WHAT PRICE PARADISE?
ALAN M. BROOKER
ISBN#: 9781602722217/Print-9781602729476
March 2008
Amber Quill Press
www.amberquill.com
e-Book/Paperback
$7.00/$16.00
244 Pages
Action/Adventure/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Cups

Jacqueline Sterling is a member of the New Zealand Parliament. As a result of her outspoken tirades, she becomes a target of a group of multi-national corporations that are intent on exploiting New Zealand's economy.

Al Brookes has helped out the New Zealand police on a number of other occasions and becomes involved with Jacqueline's case coincidentally. Although initially his involvement is minimal, Al slowly gets drawn into this deepening crisis.

As the efforts of the multi-nationals to thwart Jacqueline continue, he realizes that there is more going on that anyone realizes. The conflict escalates, pitting the citizens of New Zealand against the corrupt forces in their government, even while elements within the government fight to retain control and maintain order. Will anyone be able to stop the nightmare of greed and fear or will the country be torn apart by criminal elements from other countries?

What Price Paradise is boiler plate but enjoyable. The bad guys use a variety of tactics to either avoid or suborn the people who would oppose them, but it's hard to believe that so few people would oppose them or take a stand. The one time that someone in the novel does take a stand, the consequences are neatly avoided, lessening the impact of this event. Although there is a negative outcome, it is a fraction of what there could have been and story would have been stronger if at least some of the consequences had been allowed to play out. The main antagonist is the least developed character and it shows, weakening the overall story and making the outcome almost certain. By providing the antagonist with more depth, this would likely have increased the tension and drama of the plotline, as well as making the eventual outcome seem less certain. Similarly, some of the events in the novel are too dramatic and over-the-top. As a result, the story moves relentlessly forward, building up a sense of despair and hopelessness that is a little too obvious. Just as obvious is the sudden ending with the good guys winning and a neat wrapping up of loose ends. What Price Paradise is an intriguing peek into New Zealand and it is obvious the author knows the country, its history and its politics. It is also a good story that could have been even better with a little more depth and character development.

Alex
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books