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What they're saying about the book:
“Fast and hard, with terrific characters and gripping suspense. The Olive Horseshoe. I couldn’t put it down.” ― Vince Flynn, New York Times Best Selling Author
"A crackling good mystery by a writer who knows his stuff!" ― Shane Gericke, National bestselling author
“The Olive Horseshoe rocks. Ben F. Small has written a truly unique thriller with compelling characters, exotic locales and unexpected plot twists. Combine those things with finely tuned suspense that builds with every turn of the page and you’ve got a formula for one white knuckle read. Clear your calendar for the next few days because you won’t want to do anything other than get to the final page of The Olive Horseshoe”. ―Jeff Shelby, Author of Killer Swell and Wicked Break |
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"The only
fault (if fault it be) one can find with this intriguing suspense
novel is that while most of the action takes place overseas—in
Morocco and Spain—the FBI plays a prominent role in these countries.
Since the agency is supposedly limited to domestic activity (the CIA
and other alphabet agencies operate internationally), it is
questionable whether the FBI could act as portrayed. However, since
the protagonist's best friend is an FBI agent and plays a prominent
part in the plot, perhaps we can let the author have some license.
― Theodore Feit, Midwest Book Review “Ben F. Small has crafted a high-tension, high-energy thriller that will keep you turning the pages and agonizing along with Denton and his friends. Though he may sound like a spoiled brat at times, Denton knows how to crack heads and doesn't back off from a challenge. If you like action, this book has it in spades. Get a copy of The Olive Horseshoe and hunker down. You're about to take one lightning-fast, suspenseful ride.” ― Chester Campbell, Acclaimed author of The Marathon Murders, Deadly Illusions, Designed to Kill, Secret of the Scroll ― "Fabulous mysteries." Midwest Book Review
“Ben Small keeps us guessing as he pulls the thread of this powerful thriller in ever-more suspenseful ways across an international landscape. When the last page has been turned, the reader can only gasp, ‘When's the next one due out?’ ” ― Chris Holmes, Acclaimed author of Blood On the Tartan; The Garden of Evil, and Spores Plagues and History: The Story of Anthrax
“Ben F. Small’s THE OLIVE HORSESHOE is an intriguing book. Estranged family, murder and conspiracies with some truly memorable characters. And while the scope feels big, it is not blown out of proportion and it is really an enjoyable book. Small does nice work with dialogue and I really enjoyed his protagonist Denton Wright.” — Buzz Box, Crimespree Magazine, May/June 2008
"I thought the book was an enjoyable read, though it really didn’t break any new ground in the mystery genre. I did like the ‘billionaire’ aspect of the story which put me in mind of Tony Stark (Iron Man from the Marvel comics). The only minor quibble I had with the book was that I didn’t find Denton Wright entirely likeable. Probably because he’s having sex with a woman he just met while the reader just knows the right woman for him is Mandy.
"Regardless, THE OLIVE HORSESHOE is an engaging and quick read. I’d like to see how the characters evolve in another book." — Jerry Unangst, Roundtable Reviews
"The Olive Horseshoe by Ben F. Small is a mystery that combines his love of the outdoors, his knowledge of the law and of the interesting personalities he must of met in his years as an antitrust attorney. "Small has created Billionaire Denton Wright as the main character. Wright is a man who through hard work, cashing in on an internet business and investment savvy would up being a very rich man. A very rich man who had been estranged from his father for many years. "Wright decides to re-evaluate his life with a kayaking trip in the wilderness to decide how he should go about bridging the rather huge strained gap between him and his father. However, for the first time in his adult life, his timing couldn't be worse. Just as Denton is coming back home, he finds out that his father's mutilated body has washed up on the Spanish Coast. "Learning that his father and a traveling companion were slaughtered by a drug cartel-he decides he must get payback for whoever it is who took the father he barely knew. "The problem arises when he finds out that drug cartels are not necessarily the easiest to track down and they have no problem killing whomever gets in their way-no matter how innocent. "Unbeknownst to him, Denton winds up being the cause of several people's horrendous deaths, in his want to take care of those around him. What he also doesn't learn until the adventure is almost over is just how close his lack of relationship to his father is to the reason he was actually killed. "Some of his co-horts in his quest are Jenna Rogers-a Californian wine-maker whose father was also murdered with Denton's parent. Carlos La Jolla, Jenna's hot-blooded black belt friend and partner, whose eyes give no clue to what he's thinking except a challenge to fight. "Joe Corsano, Denton's father's business partner. A man that, even as a boy, Denton neither liked or trusted. "His good friend, assistant, part-time lover Mandy-who puts her life on the line to help find the murderers. "Along the way, there are some savvy New York city police detectives, an old college friend who is now part of the FBI and some very scary characters. "Of course, there are the required love connections and close calls and of course at the end, we finally find out just the Olive Horseshoe is-which didn't play as big a part in this mystery as you might have suspected. "The Olive Horseshoe is a fast, interesting murder mystery. I don't know if Small is going to franchise the Denton Wright character, but it is an interesting concept." — Carine Nadel, member of Reader's Advisory Panel, Woman's Day Magazine
"The Olive Horseshoe is a story that canvases a lot of intrigue, action, great storytelling, unforgettable characters and plenty of plot twists galore. A must read for all mystery lovers.
"Ben F. Small's new novel demonstrates his ability at riveting readers to stay focused until the very last page is read. Small proves he has what it takes to climb the ladder of success and climb it well. I enjoyed this book from page one and cannot wait until his next novel is released." — Chad at Book Cove Reviews
"I felt as though this book could have been condensed down by about 100 pages and still been able to follow the same general story line. I do not mean this as a criticism but rather a compliment. Ben F. Small has turned this great suspense novel into a very descriptive, fleshed out adventure. I wouldn't trade in those extra 100 pages for anything!
"The...story was filled with fantastic description, suspense, and action. I really enjoyed the beginning where you get to be there witnessing the two men's death. I was so horrified by it that it is part of what fueled me to read the book; I wanted to find their killers right along with Denton and Jenna.
"Ben F. Small has a great story he has created and should be very proud of himself. His writing is clear and his creativity is grand! I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys suspense!" — Ashley Merrill, Front Street Reviews
"Depth of character and exotic locales keep the action rolling at a clip which allows us license to accept that Denton Wright had become a billionaire at such a young age, that his insecurities were the driving force behind his martial arts training, and that he’d been on an extended kayaking—and soul-searching—trip through Maine when his father was murdered.
"The prologue, which depicts the torturous murder of the senior Mr. Wright and a fellow traveler on a seniors’ excursion through Spain and Morocco, gives us as few clues to work from as it does Denton and his assistant, Mandy. Enter Jenna Rogers, daughter of the second ill-fated traveler and her California winery foreman Carlos, to rub raw the tangled mass of emotions.
"The killer(s) left one signature calling card: The Columbian Necktie.
"Add to the mix Howard Wright’s Manhattan law partner and his son, travel snafus, language barriers, break-ins, subsequent and supposedly unrelated murders, alpha-male personality issues, high-end surveillance gadgetry, an international drug cartel, and sheer gut instincts—and it’s one hell of a ride!
"Will Denton find his soul as he grapples with the twisted minds of those intent on destroying him—and every other life he touches?
"Delightful mystery/suspense/thriller. A very satisfying read. " — Linda J. Hutchinson, The Review Hutch
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