KILLING MAINE Read online

  KILLING

  MAINE

  MIKE BOND

  ALSO BY

  MIKE BOND

  Saving Paradise

  Tibetan Cross

  Holy War

  House of Jaguar

  The Last Savanna

  CRITICS’ PRAISE FOR MIKE BOND

  Saving Paradise

  “Bond is easily one of the 21st Century’s most exciting authors …An action-packed, must read novel…taking readers behind the alluring façade of Hawaii’s pristine beaches and tourist traps into a festering underworld of murder, intrigue and corruption…Spellbinding readers with a writing style that pits hard-boiled, force of nature-like characters against politically adept, staccato-paced plots, Saving Paradise is a powerful editorial against the cancerous trends of crony capitalism and corrupt governance.” – Washington Times

  “A complex, entertaining…lusciously convoluted story.” – Kirkus

  “Saving Paradise will change you…It will call into question what little you really know, what people want you to believe you know and then hit you with a deep wave of dangerous truths…Saving Paradise is a thrill ride to read and pulls you in and out of plots until you don’t know who to trust or what to do any more than the character…Mike Bond is not only an acclaimed novelist…His intellect and creativity dance together on the pages, braiding fiction into deeper truths about ourselves, our nature, our government, our history and our future.” – Where Truth Meets Fiction

  “Mike Bond is…one of the best thriller writers, in the same league as Gerald Seymour and Frederick Forsyth.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “Saving Paradise is an absolutely fabulous book…a wonderful book.” – Art Zuckerman, WVOX

  “Saving Paradise is a rousing crime thriller – but it is so much more…a highly atmospheric thriller focusing on a side of Hawaiian life that tourists seldom see.” – Book Chase

  “An absolute page-turner” – Ecotopia Radio

  “He’s a tough guy, a cynic who describes the problems of the world as a bottomless pit, but can’t stop trying to solve them. He’s Pono Hawkins, the hero of Mike Bond’s new Hawaii-based thriller, Saving Paradise…an intersection of fiction and real life.” – Hawaii Public Radio

  “A very well written, fast-paced and exciting thriller.” – Mystery Maven Reviews

  “A fast pace thrill ride…The descriptions of Hawaii are beautiful and detailed.” – Romancebookworm’s Reviews

  “Mike Bond’s Saving Paradise is a complex murder mystery about political and corporate greed and corruption…Bond’s vivid descriptions of Hawaii bring Saving Paradise vibrantly to life. The plot is unique and the environmental aspect of the storyline is thought-provoking and informative. The story’s twists and turns will keep you guessing the killer’s identity right up until the very end.” – Book Reviews and More

  “From start to finish, I never put it down.” – Bucket List Publications

  “Saving Paradise is one heck of a crime novel/thriller and highly recommended!” – Crystal Book Reviews

  “A wonderful book that everyone should read.” – Clear Channel Radio

  Tibetan Cross

  “A thriller that everyone should go out and buy right away. The writing is wonderful throughout, and Bond never loses the reader’s attention. This is less a thriller, at times, than essay, with Bond working that fatalistic margin where life and death are one and the existential reality leaves one caring only to survive.” – Sunday Oregonian

  “A tautly written study of one man’s descent into living hell…Strong and forceful, its sharply written prose, combined with a straightforward plot, builds a mood of near claustrophobic intensity.” – Spokane Chronicle

  “Grips the reader from the very first chapter until the climactic ending.” – UPI

  “Bond’s deft thriller will reinforce your worst fears about the CIA and the Bomb…A taut, tense tale of pursuit through exotic and unsavory locales.” – Publishers Weekly

  “One of the most exciting in recent fiction…an astonishing thriller that speaks profoundly about the venality of governments and the nobility of man.” – San Francisco Examiner

  “It is a thriller…Incredible, but also believable.” – Associated Press

  “Another fantastic thriller from Mike Bond. He is a lyric writer whose prose is beautiful and provocative. His descriptions strike to the heart and evoke strong emotions. I could not put the book down once I started reading… Gripping, enthralling and imaginative…It is not for the faint of heart, but includes a great love story.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “Murderous intensity…A tense and graphically written story.” – Richmond Times-Dispatch

  “Excruciatingly fast-paced…It was impossible to catch my breath. Each time I thought I found a stopping point, my eyes would glance at the next line and drag me deeper into the story. I felt as though I was on a violent roller coaster, gripping the rail and praying that I would not go flying out of my seat. It was painful but awesome.” – Bitten By Books

  “The most jaundiced adventure fan will be held by Tibetan Cross… It’s a superb volume with enough action for anyone, a well-told story.” – Sacramento Bee

  “Intense and unforgettable from the opening chapter… thought-provoking and very well written.” – Fort Lauderdale News

  “Grips the reader from the opening chapter and never lets go.” – Miami Herald

  A “chilling story of escape and pursuit.” – Tacoma News-Tribune

  “This novel is touted as a thriller – and that is what it is… The settings are exotic, minutely described, filled with colorful characters.” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

  “Almost impossible to put down…Relentless. As only reality can have a certain ring to it, so does this book. It is naked and brutal and mind boggling in its scope. It is a living example of not being able to hide, ever…The hardest-toned book I’ve ever read. And the most frightening glimpse of mankind I’ve seen. This is a 10 if ever there was one.” – I Love a Mystery

  Holy War

  “A fast-paced, beautifully written, heart-breaking thriller… One of the best reads of 2014.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “Mike Bond does it again – A gripping tale of passion, hostage-taking and war, set against a war-ravaged Beirut.” – Evening News (UK)

  “The suspense-laden novel has a never-ending sense of impending doom…An unyielding tension leaves a lasting impression.” – Kirkus

  “Mike Bond is one of America’s best thriller writers” – Culture Buzz

  “Holy War by Mike Bond is a rough, vivid window into the brutal reality of modern conflict…If you are looking to get a driver’s seat look at the landscape of modern conflict, holy wars, and the Middle East then this is the perfect book.” – Masterful Book Reviews

  “Intense, chilling and unforgettable.” – Suncoast Reader’s Reviews

  “Eye-opening, terrifying and realistic, Mike Bond writes from the heart…I promise you, if you read Holy War, you will come away changed.” – Tometender Reviews

  “A supercharged thriller… A story to chill and haunt you.” – Peterborough Evening Telegraph (UK)

  “A profound tale of war…Literally impossible to stop reading…” – British Armed Forces Broadcasting

  “A pacy and convincing thriller with a deeper than usual understanding about his subject and a sure feel for his characters.” – Daily Examiner (UK)

  “A marvelous book – impossible to put down. A sense of being where few people have survived.” – London Broadcasting

  “This is a true saga that concentrates on a religious war where various factions fight for their own beliefs. Included in the thrills are terrorists, hostages, and enemies fighting in a place that simply cannot find peace…and the pa
ssion that ignites just as fast as the exploding of a bomb.” – Suspense Magazine

  “A tangled web and an entertaining one. Action-filled thriller.” – Manchester Evening News (UK)

  “A tale of fear, hatred, revenge, and desire, flicking between bloody Beirut and the lesser battles of London and Paris.” – Evening Herald (UK)

  “A novel about the horrors of war… a very authentic look at the situation which was Beirut.” – South Wales Evening Post (UK)

  “A stunning novel of love and loss, good and evil, of real people who live in our hearts after the last page is done… Unusual and profound.” – Greater London Radio

  House of Jaguar

  “A riveting thriller of murder, politics, and lies.” – London Broadcasting

  “Tough and tense thriller.” – Manchester Evening News (UK)

  “There are not enough words to describe how outstanding and entertaining this book is. Intriguing, exciting, captivating, sexy…absolutely incredible…a great thriller.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “A thoroughly amazing book…And a terrifying depiction of one man’s battle against the CIA and Latin American death squads.” – BBC

  “A high-octane story rife with action, from U.S. streets to Guatemalan jungles…Bond’s kinetic novel abounds with intense scenes…The characters are fully limned…Not surprisingly, the novel ends with a shock, one that might have a few readers gasping.” – Kirkus

  “Vicious thriller of drugs and revolution in the wilds of Guatemala, with the adventurer hero, aided by a woman doctor, facing a crooked CIA agent. The climax is among the most horrifying I have ever read.” – Liverpool Daily Post (UK)

  “A riveting story where even the good guys are bad guys, set in the politically corrupt and drug infested world of present-day Central America.” – Middlesborough Evening Gazette (UK)

  “House of Jaguar is based upon Bond’s own experiences in Guatemala. With detailed descriptions of actual jungle battles and manhunts, vanishing rain forests and the ferocity of guerrilla war, House of Jaguar also reveals the CIA’s role in both death squads and drug running, twin scourges of Central America.” – Newton Chronicle (UK)

  “Not for the literary vegetarian – it’s red meat stuff from the off. All action…convincing.” – Oxford Times (UK)

  “Bond grips the reader from the very first page. An ideal thriller for the beach, but be prepared to be there when the sun goes down.” – Herald Express

  The Last Savanna

  “Tragic and beautiful, sentimental and ruthless, The Last Savanna is a vast and wonderful book.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “The novel is sheer intensity, depicting the immense, arid land and never-ending scenes of people trekking across it…The villains are are so strongly developed…but it’s the volatile nature of nature itself that gives the story its greatest distinction…Will make readers sweat with its relentless pace.” – Kirkus

  “Mike Bond takes readers into a literary safari of Africa’s elephant poaching war with The Last Savanna, a novel that expertly captures the ravenous, chaotic and frustrating battles raging across the continent…and paints a vivid picture of life in the savanna…one of the most realistic portrayals of Africa yet…Dynamic, heart-breaking and timely to current events, Bond’s latest book is a must-read.” – Yahoo Reviews

  “An intense and emotional story about the African wilderness…masterfully done…so many characters and themes that come into this, it’s amazing… The Last Savanna is intense, beautiful and completely captures the powerful emotion in this story… it taught me a lot about the dangers and mysteries of Africa.” – RealityLapse Reviews

  “A manhunt through crocodile-infested jungle, sun-scorched savannah, and impenetrable mountains as a former SAS man tries to save the life of the woman he loves but cannot have.” – Evening Telegraph (UK)

  “A fast-paced action novel set in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia…an intense and personal portrayal of the beauty and violence of Africa, from the brutal slaughter of iconic wildlife species, the stunning wildness of the landscape, and the growth of terrorism.” – Out There Monthly

  “A powerful love story set in the savage jungles and deserts of East Africa.” – Daily Examiner (UK)

  “Pulsating with the sights, sounds, and dangers of wild Africa, its varied languages and peoples, the harsh warfare of the northern deserts and the hunger of denied love.” – Newton Chronicle (UK)

  “A gripping thriller from a highly distinctive writer.” – Liverpool Daily Post (UK)

  “Exciting, action-packed…A nightmarish vision of Africa.” – Manchester Evening News (UK)

  “The imagery was so powerful and built emotions so intense that I had to stop reading a few times to regain my composure.” – African Publishers’ Network

  “An unforgettable odyssey into the wilderness, mysteries, and perils of Africa…A book to be cherished and remembered.” – Greater London Radio

  “The central figure is not human; it is the barren, terrifying landscape of Northern Kenya and the deadly creatures who inhabit it.” – Daily Telegraph (UK)

  “An entrancing, terrifying vision of Africa…Impossible to set aside or forget.” – BBC

  “The Last Savanna is shot through with images of the natural world at its most fearsome and most merciful. With his weapons, man is a conqueror – without them he is a fugitive in an alien land. Bond touches on the vast and eerie depths that lie under the thin crust of civilization and the base instinct within man to survive – instincts that surpass materialism. A thoroughly enjoyable read that comes highly recommended.” – Nottingham Observer (UK)

  “The Last Savanna is wonderful. Mike Bond’s books are a national treasure.” – Art Zuckerman, WVOX

  “The opening of the book alone is so beautifully written that it was hard not to fall instantly into the story. It definitely feels like you are right there in Africa…the kind of book where just about anyone can enjoy it because it encompasses so much and is placed in such a beautiful and yet dangerous setting.” – Exploring All Genres

  “The Last Savanna is an unflinching look at the beauty and violence of Africa, the horror of the slaughter of the great beasts, the delicate balance of tribal life, the growth of terrorism and the timeless landscape. Its insights into how elephant poaching and drug sales are used to fund Islamic terrorist activities by Al Qaeda offshoots like Al-Shabaab are shockingly relevant and little known.” – Insatiable Readers

  “Bond’s intense bond with Africa palpitates throughout The Last Savanna. Each of the characters, both man and beast is both the hunter and the hunted, literally and figuratively, and the tension in the novel begins in the first pages and clutches the reader in its grasp until the end…The violence is unsheathed and unforgiving, and the trek across the savanna escalates into a feeling of near-insanity, the characters confusing reality with their inner demons, clarity and madness only a breath apart, hope dancing just out of reach on the horizon. Bond expertly draws in the reader, using the brutal beauty of Africa to show the blurry line between humanity and the animal world, letting the readers question for themselves which is the most savage. Readers will find similarities to the emotional tension and themes in William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies, and The Last Savanna sheds light on the dark corners of Africa — and mankind.” – Angela Amman Reviews

  “The Last Savanna is an unflinching look at the beauty and violence of Africa, the horror of the slaughter of the great beasts, the delicate balance of tribal life, the growth of terrorism and the timeless landscape.” – Book Binge Reviews

  “There were many parts that set this book apart from other books about Africa, but most notably the characters and beautiful writing…And while the sentences were beautiful on their own, together they painted a wondrous pictures of Africa and a beautiful wilderness.” – Book Reviews By Me

  “From the opening page maintains an exhilarating pace until the closing line…A highly entertaining and gripping read.” – East African Wild
Life Society

  MANDEVILLA PRESS

  Weston, CT 06883

  Killing Maine is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, companies and/or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2015 by Mike Bond

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Published in the United States by Mandevilla Press

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

  Bond, Mike

  Killing Maine: a novel/Mike Bond

  p. cm.

  ISBN 978-1-62704-032-7

  1. Thriller – Fiction. 2. Crime – Fiction. 3. Maine – Fiction. 4. Political

  Corruption – Fiction. 5. Environment – Fiction. 6. Romance – Fiction. 7.

  Renewable Energy – Fiction. I. Title

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Cover photograph © Samot/Shutterstock.com

  Author photo © PF Bentley/PFPix.com

  Cover design: Asha Hossain Design, Inc.

  Book design: Jude Bond @ BondMultimedia.com

  Printed in the United States of America

  www.MikeBondBooks.com

  to Bob Diforio

  il miglior fabbro

  “To govern is to steal, everyone knows that.”

  – Albert Camus

  “Politics: the conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”

  – Ambrose Bierce

  “We have the best government that money can buy.”

  – Mark Twain

  Maine rates next to last nationwide in citizens’ trust of their legislators.