Poisonfeather (Gibson Vaughn) Paperback – October 4, 2016

I'll give this FABULOUS Sequel to The Short Drop 4 and 1/2 stars, and that's only due to the $&%*%^#&^&()* cliff hanger at the end, which every review mentions in one way or another! That said, I don't understand all the belly aching about the ending -- it's a series, this is Book Two, get over it -- you have something to look forward to, which will be worth the wait! This story opens with things looking up for Gibson Vaughn who is looking for a measure of stability after the horrific events in the Short Drop. He has a "sure thing" prospect of a new job which will enable him to provide for his daughter and prove to his ex-wife he is not a threat to the security of their lives. It will take some time and be difficult to win back everyone's trust after the events. As he anticipates the opportunity to fully come into the light and live an ordinary life with no secrets, a couple of seemingly shady characters ask for his help. It's a no brainer -- just say NO and he does. But, then they mention the one person to whom Gibson owes an unpayable debt.. . the judge. And so it begins. . . as Michael Corleone said, 'just when I thought I was out. . . they pull me back in.' . . and the screws keep turning and Gibson continues to take one more step back in to the darkness of the shadow life he is so desperate to put behind him. Once again, Mr. Fitzsimmons entices you to go along for the ride. You agree to go thinking you'll be able to assist Gibson in some way. . keep him from going fully into the darkness. . .help him find his way back if he gets in too deep. As in The Short Drop, the plot is revealed one layer at the time. . . deliciously tormenting the reader. You'll meet the usual cast of Fitzsimmons characters. By usual, meaning characters who appear to be one dimensional until the author chooses to reveal them in all their multi-faceted glory causing you to look around sheepishly to be sure no one noticed that you hadn't seen that coming! The ending is abrupt and leaves some loose threads which caused me to send a strongly worded letter to the author!! He replied, in a very gracious manner, and said, YES, book three will be forthcoming. I"m convinced it will be worth the wait, just as was Poisonfeather. Anyway. what are you gonna do??? You're hooked! Admit it, put your name on the list and move on with your life. This book is worth the mortgage of your future, waiting for the next installment!

This is the second book in the Gibson Vaughn series. It opens in a federal prison cell of Charles Merrick who is near the end of his eight year sentence for fraud in his Merrick Capital company. He is getting ready for an interview with a reporter for Finance magazine. This interview sets off a maelstrom of unintended events. At this time, Gibson Vaughn is taking his daughter to a National baseball game but meets two men who give him a letter from retired Judge Birk who years before changed Vaughn’s life for the better. The judge wants to meet with him. In recent years their relationship had become cold, but he went. He learned that the judge was losing his battle with dementia. It was the two men who really wanted to meet with Vaughn. Before the onset of the judge’s dementia, he had convinced his family and neighbors to invest with Merrick capital. Now, Vaughn was being enlisted to find any funds that Merrick may still have. This thriller takes off from here to finds any funds and separate Merrick from them. They are not the only ones with the same idea. The town near the Federal Prison because a hotbed of intrigue, competing and conflicting efforts, alliances made and broken, and revenge. The cast of characters range from criminals, foreign and domestic, to government agents, also foreign and domestic.The author weaves a captivating story as Vaughn proceeds to solve this problem. I had a difficult time to stop reading this novel and do such things as sleep! This is my major criteria for a high star rating.As this is the second novel, the B-story of Vaughn is advanced and enrichen. The author combines this aspect seamlessly into the main storyline. You will learn more about his relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, with Judge Birk, with the owner of the Nighthawk Diner and his wife, and with Dan Hendricks from the first novel. More of Vaughn’s personality is revealed with his new set of characters from this novel. If this is the first novel of the series that you are considering to read, the author provides adequate background that you will not be left feeling that you are missing something.There are a few f-bombs and some salty language. It was not significant. There is some violence but not graphic. If you do not have zero tolerance, this novel does not have any issues here.I really enjoyed reading this novel. It kept my interest, and every success, setback and obstacle only deepen my interest in continuing reading. While the twist at the end is something that I do not like, let me say the Vaughn’s future at the end is in question. I call this a who shot JR ending. Obviously, it is a segue to the next novel in the series. I give this novel a four star rating. Whether or not you have read the first novel, do try this novel.

I quite liked this, the second of the Gibson Vaughn books. I am a sometimes-thriller reader who really enjoyed The Short Drop for its depth of character development and emotionally-charged storyline. While this was was a different type of thriller - more, I think, of a typical mystery / intrigue / conspiracy type - I liked it equally as much as the first.As with The Short Drop the writing is really very good, the story captivating, and the character development wonderful. I wasn't sure I could get as invested in characters like Jen and George from the first book, but I Swonger's unexpected intelligence and rough-around-the-edges charm have stolen my heart. I know I've loved a book's characters when I have to keep reminding myself that they aren't real. I'm already fingers-crossed that Jen and George from book one will get to encounter Swonger and Deja from book two!Contrary to some reviews, I actually didn't find this one to be distressingly cliff-hanger-y - yes, we don't know what's going to happen next to Gibson's character, but isn't that rather the point of a series? I quite like getting to the end of a book a having the gasp and "OH!! Oh no! Gibson!!!" moment -- I want a book that sucks me in and has me eager for the next! And I thought the arc of Merick's story was tied off enough (especially the scene with his wife -- GAH!!) and look forward to the final pieces of that puzzle falling into place in time.