Amber Morn

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS* In order to review or critique this book, we must start as the writer did - at the beginning. She chose wisely a small establishment on a quiet Saturday morning. Lurking in the background of this story are three very evil men - a father and his two sons, intent on only one thing - getting their son and brother T.J. released from prison. The son TJ is accused of a horrible murder; evidence of his guilt abounded and landed him in prison. The small coffee shop had been chosen for having all the right elements: a computer, a small place that would not be crowded with people, totally manageable by the three men with guns and ammunition and only one object on their minds. Holding all the aces, the criminals demand the use of the coffee shop's blog to get the word out of the supposed injustice done to their brother. Police chief Vance Edwards proves to be a master negotiator and, from the beginning, the reader feels confident he will handle the situation well. But how? That's what intrigues the reader. How will he get it done? Kent and his two sons establish themselves immediately by intimidating, taunting, and, of course, waving their guns around, ordering their hostages, singling out who they believe to be the weakest. As a reader, my only negative comment about Amber Morn would be the way it ended. Evidence came up that TJ was possibly innocent of the crime of which he was accused. As evil as the family was, I think I would have embellished the theme of TJ's possible innocence and worked hard to get that across to his father and brothers, convincing them to let the hostages go, surrender to the police, and take the consequences for what they had done so far, comforted by the fact that TJ could be released. I am not a published author, and do not pretend to flesh out the scenario, but would consider it as opposed to the carnage of the SWAT team killing the criminals. This story was a cliff hanger, back and forth between Vince and Kent, and Kent's struggle to control the situation. The narrator begets the highest remarks, in my opinion. His voice was perfect, along With his ability to catch and hold the attention of the reader was excellent. This reader would enjoy more books by this narrarator and this author.