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Cartels and Combinations
A young Mormon woman is abducted by members of a drug cartel, who hold her as ransom for the return of the sons of the cartel's leader.
Paperback, 239 pages
Published
November 8th 2010
by Bonneville
(first published October 31st 2010)
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This book has a lot of pros and cons. It’s very easy to see way someone may really like this book, and think that the writing was amazing. Although, it is also very easy to see why someone might hate it and not recommend it to anyone. I have to admit though, that I was not a big fan of this book.
This book was good for many reasons. I really liked how the author was able to thoroughly describe every character and get you attached to them. I also liked how he really explained how Mexican drug ca...more
This book was good for many reasons. I really liked how the author was able to thoroughly describe every character and get you attached to them. I also liked how he really explained how Mexican drug ca...more
I was expecting an action book, along the lines of a Clancy, what I got was a combination of philosphy, political ideology, spiritual conversion, redemption with a sprinkling of action and a drop of romance (just a drop).
From all indications, the book was written as a way to put across an ideology regarding the drug cartels and closing the border. The opinion was put across, but it seemed very preach about it. In addition, it tried to be so many things that it never did any of them very well:
-...more
From all indications, the book was written as a way to put across an ideology regarding the drug cartels and closing the border. The opinion was put across, but it seemed very preach about it. In addition, it tried to be so many things that it never did any of them very well:
-...more
As noted by other reviewers, the plot isn't believable, but that would be okay because it's nice to have a thriller without all the profanity and sex too often contained in thrillers (especially James Patterson). Yet Lee Child has great thrillers without the profanity and sex, so it can be done (and many of his plots aren't believable, either, but who cares?). My problem with this book is more with the horrible dialog. I know other reviewers say the "facts" aren't realistic, but I thought there...more
Pretty lame and cheesy. I do not recommend this book. The author's purpose is to spotlight the devastation caused by the Mexicoan drug cartels, comparing them to the secret combinations spoken of in the Book of Mormon. True enough. Unfortunately, the fictional story he contrives to portray this reality is highly improbable, jerkily concocted (with frequent ill-conceived and untimely flashbacks), packed with trite phrases, and filled with inconsistencies (ie., two Mormon missionaries serving in S...more
Cartels And Combinations by Mike McPheters
When Mike called me a few weeks ago to ask me if I would be interested in reviewing his upcoming new fiction novel, I was very excited, as he had called me last year to ask my assistance in setting up a Fireside in my Stake here in Kennewick WA and to ask if I'd be interested in reviewing his first book Agent Bishop: True Stories From An FBI Agent Moonlighting As A Mormon Bishop. One interesting sidenote to mention is that a retired police officer in my...more
When Mike called me a few weeks ago to ask me if I would be interested in reviewing his upcoming new fiction novel, I was very excited, as he had called me last year to ask my assistance in setting up a Fireside in my Stake here in Kennewick WA and to ask if I'd be interested in reviewing his first book Agent Bishop: True Stories From An FBI Agent Moonlighting As A Mormon Bishop. One interesting sidenote to mention is that a retired police officer in my...more
I intentionally haven't read any other reviews yet. I knew this book wasn't highly reviewed with I started reading, but I didn't know why. I wasn't sure how many stars to give it, but overall I liked this book.
I actually really enjoyed this book most of the time. It did jump around to past events throughout which threw me off at first, but once I got into it it didn't bother me.
Warning--the last paragraph could be considered a spoiler.
I wasn't a fan of how the book ended, though. Chapter 27 was...more
I actually really enjoyed this book most of the time. It did jump around to past events throughout which threw me off at first, but once I got into it it didn't bother me.
Warning--the last paragraph could be considered a spoiler.
I wasn't a fan of how the book ended, though. Chapter 27 was...more
Very Exciting! A co-worker read this and highly recommended it. She was right: it is very exciting and chilling. Actually flat out terrifying. But this is the world we live in. This is a novel, but I'm sure reflects the world that the author has dealt with in his career. He gives us hope as well, and through his characters shows how good people go from A to Z: how they go from good to the point of no return, and how to come back. Well worth reading!
This was a good book if you want to know about drugs, secret combinations and the fruits of Mexico. Since it was a novel I had to keep reminding myself it was made up but the guy that wrote it worked with this stuff in the FBI so there is still the question of how much of it is true. It was well done and I'm glad the ending was happy for one family even though the problem in general is continuous.
Mike McPheters also wrote the book "Agent Bishop: True Stories from an FBI Agent", Moonlighting as a Mormon Bishop. In this book he writes about the border conflicts with Mexico. A young Mormon woman is abducted by members of a drug cartel, who hold her as ransom for the return of the sons of the cartel's leader.
