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The Oasis Project by Art Adkins is a
substantive and substantial environmental detective murder mystery that
entertains and delivers the goods every chapter.
The Oasis Project
is Art Adkins' first novel but you would not know it after reading this
book. Mr.
Adkins has been in law enforcement for the last twenty-eight years and
has worked as a police officer on the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department
and as a sergeant on the LAPD. His knowledge of police procedure is in
The Oasis Project like a seasoned author of 10 or more novels. My first
thoughts when reading The Oasis Project is the author is as good as John
Grisham except Art Adkins has a badge.
The Oasis Project is very good on many levels. Literary speaking the
story/plot is solid. The characters are believable and you will be
wanting more of them when you finish reading The Oasis Project. Adkins
has his own writing style which I’m sure will reward him with years as a
successful published author.
The Oasis Project is about the murder of a family, specifically a high
school boy named Billy Waterbury, who is gifted in environmental
science. Billy has an invention called the “Desalting Machine” – An
invention that could possibly end world hunger by bringing water to
parts of the world that has none. This machine could solve problems with
pollution. Companies all over the world are greedily trying to get their
hands on Billy’s machine and the outcome is Billy is murdered. Who did
it and why? Read the book!
Enter Slade Lockwood a decorated detective who has moved to Cedar Key
Florida to retire. Slade is not looking for anything except to find
himself. He doesn’t need or want work but the Waterbury murder has Slade
doing what he does best – Detective work. Finding criminals and putting
them where they belong.
In a recent interview the author said, “Slade is different in a lot
of ways. Slade is not out trying to hustle money or worry about
obtaining a case to pay the rent. Slade is trying to find himself, has
become disgruntled with law enforcement and is going through a process
to re-discover the youthful ambition and ideals that led him into law
enforcement to begin with. It is this journey that perplexes Slade, this
self-discovery that he has run from for so long, refusing to
acknowledge, but now must confront. Discovering who the murderer is in
the story is a parallel course for Slade, but equally important. I like
Slade because he is not afraid to venture into the unknown. At times he
moves forward, not because he understands the direction he is taking,
but he accepts that he must take it and the conclusion will be
enlightening. How many times in our own lives do we get thrown into
situations where we must battle through to the end and hope the solution
is worth the price we pay? That is Slade - he moves forward because he
has to and wants to, not afraid to confront those aspects of his
personality and environment that may be painful, but at the same time
beneficial. I think everyone can appreciate Slade.”
Anyone who reads The Oasis Project will instantly feel and see that Art
Adkins is a natural born first rate story-teller and writer. The Oasis
Project marks a special time in this authors writing career in that this
is his first novel but the great thing is I'd bet my house his second
will be even better. The Oasis Project is the perfect book for summer
reading so hurry up and get a copy before the summer is over. The
sequel is in the works. Excellent! Superb! Read The Oasis Project today.
Reviewed by John Weaver
The Oasis Project by Art Adkins
Hardcover: 296 pages
Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc. (October 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805976043
About the Author: Art Adkins has
been in law enforcement for the
last twenty-eight years and has worked as a police officer
on the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department and as a sergeant on
the LAPD. He is currently a lieutenant with the Gainesville
(FLA) Police Department. His knowledge of police procedure
is vast, and he has woven these details into The Oasis
Project.
Writing a detective/murder mystery has always been a desire
of Mr. Adkins’, and The Oasis Project is the fruition of
this dream. Mr. Adkins earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal
studies from the University of South Florida and currently
resides in Hawthorne, Florida, with his wife and two sons.
Mr. Adkins is currently writing a sequel to The Oasis
Project. Look for Power Grid in the upcoming months.
Visit Art online at
http://artadkinsbooks.com
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