What do you think?
Rate this book
The King Trilogy #1
The Bridge To Caracas
THE BRIDGE TO CARACAS is Volume one of THE KING TRILOGY, an epic story, spanning four tumultuous decades, of an inconvenient fortune and its catastrophic affect on a loving family.
Stephen Douglass's knowledge of the Oil and Gas Industry is woven into a plot similar to John Grisham's tales of lawyers, judges, and the law. Both are terrific at storytelling at a brisk pace coming with a knowledgeable background. You will be educated as to the Oil and Gas Industry, especially the dark side of money making, and entertained by a romantic, engaging action story. This book belongs in a class with "Unbroken", "Lost in Shangri-La", "In the Garden of the Beasts", and other five star books that I have enjoyed this summer. (5 star review)
Jim Servito shatters the hopes and aspirations of star-crossed lovers, Mike King and Karen Taylor, while simultaneously engineering a grand theft ranking as one of the largest and most audacious in Canadian and U.S. history. Cynical and remorselessly ruthless, he possesses a brilliant criminal mind, has enormous contempt for the law, police, governments, and the system in which they function. He assumes rules are for fools, and takes sadistic pleasure in breaking them. Using The Peace Bridge as his fulcrum, he steals $325,000,000 from the U.S. and Canadian governments, steals enormous quantities of gasoline by illegally installing valves in Golden National’s Buffalo refinery, then murders everyone who can implicate him.
The setting is storybook perfect. The beautiful daughter of wealthy parents meets the handsome son of middle class parents. The two fall in love and assume they will marry and live happily ever after. History would prove their assumption wrong. Cruel twists of fate and the wrath of Jim Servito combine to prescribe a horrible nightmare for the two lovers, one that grows in intensity and ultimately leads them to prison, then a life and death confrontation with Servito in Caracas.
Karen Taylor, tired of life in private school for girls, the endless doting of her wealthy parents, and the monotony of constant female company, wants out, to experience the real world, preferably on her own. Her priorities lead her to an endless love affair with Mike King, but his marriage to another woman leads her to a disastrous marriage to Jim Servito.
Mike King has it made. A third generation medical candidate and gifted athlete, his future appears assured. He is going to be a doctor. It is the family tradition. Then, like the first snows of winter, everything changes. He falls in love with Karen Taylor, and decides he wants a future of his own, instead of the one tradition had prescribed for him. His heart is ripped from his body when Karen’s mother informs him that her daughter was killed when her airplane was hijacked in Athens and blown up in Syria. Saddened beyond all consolation, he plunges into his engineering studies with a consuming passion. Fate leads him to a doomed marriage to Barbara Larkin. The marriage is complicated when he discovers that Karen is alive. A chance meeting with Karen results in a torrid, but life-threatening affair. He relinquishes his successful career in big oil to launch what appears to be a once in a lifetime business opportunity. When Jim Servito and the Feds conspire to ruin his business, terminate his affair with Karen, and imprison both, the two lovers risk everything to violate their bail restrictions, covertly fly to Caracas, and end their nightmare.
Stephen Douglass's knowledge of the Oil and Gas Industry is woven into a plot similar to John Grisham's tales of lawyers, judges, and the law. Both are terrific at storytelling at a brisk pace coming with a knowledgeable background. You will be educated as to the Oil and Gas Industry, especially the dark side of money making, and entertained by a romantic, engaging action story. This book belongs in a class with "Unbroken", "Lost in Shangri-La", "In the Garden of the Beasts", and other five star books that I have enjoyed this summer. (5 star review)
Jim Servito shatters the hopes and aspirations of star-crossed lovers, Mike King and Karen Taylor, while simultaneously engineering a grand theft ranking as one of the largest and most audacious in Canadian and U.S. history. Cynical and remorselessly ruthless, he possesses a brilliant criminal mind, has enormous contempt for the law, police, governments, and the system in which they function. He assumes rules are for fools, and takes sadistic pleasure in breaking them. Using The Peace Bridge as his fulcrum, he steals $325,000,000 from the U.S. and Canadian governments, steals enormous quantities of gasoline by illegally installing valves in Golden National’s Buffalo refinery, then murders everyone who can implicate him.
The setting is storybook perfect. The beautiful daughter of wealthy parents meets the handsome son of middle class parents. The two fall in love and assume they will marry and live happily ever after. History would prove their assumption wrong. Cruel twists of fate and the wrath of Jim Servito combine to prescribe a horrible nightmare for the two lovers, one that grows in intensity and ultimately leads them to prison, then a life and death confrontation with Servito in Caracas.
Karen Taylor, tired of life in private school for girls, the endless doting of her wealthy parents, and the monotony of constant female company, wants out, to experience the real world, preferably on her own. Her priorities lead her to an endless love affair with Mike King, but his marriage to another woman leads her to a disastrous marriage to Jim Servito.
Mike King has it made. A third generation medical candidate and gifted athlete, his future appears assured. He is going to be a doctor. It is the family tradition. Then, like the first snows of winter, everything changes. He falls in love with Karen Taylor, and decides he wants a future of his own, instead of the one tradition had prescribed for him. His heart is ripped from his body when Karen’s mother informs him that her daughter was killed when her airplane was hijacked in Athens and blown up in Syria. Saddened beyond all consolation, he plunges into his engineering studies with a consuming passion. Fate leads him to a doomed marriage to Barbara Larkin. The marriage is complicated when he discovers that Karen is alive. A chance meeting with Karen results in a torrid, but life-threatening affair. He relinquishes his successful career in big oil to launch what appears to be a once in a lifetime business opportunity. When Jim Servito and the Feds conspire to ruin his business, terminate his affair with Karen, and imprison both, the two lovers risk everything to violate their bail restrictions, covertly fly to Caracas, and end their nightmare.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2011
78 people are currently reading
1947 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Douglass
6 books721 followers Steve spent the first half of his working career with the two largest oil companies in the world: Exxon and Royal Dutch Shell. The second half was with one of the smallest oil companies in the world: his own. Now retired, he spends his summers in Niagara Falls, Canada, and his winters in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
When he's not reading, writing, or travelling, he's playing bad golf.
He plans to continue writing until the day he dies, probably longer.
He recently published the results of 22 years of work:
THE KING TRILOGY:
THE BRIDGE TO CARACAS getBook.at/978-1-937563-17-2
THE TAINTED TRUST getBook.at/978-1-62660-018-8
KERRI'S WAR getBook.at/978-1-62660-019-5
#audiobooks
http://ow.ly/ASjmu
http://ow.ly/AfUqs
http://ow.ly/EH2H1
When he's not reading, writing, or travelling, he's playing bad golf.
He plans to continue writing until the day he dies, probably longer.
He recently published the results of 22 years of work:
THE KING TRILOGY:
THE BRIDGE TO CARACAS getBook.at/978-1-937563-17-2
THE TAINTED TRUST getBook.at/978-1-62660-018-8
KERRI'S WAR getBook.at/978-1-62660-019-5
#audiobooks
http://ow.ly/ASjmu
http://ow.ly/AfUqs
http://ow.ly/EH2H1
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 23, 2018
Fast-paced, enjoyable thriller with a tiny dash of romantic interest. Just the kind I like. The author uses his extensive knowledge of the oil industry to write a compelling overview of how things can go wrong when greedy people abuse the system. I liked the characters and could easily relate to them, but there were times I couldn't imagine King getting out of his own way. However, the author managed to pull him out of trouble quite brilliantly.
August 11, 2016
Great book that kept me up all night, constantly having to find out what was going to happen - the way Patterson's books used to do. (You know, back when Patterson wrote them himself.)
I don't feel that the characters were really fleshed out, and some things were glossed over, and sometimes I was surprised when it would jump forward several years, and despite all of that, it still kicked ass and I can't believe the author made the entire trilogy free. With the first book being that compelling, I'd think that a wiser marketing move would be to make the first one free. If the following books were reasonably priced, I would definitely be buying them to continue the saga. But I have them at no cost. Thanks, Mr. Douglas!
The writing was really good and mostly well edited and proofed, which made it a surprise when I'd come to a blatant error. After several errors, I started highlighting them in my Kindle with the thought of letting the author know about them, because he can't realize they're there, and it's a shame they are in such a compelling story.
But since the story was so good, they were forgivable. This time! Just kidding.
Great book. If you like tales that span many years and feature romance, crime, danger and suspense, you'll like this. (It's also an eye-opener to the oil industry - at least as it was in the 60's and 70s, and that gave the book a flavor somewhat similar to Atlas Shrugged, but without any deep thoughts.)
I don't feel that the characters were really fleshed out, and some things were glossed over, and sometimes I was surprised when it would jump forward several years, and despite all of that, it still kicked ass and I can't believe the author made the entire trilogy free. With the first book being that compelling, I'd think that a wiser marketing move would be to make the first one free. If the following books were reasonably priced, I would definitely be buying them to continue the saga. But I have them at no cost. Thanks, Mr. Douglas!
The writing was really good and mostly well edited and proofed, which made it a surprise when I'd come to a blatant error. After several errors, I started highlighting them in my Kindle with the thought of letting the author know about them, because he can't realize they're there, and it's a shame they are in such a compelling story.
But since the story was so good, they were forgivable. This time! Just kidding.
Great book. If you like tales that span many years and feature romance, crime, danger and suspense, you'll like this. (It's also an eye-opener to the oil industry - at least as it was in the 60's and 70s, and that gave the book a flavor somewhat similar to Atlas Shrugged, but without any deep thoughts.)
January 30, 2014
"An Astounding, Revealing Crime Story"
This is an awesome story written by Stephen Douglass who has worked in the petroleum industry in Canada for decades. His story deals with money laundering, fraud, manipulation, with a very driving force of true love. There's something here for everyone. The main character is Mike King, who leaves the school of medicine to explore the world for a year, then returns to major in chemical engineering as inspired by an oil magnet friend of his father. The second character is Karen Taylor, daughter of wealthy parents, who loves Mike King. But while he is on his one year sabbatical, Karen and her friend Patti Archer are on a hijacked Boeing 707 which winds up in a devastating explosion near Damascus. Mike is devastated to think Karen has been killed, goes back to school, and soon marries Barbara Larkin. The third character is Jim Servito who has a brilliant mind, is cynical, and one of the most ruthless characters that Mike and Karen will have to face. He's blackmailed his way to riches and through money laundering, and without remorse, he will strike down anyone who stands in his way.
This book reveals the roots of the gasoline wars and shortages of the early 70's. It deals with Mike's failed marriage and also his success of rising from being an employee to having his own oil company. It gives one a first hand, factual look at how big businessmen wheel and deal to increase their profits ... or to prevent losing them.
This story would make a powerful movie, if Hollywood had the courage to get it to the silver screen. There's only one actor I envision playing the ruthless Jim Servito ... Al Pacino! This is a stellar story one which you won't be able to put down, and one you will never forget.
This is an awesome story written by Stephen Douglass who has worked in the petroleum industry in Canada for decades. His story deals with money laundering, fraud, manipulation, with a very driving force of true love. There's something here for everyone. The main character is Mike King, who leaves the school of medicine to explore the world for a year, then returns to major in chemical engineering as inspired by an oil magnet friend of his father. The second character is Karen Taylor, daughter of wealthy parents, who loves Mike King. But while he is on his one year sabbatical, Karen and her friend Patti Archer are on a hijacked Boeing 707 which winds up in a devastating explosion near Damascus. Mike is devastated to think Karen has been killed, goes back to school, and soon marries Barbara Larkin. The third character is Jim Servito who has a brilliant mind, is cynical, and one of the most ruthless characters that Mike and Karen will have to face. He's blackmailed his way to riches and through money laundering, and without remorse, he will strike down anyone who stands in his way.
This book reveals the roots of the gasoline wars and shortages of the early 70's. It deals with Mike's failed marriage and also his success of rising from being an employee to having his own oil company. It gives one a first hand, factual look at how big businessmen wheel and deal to increase their profits ... or to prevent losing them.
This story would make a powerful movie, if Hollywood had the courage to get it to the silver screen. There's only one actor I envision playing the ruthless Jim Servito ... Al Pacino! This is a stellar story one which you won't be able to put down, and one you will never forget.
February 22, 2017
Rags to riches, romance and tragedy, a pounding page turner based on the gasoline industry. I've just finished The bridge to Caracas and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Stephen Douglass writes brilliantly about an industry that he's made his life blood and shares some of the dirt and some of the success of what was, and still is, a pretty rough business. Gasoline (or Petrol as we know it here in Australia) was a boom and bust industry in the seventies and eighties. Fortunes were made by fair means and foul and fortunes were lost just as quickly. Douglass channels the seventies into this story and the era comes to life. It's something about the attitude and something about the lack of government oversight of the times that gives this page turner its momentum. There's also something in Douglass's writing that brings a Sidney Sheldon feel to the book, again adding to the feel of the 70s.
June 22, 2014
After reading Steve Douglas’s new thriller The Bridge To Caracas, I promise you’ll never again feel the same about pulling up to a gas pump. And once you start filling your tank, you’ll wonder what you’re filling your tank with. And the thought of that will probably cause your spine to tingle. Thanks Steve.
The driving force of this fast-paced story, set in the 60s and 70s, is the cutthroat world of gasoline distribution among indie Canadian and U.S. suppliers primarily for the purpose of undercutting the majors and evading taxes. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake and greed and malice rise to the surface like oil on water.
Steve Douglas knows of which he writes. His career in the oil industry spanned 30 years working for two of the largest companies in the business before starting his own business. The complicated schemes of the players involved all have the ring of truth.
Caught up in this diabolical world are star-crossed lovers Mike King and Karen Taylor. They are headed for the altar but are separated by events neither could have imagined. When the two find each other again, both are married, but are still desperately in love with each other and know they always will. Unfortunately, the man Karen married, Jim Servito, is evil personified.
Servito is also the kingpin of the gas underworld and has no qualms about eliminating the competition anyway necessary. He is a character so vile that after reading a passage he’s in, you want to go wash your hands.
Mike King is also a small time gas supplier but an honest one. And he’s determined to get Karen back, especially after Servito brutalizes her. What ensues is a battle royale from Canada to South America, with the Feds joining in the fight. Who will come out on top is anybody’s guess. One thing is certain, there will be blood.
If you enjoy action packed thrills and adventure with a heavy dose of romance thrown in, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.
The driving force of this fast-paced story, set in the 60s and 70s, is the cutthroat world of gasoline distribution among indie Canadian and U.S. suppliers primarily for the purpose of undercutting the majors and evading taxes. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake and greed and malice rise to the surface like oil on water.
Steve Douglas knows of which he writes. His career in the oil industry spanned 30 years working for two of the largest companies in the business before starting his own business. The complicated schemes of the players involved all have the ring of truth.
Caught up in this diabolical world are star-crossed lovers Mike King and Karen Taylor. They are headed for the altar but are separated by events neither could have imagined. When the two find each other again, both are married, but are still desperately in love with each other and know they always will. Unfortunately, the man Karen married, Jim Servito, is evil personified.
