Degree of Caution

Rating:
Summary: an earful of terror!
Review: An FBI Special Agent goes undercover to expose the deadly results of a test study for a new cell phone. Why are people dying? Is it a government cover-up or ruthless corporate greed?

This author has followed the maxim: write what you know & has penned a thrilling ride on the crest of today's headlines! Her characters are dimensional, & her pacing keeps you turning the pages, wanting to find out what happens next!

Well done!

Rating:
Summary: Very Timely
Review: I bet you "don't leave home without it". That saying, which once referred to a credit card, probably has more meaning today associated with your cell phone. While you might forget your credit card or even leave it at home on purpose, chances are, you won't go far without your cell phone.

Monica Sinclair is a retired FBI special agent with "active" status. That means she takes on the occasional assignment. But what she really wants to do in her "retirement" is write novels and be left alone. After completing a very successful assignment, her only thoughts are of sitting on the beach and of completing her next novel, which is due to the publisher before too long.

Monica's brother, Michael, is Assistant Deputy Director of the FBI. Michael calls to congratulate his sister on another job well done. But before concluding the call he starts to discuss another assignment. Monica wants none of it, but Michael convinces her to meet him at home for the weekend so they can discuss the details. He says if she still isn't interested after that, he will get someone else. "Home" turns out to be the residence of their 77-year-old grandmother "Sweets".

The assignment is to penetrate Bayou City Wireless in Houston, Texas. Bayou City Wireless is lead by Victor Conti. But it is his twin brother, Gerald, who is heading up the Excalibur Project. The company has been testing a new cell phone, the Excalibur, in the very small town of Bastrop. When most of the members of the test group end up dead, almost everyone places the blame on a small oil company and its hazardous waste site. Only one person in the test group wonders if it could possibly have anything to do with the new cell phones being tested. That was Monica's assignment. To infiltrate the company and determine if the cell phones had anything to do with the deaths. The assignment is full of twists, turns, and surprises. And if Monica is not really careful, it could be her last.

This is a very well written and a very suspenseful novel. Ms. Jackson, a real-life former spokesperson for a Houston wireless company, has delivered a very believable and up-to-the-minute tale of intrigue. Through the web of lies, hate, greed, and lust for power we see the story of real people and of life, just like we are living it today.

Rating:
Summary: Very Timely
Review: I bet you "don't leave home without it". That saying, which once referred to a credit card, probably has more meaning today associated with your cell phone. While you might forget your credit card or even leave it at home on purpose, chances are, you won't go far without your cell phone.

Monica Sinclair is a retired FBI special agent with "active" status. That means she takes on the occasional assignment. But what she really wants to do in her "retirement" is write novels and be left alone. After completing a very successful assignment, her only thoughts are of sitting on the beach and of completing her next novel, which is due to the publisher before too long.

Monica's brother, Michael, is Assistant Deputy Director of the FBI. Michael calls to congratulate his sister on another job well done. But before concluding the call he starts to discuss another assignment. Monica wants none of it, but Michael convinces her to meet him at home for the weekend so they can discuss the details. He says if she still isn't interested after that, he will get someone else. "Home" turns out to be the residence of their 77-year-old grandmother "Sweets".

The assignment is to penetrate Bayou City Wireless in Houston, Texas. Bayou City Wireless is lead by Victor Conti. But it is his twin brother, Gerald, who is heading up the Excalibur Project. The company has been testing a new cell phone, the Excalibur, in the very small town of Bastrop. When most of the members of the test group end up dead, almost everyone places the blame on a small oil company and its hazardous waste site. Only one person in the test group wonders if it could possibly have anything to do with the new cell phones being tested. That was Monica's assignment. To infiltrate the company and determine if the cell phones had anything to do with the deaths. The assignment is full of twists, turns, and surprises. And if Monica is not really careful, it could be her last.

This is a very well written and a very suspenseful novel. Ms. Jackson, a real-life former spokesperson for a Houston wireless company, has delivered a very believable and up-to-the-minute tale of intrigue. Through the web of lies, hate, greed, and lust for power we see the story of real people and of life, just like we are living it today.

Rating:
Summary: Suspense has a new face
Review: Sibyl Avery Jackson's debut novel, Degree of Caution, is full of excitement with many
twists. It has everything you look for in a suspense novel - intrigue, drama, and murder.

Monica Sinclair is a woman of many faces. Writer, sister, undercover FBI agent, and one face
she is having trouble relating to, daughter. Her brother, Michael, also works for the FBI,
and he has a case in which he knows Monica would be perfect. Bayou City Wireless is under
investigation for its connection with some questionable deaths. Michael wants Monica to go
in to unearth the connection. The hard part is convincing Monica she is perfect for the job.
After an unforeseen incident, Monica cannot say no. What she finds is more than she
expected - a fashion designer, love, a brother who brings a new meaning to `sibling jealousy',
and her father.

