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Stingy Jack

by R. Scott Taylor



      What happens when an author weaves together love story, mystery, mythology, and action / adventure? Can the resulting book successfully combine all these disparate genres? In his first book, R. Scott Taylor proves that the answer to that question can be a resounding yes.

Professional thief Adam Beesler arrives in Boston to prepare for the heist that he hopes will prove to be the pinnacle of his larcenous career. In one week’s time the city of Boston will host a gem convention featuring an irresistible collection of priceless jewels; jewels which Adam plans to steal. While his partner-in-crime and mentor, Nicky Simms, directs the groundwork for the robbery from the comfort of a Las Vegas strip club, Adam settles into a hotel, cases the convention site, and becomes involved in a mystery even more dangerous and precarious than the theft itself.

Wandering the streets of Boston, Adam catches just enough glimpses of an elusive stranger to know that he is being followed. However, as hard as he tries, Adam is never able to corner the man tailing him. What does the stranger want with Adam? Is he a fellow thief? A law enforcement officer? An assailant looking for a lucrative mark? When the two finally come face-to-face in a Boston pub, the stranger agrees to exchange a story for the price of a bar tab. Over several evenings, Adam’s new drinking partner recounts the tale of Stingy Jack, a saga stretching back to seventeenth century Ireland and filled with characters from Irish mythology. How much of the tale is an Irish tall tale, and how much of it is Jack’s own story and his attempt to confess and repent of his life as a fellow thief?

In addition to the mysterious stalker-storyteller, Adam meets a young woman, Clarissa, with whom he is immediately taken. He is so enchanted with her that Adam considers abandoning his life of crime to pursue this new love interest. Indeed, he determines that this heist will be his swansong. At this point Nicky arrives in Boston and Adam discovers that Jack’s enchanting tale may be something more than just a fanciful myth - that he may be playing the role of a pawn in some sort of supernatural Devil’s gambit.

Myth, mystery, legend and love combine to make this tale one which will have the reader guessing even after the last page is read.

The Book

Booklocker.com, Inc.
August 1, 2007
Hardcover
1601452691
Mystery
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Louanne Clayton Jacobs
Reviewed 2007
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© 2007 MyShelf.com