Review: Dragon's Triangle by Christine Kling

[khamneithang]

Dragon's Triangle by Christine Kling is the sequel to Circle of Bones which continues the story of former marine Maggie Riley and Cole Thatcher, a maritime archaeologist, from where they left off in their search for wreckage from a World War II submarine that may hold millions in gold coins and classified documents. Set in the South China Sea, this maritime thriller will hook readers who have been fascinated and mesmerized by the prequel.

Christine Kling has crafted an incredible novel which has instantly captured the imagination of readers worldwide. Dragon’s Triangle is an action, adventure, mystery, romance, suspense and maritime thriller populated by sea pirates, adorable characters, and an assassin who is armed with a tattoo and a blowgun. Though Cole has disappeared, the pair is reunited when Riley is drawn into a whirlpool of conspiracy which plunges her headlong into deep trouble. It is a colorful story about treasure hunting on tropical islands, which started when Riley receives a letter from a veteran of World War II who claimed to have served with her grandfather who went missing-in-action.

The main protagonist Maggie Riley shares a striking and noteworthy resemblance to author Christine Kling as they both enjoy the sea and sailing. Their love for adventure and action in the high seas and on dry land is palpable. Christine has meticulously researched all her book and when I contacted her she was “traveling in Turkey doing research for my next book.”

Christine's secret is her creativity and willingness to go the distance to set the stage for her characters and the platform on which they will live. She has a style of her own, unique – which makes us love and identify with the people she creates in just a few lines of dialogue. The characters, both the good and the bad that populate the landscapes of her novels are just ordinary people like us, revolting and insignificant, unpleasant and wrecked, and yet driven into a state of heroism by circumstances.

Christine’s sensibility and her instinctive feel of what ticks and her ability to grasp what people long for in a story is what really makes people read her. She knows what makes us dream, laugh, cry, hope, and skillfully teases us.

Dragon’s Triangle is a novel that delivers a climactic punch that surges your heart even as it surprises your nerves. The plot is absorbing and convincing with a lot of tropical scenery which combine to make a fulfilling read. But in the end, it is just a short time alongside an eclectic cast of characters, doing their bits to rid the world of the bad guys. But like most good things, it has to end, and end it did, far too quickly. But what a story!