“The Mazatlan Showdown gives thriller readers a run for their money as it tells of lifeguard Jeff Walker's pursuit of his father's murderer, only to wind up involved in a deadly smuggling situation. Fellow lifeguard Tony Park follows him into danger, and the two work with more seasoned law enforcement figures, but Jeff's kidnapping thwarts even the experts and lands him in a scenario akin to that which took his father's life. Revenge is sweet ... but not when it turns into an explosive confrontation that ignites his friend Park's post-military PTSD and lands Jeff in a situation that could cost more than his life.
Patrick Weill's thriller features nonstop action and twists designed to challenge and intrigue even the most seasoned thriller reader's anticipation of what comes next. The story winds through different cultures, layers of crime, and the pursuit of justice with deft descriptions of accidents, cries for help, Walker's determination to journey to Mazatlan to kill a man for the first time in his life, and Park's participation in a dangerous cat-and-mouse scenario in which the victim becomes the pursuer and the good guy teeters on the edge of becoming the perp. This juxtaposition of identities, special interests, and fluid intentions contributes an element of intrigue and surprise throughout the plot. These create a constantly shifting foundation of discovery and an atmosphere that defies pat problem-solving or quick solutions. Thriller readers seeking elements of nonstop adventure and action in their stories will find The Mazatlan Showdown spiced with just the right degree of character development, social and political entanglements, and questions about justice and redemption that pair bigger-picture thinking with motives for revenge and justice.
Libraries and book club discussion groups will find The Mazatlan Showdown just the ticket for a journey into other worlds that evolve from tragic memories and investigations that test physical and mental agility alike. Its action and psychology are simply superb, driving a story that proves riveting, thought-provoking, and hard to put down or predict.”