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When Thomas Reed is murdered, a chain of events is triggered that leads to mayhem in the Florida panhandle. But no deadly deed is done without leaving a trail of blood or money or both. When the local police are reluctant to investigate deeply, Charles “Chic” Sparks is called in to consult and quickly begins following a trail of drugs, gangs, and money laundering. Chic finds himself an unlikely hero battling Mexican cartels and powerful banks as he protects a vulnerable witness and unravels a complex web of evil.
With gripping intrigue and memorable characters, this thriller has momentum and grit as it hurtles through the Florida panhandle, uncovering the seedy side of the Sunshine State. The murdered Thomas Reed is respected in his community for his philanthropic outreach, but behind the scenes, he is a money launderer for a dangerous cartel. When he is murdered, and the thieves steal a safe from his house, the chase is on to retrieve it at all costs. Dangerous secrets are contained in the safe, which could expose a high-profile American bank and an organized crime syndicate. The philosophical Chic calmly dissects the crime and works through scenarios with his friends in an effort to logically arrive at the truth. He is also influenced by his faith and views the world as a constant battle between good and evil. He sees man as tempted by the Devil and by Faustian bargains that lead to misery and despair. This religious insight guides his pursuit of goodness and truth.
The hard edges of this crime novel are softened by Chic’s faith, but the story still explores the realities of man’s weakness in the face of temptation. Chic’s commentary and spot-on dialogue with his friends in the novel are thought-provoking and provide depth. His affair with Suzy also explores man’s sexual nature through a biblical perspective. Provocative and intricate, the story resounds through many levels of police work and investigation as well as through the human condition. Chic holds the levels together with his unique perspective and willingness to ask questions in pursuit of knowledge and truth.
In this character-driven thriller, Funderburk has created a cast of criminals, both small-time and big-time, and has pitted them against regular folk like Chic in an epic good vs evil showdown. The stakes are high, and the action is unstoppable, as the threat level increases and readers are gripped with uncertainty. Funderburk delivers as the plot surges forth, with Chic digging and following threadlike trails, piecing together the crimes and the motives to uncover the full-throated scheme of money laundering, cover-ups, and cartels.
For fans of John Grisham or Randy Wayne’s Doc Ford novels, Funderburk serves up an American crime story with a fresh voice and notable character. Chic’s Christian perspective informs each stage of the investigation and each interaction with the other characters he encounters. His desire to convert those around him to Christ impacts each decision he makes, and his beliefs guide his intuition and lead him to impact his community for the good of all.