Review of The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller
Posted: 20 May 2023, 12:34
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller" by Alan L Moss.]
The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller by Alan L. Moss explores themes that affect the real world interestingly interwoven into a high-stakes, action-packed adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat almost throughout.
The story revolves around an intense chase for ancient red diamonds that were hidden in the Chicxulub crater in Yucatan, Mexico. Mia, who is a Ph.D. student and the brains behind finding the locations of these diamonds, hopes to pay off student loans, complete her studies, and live a better quality of life. Ben Azeer, who provides the funds for this research after a 50-50 split agreement, turns out to be involved in illegal activities, and with the FBI pursuing an indictment, he urgently needs the diamonds to escape and continue to fund his lifestyle. Gary Levin seems lost in life after losing the love of his life, Sharon, to the gun violence pandemic that plagues the U.S. These characters will play vital roles in this hunt, and as the story progresses, greed, danger, and murder fill the pages of the book.
I will give The Choices points for how engaging it is from the very first page. In the beginning, the author's immersive and descriptive writing puts you in the middle of a mass shooting that alters one of the main character's life, and he manages to maintain the same level of intensity and tension throughout. The descriptions of the Yucatan jungle and the Chicxulub crater, as well as the entire research and expedition process, are rich and detailed, and readers will feel like they are right there with the characters as they navigate the treacherous terrain and uncover the secrets of the ancient red diamonds.
The story is told from the third-person perspective, which adds a unique layer of insight into the characters and their motivations. I was particularly drawn to the intelligence and resourcefulness of the antagonist, Ben Azeer, and while I rooted for the good guys to succeed in their mission, it was obviously going to be a tough task with Ben on their heels.
One minor criticism of the book might be that some readers might find the scientific jargon and descriptions of the research process a bit dense and technical. However, this is a minor quibble, and the author does a good job of explaining the science in a way that is accessible and easy to understand for readers without a background in the fields of geology and computer science. Another criticism was that I expected some friction or lack of trust between the protagonists, especially since the diamonds were worth billions and most of them were meeting each other for the first time and needed the money for different reasons. However, I did not sense that at any point, which came across as unrealistic.
Overall, The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller is a fantastic read that will satisfy fans of action-packed thrillers, and I will recommend the book to this audience. The book includes sexual content and profanity, so a mature audience will be more appropriate for this read. The book is well-written, engaging, full of surprises, and professionally edited. I award a rating of four out of five stars. The issues I discussed made it less than perfect, but the book has a lot of positives to enjoy.
******
The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller by Alan L. Moss explores themes that affect the real world interestingly interwoven into a high-stakes, action-packed adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat almost throughout.
The story revolves around an intense chase for ancient red diamonds that were hidden in the Chicxulub crater in Yucatan, Mexico. Mia, who is a Ph.D. student and the brains behind finding the locations of these diamonds, hopes to pay off student loans, complete her studies, and live a better quality of life. Ben Azeer, who provides the funds for this research after a 50-50 split agreement, turns out to be involved in illegal activities, and with the FBI pursuing an indictment, he urgently needs the diamonds to escape and continue to fund his lifestyle. Gary Levin seems lost in life after losing the love of his life, Sharon, to the gun violence pandemic that plagues the U.S. These characters will play vital roles in this hunt, and as the story progresses, greed, danger, and murder fill the pages of the book.
I will give The Choices points for how engaging it is from the very first page. In the beginning, the author's immersive and descriptive writing puts you in the middle of a mass shooting that alters one of the main character's life, and he manages to maintain the same level of intensity and tension throughout. The descriptions of the Yucatan jungle and the Chicxulub crater, as well as the entire research and expedition process, are rich and detailed, and readers will feel like they are right there with the characters as they navigate the treacherous terrain and uncover the secrets of the ancient red diamonds.
The story is told from the third-person perspective, which adds a unique layer of insight into the characters and their motivations. I was particularly drawn to the intelligence and resourcefulness of the antagonist, Ben Azeer, and while I rooted for the good guys to succeed in their mission, it was obviously going to be a tough task with Ben on their heels.
One minor criticism of the book might be that some readers might find the scientific jargon and descriptions of the research process a bit dense and technical. However, this is a minor quibble, and the author does a good job of explaining the science in a way that is accessible and easy to understand for readers without a background in the fields of geology and computer science. Another criticism was that I expected some friction or lack of trust between the protagonists, especially since the diamonds were worth billions and most of them were meeting each other for the first time and needed the money for different reasons. However, I did not sense that at any point, which came across as unrealistic.
Overall, The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller is a fantastic read that will satisfy fans of action-packed thrillers, and I will recommend the book to this audience. The book includes sexual content and profanity, so a mature audience will be more appropriate for this read. The book is well-written, engaging, full of surprises, and professionally edited. I award a rating of four out of five stars. The issues I discussed made it less than perfect, but the book has a lot of positives to enjoy.
******
The Choices: A Treasure Hunt Thriller
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon