Review: A very suspenseful thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 16, 2013
Ann and Travis are back and embroiled in a new adventure that might be the death of them. "Retribution" picks up five years after "Web of Deceit" and begins with a student murdered in North Wales. As the authorities try to solve this crime, another man, Craig Fletcher, plots a complicated revenge against a man he suspects of trying to kill him six years ago. The two plot lines intertwine and Travis and Ann are unwillingly dragged into the thick of things.I won't give you any more of the plot because I don't want to give anything away. There are so many unexpected twists and turns that follow fast one upon the other that the story moves along at a breakneck pace. Fortunately, the writing is clear and the author has done a masterful job of keeping the reader engaged. Personally, I was on the edge of my seat and several times frantic with worry that some of my favorite characters might not make it to the end. Despite the twists (which really are unexpected), it is easy to follow the action so that you don't get confused. The story is much more of a tale of thriller/suspense than a mystery, although there is certainly a mystery element.An interesting aspect is the interplay of the natural world and technology. Stubbs draws a frightening picture of how technology can be used to track and even manipulate people, with a fascinating counterpoint of how listening to something as simple and natural as a bird's song can aid us in unexpected ways.Having read "Web of Deceit," I was pleased to see Ann and Travis again, and I was particularly pleased with how Travis has developed. In fact, although I liked him in "Web of Deceit," I found that I really enjoyed this more mature version of him. Stubbs does an excellent job with characterization and I look forward to another story featuring Travis an Ann to continue their life journey.