Review: GOTU- a Robin Marlette novel by Mike McNeff

Title: GOTU - A Robin Marlette Novel by Mike McNeff
Format: eBook, 196 pages
Published: Booktrope Publishing, 1/3/12
Series: Robin Marlette, #1
Genre: Thriller/Police procedural
Source: received free from the publisher for my honest and unbiased review

Book Description:

When a drug cartel attacks a cop, the rules apply. When they attack a cop's family, there are no rules. Sergeant Robin Marlette's special narcotics squad has killed a dangerous drug courier and the brother of a prominent Mexican drug overlord. When Marlette's daughter is kidnapped as an act of revenge, it's a race against time to save her. Marlette and his team are very good at what they do-but are they good enough to defeat a drug cartel on its own turf?

Helicopters. Guns. Corruption. Explosions...

NON. STOP. ACTION. My first note I jotted down was on page 11, "begins with action immediately." I'm not kidding, it kept me on the edge of my seat (or edge of the bed) until the VERY LAST PAGE.

The GOTU (Guardians of the Universe) special narcotics squad is out to put an end to drug smuggling across the border, under the competent leadership of Robin Marlette. When they get a lead on a giant operation and end up killing the brother of the number one drug lord in Mexico, they uncover some serious corruption in not only their department, but also of prominent elected officials. The drug lord isn't very happy that his brother was killed and promises some sick-ass revenge.

We also get a peek into Robin's life as a devoted husband and father. He loves his family very much, and proves that he would do anything for them. Whereas he's a tough, but fair law enforcer, we get to see his gentler side with his family.

Some of the "cop-speak" in the book was unfamiliar to me, but then I thought that for those that read this genre, wouldn't want it dumbed-down. It wasn't enough to leave you clueless as to what was going on either. I used to work as a paramedic before my baby started school, and I certainly wouldn't want a diluted medical thriller.

Mike writes of what he knows.  He is a cop, who then became a lawyer, and has now started his third career as a writer. GOTU is the debut novel of author Mike McNeff and is the first book in his Robin Marlette series.

He's working on the second in the series, Shadow, which is due out this summer according to an interview I read. Will I continue reading the series? Oh, HELL YEAH! It's that good.

I will definitely be following McNeff and his writing. Here's a link to his website.


Happy reading.
Angela