Engines of Corruption

Rating:
Summary: Well-researched and inventive.
Review: A chance meeting with Winston Churchill during London's Blitzkrieg instills in young Harold Parkins the belief that understanding why things happen is the first step to changing them. With his strong sense of justice, it's almost inevitable that Parkins would turn to law enforcement. But while he's interested in catching the bad guys, Parkins is equally interested in what makes them tick-and this interest will prove vital as he goes up against crime lord Cy Manat. It may even save his life and the lives of those dear to him.

Manat has built a crime cartel that makes the Mafia look like a non-profit organization. His influence is such that the economies of the United States and Western Europe are vulnerable to his machinations. Only one man stands in his way: unassuming Harold Parkins who has devoted his entire life to law and order-no matter what the personal cost. Now, in a race against time, Parkins must put together an elite crime-fighting unit to battle Manat and his underworld empire.

ENGINES OF CORRUPTION is a meaty and intelligent first novel. Larry Maisner writes capably and knowledgeably. The only problem here is that in order to cover the breadth of material, Maisner is forced to "tell" rather than "show" his story. We are left with a detailed and ambitious outline of what would make a hell of a novel had the author given himself space to write it. Briskly paced and original, ENGINES OF CORRUPTION is a strong attempt at the thriller genre.

I look forward to Maisner's next novel, FROM A GENTLE LANTERN , which he describes as inspirational literary fiction.