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Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite
Agustina Gomez fled Peru with her father and sister, intending to cross the Mexican border, enter America illegally, and start a new life for themselves away from the clutches of Balea Xolo, aka la Ballena, a notorious Peruvian drug lord who nearly killed her. She is separated from her family during the arduous journey but tries to find them. During her trip, she crosses paths with Max Fend, billionaire businessman and owner of Fend Aerospace. The company's technological advancement leads them to a unique discovery that will change everything we know about our existence. Max does not realize that his serendipitous meeting with this determined young woman is critical to his company's life-altering research in Chris Bauer's Cradle.
Cradle is the second installment in Chris Bauer's Maximum Risk series. Character development is extensive as he gradually reveals the connections between Agustina and La Ballena throughout the story at a leisurely pace, allowing readers to fully comprehend the ramifications of Agustina's actions and her motivation for some rather unusual alliances. The dialogue is entertaining, alternating between Max's scientifically oriented discussion of the moon's role in humanity's evolution and emotionally charged exchanges highlighting Agustina's adventure. Both throw up intriguing questions that will immerse fans of drama and science fiction. Bauer demonstrates deftness in his storytelling style by subtly highlighting contemporary issues like corporate espionage, the war on drugs, and undocumented migration in two seemingly unconnected subplots. Together, these elements flow into a cohesive narrative with equal parts drama and action that will appeal to a wide readership.
