The Summoner by Layton Green

Title:  The Summoner

Author:  Layton Green

Genre:  Mystery/Suspense (supernatural elements)

Publisher:  GryphonWorks  

Publication Date:  8th December 2010 

Stand alone or series:  Stand Alone 

Pages:  301 

Book Received from:  Author - Layton Green

First Lines:  The only thing Dominic Grey knew for certain about the disappearance of William Addison was that it was the strangest case to which he had ever been assigned.

Synopsis:

A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.

Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison.

What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a demagogic priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target.

Himself. 

My Thoughts:

The Summoner is the first book in the Dominic Grey series and one that has definitely given me the heebee jeebees! I work with a lady who has moved from South Africa a few years ago and on a number of occasions we have spoken about the good and bad as well as the downright scary things that happen every day over there, juju being the most talked about lol. That was one reason I was interested in this and the synopsis itself won me over.

The story is told by Dominic Grey a diplomatic security agent who is brought in to work with a liason officer, Nya, and professor of religious cults, Victor, to investigate the disappearance of Addison. Addison disappears in the middle of a Yoruba ceremony without a trace sparking an investigation into the Ambassador's friends disappearance.

I was really drawn in from the beginning of this story and loved the cool, sceptical main character Grey. I think Grey was a good choice out of the three characters in telling this story as a lot of us out there would fit under the sceptical group. Nya comes across as quite closed off in the beginning but she lets her guard down slowly when she opens up to Grey. Viktor is in a group all of his own. His morbid curiosity in everything tied in with the cult made him interesting as a character if maybe a little on the wacky side too. If you know what I mean.

The story itself had me in suspense all the way through. The deeper Grey, Nya and Viktor dig, the more of Zimbabwe is revealed. From Club Lucky, to a ceremony in the middle of nowhere and the ancient ruins, Layton Green does a brilliant job of creating a vivid setting without overdoing the description and slowing the story pace.

If you're after a suspense filled story with both supernatural and religious undertones this one is for you. Don't let the religious aspect put you off though, it makes the story that more interesting!

This review was originally posted on the Book Lovers Inc website!