Ghosts of the Past

The Search For A Lost WWII Art Collection Worth Killing For. [2nd Edition]

Fiction - Mystery - Historical
338 Pages
Reviewed on 02/17/2021
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Author Biography

Blessed…and cursed with the creative gene, I have always found writing to come naturally, a trait inherited from my father, who was a truly remarkable wordsmith. Having always felt the urge to write and attempt to produce commercially successful prose, the dictates of another career path and raising a family of three children derailed any thoughts of that noble ambition.
Children grown and ownership of a successful and self-sustaining business make that predilection a reality today. With a life full of study and interest in history, particularly the military variety, and a reading library full of some of fictions greatest novelists, it only made sense to pursue my passion drawing upon those inherent experiences, attended by a personal conviction that good always triumphs over evil.
Ghosts of the Past is my first endeavor, created over several years of being drawn back into my creative awakening. It has been the catalyst for my second novel, Setareh Doctrine, which is the first book in the Themis Cooperative thriller series. Look for Caracas Connection to follow shortly.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Ghosts of the Past: The Search For a Lost WWII Art Collection Worth Killing For is a work of fiction in the mystery and historical genres. It is the second edition of the book and was penned by author Mark Downer. The book follows our protagonist Matt Ferguson as he races to track down a dangerous family legacy in the form of a missing cache of art stolen during the closing days of the Second World War. Partnering with an expert in fine art, Courtney Lewis, the two must outwit and evade a dangerous killer, a South American criminal organization, and a determined investigator who has linked the pair to a triple homicide.

Author Mark Downer has crafted a thrilling and well-developed work of fiction with plenty of intrigue, detail, and concept to offer its readers. One of the features which I found particularly impressive about this piece was the construction of the plot and how its many beats and story elements weave in and out of one another, which is sure to always keep readers on their toes. The dialogue was also very effective, serving to display the unique traits of the characters whilst moving the plot forward in a natural way, avoiding any huge blocks of exposition to wade through. This makes the novel fast-paced and very readable, and with an immersive and realistic historical background to boot. Overall, I would highly recommend Ghosts of the Past: The Search For a Lost WWII Art Collection Worth Killing For to fans of international thrillers, high octane dramas, and for suspense and mystery readers everywhere.