Shell Games: A John Marquez Crime Novel

John Marquez #1

by Kirk Russell

Masters of crime fictionimmediately hailed  Shell Games , which introduced a dynamic new hero and anexciting new author. Michael "You know when you read this onethat you are on to something good. Kirk Russell comes out of the gate with astory brimming with fresh characters and artful prose." John "Excellent...a compelling plot, fully realized characters, white-knucklesuspense, and unusual yet accessible settings." Ridley "...awonderfully unpredictable plot that holds the reader hostage to the very lastpage." And Jan "...a great read...it's hard to believe it's afirst novel." Hero John Marquez runs an undercover unit of the CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game and is taking on international abalone poachers,when he discovers that he's not finished with the ghosts and threats from hispast as a drug agent. A completely original and entertaining eco-thriller andcrime novel, now in paperback.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Book Club

347 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

I aimed at writing long ago but that turned out to more romance than reality. Looking back, I was lucky to learn something about the world first. Never gave up on writing though. It just took longer. I've written five novels with an undercover California Fish and Game warden, John Marquez, three with a San Francisco homicide inspector, and now Signature Wounds and FBI special agent bomb tech, Paul Grale. Grale is living in the world we're in and dealing with the challenges of our times. I'm very hooked into him and working on a new story.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Game Warden mystery. It's becoming quite the sub-genre. (Sub-sub-genre?)

In this one, a former DEA agent is on the trail of abalone poachers in California.

Nothing really memorable. A distant third to Joe Pickett and Mike Bowditch.

[LJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

SHELL GAMES (Wildlife Investigator) – Okay
Kirk Russell – 1st book
Chronicle Books, 2003 – Hardcover
Lt. John Marques is head of a special operations unit with the California Department of Fish and Game. He is after Kline, a former drug runner now into the more lucrative smuggling of abalone and a long-time enemy.
*** With the story set in my own San Francisco Bay Area, I very much enjoyed the locations and appreciate manner in which he presented the problems of the Dept. of Fish and Game. I would never have guessed abalone smuggling could be more profitable than drugs. However, even with all the bodies and climatic encounter with Kline, I never felt the suspense of this book or a real involvement with the characters. All the bits were there—plot, dialogue, setting--but, somehow, I just did not have a visceral connection to the story.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different police procedural - a special operations unit of the California Department of Fish and Game, led by Lieutenant John Marquez, on a poaching investigation finds murder and drugs entwined in their case.

I enjoyed it, but the characters never fully engaged me, so I don't think I will be reading any more of the MArquez series.

[John Barnard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting main character and good, complex plot, but that turns out to be a weakness. The ending reveals that the vast majority of the plot was superfluous. If they'd stood around and done nothing for the entire story, it still would have come to the same conclusion. And many of the secondary plot points were never resolved.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think it was just me, but I just couldn't get into this book. It was exhausting to even try.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story but many characters were difficult.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to follow. Too many characters and story tangents. Family most interesting, but minimal part of the narrative.

[Cybercrone · Rating 1 out of 5]

It felt as if it took me a decade to get through this book.
Don't really like any of the characters much. I thought they might grow on me, but nope!
The plot was like the tiny clown car that drives around at the circus and then 12 clowns get out and run hither and yon. It was up and down the coast of CA so often, I think I have the geography memorized. And it involved 3 or 4 law enforcement agencies that kept tripping over, sabotaging, and spying on each other. It was really kind of a mess.

[Walt Mccluskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shell games

Much different than I had expected from the beginning to the end of the story with as much confusion to the investigation as you might ever expect. Serious treatment of the daily dilemma faced by fish and game wardens as they strive to do what's right with little true help. Worth additional reads in the future.

[Randy Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique story

Not often you read a thriller about game and fish officers but this is one. Characters were so so but the storyline was very good. Series is about John Marquez but he doesn't appear to be much of a hero just the eyes and mind the story is told through.

[neal devore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Familar territory

Lots of places I recognize. Poaching and drugs in Mendo. Good story and ending was good. Held my interest and likr

[Gail Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

.

Tough, sometimes grim, but human, and not overblown as far as a noncombatant can tell. A good read with a plot like a maze.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love abalone and now I know why I can't get it in the local restaurants any longer.

I have recommended this to my friends to read.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[KerryO · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed as the story took so long to develop. I liked the character John Marquez so I may try another book featuring him.

[lori king · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This is a good book for anyone to read who likes overlapping storylines, a lot of character description which keeps you engaged. I enjoy this author's writing style.

