Customer Reviews

Netblue (Al Forte Mystery)

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Glen Allison is a writer with a deep connection to the South from New Orleans to the Kentucky hills. NETBLUE is his second Al Forte mystery, following on the heels of MISCUE. He also published a book entitled STILL STANDING TALL, about the William Brothers singing group.

Children in danger present a general nightmare to society, and NETBLUE is the story of Al Forte, the recovering alcoholic and ex-Navy Seal who has started a place called THE REFUGE for children who are in extreme danger. Fizer Beal, a teenage boy whose father crossed the local mafia, is presently housed in Forte's establishment. In the meantime, a precocious teenager who is fourteen and acts twenty-five is busy setting up dangerous liaisons over the Internet. Forte is unaware of a self-styled vigilant who is hunting down child molesters until their paths cross when the mob decides to convince Forte to give up his client:

"Moving easily, the bum slammed one of the attackers with a roundhouse kick, putting the man on the sidewalk. The other attacker swung a billy club. The bum let the club shoosh past him and, using the momentum of the swing, grabbed his attacker's arm and, using the of the swing, grabbed his attacker's arm and slammed him against the side of the building. Dust sprinkled from a hedge above at the impact."

Al Forte is the kind of he-guy with a conscience that appeals. His inner turmoil and questioning mentality just makes him all the more of a hero. Having him fight his high school nemesis, who is constantly popping up with his thugs to beat him up and then showing a teeny bit of conscience, adds to the overall moral, but not necessarily Southern Baptist, feel of these tales. The plot is interesting, the action non-stop, and the characters all have their own frame of reference. No one is truly evil in this tale, but many characters are misguided.

NETBLUE is a strong follow-up to Allison's first mystery effort. While this isn't a whodunit per se, it is more of a military action story with the shadowy figure of Micah Cray in the background. Allison makes his characters stand for something, and the action isn't far behind. A quick and entertaining read from a writer with flair and a sense of moral duty.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer