RICHARD SOMES
LIGHTNING'S SHADOW
BOOK DETAILS
PUBLISHER: Richard Somes
PUBLICATION DATE: February 17, 2024
LANGUAGE: English
ASIN: B0CSVLS3DQ
ISBN-13: 979-8892280334
AVAILABLE FORMATS: Kindle | Paperback | Hardcover | Audiobook
DESCRIPTION
Regan Clery, working in obscurity at a major magazine, receives the opportunity of a lifetime. She is given a feature story on the famous billionaire Carter Thomas, head of an internationally known security firm. The catch: she must travel to Haiti and determine why he is there.
What should have been a straightforward assignment quickly spirals into intrigue as Carter’s reasons for being in Haiti are buried in an incident occurring in Afghanistan a decade before. As Regan delves deeper into the mystery, she finds herself a pawn in a vast conspiracy involving the CIA and Cuban intelligence.
REVIEWS
Lightning’s Shadow by Richard Somes is a fascinating political thriller spiced with romance. The story unfolds in New York, at the headquarters of Contemporary American magazine. Regan Kettler, nee Clery, is a staff writer for the magazine. For the past decade, Regan has been writing without a byline. Suddenly, the editor-in-chief instructs her to fly to Haiti to interview Carter Thomas, a former politician turned business icon, investigate his activities, and write a hard-hitting byline feature story. For Regan, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Overwhelmed with fear and doubt, and excited about the opportunity, Regan accepts. Before long, Regan is immersed in complex and perilous political intrigue leading to the highest circles of Haitian and U.S. politics. But will she accomplish the mission?
Lightning’s Shadow by Richard Somes captivated me on the first page and held me in its grip until the end. I liked how Richard enhanced the story’s fast action with the ingenuous blend of Haitian history, politics, and atmospheric sceneries. I also liked the interplay of the realistic political intrigue involving the CIA and Cuban intelligence with mysterious voodoo rituals. Reading this spy novel and following Regan on her perilous mission full of surprises made me feel like watching a movie. But most of all, I liked the jaw- dropping ending. Whilst episodes of explicit sex and graphic violence make this novel inappropriate for younger readers, this brilliant page-turner will be sure to thrill adult fans of political thrillers, adventure, and suspense. Any chance for a sequel, Richard?
Reviewed by Olga Markova
Lightning’s Shadow is a work of fiction in the action, thriller, and suspense subgenres and is best suited to the general adult reading audience. Penned by author Richard Somes, this riveting tale takes the traditional thriller genre and adds exciting layers of intrigue, conspiracy, and romance to really bring it to life. Regan Clery, a journalist with a major magazine, embarks on a life-altering assignment to uncover the mysterious activities of billionaire Carter Thomas in Haiti. The plot thickens as Regan navigates through a web of secrets, a potential CIA conspiracy, and a kidnapping.
Author Richard Somes has crafted a tale that combines elements of mystery, romance, and political thriller into a seamless story world where everything makes sense, making it both a captivating and satisfying read. The romantic tension between Regan and Brad is particularly well-executed and blends naturally into the storyline without feeling gimmicky or overdone. Their punchy dialogue exchanges break up the tension really well to offer moments of levity amongst the more serious and exciting scenes. The book has such a varied and interesting wealth of influences that converge in the plot, from deeply considered political intrigue to vivid historical connections, Voodoo societies, and a century-old conspiracy. Regan's journey becomes a thrilling exploration of hidden agendas, betrayal, and a fight for the truth amid danger. The pace of the plot reflects this as new layers are revealed, and the different elements of the story converge to a really exciting conclusion. Overall, I would highly recommend Lightning's Shadow as a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final, explosive showdown.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn
Richard Somes has written a superb thriller in Lightning's Shadow. Regan Clery, a junior writer for the Contemporary American, is allowed to have her name appear as a byline in an article. Head of Blue Lightning Securities and well-known businessman Carter Thomas asked Regan to fly to Haiti for an interview. Regan found out that Carter and his group from Blue Lightning Securities were tasked with finding and rescuing a kidnapped girl, and she soon found herself in the middle of the investigation. A straightforward job turned mysterious when Regan discovered that Carter's reasons for being in Haiti were related to an incident in Afghanistan ten years earlier. Regan's additional investigation revealed that she was a pawn in a grand conspiracy involving the CIA and Cuban intelligence.
This page-turner had me hooked right away, flipping from cover to cover. Richard Some’s writing is tense and thrilling. In addition to being fast-paced and extremely entertaining due to its conspiracy and terrorist themes, the story also brought up more somber issues regarding justice, corruption, and the extent to which a man will go to discover the truth. The characters were lively and engaging, and I thought I was watching the scenes standing right next to each character. As Lightning's Shadow progressed, there was a sense of peril and uncertainty, and the characters' responses to the attempts on their lives added to the realism and suspense of the encounter. This brilliantly written story and its incredible plot twists gripped me from start to finish.
Reviewed by Alma Boucher