Customer Reviews

A Deadly Exchange

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Suppose you and your heroic former POW husband buy a sailboat. You are ready to achieve your dream to sail the Bahamas. Suddenly, your dream turns into your worst nightmare; the boat has a dangerous type of stowaway, and you are kidnapped by a ruthless if fascinating drug lord who wants something you don't have--and something you do.

This book has plenty of excitement, horror, heroics and a real villain. It reads like a made-for-tv movie. Is that bad? Well, not if you want a fast-reading, exciting tale for the summer or a plane ride to keep you turning the pages.

The author models the POW husband hero from her own life; is she the model for the heroine? I don't know, but this was a fun, quick reading book and certainly would please any reader of suspense or action thrillers. Pack it into your beach bag this summer and you won't be disappointed.

First time novelist Sheryl Jane Stafford has produced, "A Deadly Exchange", and while classified as a novel it is also a very personal work due to the basis for one of the main characters. The man in the book who's history of service to his country includes being held by the Vietnamese from 1967 when his plane was struck by a missile, is based on the Husband of the Author. Commander Hugh Allen Stafford endured the horrors of a Prisoner Of War while serving his country. His story, like others who were confined and abused, is a testament to his bravery and to those who shared his experience. I make this note at the outset, for bringing back those experiences in a book is a tribute not only to him, but also his wife. I don't know that anyone less attached could have brought his story to a novel with such dignity and sensitivity.

If this book had not been suggested to me I would probably never have read it. This is not due to the quality of the work; rather, as this is a self-published debut novel, the likelihood of it being displayed as you walk into a bookstore is slim to nonexistent. Mrs. Stafford has been published in what appear to be regional publications, and has done well in judged short story competitions; this is her first published novel. Based on this first work, it will not be her last, and the next will be easier to find.

This writer has written a very good debut effort. This, in part, can be credited to her writing about what she knows. This is supposed to be a guiding principle when writing, however it is easier to find books that are penned and filled with guesswork. The authenticity of this work stems from the fact that both the husband and wife in the book, and the Author and her husband have commonality. Both, "couples", sail among the Bahamian Islands. As this story takes place largely at sea, at anchor, or in between, it is a great read partly because the Author has done it, and she has the added talent of taking her thoughts and feelings from her experiences and transferring them to the page. She also happily is able to do so without resorting to clichés.

It is of course fiction, but what she conjures is good because it shares company with what she knows. When she does turn to pure fiction she is clever at developing characters, especially the seedier ones, and she places dialogue in their mouths that is edgy, funny, and errrr.... colorful. I don't mean that as a negative, the dialogue is well done, she has an ear for edgy staccato banter, and I very much enjoyed it.

There was one very brief part of the story when a, "Pablo Escobar type", speaks of his plans for the US that I thought was a bit over the top, but others will decide for themselves. I also found the ending a bit abrupt, and I always take issue when I read books that seem to stop before I'm prepared to stop my reading. I suppose that's a left-handed compliment, however it's a matter of what individual readers like.

The four stars are because this is a first work, and because I believe if this lady continues with additional works, she will continue to develop her obvious talents. This as anew Author who is worthy of your time.

To her husband and the other Veterans of Vietnam, you are part of, "The Greatest Generation", too, and thanks for your sacrifices.

Matthew Spencer and his wife Alexandra are sailing in the Bahamas, relaxing and enjoying their life. However, they do not know that drugs have been planted on their boat. When the drug lords come looking to get their merchandise back, Matt and Alex are thrown into a nightmare that only gets worse.

'A Deadly Exchange' is a very easy read. Stafford uses short chapters to keep a fast pace and the plot moves on quickly. Her characters are developed, but the ending leaves the story open enough to allow her the possibility of writing a sequel, or at least using these characters again.

The author includes a variety of Spanish words and phrases to add authenticity to the characters and it is clear that Stafford has visited the Bahamas herself and sailed. She portrays the islands as a lawless, dangerous area, yet still with a most attractive beauty. It is an intriguing setting and one that has potential to be developed even further.

On a negative note, the ending comes too quickly. It was built up in the closing pages of the novel, only to arrive with a whimper rather than a bang, leaving loose ends and a sense of being unfulfilled. It would have been worth adding one or two more chapters in order to play out the ending in more depth. Other than this, 'A Deadly Exchange' is a pleasure to read.

A DEADLY EXCHANGE is a taut thriller that you won't want to put down. Matthew Spencer, former POW during Vietnam, and his wife, Alex, have finally made the time to take off into the sunset aboard their sailboat. Setting sail towards the Bahamian Cays, they are unaware that drugs have been planted in their boat, due to an unfortunate mix-up. Raoul Chavez, the head of the Colombian drug cartel, wants his drugs and he is willing to go to great lengths to attain them. In hopes of getting Matt to cooperate and hand over the drugs, Alex is kidnapped and at the mercy of Raoul and his band of criminals. Matt, tired of waiting for contact, hunts down Raouls' lair and attempts a daring rescue, but is he the hunter or the hunted?

