Review: Good plot, disappointing presentation for this reader
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 1, 2013
Intent to Kill, ISBN 9781937349837, Beyond the Page Publishing, e-book of material excerpted from FATAL INTENT by Rashia Kennie  is a story about the stripping of Cambodia of its priceless heritage of antiques by a band of smugglers headed by a former member of the viciously infamous Khmer Rouge of the historic "Killing Fields".Claire Linton, an ambitious small Midwestern town `journalist', reads about the death of a woman tourist found at Anghor Wat with an antique. The cause of death is questionable and Claire armed with stories from her `Uncle Jack' who supposedly had escaped from the 'Killing Fields', sees a possible story that will greatly enhance her career. She arrives in Bangkok, is interviewed by a security officer who is not exactly who he appears to be, buys what she believes to be a replica of an extremely valuable antique, meets Simon Trent, an archeologist who has a dig in progress with his friend Arun and the story begins to unfold. No one is who they seem to be, Interpol and local police departments are involved with duplicity  rampant and , because `Uncle Jack's' stories were not completely inclusive of all pertinent facts, Claire's life, along with that of a friend, are in constant imminent danger.The plot is an interesting and good one and the story's pace is excellent. However and unfortunately, the presentation leaves much to be desired. The story does not flow smoothly and action often seems forced, unnatural or inappropriate to the time and/or situation, an action that for this reader produces a difficult to describe sensation of not being able to enter the story; that an `outsider' is giving you a detailed account. The result is establishment of a minimal degree of empathy for the characters at best.To conclude, a good basic plot with characters with whom this reader could only marginally empathize. Reviewed by John H. Manhold, award winning author of fiction/non-fiction.