The Midas Touch

by

Gary Grossman, Charles Segars, and Oren Aviv

Twists upon twists!

The Midas Touch, a new thriller by the writing team of Gary Grossman, Charles Segars, and Oren Aviv, features the breakneck hunt for Jean Lafitte's rumored lost treasure, which may include the missing portions of the famed Rosetta Stone and the key to the creation of gold, the Alchemist Gold Theory that he retrieved for the defeated Napoleon whom he planned to rescue from his island prison. When his mentor, Dr. Hastings Kaufman, is murdered, CIA cryptologist Brady Donovan is determined to track down his killer by following the clues only Brady could decipher that Kaufman left behind. Desk jockey Brady, a somewhat socially awkward genius, talks his immediate superior into letting him go into the field to solve Kaufman's murder, beginning with a trip to London and the British Museum, where the Rosetta Stone may hide his first piece of inspiration. He teams up with Teppy Flynn, a young Egyptology student working on her Rosetta Stone-focused dissertation, and together they uncover that the killer's true goal was to use Brady's skills to unravel the secret of the Alchemist Gold Theory. Their research takes them from London back to the U.S., by car to Texas, and eventually to Lafitte's home port of New Orleans, all while dodging mysterious, dangerous-looking men in black SUVs. But the closer they get to solving the mystery, the more dangerous the stakes become, and Brady soon suspects someone back at Langley is playing for the other team. 

Brady Donovan is a sweet, innocent protagonist and a genius at what he does. Watching him work through the mental puzzles presented and expand on the cryptic clues Kaufman left him was such a clever part of the story, tucked between moments of sheer adrenaline as the bad guys tried to get their hands on him. Teppy Flynn is stalled on her dissertation and is immediately drawn into what he's pursuing. She finds a gentle, loyal, kindred spirit in Brady. She tackles every obstacle with her gusto and determination. I was all in on their growing relationship as the story progressed. The third member of their team, conspiracy theorist Avery Prophet, is not so game but sticks with the adventure even when the going gets tough. 

The storyline features several twists and action sequences with a bit of an Indiana Jones vibe thanks to the Egyptology angle. However, the pacing slowed down in between as characters were set up for the next big reveal, and I felt the story got a little overlong. The settings are vividly described with several well-known locations incorporated into the action, especially in New Orleans. Overheard phone calls between the major antagonists and unnamed parties heightened suspense, as readers don't know whom Brady can trust. I was completely engaged by their final push to discover what Lafitte had squirreled away just as the Category 5 Hurricane Nadine barreled their way. 

With its engaging characters and exciting, action-packed plot, I recommend THE MIDAS TOUCH to mystery, thriller, and suspense readers, especially those with an interest in Jean Lafitte, the Rosetta Stone, and the history of New Orleans. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.