Review – A Thousand Cuts by Gregory Poirier
Synopsis
Meet Max Starkey—disgraced CIA operative turned underworld fixer—whose past loves, rivals, and indiscretions close in on him in the jungles of Southeast Asia.
Seven years after a CIA mission in Laos went sideways, Max lives in the gray spaces between criminals and justice, recovering stolen goods for villains who don’t ask questions. But when he’s lured to Bangkok under false pretenses, his past catches up with him.
The setup: an old flame, Kelly Riggs, now married to his CIA rival.
The job: steal $130 million in dictator-owned gold before a coup ignites.
The problem: everyone plans a double-cross—and Max is the mark. Then there’s Giuliana Abara, Max’s sharp-tongued “companion,” an undercover FBI agent with secrets of her own, who further proves that trust kills and redemption demands blood in this high-octane debut thriller—spanning the streets of Bangkok to the Laotian rainforest— by screenwriter Gregory Poirier.
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Review
This action thriller will take you across the globe and on an adventure.
Max Starkey doesn’t want to return to Asia, but is tricked into getting there. Or is he? The cast of characters provides a diverse perspective on what they want and how they will achieve it. It is tricky because Max’s former love, Kelly, is married to Derek, the one responsible for setting everything up for this con. There is Guliana (Jules), who has her own battles to fight and decisions to make regarding her life and the people she works for. I think she is a strong character, but not given as much time to be truly developed.
In this novel, no one can be trusted. It was intriguing to watch how this caper unfolded. There is a lot of action, danger, and heart stopping moments. I think one of the intriguing characters is Cintha. She is a teenager and the daughter of the former President. She survives the jungle, a tiger, and mercenaries. While it isn’t pivotal to the main storyline, her story does impact the ending.
If you are looking for action, adventure, and no one trustworthy, check out this book. We give it 5 paws up.
About the Author
Gregory Poirier is an acclaimed screenwriter, director, and producer whose work spans film and television. His credits include National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Knox Goes Away, and Rosewood. A graduate of the USC School of Theater and the UCLA Masters program in screenwriting, he brings a sharp, cinematic eye to fiction. A Thousand Cuts is his debut novel. He lives in Los Angeles.
