Lone Star Book Blog Tour: Panic Point by Bill Briscoe (Review)

“If it saddens you to look back, and you’re afraid to look forward, just look beside you, and I’ll be there.”

What a thrill ride! Panic Point starts off when Earl discovers his bride, Morgan, has disappeared while on their honeymoon, but events slip back several months to set the scene of their meeting, whirlwind courtship, and marriage. The reader knows from the first pages that something bad has happened to Morgan, but what? Earl’s frustration and fear are palpable as he first seeks answers and then plummets into despair when the days slip by with little-to-no clues.

Bill Briscoe meticulously builds the scenes, characters, and overall tension as Earl is thwarted at every turn and life becomes meaningless and filled with anguish and helplessness. At about the halfway mark, the plot pivots unexpectedly, and the action blasts off. Don’t blink!

A great plot will often falter if the characters don’t pass muster. Good news! Both the plot and characters in Panic Point are impressive, well developed, and completely engaging. A slight injection of humor from one of the supporting characters (no spoilers because this guy is hilarious, including his name) cools the tension at just the right moments, but that doesn’t mean the story lags. In fact, the plot accelerates with each chapter as the conflict ratchets up and the mystery of Morgan’s disappearance begins to unravel, revealing a despicable scheme that must be stopped!

An admirable plot development is that the author doesn’t end the story once the rescue team’s mission is complete. The transition of recovery and healing after a traumatic experience is often left out or glossed over; however, in Panic Point, the resultant nightmares and distrust are realistic and handled with gentleness and patience.

Bill Briscoe knows how to keep the reader on the very edge of that seat as the plot thickens and the characters jump into action, literally. Panic Point is a riptide of a story, drawing you in and refusing to let you go for even one minute.

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win your very own signed copy of Panic Point by Bill Briscoe!