A DEADLY EXCHANGE is extremely well written with very little extraneous scenes or dialogue. The flow of the story was very smooth and the plot was nicely timed and thought out. A major plus for the book is that the main characters are "real" people, a normal married couple. Believing the characters to be real, through their actions and thoughts, is always a sure sign that a book has a great chance to catch and keep a reader interested, regardless of what the storyline is. It just happens that A DEADLY EXCHANGE offers an exciting storyline in addition to the believable characters and wonderful writing. The chapters are small, mostly three to six pages, which I thought would be a bit annoying, but I was actually grateful since it gave me an extra moment to take in what I had just read. If there was one thing missing from the story, I'd say that it was the epilogue. I really would have liked to have a clear-cut ending, but that's just my personal preference, and it in no way detracts from the overall appeal of this book. A definite must read!

The author, Sheryl Stafford, obviously researched or is familiar with both sailing and the Caribbean as her scenery and nautical terms and descriptions not only open the imagination but are accurate. A Deadly Exchange is one of those books you so often hear described as "one you just can't put down." I began the book with the intention of getting in a few minutes of recreational reading before going back to work but found myself riveted and couldn't stop turning pages. The characters, scenes and descriptions kept me hungry for more and wondering what would happen next. A Deadly Exchange is about a middle-aged couple, the husband being an ex P.O.W. from the Vietnam War who are on a sailing vacation in the Bahamas and run into quite a bit of trouble. The characters are obviously based on the author and her husband and are realistic and easy to relate to and understand as they are thrown into a situation where they are forced to struggle for their lives. I would rate A Deadly Exchange with five stars because it was so well written it left me with the feeling of wanting more and wishing I could continue to follow the lives of the characters even though the story had concluded. A Deadly Exchange is so well written that you will find yourself unable to put the book down. I am looking forward to reading the next masterpiece by the author, Sheryl Stafford, and hope it will be soon. Thank you so much for fueling my imagination and taking me so eloquently to other places beyond my reach...

When a cache of cocaine is accidentally secreted aboard their yacht, former POW Matthew Spencer and his young wife Alexandra find themselves caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a Colombian drug cartel. Kingpin Raoul Chavez and his evil minions stalk the couple through the Bahamian Cays, eventually capturing them separately and torturing Matthew, in a painful near replay of his Vietnam experience. With her husband out of commission, it's up to Alex to save them both, with a very little help from a pair of DEA agents.

Sheryl Jane Stafford's first novel keeps up a brisk pace as--reminiscent of Robert Ludlum, John Grisham or Alfred Hitchcock--she takes an ordinary couple and plunges them into an extraordinary set of potentially deadly circumstances. Ms Stafford is particularly adept in describing the details of boating and of the Caribbean locale and Alex is an appealing heroine, never overwhelmed by the situation, however desperate.

Sheryl Stafford, the author, has done an exeptional job of writing a fast-paced, action-packed book. Once you start reading you won't want to put this page-turner down--and yearn for more upon its completion. This pleasure read would lend itself to a fabulously, exciting movie. I hope Stafford is already writing a sequel and this book achieves the notariety it deserves. So if you enjoy reading abnout thrilling adventures that take place in the tropical islands you will enjoy this book immensely.

Please don't read this book before going to bed hoping to be lulled into sleep, because you will still be up at dawn turning the pages. This is a fast read, I couldn't put it down. What seems like an idyllic sail to the Bahamas turns into Matt and Alex's worst nightmare and we are instantly caught up in it. A drug deal gone wrong, sadistic drug lords, fishy Federal agents, foul weather and a plucky heroine all conspire to make this an exciting novel. Hoping for more from Sheryl Jane Stafford.

The plot of this book centers around a law-abiding middle-aged former Vietnam POW and his sweet, loving & lovely wife. Sailing for the first time on a boat they just bought, they set off to the Cay Islands of the Bahamas. Inadvertenly, the unlucky couple becomes entangled with DEA agents and the most sadistic, ruthless and sinister drug dealers you can imagine. The tale is a fine adventure story of a drug deal gone awry, kidnapping and betrayal.

There are a few minor flaws of the book that should be addressed. First of all, the editor could have done a better job; there are some mis-spelled words and punctuation mistakes that made it thru from the original draft. Superior proofreading would have been prudent.

Second, the story comes to an end a bit too abruptly for my taste. Although the pacing of the narrative is excellent up until the last few pages, the denouement is a bit too sudden. Additionally, the swift ending fails to address some loose ends that are never tidied up.

Again, however, these are not literary big deals, and certainly should not preclude the reader from undertaking the adventure. If you're looking for a straight-forward, no frills venture full of excitement & edge-of-your-seat suspense, this may very well be the book for you.

This suspense novel by Sheryl Jane Stafford is action packed from beginning to end. I was also easily able to identify with the two main characters -- Matt, an aging Vietnam veteran who is still haunted by his years in a prison camp, and his younger wife Alexandra who loves her husband dearly. They are now fulfilling a lifelong dream, that of buying a boat and sailing around the Bahamas. Little do they know that this idyllic life they have planned for themselves will be violently disrupted as they unwittingly become involved with a drug dealing cartel.

The plot is action driven and the bodies drop like flies, most of them brutally tortured. It all feels real though, too real. And Ms. Stafford's mastery of the details of boating and the waterways of the Bahamas add to this authenticity. The story is simple. There are good guys and bad guys. Sometimes they do seem a little clichéd, but that didn't stop me from turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Good escape fiction.

One thought I had throughout was what a great movie this would make - casting it in my mind with my favorite stars and picturing the special effects of the boating chases. Hopefully, this will happen. In the meantime though I recommend it for suspense fans who don't mind a bit of violence.