Official Review: The FIFO Phoenix by R A Berryman
Posted: 02 May 2020, 10:41
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The FIFO Phoenix" by R A Berryman.]
At the beginning of The FIFO Phoenix, written by R. A. Berryman, readers meet Lucas Booker, an Australian mechanic struggling to make ends meet. The protagonist is happy to land a job at a big iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as a FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) worker. Not only does Lucas get a welcome financial lift but also an unexpected and life-changing adventure as he gets entangled in a dangerous ring of ruthless mining fraudsters with international ramifications.
Prompted by the suspicions of the Human Resources Manager of the company, a successful and striking brunette named Madison Farrell, Lucas begins to investigate the mining operation in Pilbara. He thinks it could be a phoenix company – a scheme that siphons money off a company and liquidates it just to set up a similar company to take over the business. In this fraudulent process, the creditors and employees get nothing.
The book has an elaborate and energetic plot. This aspect was what I liked the most about it. The author skillfully constructs a very suspenseful atmosphere, and this tension hooked me in. The narration is dynamic. As readers follow Lucas’ investigation, there is a sense of urgency to find out what the operation entails and who is involved in it. I enjoyed the background theme of a phoenix operation, which the author managed to explore with subtlety. I thought it was an original and fascinating context.
Additionally, I liked that it is an espionage story with a touch of romance. The young and athletic protagonist dates 22-year-old Natalie Prescott but also gets romantically involved with Madison Farrell. Although he finds Natalie to be an attractive and loving woman, her religious parents see him as an unworthy partner for their daughter. On the other hand, as the successful and sophisticated Madison becomes his partner in the investigation, their romance blossoms.
Unfortunately, I felt that this love triangle could have been better explored by the author. As the story progressed, I thought that the female characters were increasingly stereotyped and often objectified. I wish the author had developed them a little more, especially Natalie. This lack of character development was what I disliked the most about the novel.
Lastly, I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. I am taking a star away because I felt that the female characters could have been better developed. Additionally, the book needs a round of professional editing; it has several grammatical, spelling, and formatting mistakes. Still, it is an entertaining novel, and I believe it will appeal to readers who enjoy criminal investigations.
******
The FIFO Phoenix
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
At the beginning of The FIFO Phoenix, written by R. A. Berryman, readers meet Lucas Booker, an Australian mechanic struggling to make ends meet. The protagonist is happy to land a job at a big iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as a FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) worker. Not only does Lucas get a welcome financial lift but also an unexpected and life-changing adventure as he gets entangled in a dangerous ring of ruthless mining fraudsters with international ramifications.
Prompted by the suspicions of the Human Resources Manager of the company, a successful and striking brunette named Madison Farrell, Lucas begins to investigate the mining operation in Pilbara. He thinks it could be a phoenix company – a scheme that siphons money off a company and liquidates it just to set up a similar company to take over the business. In this fraudulent process, the creditors and employees get nothing.
The book has an elaborate and energetic plot. This aspect was what I liked the most about it. The author skillfully constructs a very suspenseful atmosphere, and this tension hooked me in. The narration is dynamic. As readers follow Lucas’ investigation, there is a sense of urgency to find out what the operation entails and who is involved in it. I enjoyed the background theme of a phoenix operation, which the author managed to explore with subtlety. I thought it was an original and fascinating context.
Additionally, I liked that it is an espionage story with a touch of romance. The young and athletic protagonist dates 22-year-old Natalie Prescott but also gets romantically involved with Madison Farrell. Although he finds Natalie to be an attractive and loving woman, her religious parents see him as an unworthy partner for their daughter. On the other hand, as the successful and sophisticated Madison becomes his partner in the investigation, their romance blossoms.
Unfortunately, I felt that this love triangle could have been better explored by the author. As the story progressed, I thought that the female characters were increasingly stereotyped and often objectified. I wish the author had developed them a little more, especially Natalie. This lack of character development was what I disliked the most about the novel.
Lastly, I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. I am taking a star away because I felt that the female characters could have been better developed. Additionally, the book needs a round of professional editing; it has several grammatical, spelling, and formatting mistakes. Still, it is an entertaining novel, and I believe it will appeal to readers who enjoy criminal investigations.
******
The FIFO Phoenix
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
