M.R. Durbin

Title: Beyond the Narrows
Author: M.R. Durbin
Pages: 304
Year: 2016
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Obie Begay is on the run. He was out fishing, went into his trailer home and it blew up! Thankfully, he had a feeling that something wasn’t right, so he escaped before the explosion. Now he wonders who wants him dead. He is a retired archaeologist, so what could he know that would cause him such danger? His best friend Peter, with his grandson Charley, as well as two other friends catch up with him at a predetermined site to begin searching for answers.
Obie receives a package from Scotland containing the journal of a member of the Spanish Templars with clues that could lead to a treasure. Obie is able to translate it, but it is in a language that is almost unheard of. With Charley and Mac, Obie’s granddaughter, along to help, they begin investigating. Their search takes them in to caves, up and down steep hills, ledges, cliffs and canyons. Before long, however, they are set upon by the bad guys. They are interested in the treasure, but for a different reason. They are willing to shoot at, kidnap or whatever is necessary to stop Obie’s search.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I’m not a rappeler, so those portions of the story were not as interesting to me, but it didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the story. The interactions between the four older guys was hilarious and had several laugh out loud moments for me. There was a hint of romance between the two grandchildren of Obie and Peter that was both awkward and cute. The villain was perfectly casted for his role, and he and his compatriots added plenty of tension and suspense to the tale. This was a thrilling story and not one to miss!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.… (altro)

This is a fun interaction between Four "geriatric" men and three younger adult individuals! Mac and Charley are attending universities and Lucero is mid-twenties visiting America as a representative for IDAEH. Peter, Bill, Obie and Jack are retired "buddies" who enjoy golfing together. Bill and Jack still enjoy the companionship of their wives. Charley and Peter has only had a brief relationship in the past, but now, they are each the only family the other has left. Charley had hoped to get acquainted with his grandfather but he wondered if that would ever happen once he visited him between semester breaks.
Mac and Obie were very close. Mac's parents were alive and busy in another state. Mac had Obie to herself while living in Southern Utah attending the University in Cedar City. She was an active mountain climber and repeller. Mac, Charley and Lucero met under peculiar circumstances...each not trusting of the other. With the unbelievable turn of events, even the four "buddies" weren't sure who they could trust, aside from each other...Someone seemed to want Obie dead and Obie's lifetime friend/brother, Peter, was by his side!
Mysterious things were happening. The "bad guys" wanted something Obie had badly! Would the "buddie's lives end before they were able to discover what it was the "bad guys" were after?
This is written with the writer's strong sense of humor, steady flow of action, and maintaining the reader's feeling of suspense and mystery. The characters are very diverse and interesting. The friendships of the "buddies" admirable and endearing as with the relationship between grandfather and grandchild. The scenes are described well and fairly easily visualized.
The Book Title and Cover are both very fitting. The only negative it it felt slightly "drawn out" at times, to me.
*This book was gifted me but I am under no obligation to post a positive review.… (altro)

Title: Beyond the Narrows (A Novel)
Author: M. R. Durbin
Pages: 304
Year: 2016
Publisher: Covenant
My rating is 5 stars.
What an exciting novel with what looks like an ending left open for a sequel! There is a mystery from ages ago along with racing for some supposed treasure left decades ago to be found if the clues and maps could be found. I loved that some of the main characters were retired people from various jobs of expertise and ethnicities. Two of the characters are a young man and a young woman who are related to one of the older gentlemen whose life is in constant danger!
Once I started the novel, it was hard to put down because the tension never lets up and there are twists in the plot that come up suddenly, grabbing my attention. There is also archeology involved, native languages, and a bond these individuals have, especially the older gentlemen, that is very touching.
There are a few references to Mormonism or terms I think are referring to something within the Mormon system of beliefs. However, even though I am not Mormon, the novel was exceptionally well crafted and is a spell-binding, suspense-filled book that should be read and enjoyed. The author I think did a great job to focus on the action, danger, mystery and other elements that just keep a person turning pages until they are finished reading.
I hope the author writes a sequel with these characters because the older gentlemen are very different, but their bond of friendship is deep. One guy has such a dry sense of humor he made me laugh a lot throughout the book when he would pronounce a word is such a way just to throw people a curve. Yet, at other times his knowledge was helpful in figuring out what was written so very long ago.
Grab a copy and have fun in the never ending danger to solve the mysteries within the pages!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”… (altro)