Servito is also the kingpin of the gas underworld and has no qualms about eliminating the competition anyway necessary. He is a character so vile that after reading a passage he’s in, you want to go wash your hands.
Mike King is also a small time gas supplier but an honest one. And he’s determined to get Karen back, especially after Servito brutalizes her. What ensues is a battle royale from Canada to South America, with the Feds joining in the fight. Who will come out on top is anybody’s guess. One thing is certain, there will be blood.
If you enjoy action packed thrills and adventure with a heavy dose of romance thrown in, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.
April 26, 2014
Great Read!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It confirmed all I've ever thought about big business and the way they operate. This novel concerns skulduggery in the oil business, crossed lovers and a few shoot-outs. Plenty of action, involving love, money and power and the unimportance of the little people who risk getting crushed beneath the vast behemoth of the oil interests.
You'll learn things you might prefer not to know about the end product: and when you consider the same obsession with profit and lack of concern for the consumer probably exists in every other business, it makes one seriously concerned about the end products we all use, consume or work with whether it be food, water, medicine, household products, whatever (Bhopal and Thalidamide, anyone?).
The storyline was well worked-out and well researched and had me wondering what I was actually putting in my tank the next time I filled my car with petrol. Pretty worrying.
If you're looking for a well-written thriller about big business, particularly the oil business, how they operate and the lengths they'll go to to wipe out any opposition, then this book should fill the bill nicely.
Highly recommended. Five stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It confirmed all I've ever thought about big business and the way they operate. This novel concerns skulduggery in the oil business, crossed lovers and a few shoot-outs. Plenty of action, involving love, money and power and the unimportance of the little people who risk getting crushed beneath the vast behemoth of the oil interests.
You'll learn things you might prefer not to know about the end product: and when you consider the same obsession with profit and lack of concern for the consumer probably exists in every other business, it makes one seriously concerned about the end products we all use, consume or work with whether it be food, water, medicine, household products, whatever (Bhopal and Thalidamide, anyone?).
The storyline was well worked-out and well researched and had me wondering what I was actually putting in my tank the next time I filled my car with petrol. Pretty worrying.
If you're looking for a well-written thriller about big business, particularly the oil business, how they operate and the lengths they'll go to to wipe out any opposition, then this book should fill the bill nicely.
Highly recommended. Five stars.
July 29, 2018
THE BRIDGE TO CARACAS
VOLUME ONE OF THE KING TRILOGY
STEPHEN DOUGLAS
Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author
An excellent start to a trilogy about the King family in the oil up until reaching Caracas, Venezuela. How this first volume evolves sets the tone for the rest.
The love story of Mr. King and his childhood friend culminates after he and she have not very good marriages. Her husband is the key to crime in the international oil business which conflicts with King's rise to the top on the legal side.
These conflicts become confrontational because of jealousy, greed, and control of her husband leading to violent events. At each turn of this thriller, the reader will not be waiting long for a result - positive or negative.
Mr. Douglas' characters are well defined, and the final clash when a billion-dollar decision brings this adventure to an end. It should bring back the reader for volume two which should be a fast-paced crime thriller as this. I will wait my turn.
VOLUME ONE OF THE KING TRILOGY
STEPHEN DOUGLAS
Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author
An excellent start to a trilogy about the King family in the oil up until reaching Caracas, Venezuela. How this first volume evolves sets the tone for the rest.
The love story of Mr. King and his childhood friend culminates after he and she have not very good marriages. Her husband is the key to crime in the international oil business which conflicts with King's rise to the top on the legal side.
These conflicts become confrontational because of jealousy, greed, and control of her husband leading to violent events. At each turn of this thriller, the reader will not be waiting long for a result - positive or negative.
Mr. Douglas' characters are well defined, and the final clash when a billion-dollar decision brings this adventure to an end. It should bring back the reader for volume two which should be a fast-paced crime thriller as this. I will wait my turn.
July 7, 2013
"The Bridge To Caracas" is a clever, fast past and engaging thriller set against the backdrop of the oil and gas industry. It begins with the hijack of a plane in the 1960s and the presumed death of Karen, our protagonist Mike's big love.
He moves on to a sales job in the oil industry and marries Barbara instead, a woman he doesn't quite love as much and who may not love him either.
The evil opponent to Mike in this saga is Jim Servito who embezzles a lot of money from the industry.
This is a great book about love and corruption, it is action packed and rich in plot. It covers several decades and kept my interest throughout. It was not quite as explosive as the write up promised but I would call it a solid and very entertaining read.
He moves on to a sales job in the oil industry and marries Barbara instead, a woman he doesn't quite love as much and who may not love him either.
The evil opponent to Mike in this saga is Jim Servito who embezzles a lot of money from the industry.
This is a great book about love and corruption, it is action packed and rich in plot. It covers several decades and kept my interest throughout. It was not quite as explosive as the write up promised but I would call it a solid and very entertaining read.
