Jay MacLarty, Choke Point

Choke Point

Jay MacLarty

Pocket, Feb 2007, $7.99, 400 pp.

ISBN 141650348X

On Macau, mega-billionaire and powerful businessman Big Jake Rynerson is building a casino and hotel, the Pacific Pearl that will rival all the other casinos on the island. Behind the scenes, Jake is also working as the conduit for a trade agreement between China, Taiwan, and the United States. The Pacific Rim Alliance is contingent on the two pieces of the Crest of Ch'in, a historical artifact being returned to China which Taiwan and the United States agree to do.

Jake calls special courier Simon Leonidovich to deliver one of the pieces to him. When Simon arrives, he learns that the casino has been the victim of sabotage, delaying the completion date and if that happens, the trade agreement doesn't happen. There are governments, other groups and businessmen that don't want the alliance to happen and one of those groups hires a mercenary band to make sure a piece of the Crest of Ch'in is not delivered. Simon and the beautiful daughter of Jake work together to see that everything goes as planned even when they are stranded on a deserted island with an unexpected traitor. Somehow they must stay one step ahead of the enemy if they are to make it off the island alive.

There is plenty of action, excitement and suspense in CHOKE POINT, a thriller that not only grabs reader interest but propels the audience into turning the pages to see how Simon gets out of his predicaments. The touch of romance between Simon and Kyra adds a believable feel to the thrilling storyline. Jay MacLarty has a great future ahead of him as a thriller writer.

Harriet Klausner