[Kris Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shell Game's John Marquez doesn't sit behind a desk with a bottle of scotch in the drawer and a dearth of clients until a long-legged curvaceous woman enters his tiny office and needs his help. But in Marquez, a former DEA man turned Fish and Wildlife agent who tracks abalone poachers with the same single-mindedness he once reserved for drug dealers, author Kirk Russell channels just the right amount of noir detective—Marquez is a big, tough guy who can deliver one-liners with authority, but with much more going on inside than he lets on.
Agent Marquez is given plenty to cope with in Shell Games, as this is a dense and complex thriller without a wasted word. It's also a clever whodunnit—although there is the requisite evil nemesis (albeit with a relatable and tragic past) it's not clear whether he is responsible for the current drama. There are multiple suspects and clues to be solved.
The action scenes are clean, clear and transportive; there is graphic violence, but it's never gratuitous and doesn't dominate, instead serving the larger plot. Softer moments are equally well-crafted: lovers and friends are convincingly drawn.
Always glad to discover a new series—I'm off to buy the second book now.
Altogether, brilliantly done.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've recently enjoyed some "environmental thrillers" so was looking forward to this one. I thought it mostly worked, especially for a first (I think) novel.
What I liked: the overlap between Fish and Game crimes like poaching with FBI/CIA crimes like drug running. I liked the interplay between what the different agencies viewed as "important". I liked Marquez's backstory, and the personal story with his wife and stepdaughter.
What I didn't like: I got carsick with all the driving up and down the coast. So much driving! Too many characters and small plotlines. Probably realistic, but for a book, could have used some editing.
I'm not disappointed I read this, but not sure I'd continue on with the series.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The actual main storyline of Shell Games is quite good, and I really liked the character of Marquez. However, there is a lot of detail and extra scenes that not only don't add to the story but tend to bog it down. In addition, Marquez's personal life is made too complex: his first wife was brutally murdered in Africa, his second wife doesn't know if she can/wants to stay with him, her teenage daughter is developing anorexia. It was just too much, and the resolution is too pat at the end for the complexity. I may try another of the Marquez stories, as I did like the main case very much, and often the first in the series is a little rough.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your typical crime drama with lots of violence. Hard to keep track of some characters. The principal character is the all too typical professional whose marriage is on the rocks due to his absorption with work. Boy does this guy put in the windshield time. He might as well live in his car, constantly driving to Oakland, Sacramento, and the coast up and down Mendocino and Humboldt Counties. He's also a guy who works hard but is his own worst enemy. FBI, DEA, and revenge all figure in what initially looked like just an abalone poaching mystery.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read another book in the John Marquez Fish & Game special ops series months ago, enjoyed it a lot and decided to start over with this book #1. Although not as sophisticated as the later book in the series, the story developed well after awhile and fleshed out to a strong conclusion. It helps that the main character, officer John Marquez, is a moral and incorruptible character. Looking forward to reading the complete series.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given to me by a friend because of the wildlife management/poaching angle. A good crime novel, if you are into those, with a natural resources spin I haven't seen before. The main characters were well developed, maybe a little too much detail at times on the minute to minute activities of Marquez. I will definitely read another book from this series.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book = I didn't want to put it down. The plot was well laid out and had twists and turns that (for a change) I wasn't anticipating! First time in a long long time. Plus it was about abalone and the illegal trading going on......Fish and Game, FBI, local police, and Homeland Security all rolled into the plot.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great first series for a new eco-thriller which deals with mystery set in California and deals with poaching. Plus, Marquez deals with his own personal life too. This is a good one to enjoy for a rainy day.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book. I was worn out by all the driving the characters were doing in the book. I don't believe there would be a Fish and Game department that was so on top of things but I do think it is a good idea.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but not a page turner. Was interesting but easy enough to put down. If you are busy this is a good filler book for when you want to read but cannot afford to ignore the world around you.

[Cynthia Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this crime novel, the crimes being abalone poaching combined with drug smuggling and murder for hire. It is located on the Northern California coast where I live so I was somewhat familiar with the issues. Well written and engrossing story.

[Shelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a book club selection that I couldn’t force myself through. Thankfully out of the six people in our group only 2 people were able to read it to completion (and of those only 1 enjoyed it), so I didn’t feel like a total book club dropout.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book! Who knew that being a Fish and Game warden was so dangerous!. Set in Northern California, especially Albion/Little River/Mendocino.

[Paddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a thriller where the protagonist is a conservation officer instead of a cop

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Routing cops and robbers set within the Dept. of Fish and Games.