Title: The Third Bear Hug
Author: James D. Navratil
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1984581877
Pages: 158
Genre: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza
Pacific Book Review
Memory is one of the more precious and revered aspects of a person’s life that can be both comforting and painful simultaneously. Good memories are always nice to hold onto and take comfort in the joys of life, while the more painful memories are sometimes best left forgotten. As John Irving described memories, “Your memory is a monster; you forget – it doesn’t. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from you – and summons them to your recall with a will of its own. You think you have a memory; but it has you!”
In James D. Navratil’s The Third Bear Hug, the author takes readers on a brand-new journey in this powerful action-thriller franchise. Following protagonist and Professor John “James” Czermak, the story picks up after the second book in the series, with James and his former student Alex having fallen overboard the cruise ship taking them to Antarctica. James wakes up on the beaches of South America, his memory gone. His journey to rediscover who he is brings him back to a world fraught with untold dangers, and threats not only to himself but those he cares most for.
This is a thrilling action and suspense read. The author does a marvelous job of setting up the narrative of this series before the novel begins, summarizing the first two books so new readers can jump into the action immediately. The use of setting and imagery plays a major role into the narrative, as readers are treated to a globe-trotting adventure like no other for James. After enduring so much already, the character is pushed to his limits as those he cares for and loves are put into the crosshairs of dangerous elements. The shocking finale chapters will leave readers breathless as the story evolves into a long-standing mission of revenge against James and those he loves.
The narrative is truly gripping, and makes this novel the perfect read for those who enjoy globe-trotting adventures, entertaining action and suspense reads and captivating protagonists with complex histories. As a fan of the genre, it was easy to get invested in the protagonist and his story as it evolved, and felt much like an action-thriller film franchise waiting to be made.
Author James D. Navratil’s The Third Bear Hug is a fantastic thriller with a fairly quick pace and memorable characters. The globe-setting adventure series takes readers to new heights of drama and suspense as the story progresses, and is easily made for both new and old readers alike.
