Book Review: Rock, Paper, Scissors

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Rock, Paper, Scissors     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Steven A. Samuel
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Government Agency   Espionage   Thriller   Conspiracy
Simon & Schuster, Aug 2000, 320 pp.

Sarah Peterson knows the source of her obsession to continue her father’s government security work occurred as a preschooler. She observed as assailants killed him. Years later, Sarah joins the Secret Service and now feels she has reached the pinnacle when she is assigned to head up security for Secretary of State Jack Montgomery.

To her chagrin, Jack keeps her out of anything important even if it places him at risk. Initially, thinking it might be her gender; Sarah changes her mind after secretly taping clandestine meetings Jack hosts. That informs her that Jack plans to kidnap the daughter of billionaire Sam Baldwin, which links to a major planned political assassination in the Middle East, and ultimately ties back to the death of her father three decades ago. Though warned to stay out, Sarah plunges deeper into a dangerous game of espionage that probably will result in her joining her father sooner than her life expectancy would predict.

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS is an exciting, action-packed espionage thriller that never eases up the pace of the tale. The story line succeeds due to the fully developed cast propelling it forward. Sarah is a wonderful lead protagonist who cannot quit due to her “legacy”. Although the supposedly clever villains make stupid errors that a novice would never commit, Steven A. Samuel furnishes an enjoyable thriller that fans of spy conspiracy stories will find quite captivating.

Harriet Klausner

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