Book Review: Black Sheep

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Black Sheep     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
R. J. Kaiser
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Mira, Sep 2003, $23.95

Veering towards sixty, Jonas Lamb has been married six times with five ending in not so harmonious divorces. Currently wife number six is wealthy and dying; Jonas does what he does best, muddle relationships by having an affair with another woman angering his stepdaughter.

Jonas’ son Patrick has discovered a cheap oil substitute that will rock the pillars of modern geo-politics. The amoral Jonas sees this as a chance to gain affluence and power while reconciling with his son who he has ignored forever. Jonas needs seed money so he goes to an almost as sleazy friend, Hong Kong billionaire Jimmy Yee for the investment capital. However, a secret of this magnitude and impact cannot stay hidden for long. Soon the Feds want to control "BLACK SHEEP", not necessarily for altruistic reasons. To do so they and others will gladly slaughter the two Lambs.

This is a fast-paced, dark and gritty thriller that never slows down for a moment. Perhaps except for Patrick and his mother there seems to be no good guys including the lead rogue, whose behavior lacks anything remotely ethical or at least facetiously charming. Though there is a minor romance subplot, fans of grim action-packed story lines will want to read this testosterone thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner