Bandolina’s debut, a mystery-thriller set in North Carolina, jumps into the thick of the plot right at the start, as an unexpected explosion rocks one of the concourses at the Greensboro airport. Galaxy Airline pilot Alex Decker had been slated to land a jet there, but was warned away at the last minute, as a mysterious policeman told him to request a different gate. In the aftermath, Decker teams up with FBI Special Agent Maria Rodriguez to uncover the culprits behind the explosion. What ensues is a journey from Greensboro to Africa to Central America, full of unexpected twists and turns, encompassing everything from fast-paced shootings to raw diamonds to encounters with the dead.

The story is both propulsive and intricate, and hurls forward with full force. Bandolina keeps readers on their toes, using every opportunity to introduce new characters, unexpected plot twists, and violent clashes. Chapters end on page-turning cliffhangers (“Alex needed answers, and the place to start was at the airport”), throwing thriller fans into a fabulous world full of swift high-stakes storytelling. Bandolina grounds the tale’s implausible elements by demonstrating a firm grasp over the technicalities of drone strikes, flying an airplane, and how battles get waged in the desert.

Still, the sheer number of moving parts can get overwhelming. It’s hard to keep track of the wide array of characters and the intricacy of the plot at times edges into inscrutability. The relentless twists and turns also have a tendency to stretch the imagination, risking reader incredulity. However, Bandolina’s prose and motley set of characters prove engaging enough that readers willing to roll with Long Journey Back’s wildest notions and purposeful momentum will be sucked into its shady world and the fate of its cast. Lovers of fast-paced mysteries and airplanes will enjoy this ambitious globe-hopping thriller that’s both personal and larger than life.

Takeaway: This fast, twisty, thriller sends a pilot around the globe after an attack on a North Carolina airport.

Great for fans of: Irene Hannon, Dee Henderson.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-