Vanishing Act
By Todd Daniel McCormick
Llumina Press
ISBN: 978-1-59526-909-6
253 Pages
American Writer’s Award winner Todd Daniel McCormick (2007) has written a "reality" thriller/adventure! And what better way to read about today’s reality is through a novel as timely and up-to-date as America’s top news stories and television programs! Vanishing Act just may be a future best seller...if you want to be one of the first readers...add this one to your "must-read" list!
Main character Nick O’Shea has been up for any type of adventure in his past; however, he’s now met a wonderful woman, Sandy, and is thinking about marriage and a family. Nick lives on his boat, Tequila Sunrise, and is always ready for his next assignment as a bounty hunter for rich-and-famous fugitives who’ve committed white-collar crimes—"extremely wealthy clients who get themselves into very delicate legal difficulties... eccentric and capable of making themselves scarce." (p. 29) When his boss calls and assigns his latest "skip," he also admits that if the man is never found, that his bonding agency may go under. For the missing man is James Preston, Billionaire and CEO who has looted his own company’s pension fund!
Consider what options a billionaire has in creating diversions to prevent apprehension! The chase is on, with Nick taking the lead, surrounded by the FBI, local officials, computer experts, family and friends! Nick has been considering retirement as part of the future and he calls upon contacts everywhere to help him with this, his last and most dangerous assignment! Disguises, deceptions, false leads all fail as Nick follows the faint trail left by Preston. The action on high seas, in the midst of Hurricane "James," which leaves Nick unconscious holding on for his life at the top of his mast, is just a sample of the adventure! Even when they meet face-to-face, Preston taunts, "This is a game, pure and simple...I’ve perpetrated the ultimate crime, and now I get to watch the carnage that will follow." (p. 236)
But when Preston turns his actions toward Sandy, Nick quickly moves to high gear.
Interestingly, amidst the fast pace of the chase, McCormick quite successfully interweaves the romance between Nick and Sandy, as well as his personal life with family and friends. One of the reasons is that the primary setting on the seas allows this beautiful merge. The characters have been well developed to fit into the setting and lifestyles of what some call "the rich and the famous."
The headline from the news release by the publisher says, "Prize Winning Novel Enters the Mind of the Corporate Criminal." We’ve all seen the reality in the news! Take a break from reality and enjoy this award-winning fiction novel...just for the enjoyment and pleasure I’m sure you’ll have!
G. A. Bixler
For IP Book Reviewers
Friday, February 22, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
New Review from TCM Reviews
Vanishing Act
Todd McCormick
Lumina Press
ISBN: 9781595269096
Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Reviewed by Ruby Krautsack
I enjoyed Todd McCormick's book, Vanishing Act, very much. I liked the characters and felt like I was a part of the scheme with them. I especially liked Sandy, and admired her courage. It was a very refreshing book to read because I like to go on cruises but don't know anything about boats. Todd explained them in detail, so I learned something from the book.
It was very clever of Todd to think up a person like Preston and Info Tech, the company that he stole the money from. The plot to disappear and what it entailed was brilliant.
A storm and the sinking of Preston's boat was added excitement. A man like that would never give up, and Todd told it like it would have been.
The names of the boats also impressed me: The Wind Breaker as his boat; the Tequila Sunrise suited his friend Jack to a tea; and "Liberty," the boat owned by his friends Bill and Laurie, which was built for speed because they liked entering the races.
When Sandy had to make a raft of life jackets and leave a sinking ship, it got kind of hairy and maybe a little far fetched; but, not knowing much about life jackets except what I learned on a cruise, I will accept them being made into a raft.
I like the traveling that Nick, the main subject of the book, had to do, and the wild goose chases sure made it exciting to read.
To sum it all up, I like that the story ended with a sense of humor that the author showed all through the book. I also like the fact that it was a happy ending, with a wedding planned to take place in Bermuda, at his sister's place, with all the friends attending.
