Smoke Screen is not the usual book by Kyle Mills. His books are generally set in Washington, DC with the FBI, CIA, terrorists, politics, etc. - the usual intrigues of government, good and bad guys, dead bodies and someone always on the run. Not in this case. Trevor Barnett works at one of the largest tobacco companies in the US. He does his very best not to let anyone know that he is the heir-apparent to the fortune made by this company. Instead, he works in an obscure position, estranged from his father and mother, ignored by just about everyone, and slowly but surely boozing and wasting away the small allowance he has received so far. He does feel some responsibility toward the damage done by the evils of the industry - smoking does, in fact, kill people. Everyone knows that. But everyone in the industry also knows that without Big Tobacco, economic ruin is a certainty. For some unknown reason, till the very end when you find out, Trevor is handpicked by Paul Trainor, the CEO, to dig for a little information in a $2billion lawsuit in Montana, among other things. Suddenly, Trevor finds himself the corporate spokesman in the middle of the fight of his professional and personal life. This book is real, it is funny as all get out, it is sad and it is scary, all at the same time. Kyle Mills again manages to make the reader feel for the characters. Poor Trevor doesn't know what to do - follow his heart or his empty wallet. Trust the girl, or the CEO. Believe his father is as bad as he thinks he is, or not. His life is a mess, he has no friends, the girl is or isn't on his side and the CEO is crazy as a bedbug - or maybe not? Regardless of your pro or con stance against Big Tobacco, smoking, corporate America or just stupid people, this is a must read if you are interested in the consequences of our actions - how one person could make a difference, and just how far a man will go for his principals when he has nothing else to loose but what he knows is the right thing to do. Once again, Kyle Mills has hit a home run!
Title: Smoke Screen |
4/17/05
