890. "Goodbye Paris" by Mike Bond – 4 Stars

Goodbye Paris  by Mike Bond – 4 Stars

Publisher: Big City Press

ISBN: 9781949751031

It’s always refreshing to read fiction that presents real facts and correctness. The background in this novel is the current day issues in France to govern the influx of immigrants who wish not to conform to current laws and living standards but instead take advantage of a country that reaches out much too far to accompany them. The welcoming pockets of French politicians and its socialistic liberal pleasing attitudes turned France into an ineffective enforcer of French law which bends way too backward when addressing immigrant demands. Unfortunately, it’s the Islamic radicals in this book that benefit to such a high degree that it becomes a nightmare to rein in terror. The background and issues presented make this book.

The plot is to find the terrorists before they take the Eiffel Tower down and thousands are killed, plus, the search for Pono’s personal friends Mack and Gisele now kidnapped and status unknown. The relationship of ex-special forces Pono Hawkins and French DGSE agent Anne Ronsard builds both professionally and personally in their hunt to find the elusive Mustafa who in the past captured Pono and almost killed him. Throughout their attempts they are burdened by leaks and French leniency that together hints of law enforcement corruption and support of the terrorists. This presents many hurdles for Pono and Anne and provides many twists and suspenseful events in the story.

A distraction at times from a true spy novel was repetitiveness of material, such as continuous shoulder dislocation, fear of heights, etc. and noncontributing extraneous passages of sex and chit-chat commonly present in a cozy novel. However, the overall story was compelling and well written and deserves a very good rating.

 Reviewer: Rich