If Todd McCormick writes another book about Nick, the bounty hunter, I will be sure to read it.
Todd McCormick
Lumina Press
ISBN: 9781595269096
Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Reviewed by Ruby Krautsack
I enjoyed Todd McCormick's book, Vanishing Act, very much. I liked the characters and felt like I was a part of the scheme with them. I especially liked Sandy, and admired her courage. It was a very refreshing book to read because I like to go on cruises but don't know anything about boats. Todd explained them in detail, so I learned something from the book.
It was very clever of Todd to think up a person like Preston and Info Tech, the company that he stole the money from. The plot to disappear and what it entailed was brilliant.
A storm and the sinking of Preston's boat was added excitement. A man like that would never give up, and Todd told it like it would have been.
The names of the boats also impressed me: The Wind Breaker as his boat; the Tequila Sunrise suited his friend Jack to a tea; and "Liberty," the boat owned by his friends Bill and Laurie, which was built for speed because they liked entering the races.
When Sandy had to make a raft of life jackets and leave a sinking ship, it got kind of hairy and maybe a little far fetched; but, not knowing much about life jackets except what I learned on a cruise, I will accept them being made into a raft.
I like the traveling that Nick, the main subject of the book, had to do, and the wild goose chases sure made it exciting to read.
To sum it all up, I like that the story ended with a sense of humor that the author showed all through the book. I also like the fact that it was a happy ending, with a wedding planned to take place in Bermuda, at his sister's place, with all the friends attending.
If Todd McCormick writes another book about Nick, the bounty hunter, I will be sure to read it.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Review by Richard Bennett
If you dream of sailing, or are a sailor, like good wines or just dream of the freedom to sail away, I'm sure you will like "Vanishing Act" by Todd McCormick. It is a fascinating story of white collar crime at the highest level at a giant software company. The company co-founder, Preston, has devised an ingenious plan to steal the pension fund money, a crime that will ruin the company. This story is so well written and moves along at such a fast clip, you will not want to be disturbed by your normal life distractions. If you like mysteries with twists and turns and suspense you will like this story.
An Old Salt, Dick Bennett
An Old Salt, Dick Bennett
Monday, February 4, 2008
Review from Kaye Trout
"... the sea tales are excellent, particularly if you’ve ever been to sea in a storm. It’s very clear that Todd McCormick knows his boats and something of the sea. Vanishing Act is a good classic mystery novel, with some light sexual romance added for fun. The story is well-written and well-edited..."
" If you’re a mystery buff, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the chase."
Kaye Trout - February 4, 2008
" If you’re a mystery buff, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the chase."
Kaye Trout - February 4, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
First review is in!
Reviewyourbook.com is the first of the many reviewers to whom I submitted the book. Following is an excerpt from the 5-Star review given by Debra Gaynor:
"Vanishing Act is Todd McCormick's first fiction creation. I suspect it will not be his last. Nick is a strong character, yet he has a vulnerable side, especially when it comes to Sandy. Sandy is loyal and loves with her heart. She proves she will do anything to protect her man. The characters are likable. McCormick has a talent for dialogue. Many find dialogue the most difficult part of writing; many never master the art. McCormick makes it look easy. The pace of Vanishing Act is fast-moving; it keeps readers on the edge of their seat. All in all, this is a good book. Fans of mystery and suspense will like this one."
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com
"Vanishing Act is Todd McCormick's first fiction creation. I suspect it will not be his last. Nick is a strong character, yet he has a vulnerable side, especially when it comes to Sandy. Sandy is loyal and loves with her heart. She proves she will do anything to protect her man. The characters are likable. McCormick has a talent for dialogue. Many find dialogue the most difficult part of writing; many never master the art. McCormick makes it look easy. The pace of Vanishing Act is fast-moving; it keeps readers on the edge of their seat. All in all, this is a good book. Fans of mystery and suspense will like this one."
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com
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