The Brink

Ramsey Series #4

Fiction - Adventure
307 Pages
Reviewed on 04/15/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

McPike's 7th and latest thriller THE BRINK (#4 Ramsey Series) is now available!

His last action/adventure spy/thriller TREASURE FEVER: The Hunt for El Dorado received 5-stars from Red City Review. His other novel, THE LOST PROPHET, was the winner of multiple literary awards, including the Pacific Book Award for Christian Mystery/Thrillers and the Beverly Hills Book Award for Religion fiction. His 700-page debut sci-fi epic, FINAL OUTCOME, was nominated with 5% (50 of 1,000) books for the 17th EVVY Awards and won the silver medal from Readers' Favorite in the Christian/Fantasy genre.

He is a member of the International Thriller Writers. He lives near Yosemite where he enjoys the great outdoors and wonderful local cuisine. Readers can follow him on Twitter @JMcPikeAuthor or reach him at mcpike@gmx.com

    Book Review

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Brink: Ramsey Series #4 by James McPike is an espionage thriller that is clearly part of a larger series, involving the main protagonist Vince Ramsey, a semi-retired investigator for Israel. When an archaeologist uncovers rock paintings in a cave deep in the heart of Africa that threaten to change the way we view human development and history, a chain of events is set in motion that could prove to be catastrophic for humankind. With a nod to Dan Brown and his ilk, the subsequent disappearance of the archaeologist sets Vince and his pregnant wife April off on a journey that will take them from their home in Cyprus back to Israel, and then across Europe, as they seek an ancient religious relic that will change how we view history. They are not the only ones after this mysterious relic, though, and Vince will face serious and lethal opposition from others who also want it. With his pregnant wife to protect as well as the beautiful young archaeologist, Julie, Vince will have his hands full as they investigate the old churches, castles, and burial sites of the 5th-century Frankish kings.

The Brink is relatively short for an espionage thriller but manages to stuff plenty of non-stop action and cunning plot twists into its pages. Author James McPike has clearly hit on a winning formula with his two main characters, Vince and April. I particularly enjoyed the time period the trio was researching and investigating. The author cleverly highlights that at a time when there was little recorded history, after the fall of the Roman Empire and the dominance of the Visigoths and the Frankish kings, the Church alone kept written records of history and decided what was true, what was real and, in fact, what was “history.” By using the plot to cast doubt on the veracity of the Church’s version, the author has taken a route that gives the book real authenticity and the feel of believability, which is great. This is the fourth iteration of the Ramsey Series and there is more available on this pair's exploits to read. If you are looking for a short, sharp, easy read, with plenty of twists and turns, I can recommend The Brink.