ISBN: 0811841863

The following review was contributed by:

*Emily Burson:  Click Here To Read Emily's Reviews

Illegal Caviar and the Russian Mob?

As “DeadGame” opens, the reader is unsure if the nearly-dead creature the main characters are discussing is a woman or a fish. We soon discover that Lt. John Marquez is working undercover in an effort to bring an end to the illegal sturgeon poaching that is quietly and quickly killing the California fish. Before you scoff at the idea of reading a book about poaching what some consider a horribly ugly fish, read on. Take it from me, this book captures the imagination from the first page and doesn’t let go until you close the back cover, satisfied, but knowing the story isn’t completely over just quite yet.

“DeadGame” manages to a topic that is mostly foreign to many mystery-suspense readers and turn it into something we care about and we want to see resolved. The main character, Lt. Marquez, is a man with unusual passion and drive, even though he knows his team will be broken up and his division disbanded in the very near future. Before that happens, however, they want to discover who is behind the sturgeon poaching and who is willing to repackage the eggs from this common fish into jars proclaiming it some of the best caviar in the world.

The possible death of an informant makes Marquez and his team nervous, but they continue to go forward? What really happened to Anna? The further Marquez gets into this poaching world, the more he realizes he is up against formidable forces—the Russian mob. The FBI is there, too, after the same people, but for different reasons. Who gets their first and which case will take priority?

Author Kirk Russell fills “DeadGame” with a believable and lively cast of characters that are fleshed out and as real as they come. Each character has his or her own quirk or specialty, but they only serve to add to the story, not detract from it. From shady local bait shop owners to the slick speech of the Russian mobsters operating right here in the U.S., Russell brings an entire world to life for the reader.

“DeadGame” is a fast-paced read that is a perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday. You will find yourself not wanting to put the story down and wanting to get to know the characters even more clearly as the pages whisk by.

Author Kirk Russell brings his own expertise to the story, having been with the California Department of Fish and Game. “DeadGame” is the third John Marquez eco-thriller. The first two titles are “Shell Games” and “Night Game.”