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Summary: The tobacco industry is under fire.
Review: Trevor Barnett is the protagonist of "Smoke Screen," a new novel by Kyle Mills. Barnett is a young man whose family has made a living by selling tobacco products for generations. While he waits for his trust fund to kick in, Trevor has very little to do. He whiles away his days sitting behind a desk doing nothing for a company called Terra, and he spends his nights smoking cigarettes and playing with his dog, Nicotine.Terra and other companies that sell tobacco are being plagued by lawsuits brought by sick and dying smokers and their families. Will the lawsuits drive the tobacco companies into bankruptcy? Trevor's life changes dramatically when the CEO of Terra, Paul Trainer, suddenly takes Trevor under his wing. Before he knows it, Trevor becomes a key player in the battle between the tobacco companies, their unionized employees, and the antismoking lobby. Trevor also loses his heart to the brainy Anne Kimball, a lawyer who is a rabid antismoking crusader. Trevor faces a series of ethical dilemmas that force him to take a stand. Will Trevor help his company survive? Is there any way to reconcile the tobacco interests and their opponents? The problem with "Smoke Screen" is that it has the elements of a thriller, a morality tale, and a satire, and these three elements do not mix very well. In addition, the story is told through Trevor's eyes, and he is a colorless and irritating character. Mills is strongest in his satirical portrayal of greedy and manipulative CEO's, conniving lawyers, ambitious politicians, and voracious reporters. However, his attempt to mix romance, adventure, and controversy is too heavy-handed and it ultimately falls flat.
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Summary: HATED THIS BOOK
Review: WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!! I loved all Mills' other books and snapped this one up expecting the same. WRONG! This is so slow. Nothing happens until well nigh the middle of the book. NOTHING!!! And try as I might I could not like or even believe in the primary character, Trevor Barnett. The whole thing is contrived and goes nowhere slowly. YUK! Unlike some of the other reviewers I think the plot elements were there for a good book, but Mills didn't deliver. Don't waste you time on this lemon. KYLE - Get your act together for the next one!
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