Legacy of Evil
Adult; Mystery/Thriller; (Market)
Legacy of Evil, by Ed Marohn, is the second novel in the action-adventure series about Psychologist John Moore, who works for the CIA. He finds himself in the middle of a “factions war” between the present second-in-command of the CIA, James Woodruff, and a rival connected to the neo-Nazis, who will stop at nothing to unseat him.
Woodruff sends Moore to Holland and Germany to help expose any neo-Nazis who had infiltrated the CIA. In the process, he meets with former members of the Baader-Meinhof Gang, an anarchist group that committed murders and bombings in West Germany and other parts of Europe starting in the 1970s. He soon learns that a nuclear device fell into their hands and is unaccounted for after all these years. John rushes to Finland, and eventually, Lapland above the Arctic Circle, to locate the nuclear weapon for the CIA. However, an elaborate international neo-Nazi group aims to find the atomic device first as part of their plan to create a new world order. A dangerous chase sequence develops as John Moore, his fellow CIA partner, and his Finnish guide race by dogsled on the Arctic taiga pursued by the fascist group.
Throughout, Moore struggles with his demons from killing in the Vietnam War. Ironically during his last mission for the CIA in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to pursue war criminals, he befriended his former North Vietnam enemy, Colonel Tin, who he fought against in the war. He also became a friend to national policewoman Hieu, who partnered with him to catch the bad guys. Now Tin and Hieu try to help him against the neo-Nazis. Along with a mafia hitman who had saved John’s life in Saigon during the war.
Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 8.75 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: Starting off slowly, Marohn fills the reader in on what happened during the main character’s previous venture. The reader then becomes steeped in a new adventure that takes the reader to a variety of places and a dangerous race to outsmart bad intentions. Marohn keeps the storyline tight with guidance for the reader and keeps the intensity high.
Prose/Style: This narrative is well-written, with close attention to detail and setting allowing the reader to keep up with the chase. The author keeps the reader on point with necessary details but does not embellish too much. The interactions between the characters help lend the reader insight into personality and relationships.
Originality: The author successfully allows a reader that is new to the series to understand where the main character has been and where he is going next. This approach is clever and smart, as it creates interest in the series.
Character Development/Execution: Conservative but adventurous, the main character is clever and genuine. Because the reader has a glimpse into his personal life, he is relatable. Interactions between the characters keep the plot moving forward. Being that the reader gets to see into the personal life of the main character, it is easy to want the main character to succeed not only in love but also in the chase for the bad guys.
Date Submitted: July 06, 2021