Customer Reviews

The Island Off Stony Point

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Going on vacation any time soon? Looking for a book to read on the plane or train? Need a quick enjoyable read while lying on the beach or lounging on a cedar porch during a warm summer rain? Regis Schilken's new pot boiler, "The Island off Stony Point", is just the thing. Like most thrillers, the fun begins with an ugly crime that sets the stage for the action that follows. What distinguishes Schilken's novel from others in his genre is the fact that he's not pitting the bad guys against the good guys but the bad gals against the good gals.

Malena is the sexy, intelligent super criminal who leads her gang of tagalong toughies on a daring raid of a monastery in western Pennsylvania. In the process of stealing the tabernacle and kidnapping three monks, her clever plans go astray when some of the brothers fight back. The confrontation is brief and violent. The bandits flee with their prey leaving three dead in their wake.

Jessica Harding, a local police officer, is nearly killed trying to foil the gang's headlong dash for freedom. Like all action heroines, she escapes from her burning patrol car and leads the search for those who would steal the symbol of Catholicism in hopes of garnering a huge ransom. With all the dash and daring do of male gumshoes of yore, she stalks the kidnappers with grim determination while falling in love with her FBI counterpart.

Against the backdrop of these powerful and magnetic women, Schilken presents an array of male victims that range from the unlikable but strong Brother Stephen to the frail but clever Father Martin to the staid Brother David. With the exception of FBI agent Rob Dexter, the police fade into obscurity in the presence of the electric Jessica. The evil men who work for Malena are painted with the broadest of strokes. The gang is well-funded and competent. They carry out their deeds in James Bondish cars, trucks, boats and airplanes. They hide in luxurious surroundings and secrete their iconic booty in an elaborate and mysterious hideout. Their weapons are big and expensive, their intentions are ugly. Then there is Stony, a novice criminal with tender heart, who watches over the terrified holy men. He is especially drawn to the elderly Father Martin.

The plot unwinds at a breakneck pace. Jessica and Rob unwind the convoluted scheme coming ever closer to solving the case. Bad luck and rash decisions haunt Malena and her dangerous husband. Stony and Father Martin become unlikely partners in an adventure that will amuse and stun the reader in its audacity. In the end, "The Island off Stony Point" satisfies like a hot fudge sundae on a Tuesday afternoon. Enjoy.

Suddenly the monastery is under assault, monks die, three are taken along with their tabernacle host. The world is shocked, could someone truly be holding Jesus and His servants hostage and will the Catholic church pay for their return?

We meet Detective Jessica and FBI Agent Dexter, two fierce go-getters who follow the leads in this case and become more than co-workers. We also meet Stony, an African-American and part of the kidnapping gang whose soul is worth saving, or so Father Martin, the ancient monk who was kidnapped says. The stage is now set for our story.

In this read we are taken into the minds of those who are evil, have no respect for life or Deity; those who live for themselves and their greed. And we are taken into the heart of one Priest who sees with the eyes of God and whose faith certainly can move mountains. Not only does he land a sea-plane without water but he saves a soul and changes a life along the way. Not bad for a day's work.

This novel has suspense and adventure, a tad of romance,mystery and strong character development. Wrap it up with a breath-taking conclusion that proves even one soul is worth saving and you have a winner. Very well done, great read.

Shirley Johnson

Senior Reviewer

MidWest Book Review