The Fern Valley Conspiracy

Richard West #3

by Robert W. Fisk

Take four people that have been friends since college.  Add a desire to protect others.  Toss in a fun-loving look on life, and mix with a dash of a not-quite-by-the-book way of doing things, and what do you have? The partners of Justice Security. They are Joey Justice, after whom the company was named, Misty Wilhite, the love of Joey's life, Dexter Beck, the martial arts master and computer nerd, and Percival "King Louie" Washington, who bears a striking facial resemblance to a particular cartoon character. In this introductory story, the partners provide security for a society dog show with unexpected death coming from an unknown source.  They also provide security for a Heavyweight Boxing Championship that has no challenger, and they are hired to investigate the deaths of two innocent teens.  Those deaths are tied into a government contract, and, through an unfortunate accident, they make a mortal enemy of an insane Mexican drug cartel leader. They are aided by their government liaison – FBI Agent Marcus Moore.  But with the situation turning darker by the minute, can these four unlikely heroes continue to stay alive? Inspired by the classic song performed by Three Dog Night, T. M. Bilderback's Mama Told Me Not To Come is an adventure that you won't forget!

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2020

Reviews

[Sally Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Fern Valley Conspiracy. It had everything I needed: an intriguing plot, a wealth of realistic well-developed characters set against the picturesque background of rural, South Island, New Zealand with superb descriptions of nature. I loved the interplay between Maori and Paheka and appreciated Fisk’s in-depth and inside understanding not only of the Maori culture but also of the tensions between to two communities: one of the central themes of the story. In this I was reminded of American author Tony HIllernman’s Navajo Tribal Police mysteries. Even though it is aimed at a younger age group, it captivated me and would certainly appeal to students I work with: its target audience.

Fisk’s knowledge of indigenous plants and birds and his first-hand experience of survival in the bush brought the story alive and increased its realism and my ability to visualise where the characters were. The plot is well sustained and includes a number of climaxes as the story unfolds. It keeps the reader wanting more. Yes, Richard West may be a little bit too good to be true, but he is engaging and Fisk’s extensive experience as a teacher makes West’s perceptions, actions and decisions wholly credible. I would certainly enjoy reading more of his adventures.

[Kura Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced thriller set in a rural New Zealand town which is covering up shady deals linked to the town's main source of employment, a multinational forestry company.

What are they harvesting?
Can you really buy silence?

No words are wasted in Fisk's writing. Economical description, smoothe dialogue and excellent characterisation, this book had a compelling twisty plot, moments of laugh out loud humour, and Dr West's quiet competence kept me turning the pages.

I don't read Thrillers often anymore due to the increasing trend of excessive explicit content where violence against women/shock value seems to be prized higher than genuine intrigue, so I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of graphic content, and "The Fern Valley conspiracy" proves that stories can still be thrilling without explicit or gratuitous violence.