November 12, 2017
Wonderful book
Verified Purchase
"The Bridge to Caracas" is a page-turning book. It is filled with suspense and intrigue from the beginning. I recommend this book for those who appreciate thrillers. It was my first book from Stephen Douglass and I am looking forward to reading all the books of the Trilogy.
Verified Purchase
"The Bridge to Caracas" is a page-turning book. It is filled with suspense and intrigue from the beginning. I recommend this book for those who appreciate thrillers. It was my first book from Stephen Douglass and I am looking forward to reading all the books of the Trilogy.
January 14, 2015
This is one of the fastest moving suspense novels I have read in a while. Underneath it all GREED is a powerful motivator which can ultimately grab in it's clutches both criminal minds and seemingly good and honest people. The oil industry with it's billions to be had in profits is where the action takes place. Within this story there are a couple of star-crossed lovers. Although this could conceivably happen-and may have partially according to the authors bio-I truly think that regulating the oil business is a VERY good and worthwhile occupation for governments! Without giving out any more of the plot I will leave you with this thought. After I read the last page I high tailed it back to Amazon and purchased the next two books in this series which I will be reading and reviewing at a later time.
The Bridge To Caracas
The Bridge To Caracas
November 24, 2015
Exciting and fast paced thriller. Very well written. I was glued to the pages right up til the end. Now I shall start Book 2 in the series.
December 3, 2016
The Bridge to Caracas totally captured my imagination! There are many aspects of this book, but they all weave together seamlessly to create an exciting thriller; a story of crime, vengeance, and a love triangle.
Jim Servito is an American draft dodger who snuck into Canada. He ends up in Toronto, pumping gas for Pop Williams, who has taken a liking to him and lets him sleep in a room at the back of the office. Pop’s is happy to teach Jim the honest rules of the gasoline business.
Jim is looking for an opportunity to move on and make big money. Then one evening he is approached by Jerry Allison, who tells how he can make big money by buying “bootlegged” gas to sell in the pumps. This fated meeting opens the door for Jim. Eventually, he buys Pop Williams gas station. Then he corners Jerry and forces him to tell him the who, where and how of the scheme Bob Bushings runs. He tells Jerry that they will be partners and he makes him take him to Bushings place of business. He knows too much, and Bushings realizes that Jim will ruin him if he doesn’t go along with what he proposes. Jim Servito is now on the road to riches, fueled by greed, corruption, and ruthless greed.
Karen Taylor was a stewardess. She met Mike King when she leased an apartment on Toronto’s St. George Street, directly across from Mike’s fraternity house. At the time Mike was studying medicine—he was going to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Doctor. He and Karen have a torrid love affair. Then Mike decides that he doesn’t want to be a doctor. Instead, he is going to travel and figure out what he wants out of life. Karen wants to go with him, but he says this is something he has to do alone.
Karen is broken hearted and decides to take a vacation. She and Patti Arthur go to Europe. As they are leaving Athens, their plane is hijacked by terrorists who demand that the pilot fly them to Syria. When the plane landed, Karen and Patti are among 5 hostages that are taken off. The terrorists as they are leaving the site, and it is presumed that all the passengers who had boarded it are dead.
Four months after he left, Mike returns to Toronto. He has found a purpose, and he is longing to see Karen. He is stunned when her mother tells him that she is dead. Eventually, Mike moves on. He is introduced to Barbara Larkin by a friend, and they eventually marry and have a daughter, Kerri.
Sixteen months after being held as a political prisoner, Karen is released. All she has thought about is getting back together with Mike. He is shocked to discover that she is alive, she is stunned to realize that her dream can never be fulfilled because he is married and has a child.
Eventually, fate brings Jim, Mike, and Karen together. Their journey is painful, filled with passion, deceit, corruption, revenge, and murder. It forever changes their lives.
I loved this book, and immediately downloaded “The Tainted Trust” to my Kindle. For me, it was non-stop reading of the King Trilogy!!
Jim Servito is an American draft dodger who snuck into Canada. He ends up in Toronto, pumping gas for Pop Williams, who has taken a liking to him and lets him sleep in a room at the back of the office. Pop’s is happy to teach Jim the honest rules of the gasoline business.
Jim is looking for an opportunity to move on and make big money. Then one evening he is approached by Jerry Allison, who tells how he can make big money by buying “bootlegged” gas to sell in the pumps. This fated meeting opens the door for Jim. Eventually, he buys Pop Williams gas station. Then he corners Jerry and forces him to tell him the who, where and how of the scheme Bob Bushings runs. He tells Jerry that they will be partners and he makes him take him to Bushings place of business. He knows too much, and Bushings realizes that Jim will ruin him if he doesn’t go along with what he proposes. Jim Servito is now on the road to riches, fueled by greed, corruption, and ruthless greed.
Karen Taylor was a stewardess. She met Mike King when she leased an apartment on Toronto’s St. George Street, directly across from Mike’s fraternity house. At the time Mike was studying medicine—he was going to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Doctor. He and Karen have a torrid love affair. Then Mike decides that he doesn’t want to be a doctor. Instead, he is going to travel and figure out what he wants out of life. Karen wants to go with him, but he says this is something he has to do alone.
