When Max Burns
leaves his university teaching position to take a job with his future
father-in-law, he thinks his future is secure. Suddenly, he’s
offered the chance of a life time, designing the expansion of the
Panama Canal. Max can’t pass up the opportunity. He leaves England,
his new job, and his finacé
to go to Panama.
Multiple
countries are bidding on the project, UK, US, Germany, and Japan. The
teams are surprised that China isn’t bidding. China’s
absence leads to speculation that they are planning to disrupt the
project. Max puts together a brilliant design working with his old
school friend, Godfredo, and his
father’s construction company. When the bids are submitted, Max is
stunned to learn that they’re the low bidder. He doesn’t believe
they can do the project for that amount. What if they win?
Max
is a brilliant scientist and a good person. You can’t help, but
like him and hope he succeeds against the odds. Godfredo is a likable
con artist. He’s completely under his father’s thumb, but he has
good instincts and in a crunch doesn’t want to let Max down. Max
has a girl friend, Karis Deen, an American working for the
Smithsonian in Panama. She is a tough lady, but not as fleshed out as
Max and Godfredo.
The
book is unique in the thriller genre. There is a murder, but there’s
very little violence and the sex takes place off stage. I enjoyed
that, but if you’re looking for sex and violence, you’ll be disappointed. The book
has a slow start. The author goes deep into backstory for Max and
Godfredo, and the political situation. The action doesn’t start
until very late in the book. If you don’t mind wading through Max’s
early life and the political background, it’s a good read.
I
received this book from Net Galley for this review.
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