Book Review: Luthecker

Media Type: Ebook
Title: Luthecker
Author: Keith Domingue
Publisher: Domingue, Inc.
Pages: Paperback; 376
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Source: Author
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Genre: Thriller

HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart

Recommended to: Readers who love a good, fast-paced thriller with vivid characters.

Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon

ALEX LUTHECKER lives off of the grid. He prefers the comfort of the night. He avoids the crowded and chaotic daylight hours, because the relentless anxieties of the multitudes overwhelm him. This is because Alex has a rare gift. He is a pattern reader. Patterns in nature, patterns in social groups, patterns in individual behavior, he can recognize them all. With one conversation, he knows all of your secrets. He can tell you exactly who you are. He can tell you exactly how your life is going to end. For Alex, it’s not magic. It’s math.

NICOLE ELLIS works in the energy business. She trades futures in the lifeblood of civilization: crude oil. With the help of her patented pattern recognition software, PHOEBE, she has the uncanny ability to predict trends in oil production and consumption. And at the tender age of twenty-five, she is recognized as one of the best in the business, with the bank account to show for it. For Nicole, who grew up with nothing, the world is hers.

RICHARD BROWN was a highly respected intelligence officer during both Gulf Wars. He oversaw rendition squads, making sure that his interrogators didn’t cross the line into torture, and if they did, that no one would ever be the wiser. The only thing that mattered to the government was that Brown always got his man. His track record of success allowed his move into the private sector, eventually heading the corporate entity known as Coalition Properties, the largest military contractor in U.S. history. For Brown, the commodity he trades and sells is power.

A terrorist attack on a Saudi oil refinery sets the paths of all three on a collision course, an encounter that threatens to upset the balance of power in the world. Alex must learn to forge relationships and become a leader in order to save the lives of not only himself and Nicole, but also those of his loose band of allies, as he becomes one of the most sought after fugitives in history.

Let me start out with just one statement: Good lord almighty. As soon as I opened the pages of Luthecker I knew was in for the long haul. This, my friends, is the perfect example of fabulous Indie writing. It’s polished, has completely amazing characters, and contains a plot that will blow your mind and keep you reading. Long story short? I totally devoured this book.

The first thing that struck me about Luthecker was Alex himself. Here we have a lone wolf character, but with a huge heart. Blessed (or cursed as the case may be) with the power to see patterns in the lives of others, Alex can essentially see the past and future in an instant. Unfortunately this puts him on the radar of some pretty bad people. I loved Alex’s character so much. Honest and kind, all he wants is to figure himself out. His vulnerability made him likable  and his strength made him an amazing protagonist.

That’s not to say that the other characters aren’t well formed also. Each one has their own vivid personality, and lends just the right amount of help or hindrance when it comes to Alex’s journey of self discovery. I have to add here that I was completely enamored with the way that light is pitted against dark here, in so many ways. Alex’s story has many levels to it and, once you factor in a lightning fast plot, you have a book that will beg you to read it to completion.

The absolute only reason that I gave this book 4 stars rather than 5 was because of the amount of detail it goes into at times. I know this is likely because I’m just getting into thrillers, but a lot of the very descriptive attention to guns, cars, and military items kind of went over my head. I am more than certain that veterans of the genre will shake their heads at me, but hey, I need to be honest. It didn’t matter in the long run anyway. I still latched on to the overall story with a white knuckled grip, and powered on. Yes, it’s that good.

So if you are a fan of this genre, Luthecker is a story that you need to get your hands on! Once again I’m proven right. It doesn’t take a big publishing house to put out a great story. Keith Domingue is an extremely talented writer and I cannot wait to see what’s coming around the bend. Strap yourself in and hold on tight. Luthecker will take you for a ride.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.