Karen is broken hearted and decides to take a vacation. She and Patti Arthur go to Europe. As they are leaving Athens, their plane is hijacked by terrorists who demand that the pilot fly them to Syria. When the plane landed, Karen and Patti are among 5 hostages that are taken off. The terrorists as they are leaving the site, and it is presumed that all the passengers who had boarded it are dead.
Four months after he left, Mike returns to Toronto. He has found a purpose, and he is longing to see Karen. He is stunned when her mother tells him that she is dead. Eventually, Mike moves on. He is introduced to Barbara Larkin by a friend, and they eventually marry and have a daughter, Kerri.
Sixteen months after being held as a political prisoner, Karen is released. All she has thought about is getting back together with Mike. He is shocked to discover that she is alive, she is stunned to realize that her dream can never be fulfilled because he is married and has a child.
Eventually, fate brings Jim, Mike, and Karen together. Their journey is painful, filled with passion, deceit, corruption, revenge, and murder. It forever changes their lives.
I loved this book, and immediately downloaded “The Tainted Trust” to my Kindle. For me, it was non-stop reading of the King Trilogy!!
September 3, 2013
I downloaded this book a while ago and just recently got the opportunity to read it. Stephen has a wonderful way in which he develops his characters. I cared. Which for me, as everybody knows is the most important element in creative writing. I felt in this book deeply but I also was NOT lost in the details of a lifelong work history. I LOVED this book. Sincerely yours!
October 17, 2013
Good story requiring a good editor
Not a bad read, but then again, not a great read. Yep, middle of the road. Before I wrote the review, I went back to see if a new version is available. Not at this time.
The premise of the story surrounds the love Karen Taylor and Mike King share. It is abruptly interrupted when Karen becomes a hostage and is reported among the dead. Mike is devastated and moves on with his life. During her captivity he graduates from University and becomes involved in the Oil Industry. The nemesis of the story Jim Servito, by chance, also enters the oil industry—the shady side. Again by chance Jim marries Karen. Game on!
The pros:
I knew very little of commodity trading and backdoor dealing when it comes to refined products. The author describes in great detail how Servito is able to build a corrupt empire by not paying taxes to either the Canadian or US governments. It is an astounding amount, to the tune of $300 million! Wow! I really appreciate the knowledge Mr. Douglas provides the readers. Well done.
The cons:
Editing: It needs it. I identified over eighty issues. Missing words, wrong tenses and unnecessary filler. In the beginning Mike and Karen are invited to a dinner where Jackie and John Kennedy will be. It’s one paragraph, maybe two. The point is, I really thought this would be explored a little more and then nothing, including his assassination. Yet, when Karen marries Jim, we are inundated with an entire chapter.
The word ‘had’ needs to be fleshed out. At times it is required but many other times it’s a bit jarring.
Adverbs: way too many to count. It became maddening at times, especially when describing a conversation. Ex: “cunningly implying he owned the station.” “his larcenous mind not sufficiently stimulated.”
Too much description in conversations. Instead of showing, there is way too much telling. Nothing is left for the imagination.
Ex: 1)“Karen slowly turned to face Servito, ‘You’re forgiven,’ she said with a large grin.
2) George Taylor stepped to the microphone at the top of the steps leading to the verandah.
There are many others.
Sentence structure, There are several times where I had to reread a sentence scratching my head.
1) His face turned red when he found one of Mike clearly shown. We need clearly shown why?
2) Servito calmly removed Martin’s key form the pocket of jacket.???? Pocket of jacket???
Character development was thin at best. I never felt connected with Mike or Karen. The dialog between them was too much over the top. Way too many exclamation points and silly outbursts.
Name tags. Lord. Way, way too many! We are reminded each and every time when someone is speaking, even if it’s only two people. Their names are populated through each and every paragraph. This needs a heavy threshing.
I believe if the book is put in the hands of a good editor/proofreader, many of the issues can be remedied, propelling it to a four star.
Overall, not a bad read.
Not a bad read, but then again, not a great read. Yep, middle of the road. Before I wrote the review, I went back to see if a new version is available. Not at this time.
The premise of the story surrounds the love Karen Taylor and Mike King share. It is abruptly interrupted when Karen becomes a hostage and is reported among the dead. Mike is devastated and moves on with his life. During her captivity he graduates from University and becomes involved in the Oil Industry. The nemesis of the story Jim Servito, by chance, also enters the oil industry—the shady side. Again by chance Jim marries Karen. Game on!
The pros:
I knew very little of commodity trading and backdoor dealing when it comes to refined products. The author describes in great detail how Servito is able to build a corrupt empire by not paying taxes to either the Canadian or US governments. It is an astounding amount, to the tune of $300 million! Wow! I really appreciate the knowledge Mr. Douglas provides the readers. Well done.
The cons:
Editing: It needs it. I identified over eighty issues. Missing words, wrong tenses and unnecessary filler. In the beginning Mike and Karen are invited to a dinner where Jackie and John Kennedy will be. It’s one paragraph, maybe two. The point is, I really thought this would be explored a little more and then nothing, including his assassination. Yet, when Karen marries Jim, we are inundated with an entire chapter.
