Scott
Bell’s debut novel, Yeager’s Law, shows Bell is very adapt at keeping many
different story lines going at the same time. The story moves quickly, is
a fun read, and introduces readers to a new character they can fully root for.
Abel
Yeager hit hard times after his service in the Marine Corps ended. He
entered civilian life looking to make a living hauling materials as a trucker,
but he inadvertently kills a pregnant woman after she stops too quickly in
front of him and causes an accident. He is held liable by the insurance company
and, unknown to him at the time, a very dangerous man.
Trying
his best to stay one step ahead of the bills that are piling up around him,
Yeager takes on jobs that have him hauling cargo across the country. During one
such job, he finds himself the victim of an attempted hijacking and we see his
Marine Corps fighting skills come to life. He dispatches the would-be thieves
with the help of an ordinary woman who happens to be a gun toting book store owner
who comes out of her comfort level and plays hero right when Yeager needs it
most.
As
a way to pay her back for her help, Yeager agrees to haul a few pallets of
books for her at a cheap rate. What neither one of them realize is there is
dangerous cargo hidden in the pallets of books. Mix in the fact that the father
of the woman killed in his trucking accident is hell bent on revenge and you get a
novel that has a lit fuse that's burning towards an explosive ending.
I
found Bell’s debut to be an enjoyable read. The plot moves a long nicely and
his main character is a man of conviction, with a wealth of deadly skills
learned during his time in the Corps. While some parts of the plot seemed to
come together a little too conveniently for my taste, there is plenty to like
here and I hope that Bell pens another novel, hopefully featuring this dynamic
main character, sometime in the near future.
Recommended.
Reviewed by Derrick Horodyski.
