A small group of people thrown together by fate find themselves in possession of a huge fortune and must face the perils of its discovery in the thrilling Ferdinand’s Gold by Sheldon Charles.
On the island protectorate of Guam, Dex Kevan is stationed at Andersen Air Force Base working in cargo handling. After a youth spent in criminal activity, spurred by bitterness and rage after learning at an early age that his father was a deserter while serving in Viet Nam, Dex was given a choice by a wise but exasperated judge: join the military or go straight to prison. His best friend on Guam is A1C Ernie Crenshaw, a computer whiz whose laid back social attitudes belie his responsibility for helping support his grandmother back in the States.
Also on Guam is TSgt Gubler, a family man whose weakness for gambling has led to his indebtedness to a local mob. A key mobster has sworn to forgive his debt if Gubler will use his position at the airfield to stall inspection of a certain anticipated cargo plane. And Angelina “Angel” Perez is also stationed there, part of the security force with duties at the base’s armory.
With a background of real events, these four are inadvertently caught up in an intrigue involving Ferdinand Marcos, fleeing the Philippines after a collapsed dictatorship. Marcos has fraudulently amassed from his own people a fortune worth millions. Gold ingots will be shipped to his new haven with the help of his trusted aide, the villainous Colonel Madulás, a practiced torturer and murderer who has his own schemes on the boil.
Putting these characters together, along with their friends, lovers and checkered pasts, is part of the art of Charles’ composition of this dark drama. How each will react to the unique situation they find themselves thrown into comprises the central spine of this carefully plotted mystery. There is a gradual dramatic buildup as Marco’s contraband is in flight, keeping the reader guessing. When treasure is finally uncovered, along with the realization that its existence is secret and taking it would be no crime – as long as each one of the discoverers keeps mum about it – the novel truly takes off.
Widely acclaimed author Charles is a decorated United States Air Force veteran, well suited to take on the task of drawing the skeins of Ferdinand’s Gold together. He views his protagonists with empathy, allowing the reader to see the moral changes in Gubler, who struggles with his gambling addiction, and Dex, who receives news about his father that will change the direction of his life. He has also created several strong female leads: Angel, her possible lover Dawne, and Tala, who has her own debt to pay to the mob and will do so with a vengeance. Charles exacts satisfying due punishment on his bad guys, including one extraordinary intervention by a wild boar.
An audience of Charles’ established fans and new readers drawn to stories of international intrigue will appreciate this powerful, cinematic offering.
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