Set in 1946, this historical fiction novel takes place just after the end of WWII. It is the second book in the Sentinel series. (I haven't read the first one). In this volume, The "Oil Club", made up of seven large American oil companies, has plans to illegally take control of the world's oil market. Although this would mean astronomical profits for these seven companies, it would also mean the end of smaller oil companies and ultimately high oil and gasoline costs for everyone.
The Sentinels, a group of economists who were involved in the war against the Nazis, learn of the Oil Club's intentions and come up with a plan of their own to stop them. The Sentinels call in their top men from various countries from four different continents to put an end to the Oil Club's schemes, but the Oil Club fights back.
This sounds like the premise of a great story, and it is the premise for a great story. However, the writing of the story leaves much to be desired, making it instead only a so-so story. Many of the conversations are stilted, much of the "action" is told in passive verb tense instead of "active" verb tense making the action less exciting, and the characters are not wholly believable. For instance, when Jacques disappears, his wife Claudine seems unnaturally unconcerned. She should be frantic with worry, but that doesn't seem to be the case, even though Jacques is gone for a long time.
I regret that I can only give this book a 3 star rating. I had high hopes for it before I started reading it, but by the end of the first few chapters it wasn't evident this one wasn't going to be one of my favorites.
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