Noble Lies

Charles Benoit
Poisoned Pen Press (2007)
ISBN 9781590584507
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (6/07)


Hard drinking, decorated Marine, Desert Storm veteran, Mark Rohr was working as a bouncer in a bar in Thailand when Robin Antonucci came into his life.  She wanted to hire him to help her find her brother, Shawn Keller.  She shows him a videotape of a news report of the Tsunami that devastated Thailand.  The video showed that he was alive.

Their search leads them to a bar where they meet a woman, Pim, that claims to be Shawn’s wife and she insists she can take them to him.  Pim was adamant about bringing her nephew and grandfather.  Mark knows something is not quite right.  Two men are following them.  Shawn was into excitement stuff.  Robin knew Shawn had used drugs, but she was sure he was clean now.  She knew he liked to go where drugs could be bought cheap.  Robin had no idea what Shawn was really into.  He had become involved with Jarin, a treacherous criminal who was determined to get to Shawn.  What she does not know could get them all killed. Could Robin have an ulterior motive?

“Noble Lies” by Charles Benoit is a fast-paced, action-packed, edge-of-your-seat novel.  The plot is well-developed and set on the backdrop of Thailand.  Benoit brings the devastation of the Tsunami to life, recounting the disaster through the eyes of survivors.  The characters are well-developed. The unlikely hero, Mark Rohr, is a cynic; the Desert Storm veteran is multidimensional.  I did not expect the pirates; they brought an interesting twist to the plot.  This is not your usual mystery.  Benoit is an extremely talented writer.  I highly recommend “Noble Lies” to fans of mystery and suspense.

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