The Scopas Factor

TITTLE: The Scopas Factor
AUTHOR: Vincent Panettiere
PUBLISHER: BookBaby
ISBN: 978-1-54394-770-0 (print)
: 978-1-54394-771-7 (eBook)
PAGES: 310
GENRE:
The book is nothing short of exciting, mysterious and electrifying. The events are dramatized well, making the reader visualize every action on the ground. Vincent Panettiere writes fascinatingly and was able to catch my interest from the start.
The author takes us to Ban Vinai Refugee Camp in Thailand at the beginning of the book. The year is 1990 and we are introduced to the Mud Woman. I found the Mud woman to be intriguing. Her character seemed interesting because at the beginning, the reader is informed that no one knew her name or age. She was amusing. Despite being among the many nameless people on the trek that was fleeing the Laotian army, the mud woman was distinct in her own ways. She spoke less and one could see the sadness in her eyes. I read her story with empathy up until she reunited with her daughter, Mos. I love that the author wrote about this woman. It helps the reader have a perspective of how things are run in some refugee camps; isolation, misery, depression, loneliness and hunger are some of the things refugees face. The reader is able to learn a lot about the mud woman’s story. Lessons I took from her include perseverance and prudence.
The plot of the story gets better after the first chapter. One encounters unexpected twists as they read on, meeting new characters and being virtually taken to different locations. Detective Mike Hegan was a favorite in the book. The man was skilled in his profession, acted as required and was always focused. I loved that I identified him as a protagonist. Detective Hegan’s life was adventurous. The cases he took, his investigations and his personal life are what made me enjoy the book.
Detective Hegan’s final investigation did not end well with him. He left St. Kitts to Chicago hoping to forget everything. This was however not the case as he was met with more drama. I was not prepared for the action that followed. Murders, kidnappings and his girlfriend’s father’s shady links are some of the things he never thought he would be dealing with. Detective Hegan is among the characters who perfectly executed their roles in the book.
“The Scopas factor” is an attention-grabbing book. Though the reader is taken to different parts of the world, one could see that the stories are somehow connected. The author did well with the development of the plot and the characters’ roles. I loved reading the mystery as it made me more eager to read what was to follow.
Vincent Panettiere is a great author. His writing style is laid-back and the reader follows through every story he puts out. The paragraphs were well arranged in that one was able to comprehend the current events without having to go back for reference. “The Scopas Factor” was written for readers who enjoy thriller stories, detective, drama, crime, mystery and murder themes. I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys reading a book that is action packed. The book deserves 4 out of 5 stars.