Author: Michael Putegnat
Publisher: Synergy Books
ISBN: 1-933538-21-X

The following review was contributed by: Mary Simmons:  Click Here To Read Mary's Reviews

 The opening paragraph of Michael Putegnat's 'Laguna' portrays an egret
hunting for minnows before being torn apart by a Peregrine falcon. A
character who observes this transference of power considers the nature of
justice, concluding that it only takes one moment for the predator to become
the prey.
This sequence sets the tone for the rest of the novel, which depicts a power
struggle that spans generations.

'Laguna' tells the story of an influential Texas family on the brink of
demise after accumulating a million acres of land over four generations
through any means necessary. In order to save his family from financial
ruin, the patriarch, John Magne IV, is willing to upset the ecological
balance of the coastal bay that makes up the Laguna Madre by drilling for
natural gas.

His sense of entitlement clearly comes from being born into a family with
the motto, "Forward by all means." The Magnes are described as thinking of
their land as a, "separate country: independent and self-reliant."
Opposing his efforts are a group of women with separate and converging
agendas and two brothers who are unwillingly pulled into the drama.

Balanced against the dark underbelly of politics and investment banking,
'Laguna' explores current environmental, social and racial issues in South
Texas while touching on the history that made the area what it is today.
Putegnat acknowledges that the region changed hands many times over the
centuries, describing it as, "a land under occupation. The Spaniards, the
French, the Texicans, the Confederates and now the Americans - each adding a
new twist on the culture. To many of the poor it seemed as if the
'outsiders' were merely a parade of different players who would come and go,
but the hacienda remained. There was resentment for those who tried to
change it and these were nearly always the late comers."

Since the author is a fifth-generation native of the region where he has set
his debut novel, he is able to draw an authentic picture with an eye for
detail. Creating an intriguing adventure filled with realistic characters,
Putegnat brings the reader on a thrill-packed ride through the landscape of
his novel, building up the suspense right to the last page. 'Laguna' is
filled with twists and turns and unsuspected outcomes. It is guaranteed to
put you on the edge of your seat and keep you reading for hours.