Red Zone (Hardcover)

Alan and Mario head for the nearest city and are on their way to safety when their bus is stopped, and they're caught without their passports. They're almost immediately connected to the burning plane and accused of running a drug smuggling ring. Before they know it, a routine flight to South America has turned into an unending battle to stay alive in a world of smugglers, crooked lawyers, and ruthless military men...

No, it's not the latest Colin Farrell action/adventure film -- not yet, at least. It's a new novel by first-time author, Alan McTeer. Based on a true story, Red Zone has the kind of non-stop, heart-pounding action that you don't expect to find in the pages of a perfectly harmless-looking book. And though I tend to bore easily when it comes to the same old adventure book/film, I have to confess that I couldn't stop reading Red Zone. The story is exhilarating, the writing is clear and effortless, and the characters are so alive that they practically jump off the page. The skeptic that I am kept thinking that there had to be something wrong with the book -- eventually, I figured, the action would slow down to a crawl, or the ending would leave me frustrated-but McTeer didn't let me down.

I'm sure that this first novel won't be the last we hear from McTeer. In fact, judging by the end of the book, I'm hoping there's a sequel in the works.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Red Zone. This surprising new addition to my Highly Recommended List will have you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last.

The tale focuses on Canadian pilot, Alan Richards, who agrees to deliver a small plane to Colombia, collect a delivery fee and return to Miami on a regular airliner.
However, as we all are probably aware, when someone agrees to deliver a plane to Colombia, bells invariably go off and we ask ourselves: " is something rotten in the State of Denmark?"

To add to our suspicion, when the principle protagonist shows up at the airstrip with his co-pilot, Mario, he is informed that he will be taking along with him two extra Colombian passengers. Although, initially refusing and even questioning what they are carrying, our protagonist agrees to transport these two individuals, who are supposedly representatives of the owners of the plane.

The plane is finally airborne, and unfortunately, due to a fire caused by the two Colombian passengers, crashes and burns in Colombia.
What is frightening is that they wind up in the Guajira-"not the best part of South America to be in."
It is here, where an area known as "Zona Rojo" or "Red Zone," is located, and where there are 200 miles of restricted air space all around it.
Certainly no Club-Med, when you consider that it is known as a haven for drug smugglers and every other kind of criminal.

Unfortunately, McTeer's two principal characters are subjected to some very brutal beatings administered by the local law enforcement authorities.
The concept of "due process" does not seem to be part of their vocabulary, and our two pilots are subjected to the savageness of the Colombian justice system. Something you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy!

After spending some very unpleasant weeks, to put it mildly, in this hell- hole, our two pilots, with the aid of some very dubious attorneys, find their way to Venezuela. However, they are now captives of a very unsavory character, who has ties to some of the world's most dangerous drug criminals.

McTeer weaves a good tale, and his skill at plain -spoken reportage provides a vivid account of his horrific experiences.
Engaging characters combined with a wicked sense of humor, make for some very entertaining reading, bordering at times on burlesque.
The novel's conclusion is far from trite, and in fact, somewhat of a surprise. Perhaps, our author has a sequence in mind?

This review first appeared on the reviewer's own site
www.bookpleasures.com