Ferdinand's Gold

By: Sheldon Charles

Narrated by: Joe Biedrzycki

As the son of a disgraced army deserter, Dex Kevan has struggled to escape the dark shadow of his father’s past and his own bad attitude. An air cargo specialist for the US Air Force he spends his days counting crates, filling out paperwork, and trying to hold onto his girlfriend as his career prospects crumble. It’s 1986, and the Philippines is undergoing the ouster of kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos. While Dex quietly continues his work at the Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, he’s oblivious of the maelstrom taking place across the sea.

When an unexpected flight arrives carrying a weary flight crew and a colossal secret - a cache of stolen gold bars - a series of events finds Dex and his associates embroiled in a plot that puts a bullseye on their backs. Tempted by the wealth and a future full of riches blinding them, the four Airmen commit to sneaking a portion of the treasure off the plane.

Unknown to them, the plunder belongs to Col. Talan Madulás, the head of a secret death squad. But the conspirators fail to consider what kind of person would steal and then smuggle such a treasure, and what lengths might they go to, to get it back. Madulás’ bloody reign is over, his president fleeing. When his gold nest egg is stolen, he doesn’t hesitate to step back into his dark skills to hunt down the thieves.

Based on an incredible true story, Dex Kevan and his fellow thieves will learn that a man’s thirst for revenge can be just as dangerous as his greed and that no amount of wealth is worth an early grave.

©2020 Charles Schell (P)2020 Valkyrie Spirit Publishing

Fascinating story

Although I found the story to be fascinating, unfortunately the writing was a bit sophomoric. It seemed a little more like reading a report than weaving an interesting take. The narrator has a great voice, but red nearly at a monotone level most of the book and when he switched to characters voices I winced almost every time. It was reminiscent of Walter Cronkite reading the evening news.