EPICALYX
Reviewed By: Susan Keefe
Susan Keefe reviews and promotes poetry, fiction and non-fiction, and is also author of the Toby's Tails series of children's books.

EPICALYX is an exceptionally well written, exciting thriller, laced with mystery and suspense. The career of the author, Jose R. Olivares, working for the U.S. government service with Homeland Security, and as a U.S. diplomat in Asia, enables him to write gripping stories with real attention to detail.

This is the author’s third novel, the two previous being ‘Death on Sun River,’ and ‘China’s 8th Dragon.’ They follow the dangerous yet exciting career of Rico Tombunga, a young man who was a Marine and served in Vietnam, but was then recruited to work for the U.S. government covertly.

As this novel begins, it is ten years later. Rico now lives behind a peaceful façade, in Saddle Brookside, Arizona, with his wife Candy. To the world his life is quiet. However, he’s not foolish enough to think that he has been forgotten. He knows that in his profession you either survive by being continually vigilant, or die.

When his long time neighbor Gomez, and General Tang of the communist Chinese military break into his home, their objective is his murder. However they soon discover that they have underestimated Rico. His ‘comfy home’ is in reality a fortress, with some truly deadly additions.

Langley is calling. A can of worms has been opened. Rico discovers that his past is catching up with him, and there’s unfinished business to attend to. However, he is now not only a man on a mission, but he’s also out for revenge…

This is just the beginning of this fictional novel, a tiny taster. The reader joins Rico and he takes you into a world few know about. Men, and women, like Rico, kill when needed, knowing they are always in danger, and  risk everything for their country. Their personas change as needed, and they rely on a long memory and keen instincts. In his own words, the author through Rico and the other characters “pays homage to the millions of American men and women who are just like his protagonist,” and we the lucky readers are able to join them in EPICALYX.

In Summary: If you love reading totally absorbing suspense thrillers, with exciting characters, and many layers, then this is the book for you. Highly Recommended! – Susan Keefe TheColumbiaReview.com

Available from Amazon in Kindle format: https://www.amazon.com/EPICALYX-Jose-R-Olivares-ebook/dp/B08TX74N7D/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1612878150&refinements=p_27%3AJose+R.++Olivares&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Jose+R.++Olivares