The Lucky Man: An Act Of Malice is a work of fiction in the crime, suspense, and interpersonal drama sub-genres, and was penned by author Monika R. Martyn. The work is intended for the general reading audience and contains some scenes of peril and tense situations that may not be suitable for less mature readers. The protagonists of the novel take different roles that interweave as the story becomes more intense, centering on the disappearance of Jack Spencer. Though he’s a man who knows he’s done wrong, being stranded doesn’t seem to warrant the gravity of his crimes. His mother Myra knows better, and so begins the search.

Author Monika R. Martyn has crafted a tense, adventurous, and well-plotted work of fiction with plenty of excitement, thrills, and great characterization to offer its readers. I found the presentation of the Spencers and the utterly charming Kai Hale to be authentic and distinct, creating varied and richer atmospheres between all the different participants in the tale. The dialogue was also very effective, serving to display the unique traits of the characters whilst moving the plot forward in a natural way. And just when I thought I could see where the novel was headed, Jack’s thread in particular opened up a whole new incredible revelation and really kicked the story into top gear as it raced towards its conclusion. Overall, I would highly recommend The Lucky Man: An Act Of Malice to fans of emotional and dramatic characters, clever multi-stranded plots, and crime and suspense enthusiasts everywhere.

The Lucky Man: An Act of Malice by Monika R. Martyn is a story of survival and making peace with past mistakes. After a night of drinking, Jack anticipates a massive hangover, but he finds himself lost in the Pacific Ocean on a canoe without a paddle and any hope of someone coming to his rescue. Back on dry land, everyone thinks he is up to his usual shenanigans, but not his mother. When Jack doesn't appear at his best friend's wedding, Myra knows her son is in serious trouble. And so, the search for Jack begins. While the search party looks for clues, one particular hotel staff member is missing his family canoe. Could it be that Jack went on the same canoe without the paddle? Or has something worse happened to Jack?

Divided into eight parts, the story moves forward at a fast pace that keeps the reader's attention on the novel and nowhere else. The narrative flows surprisingly well, supports the story's pace, and overall makes sure readers are engrossed in the plot. While you may think Jack is the protagonist of the story, for me, it was Myra. She is determined to find her son, rescue him, and make sure he is safe. She puts in the maximum effort, even when the rest of their friends and family are determined that Jack is somewhere with a woman, just being Jack. The emotional highs and lows are well-handled; Monika R. Martyn does justice to each character and allows the mystery to build before explaining what happened. The descriptions of the Pacific Ocean are out of this world. The author left no stone unturned to make reading The Lucky Man: An Act of Malice a one-of-a-kind experience for readers.