The Summoner by Layton Green
Genre: Thriller, Mystery/Suspense
Pages: 301 (Ereader)
Description:
A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe. Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison. What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target.Quote:
Himself...
(p. 128) "The world as Grey knew it was slipping further away, priests that make potions out of human body parts because people buy them?"My Rating:
My Review:What starts out as a routine missing persons case, erupts into an unsolved mystery that transcends into the past, secrets, and religion. Grey, who works in diplomat security, has been assigned to find The ambassador's missing friend and golfing buddy, William Addison, who disappeared into a fog at a religious ceremony in Zimbabwe. Grey is joined by Nya, a local Department of Foreign Ministry agent, and Viktor, a religious expert. They all dive further and further into the unexplained mysteries and must look within and question what they believe. Initially, I found it difficult to get into this book. The amount of information introduced at once was a bit overwhelming, but after the first thirty pages I hit my stride and began to enjoy the book. The author does a great job of keeping you guessing and the twists and turns were completely unexpected. I found it difficult to come to a stopping part as I wanted to continue to rush through each chapter. The setting is described beautifully and you really feel like you are there and can see the despair and the troubles of the country. There is a bit of romance between Grey and Nye and I found it to be a bit unexpected and a tad unbelievable. I just didn't see those characters connecting but that's just me. It's a dark story but it is compelling, well-written, and impossible to put down.
