Title: Empty Promises
Author: Nick Shepherd
Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc.
ISBN: B09Z9VWL61
Pages: 436
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Reviewed by: Christina Avina

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Power and corruption can come in many different forms. From Kings and Queens to financiers and businessmen and businesswomen, people in all sorts of professions have sought out to find a means of control and a way to wield it over others in an effort to gain more for themselves. It is a story as old as time itself, and the history of the human race has seen this need for power in many civilizations. This power struggle also comes with a price, and can lead to everything from murder and thievery to war – and so much more.

In author Nick Shepherd’s Empty Promises, the author explores the concept of power in the more recent modern world. Navigating both the past and the present, the author explores the life of Miguel Perez, an unassuming tennis coach and part-time drug dealer who spends his time getting high, having extravagant affairs, and navigating the local night scene with his friend Steve. However, one day their fledgling drug businesses crosses paths with a local drug boss, and both Steve and Miguel get caught in the crossfire. When Miguel wakes from his survival, he finds Steve’s father, Harry Edison, waiting for him. He transforms Miguel completely, giving him a new life and transforming him into the son he always wished he’d had. Yet trading his life as a drug dealer to a ruthless businessman is not without its own dangers, and soon Miguel’s new life brings about a story of vengeance and bloodshed that knows no bounds.

The author really did an amazing job of layering this narrative with suspense and drama. The shifting perspectives of this novel gave each character a unique POV that allowed readers to see the lives affected by these shadowy figures and moving parts which go unseen on a daily basis. The need for power and control can come from anyone, from the wealthiest businessman to the nearly poor party boys who seek nothing but the next high in life. The author’s ability to bring this theme to life on the pages was great to see, and the amount of tension he was able to build into the atmosphere of the novel was superb.

This was a must-read book for those who enjoy suspense thrillers, especially thrillers which explore the drug trade, high-end wealth and finances, and the corruption that comes with it all. As a fan of thrillers, I found myself hanging off the author’s every word, and becoming invested in the narrative being told. The way the author was able to infuse Miguel’s backstory into his character development and how he perceived the world felt so authentic in the moment, I was able to really visualize the protagonist in a real way.

Gripping, thrilling, and engaging, author Nick Shepherd’s Empty Promises is a must-read suspense thriller of 2022. The twists and turns this narrative takes and the heart-pounding action that occurs both in the past and present leads readers on a roller-coaster of emotions as the intricate web of deception the characters have built begins to unravel before their eyes.