Jeff Buick, Shell Game

Shell Game

Jeff Buick

Leisure, Apr 2007, $7.99

ISBN: 0843958464

Taylor Simons is living the American dream with her handsome husband Alan whom she loves and who earns a large income so that they live in a mansion. She also runs her own multi-million dollar valued advertising business, G-cubed. Their bank suddenly calls in Taylor and Alan to pay their note, past due. The pair had invested everything they owned and more into New Pro, but the firm disappeared overnight in a great scam. Down to a paltry few hundred K, they sell everything even as adding insult Alan loses his job.

When they receive a tip as to the whereabouts of New Pro CEO Edward Brand, they head to Mexico to confront him. Per happenstance they find him where he is living and follow him when he leaves his luxurious villa. As the car nears the cliffs, Alan throws Taylor out of their vehicle and tries to run down Edward. Instead he misses and falls into the water below. DNA proves he is dead. Taylor teams up with a former New Pro employee Kelly who also works for the NSA; they set up a scam to take away all of Edward's money, knowing failure means death.

SHELL GAME is a thrill-a-minute crime caper in which appearances are deceiving and filled with twists that seem plausible yet stunning. Ironically, Edward is the only key character who appears to be what he is as everyone else has secrets they hide behind. Jeff Buick will be recognized by fans as a leading thriller writer due to this fast-paced tale in which the sting is the only game in town.

Harriet Klausner