The story details how drug cartels are infiltrating our country's border with illegal drugs.
The story details how drug cartels are infiltrating our country's border with illegal drugs.
Poorly written and thought out. But it does give a picture of drug cartels and their formation in Sinaloa, MX. The daughter of the judge (that puts drug gang members in prison) is kidnapped and held for ransom until some gang members are released from jail. And so the DEA, FBI, SWAT, and whoever else has an acronym name is mobilized to get her. Can you see what is coming?
Bonneville Publisher, shame on you for publishing such a poor piece of literature. I have tried to think of redeeming qualities that I could write about this book. I can't think of any. The characters are as flat as a pancake, this author has NO talent for writing fiction what-so-ever (maybe try your hand at non-fiction), the plot, storyline and overall concept were beyond unrealistic. Perhaps if I had known better the religious/political nature of this book I would have read it with a different...more
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This was not as good as McPheters' previous autobiographical narrative, "Agent Bishop". McPheters obviously is NOT a novelist, and his attempts at fiction and dialog were so stiff and artificial that it was hard to get past them. That said, it was interesting to learn more about his take, (based on personal experience), on Mexican Drug cartels and illegal boarder trafficking, etc. I wonder if the cartels truely take the secret combination oaths of the ancients, but it is an interesting premise,...more
Interesting. His experience in the FBI lends credence to his philosophy and while the book is interesting and makes some good points, I don't totally agree with his Forward. I'd really like to know just how much is fact and how much fiction. Yes, I know the story is fiction but how much fact feeds into it.
Well, I preface this with, had I know how religious this book was, I never would have entered to win it. I felt that this book, while an interesting pretence, was very preachy. Coming from an oppressed religious background (though not Mormon) I do instantly take offence to anything that seems should be preached from a pulpit and not in a book. I liked some of the story, and the premise was good, but if it was just a story that let me come to my own conclusions rather than feeling beat over the h...more
This book was a little preachy, but considering the point of the book, it was understandable. It also had a few writing problems that could have been resolved with more thorough editing. However, the story was very interesting. It made me want to hear Mike McPheters tell his FBI stories in person.
I like McPheters. I will read whatever he writes. I like his pro-USA stance and his FBI background. They add to his stories. This one is especially interesting because of the LDS secret combination tie-in.
I wouldn't recomend this book for the writing but I thought the message he delivered about modern day Gadianton Robbers was very interesting and I didn't mind the way in which he got the message across.
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was a very simple read but I think that Mike Mcpeheters is right on in what is going on with the drug war in Mexico. He should know being a retired FBI agent!
A fictional, yet inspirational perspective on illegal immigration, and current issues with the encroaching drug cartels. The author makes several spiritual references throughout the novel. I recommend it!
There were a lot of different back-stories and plotlines at the beginning, so it took me a bit to get into it, but overall I liked it. I like the comparision between drug cartels, sex trafficking, etc and the secret combinations of bad guys in the Book of Mormon. It seemed a bit far-fetched at times to have the antagonists using the same phrases as those in the Book of Mormon and to have them say specifically that they were handed down by Kishumen and Gadianton themselves, but it's LDS fiction,...more
This book is written by a local author (like), but the story had a hard time keeping me interested. I'm not sure where it went wrong, but it was lacking something.
The idea for the story was good, the writing was not. I'm also pretty sure the author didn't have an editor.
A little heavy on the political agenda it seemed. Interesting though, and really made me think.
My only complaint on this book is the editing. I have never seen such a poorly edited book released to the public.
It wasn't what I expected, but a clean read.
I started reading this book at my mom's house it was really sad and interesting about the drug cartels in Mexico and America. It's about a young Mexican/American girl and her family some good and some bad guys in her extended family. It starts with the prejudices in the past and hard work that made her dad an attorney and her undlce a drug dealer. I didn't not finish it yet but I want to :)
When I purchased the book, I was hoping that it was based on a true story. I'm sure it's based on Mr. McPheters' experiences as an agent, but as a fictional story it fell a little short. There is too much opinion (even if I agree) and the characters are not as shocking as the author would hope. All in all not a bad read - but not something I'll be talking about.
It has a good story and I like how the author ties in the book of mormon and the things that are happening these days. I only give it a 3 star though cause it kind of dragged on a little.
I won a copy of this book on First Reads and totally enjoyed this story. It is so depressing to read about the drug culture that continues to thrive, no matter WHAT law enforcement does to thwart it. It was nice to read a story where good vs evil wins.......even if it was make believe. Definitely recommend this book if you enjoy crime stories.
A good interesting novel.
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