‘Force of Nature’ by David Collenette

Published by The Book Guild Publishing,
28 February 2019.
ISBN: 978-1-91257589-3

Matthew Hawk has the ability to look into a person’s eyes and see their soul and then draw them as they really are.

A friend of his Roche needs his help and arranges for him to fly to Israel, where he meets him along with an Israeli, Haim Ezer. Haim works for Life Sciences Research Institute, and he describes how by using a person’s own DNA they hope to eradicate all illnesses and in theory people could live for ever.

They are taken to the ancient city of Jerusalem where a body has been found. Matthew is then introduced to Marc a priest and friend of Roche. They are puzzled by a large round picture drawn on the wall by the body. In the centre is depicted the Dome of the Rock. They explain the same symbol has been turning up in random places all over the world, always near a dead body. It is hoped Matthew can use his special powers to help solve the murders and see more in the symbols than at first meets the eye.

Unknown to them, psychopath and assassin Eva Colombo, known as The Machine, has been hired to kill Matthew before he can identify the murderer and painter of the symbols. After a couple of very close shaves, Roche realises someone is after Matthew and arranges for him to go to an army training camp to learn how to defend himself. It's in the middle of the desert in Tunisia and he finds it hell! At least after a few weeks he emerges able to shoot and look after himself even if most of the experience was agony.

A while after completing his training, Matthew with Roche fly to Gibraltar where there has been another murder together with the usual symbol. The dead man is a professor at the Life and Earth Sciences Institute, can the murderer be a religious fanatic intent on preventing all investigations into the DNA theory?

Hot on Matthew's heels wherever he goes, is The Machine. Will he be able to identify the killer before he becomes another of her victims? Also, who is hiring her, is it the murderer or someone else involved and if so why?

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale; the action never lets up and although there are several murders there are some very amusing moments. The scrapes Matthew gets into and how he gets out of them by the skin of his teeth had me chuckling out loud, especially when he is training in the desert.

A thoroughly good read which I highly recommend.

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

David Collenette lives in South Wales with his wife, Louellan, their cat, Chester, and a bizarre collection of personalities squeezed into their psychotic black dog, Martin. They also have four grown children. Writing was always important to David, even from an early age and, although "Could do better" was plastered on all of his school reports, stories came thick and fast.  "Writing is therapeutic. To be authentic with your characters you have to write what you know, so I try to include a piece of me in each of them. It's a great way to write but often frustrating, as the characters' interactions often force the story in ways I'd not initially intended. It makes the characters real and sustainable and provides a richness to them that wouldn't be there otherwise. Writing is addictive; I love it."

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.