Synopsis

Is the gold real, or is Pat on a fool’s errand?

It’s January 1986, and Pat Kowalski has just turned 18, but there’s no cause for celebration. His father is dying, and the local bank is foreclosing on their house. Pat talks to his senile great-grandmother, who tells him a story about a man dying in front of her in 1894. What she doesn’t tell him is that the man – Mister Good Boots – had been carrying a suitcase worth of gold coins. These coins would be worth a fortune today – if any of them are still left.

But Pat’s not the only person in their small Central Illinois town who needs money. Pat’s classmate Vince is watching his college dream evaporate. Vince has also convinced himself that Pat’s family stole something of great value from his family in the 1920s. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to right an old wrong. Vince has another advantage – Pat doesn’t know Vince is looking.

The two men are both trying to figure out if there’s any gold left and, if so, where it is. While they look, they discover a lot about their own history, from bodies buried under an abandoned restaurant to both family’s relationships with Al Capone. It’s a race where the winner gets the gold, and the loser gets a bullet.

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Review

This novel combines the past and the present to uncover the truth about family, fortune, and deception.

This was an enjoyable novel, and I appreciated how the author blended the stories from the past with the present. It is all interconnected, so having that information helped me understand the stories Grand Barb was telling, along with information from the “mob” family. Patrick has a lot on his shoulders, and it doesn’t help that his mother basically shuts down after his father passed away. Luckily, he has some help from his grandmother and teachers to help guide him towards the help he needs.

Patrick also has a friend, VG, who he ropes into finding this mysterious gold. Is it real? Is it a figment of Grand Barb’s imagination? It takes digging to uncover the truth. And because it is set in 1986, there is no internet or easy way to find that information.

This story would not be complete without antagonists. In this case, Vince (Three Sticks because he is the 3rd) and his father. His father owns a bank, but we learn he is losing that bank. It is mindboggling the effort they go through in trying to protect assets. I am sure you can imagine, but read the book to learn the whole story. Vince (III) is not Patrick’s friend. He takes after his father in more ways than one.

I will admit it was hard to keep VG and Vince separate. Vince had multiple names in the book, and I thought VG was another nickname for him. It might have been better to use another name for VG to truly keep the characters separate.

This is historical, a mystery and a little suspense all rolled into one. We give it 4 paws up.

About the Author

Chris Gerrib has wanted to be a writer since he was a child riding his bicycle to the library in the small Central Illinois town where he grew up.  Since then he spent a tour in the US Navy, got an MBA, and now has a day job with a multi-national software company as a Project Manager.  For fun, he plays golf, travels, and is a voracious reader.  He lives in the Chicago suburbs and is active in his local Rotary Club.  He’s had four science fiction novels published, and his first mystery novel is coming out soon.

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