of the “Four Musketeers” Carlos and Bryan. Carlos and Bryan became very upset with him, since they thought that he was hiding “The Stash”.

This highly suspenseful noir takes you all over Southern California as Zach is being chased and tormented by Carlos and Bryan– they believing that he had the stash another army buddy Matt, sent him. He’s desperately trying to get a hold of Matt while escaping and hiding from the others.

This fast pace book keeps you on the edge of your seat for the entire ride. There are a lot of twist and turns; you’ll become obsessed with who has “the stash” and if Zach is going to live long enough to find the answer.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery. I look forward to reading the authors other books.

(Vortex will be released on September 1, 2015, but is available now for pre-order.)