The word ‘had’ needs to be fleshed out. At times it is required but many other times it’s a bit jarring.
Adverbs: way too many to count. It became maddening at times, especially when describing a conversation. Ex: “cunningly implying he owned the station.” “his larcenous mind not sufficiently stimulated.”
Too much description in conversations. Instead of showing, there is way too much telling. Nothing is left for the imagination.
Ex: 1)“Karen slowly turned to face Servito, ‘You’re forgiven,’ she said with a large grin.
2) George Taylor stepped to the microphone at the top of the steps leading to the verandah.
There are many others.
Sentence structure, There are several times where I had to reread a sentence scratching my head.
1) His face turned red when he found one of Mike clearly shown. We need clearly shown why?
2) Servito calmly removed Martin’s key form the pocket of jacket.???? Pocket of jacket???
Character development was thin at best. I never felt connected with Mike or Karen. The dialog between them was too much over the top. Way too many exclamation points and silly outbursts.
Name tags. Lord. Way, way too many! We are reminded each and every time when someone is speaking, even if it’s only two people. Their names are populated through each and every paragraph. This needs a heavy threshing.
I believe if the book is put in the hands of a good editor/proofreader, many of the issues can be remedied, propelling it to a four star.
Overall, not a bad read.
May 22, 2013
The theme of good versus evil sits on top of the question, 'What would you do for love?' Stephen Douglass's book, The Bridge to Caracas, is a heavily plotted story within the murky world of the oil and gas industry that he seems familiar with. It takes place in the 1960s through the 1970s, and centers on how Jim Servito steals boatloads of money from the industry and screws everyone who gets in his way.
The story has lots of potential, but neither Mike King, the protagonist, nor Karen Taylor, his love interest engaged me. No spoiler here--Karen is kidnapped by terrorist and presumed dead. Mike moves on and marries the wrong woman. Bad enough. It happens. Karen returns--no big shock--and moves on now that Mike is unavailable. What bothered me is that the convenient plot point of Karen's abduction, which sets up the star-crossed lover theme, seems to have had little emotional effect on Karen. I kept waiting for her horrendous life event to impact her current life and the story. It never materializes. And Mike, this really smart guy, blunders his way through traps set up by Servito to make Mike's life miserable without getting a clue. Mike seems at times to only be aided by chance (admittedly some of it in the beginning by shrewd moves), luck, coincidence, and finally, at the climax, assistance from a total stranger to solve his problem. Even when the women he loves is being brutalized by Servito in the middle of the story, he does nothing for months except to have rendezvous sex. What starts out sharp and thrilling, peters out for me. In the end, the events and actions felt more staged and Mike's actions reckless, reactionary, and without thought more so than realistic--often causing heartache and loss for others.
This is not to write that this is a bad book. The writing is fine and premise strong. The middle had copyediting issues, but not too severe. It just lacked the character development and story ending dynamics that should have been there considering the promise of the beginning. I occasionally mention books that should be read fast to skip over the weak points. This would be one of them. I can see lovers of action and adventure stories falling for this story. Had the ending been sharper, this novel might have been a "4." As is, it is slightly above average, a strong "3".
The story has lots of potential, but neither Mike King, the protagonist, nor Karen Taylor, his love interest engaged me. No spoiler here--Karen is kidnapped by terrorist and presumed dead. Mike moves on and marries the wrong woman. Bad enough. It happens. Karen returns--no big shock--and moves on now that Mike is unavailable. What bothered me is that the convenient plot point of Karen's abduction, which sets up the star-crossed lover theme, seems to have had little emotional effect on Karen. I kept waiting for her horrendous life event to impact her current life and the story. It never materializes. And Mike, this really smart guy, blunders his way through traps set up by Servito to make Mike's life miserable without getting a clue. Mike seems at times to only be aided by chance (admittedly some of it in the beginning by shrewd moves), luck, coincidence, and finally, at the climax, assistance from a total stranger to solve his problem. Even when the women he loves is being brutalized by Servito in the middle of the story, he does nothing for months except to have rendezvous sex. What starts out sharp and thrilling, peters out for me. In the end, the events and actions felt more staged and Mike's actions reckless, reactionary, and without thought more so than realistic--often causing heartache and loss for others.
This is not to write that this is a bad book. The writing is fine and premise strong. The middle had copyediting issues, but not too severe. It just lacked the character development and story ending dynamics that should have been there considering the promise of the beginning. I occasionally mention books that should be read fast to skip over the weak points. This would be one of them. I can see lovers of action and adventure stories falling for this story. Had the ending been sharper, this novel might have been a "4." As is, it is slightly above average, a strong "3".
