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By: Michael E. Marotta
E-mail Address: mercury@well.com
Flight of the Serpent by Val Davis Bantam Books, December 1998:
If you like old warbirds, this is yet another good read. It is a murder
mystery. The victim is the grandson of a retired WWII bomber pilot. The
detective is the archaeologist who found the wreck of the grandson's Cessna 152.
The old man and young woman are a balanced pair. Her academic interest in
"recent archaeology" is the avenue for her extensive knowledge of planes and
desert survival. He has a lifetime of flying and running a fixed base
operation. The loss of his grandson -- and therefore his family line --
fuels their willingness to meet danger. The reader sees danger in the form
of two agents, "blackbirds," who repeatedly try to kill Nicolette Scott and
John Gault. Behind the killers are a secret government laboratory and its
even-more-secret umbrella.
Justice seems impossible. Once the stuff hits the fan, even the congressman
whom Gault taught to fly denies knowing him. However, Gault finds justice
in the form of a restored B-24 Liberator. Rebuilding the plane was a
long-term process. Over the decades, most of the work consisted of replacing
the tires that never moved. Then, with the death of his grandson, Gault has
his mechanic complete the work. Their initial intent is only to take the
boy's ashes on one last flight to Great Salt Lake. Gault assembles as many
of his old crew as are still alive for this honor. When Gault understands
that Matt's killers will not be held accountable for their acts, he plans
the final flight of the Lady-A.
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NOTE: Reviews and Opinions do not necessarily represent those of Landings, its
personnel and employees.
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