Guest Review: A Conspiracy of Ravens

Summary: James Hicks has spent his entire life and career fighting on the front lines of terrorism for the clandestine intelligence organization known as The University. Hicks has learned that enemies can appear and disappear in the blink of an eye, and allegiances shift like the wind. But now, Hicks has finally discovered his true enemy: the criminal organization known as The Vanguard.

This shadowy group has operated as a deadly organization comprised weapons dealers, drug runners, and money launderers for decades, but has now decided to add regime change to their catastrophic agenda. But knowing the enemy is one thing. Being able to defeat it is another matter entirely. When Hicks uncovers a solid lead on his new adversaries, his world explodes. His home base is attacked, his operatives in the field are wiped out, and, for the first time, The University finds itself in open combat against an unknown enemy. In a battle that rages from the streets of Manhattan to the halls of power in Washington, D.C., to the dark alleys of Berlin, Hicks will have to use every resource at his disposal to defeat A Conspiracy of Ravens. -- Polis Books

Booking Pap Pap has left for Florida for the winter, but he's still reading... and writing reviews. His latest, A CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS by Terrence McCauley seemed like an entertaining read. Here are his thoughts:

A CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS is author Terrence McCauley’s third thriller featuring James Hicks as the main character. Now acting as the leader of the University, an elite top-secret group of international operatives, Hicks is focused on a new enemy known as Vanguard, the world’s largest crime syndicate. He soon discovers that Vanguard considers the University as a threat and attempts to destroy the organization by bombing their main facility in New York and wiping out the entire University presence in Moscow.

Hicks accelerates his effort to eliminate Vanguard which leads Hick and his operatives on a chase through New York, Washington D.C., Germany and China. Vanguard seems to be able to match all the skills and technology that the University can bring to the fight, including OMNI, University’s ultra-advanced computer system. Against his better judgement Hicks finds it necessary to involve the CIA in the pursuit. What results is a series of gun fights, car chases, torture and explosions that leads to a final confrontation.

Although the author has included many characters in the story including the leaders of Vanguard, members of the CIA and the University’s team, the significant characters are limited to Hicks, a few members of his team and OMNI. My one criticism with A CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS is that the reader could use some additional background on the University and its team. This is one case where the reader would definitely benefit from reading the prior novel, A MURDER OF CROWS.

As in his prior novel, McCauley comes up with a curious title. In this case, I found that conspiracy is one name that is used to describe a group of ravens.

A CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS is a fast paced, somewhat realistic spy thriller with plenty of action and surprises that nicely blends old school spying with modern technology. Since the ending left some open issues, it’s possible we will see future confrontations between the University and Vanguard. Fans of the thriller genre should enjoy A CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS.

Thanks to Saichek Publicity for providing a review copy of this novel and to Booking Pap Pap for his review.