Book Review: Last Hope for Hire

Last Hope for Hire. Matthew Wilcox, The Wild Rose Press, Adams Basin, NY, 2021, Paperback, 338 pages.

Review by Jose Nateras.

Last Hope For Hire, Matthew Wilcox’s debut novel, is an exciting, high-tech adventure exploit with futuristic mercenary Allen Moran as its protagonist. This book takes the trope of a super-soldier, the likes of Jason Bourne, and imagines what it might be like if said super-solider was a middle-aged father forced to put his experience to use as a mercenary to get treatment for his ailing son.

Wilcox effectively paints the picture of a loving father willing to do anything within his power to save his child while also building a world full of futuristic technology, robot soldiers, and a rag-tag team of adventuring associates—a testament to the author’s ability to embrace a variety of influences. Despite the high-stakes corporate espionage and sci-fi, action-hero antics of Last Hope For Hire, Wilcox never loses sight of the real world stakes at play for his hero—a real world where medical debt and access to health care are just the sort of struggles being faced by so many others. Similarly, by making his central protagonist a middle-aged father, Wilcox creates a character who is extremely relatable for his potential readers. A more typical Jason Borne-type protagonist, or even one similar to Liam Neeson’s character in the Taken films, while thrilling to watch, doesn’t encapsulate the experience of an aging soldier-turned-mercenary in the way that Wilcox’s Allen Moran does.

Despite this being his first novel, Wilcox creates a world and cast of characters that feel so thoroughly established that it almost feels like Last Hope For Hire might be the latest book in a larger series. For example, the book starts off with an exciting jungle escapade where Moran and the daughter of a former associate, Haley, battle off a robotic horde controlled by an out-of-control dictator. The sequence paints the picture of a man with a long history of former colleagues and field experience while establishing a relationship with a new generation of mercenaries. Right off the bat, Wilcox is building a world with decades of backstory and intergenerational relationships. The sequence also imbues humor to the sci-fi action as Moran’s cheaper, outdated weapons, and tech fail him.

Wilcox’s writing walks the fine line of genre fiction, allowing it to be familiar yet fresh, entertaining but grounded enough in relatable, real-world experiences. It imbues a sense of humor without undercutting the life and death stakes the characters are facing, nor the sci-fi action that makes this type of book so thrilling. Despite the fact that Wilcox’s Allen Moran starts the book off as a retired, returning to the fray to help his sick son, it feels as though Wilcox may be able to spin Last Hope For Hire into an ongoing series. He’s created a world and a rag-tag group of characters that are compelling enough for readers to come back wanting more.

Book Review: David Massie and the Quantum Flux

David Massie and the Quantum Flux. Andrew M. Nehring, IngramSpark, 2021, Trade Paperback and E-book, 134 pages.

Reviewed by Kelly Fumiko Weiss.

Andrew M. Nehring’s middle-grade science fiction novel, David Massie and the Quantum Flux is the first in a series of David Massie books. In the Quantum Flux novel, the protagonist, David, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his genius brother, Morgan. The pressure is on when the reader finds out that David is the only one who knows that Morgan left to pursue something otherworldly. In the five years since his departure, David has done his best to learn as much as he can about the technology that Morgan left behind while also trying to live up to his brother’s legacy. 

Unbeknownst to David, a seemingly evil and dark figure has a plan for him. One day, as David and his friend Rory walk home, a dark figure casts them in a purple light that will forever change their lives. David and Rory are thrown into an adventure that involves aliens, reality portals, technology beyond imagination, and a whole new world of people, like Time Cops, all of which David never knew existed. As the story progresses, David and a Time Cop called “C.P.” decide their mission is to restore David’s life back to normal. However, it quickly becomes clear to them that they may not be the ones making decisions. 

Nehring does a wonderful job of world-building and detailing his vision for the locations, creatures, and situations in this novel in ways that readers of all ages can enjoy. The chapters are well-paced and keep you wanting to turn the pages. The book’s vivid imagery will keep your imagination engaged. My only regret about reading this book is the cliffhanger at the end! Nehring does a great job of ensuring that you will pick up the next book in the series, as you absolutely will want to know what happens next.

Lovers of science fiction will appreciate Nehring’s storytelling in David Massie and the Quantum Flux. Young readers who are new to the genre will get pulled in by the relatable characters, the fun storylines, the dazzle of the tech, and the imaginative secret worlds Nehring creates. This book deserves the highest praise. I even plan to pass this book along to my daughter because I know she will thoroughly enjoy it too.

Book Review: The Coming

The Coming, Dan Coffman. Covenant Books, Murrells Inlet, SC, September 1, 2020, Paperback and Kindle, 320 pages.

Reviewed by Andrew Reynolds.

Dan Coffman has written numerous novels that center on the idea that the world we live in is not as it appears. Many of these stories take the form of fables, and through them, Coffman explores the idea that forces unseen steer the course of humanity. Are these forces spiritual, be they demons or angels? Or are they extraterrestrials whose visits have morphed into the legends we tell ourselves about the mystic creatures we regard as sent from our gods?

The Coming is the most recent incarnation of this storytelling continuum. Coffman posits a real-world struggle that is being fought behind the scenes between the governments of the world and shadowy forces inside the world’s religions. All the parties have one goal: to suppress the knowledge that aliens have been visiting the Earth for most of humanity’s history. Why they seek to keep this information secret varies. Many of the religions hope to maintain their hold over humanity by hiding the fact that humanity is far from the special creation of a supreme being. On the other hand, governments hope to use the alien technology they’ve accumulated over time to gain power in the world.

Shane Reid, a man who’s made a name for himself as a debunker of claims of alien visitations, is contacted by an old nemesis. Brad Shelton is a firm believer in UFOs who becomes friends with Shane over their shared interest in understanding the few alien encounter claims that can’t easily be explained away. Phoebe Braham, a genius freelance cipher sleuth, brings together this unlikely trio. 

As you can imagine, the people who want to keep alien encounters secret are not going to sit idly by as they begin to examine the evidence they have. From the novel’s opening scene—Reid engaging in a high-speed chase through the streets of Chicago—they are under constant threat. 

Coffman keeps the story moving with his protagonists striving to understand what’s happening while doing everything they can to keep things from getting worse. He gives them enough close calls to make the reader wonder if they aren’t under some form of divine protection. And perhaps it is that aspect of the novel that bothers me. At many points in the story, the protagonists should have failed. They shouldn’t have made the miraculous escape. They wouldn’t conveniently know someone who could answer the question that has them stumped. And the bad guys wouldn’t fail to take advantage of their superior resources, be it in intelligence about the situation or wealth, to bring about the end they desire. 

There are several instances of deus ex machina in the story, which may not appeal to all readers, but those who like diving into a good conspiracy will enjoy this sci-fi thriller.