Review - The Courier by Gordon J. Campbell

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Blurb

An expatriate businessman, Gregg Westwood, leaves the Officers’ Club at an American Air Base in Japan unaware of the impression he’s made on two intelligence agents. They sized him up as someone with potential for strategic deployment, and more importantly, he's under the radar. 

Gregg's exploits start with what he thinks is a one-off assignment as a courier, and the straightforward task spirals out of control. He's forced to rise to the occasion and use every resource available to survive. Even his family is jeopardized which forces him to return to Japan to settle scores. 

The Courier is one man’s struggle to fight for survival in a world that he's not been trained for and where violence and retribution are the names of the game.

Excerpt from Chapter 1

His mind’s peaceful state allowed a clear perspective, and he scanned the thugs, making an instant assessment for the impending engagement. Two of the bikers left their jackets open with firearms concealed under their vests. The other two grasped their bike handlebars with one hand and held blades exposed against their legs with the other.

Marron jogged toward the bikers, forcing two of the rough young men to kick the starter pedals on their bikes. The armed thugs fumbled and pulled at the weapons held tightly against their chests by their vests. Marron’s SIG Sauer spat out two muffled shots, and he moved with the speed and agility of an elite athlete. The sound resonating around the concrete walls resembled the retort of a child’s cap gun. Bloody red mist filled the air, and the two bikers’ bodies slammed to the asphalt with their weapons remaining forever concealed and useless.

The young thugs armed only with blades started maneuvering their bikes one-handed to escape. Marron sighted on the first and fired then moved his aim to the second to deliver another fatal round. The hollow-point bullets penetrated their chests and erupted, finishing the skirmish in less than fifteen seconds. Brass shell casings fell to the ground and bounced on the road. Their metallic ring reminded Marron to scoop them up to drop in his pants’ pockets.

Review

I believe the old action-junkie within me started giggling as soon as I laid eyes on the outstanding cover to The Courier by Gordon J. Campbell. I mean, what's not to like about it? It features a Punisher-like character who resembles Gerald Butler shooting at what I'm assuming is the exploding gasoline tanker truck. To make a long story short, I wanted to read this book simply based on its cover alone!

The Courier is a fast-paced thriller that centers around a medical supply rep, Greg Westwood, taking a one-time job as a "courier" for the US government. What he thought would be a fun and easy job turns out to a disaster when he learns a pair of assassins are after him. Toss in an international drug ring, you basically have an old-school '80s action flick plot.

I don't read very many Indie authors nowadays as the ones I have read in the past have disappointed me with bad editing. However, I'm glad to say I didn't have any issues with The Courier, which is one of the better written Indie novels I have read in recent memory. First-time author Gordon J. Campbell has created an intriguing protagonist, lively dialogue, and entertaining action scenes.

Overall, The Courier is a well-written, action-packed thrill ride!

About the Author

Gordon Campbell is a Winnipeg born Canadian who’s spent most of his life in Japan. He's worked as an English teacher, a market entry consultant with a focus on the medical and sporting goods industries, and as a sales director for a corporation with multiple product lines.

He’s presently working on the second novel of a series initiated with The Courier, and its protagonist, Gregg Westwood. Gordon leans on his experiences built around decades working and traveling in Asia. He’s trained at several karate dojos, run full marathons, and skied black diamond hills in the Japanese Alps.

He played American football at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and started in the Canadian championship game known as the Vanier Cup. Gordon is a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity, Sinim Masonic Lodge, and the Tokyo Valley of the AASR.  When he’s not writing, working, attending one of his daughter’s vocal concerts, pumping iron, or at a lodge meeting, you’ll find him dining with his wife Mako at their favorite local bistro.

Learn more about Gordon on his website. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.