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Kirkus Reviews
February 1, 2013, Friday
THE ARARAT ILLUSION
FICTION; Thriller
A fast-paced political thriller set during the Reagan presidency. In
Minier's debut page turner, Vietnam veteran Lt. Michael Page works a
fairly routine job with the Santa Barbara Police Department until
someone murders the American ambassador to Turkey.
When Michael first became a cop over a decade ago, he was called to a
hotel where two Turkish consuls were murdered. The connection to the
recent event is not lost on him, and soon he receives notes from the
unknown madman, threatening to assassinate more federal officials.
Dubbed the Poet Killer for his foreboding notes sent to police, this
terrorist, who signs his notes Antranik, delights in the morbid game
he plays and seeks a place in history. Antranik looks to be
retaliating against Turkey's Armenian genocide of 1915. Persistent
Michael tries to decipher Antranik's poems to figure out where he
plans to strike next so he can catch the assassin before more
casualties occur. After another prominent figure falls victim, the
stakes climb even higher. Even the president isn't immune to the
dangerous Antranik as the suspense rages on in this
what-could-have-happened roller-coaster ride based on the actual
assassination of two Turkish diplomats in 1973. As the manhunt
continues, Antranik's allegiances and reasons come into question, and
his connection to the Russians causes panic among government officials
who fear nuclear war. The investigation brings Michael to Lela Drew, a
disappointingly one-dimensional love interest who is a graduate
student of Armenian history. When romantic feelings develop between
them, their lives become entangled, putting them both in danger. The
characters are a bit clichéd and predictable, but they are appropriate
in this cop drama. It is clear that Minier knows his characters and
their world, effectively conveying their nuances, with the exception
of Lela. Minier's simple, engrossing style works well with a narrative
rich with historical details. The author skillfully weaves a
substantial web of deceit, murder and mystery. A gripping ride-along
with a small-town detective in the midst of a national security
crisis.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
February 1, 2013, Friday
THE ARARAT ILLUSION
FICTION; Thriller
A fast-paced political thriller set during the Reagan presidency. In
Minier's debut page turner, Vietnam veteran Lt. Michael Page works a
fairly routine job with the Santa Barbara Police Department until
someone murders the American ambassador to Turkey.
When Michael first became a cop over a decade ago, he was called to a
hotel where two Turkish consuls were murdered. The connection to the
recent event is not lost on him, and soon he receives notes from the
unknown madman, threatening to assassinate more federal officials.
Dubbed the Poet Killer for his foreboding notes sent to police, this
terrorist, who signs his notes Antranik, delights in the morbid game
he plays and seeks a place in history. Antranik looks to be
retaliating against Turkey's Armenian genocide of 1915. Persistent
Michael tries to decipher Antranik's poems to figure out where he
plans to strike next so he can catch the assassin before more
casualties occur. After another prominent figure falls victim, the
stakes climb even higher. Even the president isn't immune to the
dangerous Antranik as the suspense rages on in this
what-could-have-happened roller-coaster ride based on the actual
assassination of two Turkish diplomats in 1973. As the manhunt
continues, Antranik's allegiances and reasons come into question, and
his connection to the Russians causes panic among government officials
who fear nuclear war. The investigation brings Michael to Lela Drew, a
disappointingly one-dimensional love interest who is a graduate
student of Armenian history. When romantic feelings develop between
them, their lives become entangled, putting them both in danger. The
characters are a bit clichéd and predictable, but they are appropriate
in this cop drama. It is clear that Minier knows his characters and
their world, effectively conveying their nuances, with the exception
of Lela. Minier's simple, engrossing style works well with a narrative
rich with historical details. The author skillfully weaves a
substantial web of deceit, murder and mystery. A gripping ride-along
with a small-town detective in the midst of a national security
crisis.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress