Author(s): Ben Sanders

Crime

Vincent needs a change. He's spent the last fifteen years in covert operations for the US government, but after a botched and fatal mission, he decides he's done with pulling triggers. He lucks into a dream job in Santa Barbara as head of security for supermarket mogul Eugene Lamar: nothing more than driving the boss to and from golf, with ample downtime for surfing, or sitting by the pool contemplating life-and how to live it with a zero body count. There he meets and is intrigued by Lamar's daughter, the journalist Erin Jones, who's on tour in California to promote her book about the benefits of war. Vincent's seen his share of conflict and is sure he can change her mind - and he'd really like to make his case over drinks. But there's a problem: if Lamar's business is confined to supermarkets, why does he need a panic room full of assault rifles, and a .357 revolver in his car? It doesn't take long for Vincent to find out that Lamar owes a debt to bad people - and that's only the start of it. He's ensnared in a criminal enterprise, which soon brings costs in lives as well as money. Erin wants answers, and needs Vincent's help to get them. But how much does she already know? Is his growing attraction to her a liability? And can he keep her safe from the brutal killers who are after her father? It seems that Santa Barbara is a sunny town full of dark talent, and Vincent will have to revert to dark talents of his own if he's going to survive . . .

CONSTANT READER STAFF REVIEW: CAELLI

Vincent is just looking for a quiet life after leaving the military, and playing driver-cum-bodyguard for a supermarket mogul should – keyword ‘should’ – be nice and quiet.

Unfortunately for Vincent, he seems to be one of those folks who, either by force of his sense of justice or just sheer bad luck, seems to wind up in situations that are anything but quiet.

For an action-adventure novel, it’s actually pretty cruisy – Vincent is pretty laidback when he’s not breaking into houses and intimidating information out of people, and he gets easily distracted whenever the boss’s daughter is around.

Overall it was a really enjoyable, escapist story that was easy to follow and fun to read.