Degree of Caution is a great read if you are in the mood to uncover some deep dirt. I did
find it at one point predictable. However, it did not stop my heart from beating any faster
or less anxious to turn the pages to see how it all turned out. Although it says Sibyl is
working on another Monica Sinclair novel, the ending rather puts closure to many of the
main characters as if this was the final book. I, personally, would like to see more of
Monica. This is a great start for a new series.

Jacki
APOOO BookClub

Rating:
Summary: ...a thriller to the end...
Review: This is an exciting, fast paced spy-type thriller that delves into what can happen when greed and ambition over-ride conscience and doing what's right. FBI Agent Monica Sinclair dons many disguises and puts her life in harms way to uncover the terrible secrets that cell phone mogul Gerald Conti is hiding.

Very well done and I look forward to seeing more of this lead character in other stories! -ES

Rating:
Summary: Kudos !! .........Degree of Caution
Review: This novel offers a great plot with well developed, multi-faceted characters. Definitely a page turner that successfully integrates a potpourri of corporate scandal, romance, murder and suspense. Ms. Jackson also offers excellent portrayals of complex and healthy family relationships. Looking forward to Monica's next adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Suspense, Suspense & More Suspense
Review: While the first 3 chapters of this book left a big "?" on my face (too many characters thrown at me at once), I find this book to be overall well written & could hardly put it down near the end. I was a little disappointed that Monica could not save her new love, but I am glad that she made amends with her father. I find Ms. Jackson to have a very unique talent for creating characters and I was able to envision them all and every situation. Keep up the good work!

Rating:
Summary: Cell Phone Woes
Review: Who would ever thought that a cell phone could cause so many problems? In Sibyl Avery Jackson's suspense novel, Degree of Caution, the world of telecommunications takes a front seat. When Bayou City Wireless invents and tests their newest cell phone, the Excalibur, problems are plentiful. Many people who use or have access to information about the Excalibur die or disappear. The FCC and FBI are investigating Bayou City Wireless and its owners, the Conti Brothers.

Monica Jackson is a retired FBI agent and a current author of mystery novels. She is approached by her brother, the assistant director of the FBI, to help with this difficult case. Monica refuses until a friend, who discovered some vital information, is killed. Monica is transformed into Taylor LeBlanc and goes undercover as a public relations specialist in Bayou City Wireless company. In this job she uncovers many of the misdeeds of Gerald Conti, who is determined to get the Excalibur to the market at all costs. She elicits the help of Cameron Maxwell, an engineer in the company and finds herself falling in love with him. Together Monica and Cameron try to find the answers to why the people who used the Excalibur during the testing period all die from cancer. The answer lies with the last living survivor, Dave Carter who is presumed dead.

This novel has a lot of action and suspense that crisscrossed the nation between Texas and Washington DC. However, the use of technical terms and descriptions of the telecommunication industry at times slowed the reading down. There were very interesting secondary characters such as Jazz, ,Big Red and Sweets. I also liked how Jackson made the protagonist Monica a multi-dimensional character. Not only was she solving a case for the FBI, but had to deal with issues regarding her father, relationships and commitment. While this reader was able to figure out some obvious twists to the storyline, I would still recommend this novel as a good pick for those who get pleasure from reading suspense novels.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

Rating:
Summary: Cell Phone Woes
Review: Who would ever thought that a cell phone could cause so many problems? In Sibyl Avery Jackson's suspense novel, Degree of Caution, the world of telecommunications takes a front seat. When Bayou City Wireless invents and tests their newest cell phone, the Excalibur, problems are plentiful. Many people who use or have access to information about the Excalibur die or disappear. The FCC and FBI are investigating Bayou City Wireless and its owners, the Conti Brothers.

Monica Jackson is a retired FBI agent and a current author of mystery novels. She is approached by her brother, the assistant director of the FBI, to help with this difficult case. Monica refuses until a friend, who discovered some vital information, is killed. Monica is transformed into Taylor LeBlanc and goes undercover as a public relations specialist in Bayou City Wireless company. In this job she uncovers many of the misdeeds of Gerald Conti, who is determined to get the Excalibur to the market at all costs. She elicits the help of Cameron Maxwell, an engineer in the company and finds herself falling in love with him. Together Monica and Cameron try to find the answers to why the people who used the Excalibur during the testing period all die from cancer. The answer lies with the last living survivor, Dave Carter who is presumed dead.

This novel has a lot of action and suspense that crisscrossed the nation between Texas and Washington DC. However, the use of technical terms and descriptions of the telecommunication industry at times slowed the reading down. There were very interesting secondary characters such as Jazz, ,Big Red and Sweets. I also liked how Jackson made the protagonist Monica a multi-dimensional character. Not only was she solving a case for the FBI, but had to deal with issues regarding her father, relationships and commitment. While this reader was able to figure out some obvious twists to the storyline, I would still recommend this novel as a good pick for those who get pleasure from reading suspense novels.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub