Just before the American President is scheduled to appear in Sam Moore’s hometown of East Goodland, Sam’s retirement plans are pushed back when his daughter, Beth, goes missing. In his search for Beth, Sam is guided by an unusual talisman—a small green marble—that reveals a perplexing link between Beth and her mysterious roommate, Zafina Azziz.
Who is the real Zafina? Med student, loving friend, … loving friend, Egyptian royal—or a keeper of deadly secrets? Is she involved with a group of suspicious students from the Middle East?
And does Zafina know where Beth is?
Meanwhile, Sam’s friend Senator MacDonald is tapped for the Presidential nomination, and his small town goes berserk, both with the news and in preparation for a Presidential appearance at the new arts center gala. That’s when Sam discovers that someone is out to destroy the President—and that someone is hiding in East Goodland. Book 2 in the Moore Mystery series.
“A keeper! This is a story you will want to read more than once to pick up stray bits of the story you may miss on the first reading. You’ll want to read all of talented author Aaron Paul Lazar’s books. Lots of excitement in all of them and you’ll come to think of the characters as old friends you’ll enjoy visiting with again and again.”
Anne K. Edwards, author of Shadows Over Paradise
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***** A Multi-layered, Riveting Story
Starting out with the sixty-plus year old Dr. Sam Moore, mourning for his little brother who had tragically died over fifty years before, we quickly feel the doctor’s heartache, pain, and emotional scars from the sad event. Yet the only thing left from his brother is a green marble, which Sam faithfully keeps in the pocket of whichever pants he is wearing. With his loving wife, Rachel, by his side as well as his daughter-in-law and grandchildren, in spite of his brother’s sad demise, his life now appears loving and full. But gradually, more and more comes out. Sam and Rachel’s son is stationed in the Middle East on a dangerous mission, and all of a sudden, their daughter, Beth, has gone missing. Tense, worried, soon, they are visited by her roommate, Zafina and her brother, both also from the Middle East. They are not only sweet and helpful, they let the Moore family know just how very disturbed they are by Beth’s disappearance.
With Rachel being confined to a wheelchair, Sam sets out alone to try and discover what happened to their daughter. Although good friends, a local politician, and the police are all there to try and help him search for her, everyone else in town is excited about an upcoming visit from the President.
But Sam also has a secret. He’s discovered that his little brother’s green marble gives him visionary powers. Abilities that quickly heighten his fear for his daughter’s safety in the midst of something deep and foreboding.
With rich, descriptive language that still manages to provide edge-of-your seat action, we are soon thrust into Sam’s headlong journey to save the day, no matter what. But at his age, will he really be able to do that? Highly recommended!
Dr. Sam Moore hangs on to a memento, a green marble that reminds him of his little brother, Billy, who died in tragic circumstances over fifty years before. Pulsing under his touch, the glowing marble gives Sam visionary powers, a fact he is reluctant to share with others. “He’d avoided telling her about the extent of his adventures into the other realm.”
Other than this lingering grief and longing for his son, who is is stationed in the Middle East, Dr. Sam leads a wholesome, peaceful life with his family: his wife, Rachel, who is confined to a wheelchair, and his daughter-in-law. All he wants to do is tend to his garden and enjoy his grandchildren. But soon, another tragic event rocks his quiet life. His daughter, Beth, has disappeared. Her roommate, Zafina, offers her support. But given her involvement with a group of suspicious students from the Middle East, it remains unclear what she knows about Beth’s disappearance and her whereabouts.
To complicate things even further, one more mystery competes for his attention. Just when the town is preparing for the President to appear at the new arts center gala, Sam discovers that someone is out to destroy him. With the help of the green marble, and with a heart full of compassion for others, Sam intends to figure out both mysteries.
Highly recommended. Five stars.