Customer Reviews

The Crystal Blue Shooter

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Shell has written a finely crafted mystery/thriller and an urgent call to action. The action takes place within the context of the intersection amongst corporate, government and scientific power. The plot involves intriguing characters that are attempting to find a missing colleague who is a scientist. Arrayed against them is a group of powerful corporate actors, government officials and mercenaries. As it turns out the missing scientist is the key to a far more important issue.

As a successful lawyer I began to think about what would happen if one of the protagonists approached me for help in redressing their criminal and civil victimizations. The news is not good. We would first report the incidents to the local authorities that would immediately pass them on to the FBI. The FBI would make preliminary inquiries and in all probability my client and I would receive a communication that said in effect that due to National Security Issues they could not pursue the matter any further.

My client and I would move for civil redress. During the initial stages of the proceedings, in addition to corporate attorneys, four DOJ lawyers and a Defense Department Official would show up in court to ask for permission to file a brief asking for dismissal under the State Secrets Act. The brief would be filed; a secret hearing with the Judge would be held, (my client and I would be barred from attending and not be permitted to challenge any government claims). Again in all probability the judge would grant the government's request and dismiss the case.

Thus, my client would have no redress, future victims would have no protection, and the grand experiment, democracy, would wither away. The question is not whether or not the events in the book and my hypothetical MIGHT take place they are taking place!

Are you a mystery/thriller fan who is tired of bestseller-standardized plots, with stereotypical heroes, heroines, and nasty characters? Do you prefer authors such as Ross Thomas, Paco Taibo, Colin Cotterill, Eliot Pattison, Ian Rankin ? Authors who are able to create suspense and mystery with slightly quirky characters and plots? Do you like books that deal with the big issues of the day (globalization, mercenary organizations, the increasing divide between the haves and have nots, science in the service of corporate power etc.) outside the mainstream media narrative?

If you answered yes to these questions then Shell/Miller's book, The Crystal Blue Shooter is for you. Shell/Miller has created unique but finely drawn characters. While many might describe his plot as "futuristic", it is all the more unsettling because it is the present. The story has a regional flair as much of the action takes place on McNeil Island (the site of an now closed federal prison) off the coast of the State of Washington. Finally, since the "good" folks do not know what they are protecting and the "bad" folks do not know what they are after, the mystery is maintained until the end of the book. A great read!

Crystal Blue Shooter is an excellent read; you can tell the author did his research. Pay close attention, he makes some startling predictions of things to come. The story is fascinating and keeps you wanting more. The characters are well developed and interesting. The plot is believable. This has motion picture movie written all over it. This story is not over yet, can't wait for the sequel.

A WILD RIDE!! Imagine characters (those on the side of truth, justice, and the American way) who must deal with really bad people (greedy capitalists, self interested politicians and bureaucracies, and their trained mercenaries) with nothing but their good instincts, intelligence, and good luck (none are trained in the 63 ways of killing an adversary with nothing but a toilet paper roll). Imagine a really terrifying look at the consequences of the increasing divide between the haves and the have nots. Finally, the plot revolves around the most interesting scientific discovery/object in all the thriller literature. This book is a perfect companion to Ray Kurziwill's THE SINGULARITY IS NEAR (non-fiction).THE CRYSTAL BLUE SHOOTER is becoming a cult classic on my campus (reefer magnets with such gems as "yes indeedy" and "corporate zeitgeist"). There is more to this story-We hope Shell follows up.

Just finished reading "The Crystal Blue Shooter" and was thoroughly engrossed in the book so much that I "couldn't put it down" until I finished it. The plot was intriguing and characters interesting. I'm hoping that there is a sequel to this book and possibly a movie made in the future. It is refreshing to find a new author that has the capability to hold your attention throughout the whole story. I would definitely recommend this book to all action and mystery readers. By-the-way, my wife just finished the book and she said she would rate it as a "great read".

I generally do not read fiction or even read just for the joy of reading...so this was a stretch for me. Now, I wonder why?? I loved it! Once I got into it, I could not wait to find out what happened next and quickly finished reading it. Intense & suspenseful.

The creation of the characters was developed in such a way that they came alive. I found myself visualizing each of them and could relate them to people I have known, especially...Lynda Penn, Grenlegg(Greenlegg), George, Ben, Jomo, Paul...and yes, even Yagoda & Steer. I was captivated by the suspense of the story.

I am intriqued by the activities at Pilgram's Cove, desiring to know more & yearning to see where it goes from there. Don't leave me hanging, sequel please! ;)

The book cover is excellent, representing the intricacies of the story...exceptionally well done.

I also liked that the author credited his grandson, James, for the Crystal Blue Shooter and that in the story Paul's own son was Jimmy...giving back to his grandson. :)