Blackmail

From the Publisher Jack Collier is not your typical private investigator. His cool suave ways and stylish clothes set him apart. Having the means, he thoroughly enjoys the many pleasures life has to offer. But lately, Jack has a sense of burn-out. He's thinking of getting out of the whole investigative bit. Too much negativity. He has started planning a long overdue vacation to the Figi Islands. At this point, Terri Delaney, a promising new TV reporter, approaches Jack. Someone's blackmailing her over a tape made while on a Las Vegas weekend trip. Her career is in jeopardy. Jack, sensing her desperation, agrees to take on the case. Immediately, he's tossed back into the deep recesses of shady characters and life-threatening situations. As with all of Bob's books, you immediately feel you know the characters. No one is all good and no one is all evil. They're so real. As an example, Bob describes Jack when forced to deal with brutal bloody work. ''There was a roguish corner of his soul, the consequence of a defective gene, perhaps, that demanded he accept the challenge. Now.'' A little dark in-the-corner secret he holds that perhaps explains why he enjoys playing rough. The action will keep you flipping page after page. No peeking at the end of the book either! You'll find yourself there soon enough. And that ending will totally surprise you! Fascinating book! ActionTales.com From the Author I finished the first version of ''Blackmail'' in 1990. The results simply were not good enough. So I laid it aside. I turned back to the plot with a stronger set of characters in 1992. I wasn't able to sell it, and I've wondered about that. The plot is off-beat; this may be part of it. And the opening is a bit slow. But I do like the continuing crescendo that follows to the wrap. I hope you enjoy it as well. Bob McElwain