Title: The Olympus Deception
Author: Richard Ronc
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 978-1-5434-0537-8
Pages: 398
Genre: Fiction / Suspense / Thriller
Reviewed by: John Murray
Pacific Book Review
Names are important and not just for the obvious reason dealing with how humans would address each other without discrete nomenclature. Both first and last names evoke associations with others who have come before, both positive and negative. Names also represent lives lived and goals achieved. People who dedicate their lives towards a concrete goal often leave behind their name as a marker. Richard Ronc’s The Olympus Deception weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense around one man’s quest to find redemption when cast aside after a lengthy military career.
After a friend and fellow solider dies on a mission, Vincent Peterson finds himself adrift. The military promised him understanding and support. In a shocking twist, the military cuts Peterson off and shoves him out. He lands on his feet with a menial job and slogs through life the best he can. Until a mysterious woman named Athena offers him money and information about why he was discharged. All Peterson has to do is a simple one- time mission. A mission which goes awry and leads to a group of Russians kidnapping Athena. Peterson is marked a fugitive and eager for the proof to clear his name. Chased by several agencies both foreign and domestic, Peterson delves deeper in the hopes of coming out clean on the other side.
Peterson’s motivation is both sympathetic and compelling. All he wants is to serve his country—a duty he performed well until an accidental death. A death which was ruled accidental and unfortunately unavoidable, making his discharge even more suspicious. His once proud military history and name means nothing and he just wants to clear his name and honor everyone serving. That drive pushes him forward while also propelling the narrative nicely.
The Olympus Deception pits a man with a simple goal against ruthless enemies and a twisting conspiracy. The actual threat behind the scenes works surprisingly well despite some minor issues. Peterson excels as a protagonist and comfortably shoulders the weight of the thrilling narrative. Perfect for fans of Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher, The Olympus Deception offers a promising new rough and tumble hero to follow as he attempts to clear his name.
