Customer Reviews

Buried Lies

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gus Ivy is retired and bored. He seems too young to be wasting away in Arizona just playing golf. When someone known to him is murdered he's suddenly dragged into a bizarre adventure centering around a unique book that has hidden clues that could lead to a fortune the likes of which he's never dreamed of. Throw in more murder and a mysterious girl and Gus shows us he's not afraid to get his hands dirty. Great characters and action packed.

Gus Ivy is seeking nothing more than a haircut from an old barber, but when the barber mentions an obscure Western novel that he has, Gus the book collector is interested, especially since the book is by one of Gus's favorite authors. No sooner does Gus obtain the book than the barber is murdered. It turns out that the book was a gift to a select group of soldiers from a wealthy man much of whose wealth appears to have been hidden to avoid allowing the government to take more than what he considered a fair share. The book, it seems, may be a cryptic treasure map, leading to an unspecified treasure. Gus is soon joined by Cassidy, a deaf woman who claims to be the granddaughter of the late creator of the puzzle. With the barber's killers chasing--and frequently finding--him, Gus may have to rely on Cassidy and she on him, but the salient question is whether he can trust her. She is definitely keeping secrets. Enter another woman who tries to seduce Gus at a casino and seems to show up rather too frequently, and Gus is not alone as he pursues the treasure, whatever it might be.

The idea of a book that hides the clues to a treasure map seems a natural for the mystery genre, many of whose books naturally challenge the reader to join along with the protagonist to solve the mystery. Certainly, that element is a draw in this novel, but it is, alas, one without a payoff since "Buried Lies" does not contain enough of the actual puzzle (or much at all) to allow the reader a chance of solving it. Indeed, once the characters begin to solve the puzzle, the reader has, quite literally, no chance to play along. In addition, it seems that the puzzle, once parts of it start to unravel, reveals itself too quickly.

Puzzle aside, the novel is fun, especially trying to figure out the relationship between Gus and Cassidy. (And here, the reader does indeed have a chance to guess along with the characters.) And once the trip begins in earnest, it really takes off, covering nearly half the width of a continent. From an old man's barbershop to a casino to the house of a Navajo elder, Gus is on a wild ride, one that includes a large dose of woo-woo (supernatural elements) that the characters rely on to solve the mystery, lots and lots of danger, and a Dean Koontz-size portion of companion dogs.

Gus Ivy decides to try his hand at retirement. He quickly tires of playing golf and is bored. He stops for a haircut finds that the barber has a first edition copy of a western novel written by one of his favorite authors. Unfortunately for Gus, there are other people after this book and they will stop at nothing to get it. Gus isn't sure why they want the book, but it makes him dig in his heels about keeping it safe and following clues to solve a mysterious puzzle written in the book.

The characters are interesting, the pace is fast, there are chills and thrills and I never for a moment wanted to put the book down. There was too much excitement to let it wait another day to finish reading it.

The author is very talented as a storyteller and the reader is drawn right into the story as if you were living it yourself.

Fascinating and exciting. This book is a guaranteed fantastic read.

Gus Ivy is an interesting character: College dropout who quotes various literature classics, Vietnam veteran who gets a job first as a carpenter's apprentice then graduates in the construction industry, dog lover with a guilty conscience, collector of books. One day he's taking a haircut and finds out that his barber is about to cast off a carton of books, so he buys them, including one by an author he collects. He had never heard of this particular book and there is no trace of its publication.

When the barber is found murdered, the book becomes suspect. Apparently it is the key to unlocking a puzzle, but along the way other persons are kidnapped or murdered. The novel is written with a high degree of tension, as the quest for the solution to the puzzle intensifies. Gus not only has to face a competing group of thugs and murderers, but his own past.

The book is a highly rewarding read and is recommended.

Gus Ivy is bored, retirement doesn't offer any mentally stimulating activities, so when Gus stumbles onto a mystery, he is immediately intrigued. His favorite author apparently wrote another book with a very limited distribution, but as soon as Gus buys a copy of the book, his life is threatened. Not only is the book rare but it may contain the clues to a treasure-and someone wants to ensure that Gus doesn't find it first. When a beautiful young woman named Cassidy joins Gus in his quest to solve the mystery, the danger intensifies. They are being chased by ruthless killers who will do anything to get their hands on the copy of the book Gus and Cassidy have, and then stop them from finding the treasure. Is the treasure worth their lives?

I love a good treasure hunt story for both the puzzles and the thrills generally involved in the hunt. This story is filled with intrigue, murder, kidnapping, and even romance. Gus is a likable character with a large streak of loyalty and integrity that makes him determined to find the treasure and not just for personal gain.

Cassidy is a mystery; is she the good-natured, loving, and generous person she portrays herself to be-or is she just using Gus? Cassidy has secrets that may endanger Gus but his instincts tell him to trust her anyway. All through the story the author teases the reader with small tidbits about Cassidy to make us want Gus to trust her one moment, and yet in the next moment to doubt her. Then there is the constant pressure of the bad guys who will do anything, including murder, to prevent Gus and Cassidy from following the clues in the book.

The plot twists and turns through the story kept me in suspense to the very end. The action is a little tamer than an Indiana Jones adventure, but the mystery is intriguing and the final plot twist is a wonderful surprise. I enjoyed this story very much!

Armchair Interviews says: This guy spins a real good story that keeps you reading.