June 28, 2016
In the early 60’s in Toronto, Mike and Karen have bonded into soul mates, but Mike feels that his destiny is not in medicine as his parents have hoped, so Mike drops out of school and leaves Karen and his home on a solitary trip to discover his true career passion. Karen and a friend heads to Europe and finds herself on a hijacked plane. The plane explodes on an airstrip, and word comes back that there are no survivors. Mike discovers his passion in oil and returns to school to get an engineering degree, but he is devastated to discover the news about Karen and winds up finding solace with another woman at school, which leads to marriage. However, the news about Karen was incorrect and after she is freed from her hostage situation a year later, she discovers the news about Mike’s marriage. Meanwhile, Jim has come to Canada to dodge the draft and found a low-paying job pumping gas at a small station, but is soon introduced to a gas tax evasion scheme tied to international transport of fuel between Canada and the US. So, as Mike finds success wheeling and dealing for a major oil company, Jim is finding success in controlling a major fraud and theft gas conspiracy. However, the crossing of Mike and Jim’s paths become more impending when Jim meets Karen and convinces her to be his wife, a decision she comes to regret. This story is built around a major fraud issue that appeared to be strong in the oil industry along the Canadian-US border in the 60’s and 70’s, and the author is very knowledgeable in creating the thrilling and suspenseful actions arising out of this type of criminal conspiracy. However, the combination of events that separate and bring together the main characters often feel artificially forced, creating some inconsistency in some of the characters in order to build up the danger and thrills in the plot.
June 7, 2014
Taking in THE BRIDGE TO CARACAS feels like watching an action movie. You will find yourself at the edge of your seat, rooting for the good guy, Mike King, to triumph over the bad guy, Jim Servito, and to end up wining the girl, Karen Taylor. Inspired by a real crime, where scam netted an amount “that makes The New York State Lottery look like a Sunday school collection,” here is a plot-driven story, which opens right into action, with the scene of hijacking a plane. You will find yourself with Karen Taylor being abducted.
Having worked for the two largest oil companies in the world (Exxon and royal Dutch Shell) and for the smallest oil companies in the world (his own) Stephen Douglas has a unique familiarity with his subject matter, so you will keep guessing at the borderlines between truth and fiction. He writes what he knows, and he does so with a brisk, cinematic pace that dabs danger with romance.
Five stars.
Having worked for the two largest oil companies in the world (Exxon and royal Dutch Shell) and for the smallest oil companies in the world (his own) Stephen Douglas has a unique familiarity with his subject matter, so you will keep guessing at the borderlines between truth and fiction. He writes what he knows, and he does so with a brisk, cinematic pace that dabs danger with romance.
Five stars.
June 6, 2016
Very interesting read. The two main characters are Mike King and Jim Servito who are both in the gas and oil industry, they have one other thing in common,Karen Taylor. Karen and Mike knew each other first and probably would have gotten married, but Mike decided to change his life and left in a search to see where life would take him. When he was gone, Karen was in a hijacked plane. When it exploded, all thought she was dead. Karen resurfaces, her life miraculously spared, but Mike is married. Through circumstance, Karen meets a marries Jim Servito. That folks, is just the beginning of this conspiracy thriller that looks into corruption by those in the oil and gas industry while it also is a romance and a great thriller. The author does a great job tying up loose ends and bringing the story to a heart stopping end.
September 3, 2016
** a Few Spoilers **
Thrilling and Suspenseful..
This story is set during the 1960's and the 1970's and centers around
Jim Servito, is able to build a corrupt empire by not paying taxes, taking advantage of people, and stepping on anyone who gets in his way.
It also focuses on Karen Taylor and Mike King's relationship including the love that they share. Karen is kidnapped and pronounced dead. Mike moves on and soon after Karen does too..
Mike is a bit clueless at times, and Karen is numb from her experiences. I was a bit disappointed in Mike.
I don't want to give anymore away.
Overall this story was a fast read or listen and fully engaging.
Mathias Lenssen did really well with the narration.
Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2020
An ok-ish beach book, 100% plot driven with zero character development. The protagonists are just defined by what they do or what happens to them, and they are either wholly good or wholly evil, nothing in between.
The plot offers some interesting insights into the oil business in north America; for the rest, it’s stained by more than a shade of cheap romance.
As I am at the beach these days, it was ok...
The plot offers some interesting insights into the oil business in north America; for the rest, it’s stained by more than a shade of cheap romance.
As I am at the beach these days, it was ok...
August 29, 2013
not bad
May 29, 2015
Fluff read with wooden characters and plenty of grammar and spelling mistakes.
Want to read
September 28, 2015I really want to read this. Where can I find it in Dubai?
September 3, 2025
Rags to riches, romance, and tragedy The Bridge to Caracas is a gripping page turner rooted in the gasoline industry. Stephen Douglass writes with authority and flair, drawing from his deep knowledge of the field to reveal both the grit and the glory of a notoriously rough business. Set against the boom and bust cycles of the seventies and eighties, the novel captures an era when fortunes were made and lost with startling speed. Douglass vividly channels the spirit of the 1970s, evoking not only the industry’s highs and lows but also the cultural atmosphere of a time with little government oversight. His style has a touch of Sidney Sheldon, lending the story an added sense of drama and momentum. A compelling and authentic read that brings the era and its characters to life.
April 10, 2018
Oil, greed, love and lies
I loved this book, easy to read, great plot. Mike King is a great character and you see him develop from oil tycoon to fugitive in this wonderful read. It's exciting to know there are two more books in this series, which I will be reading over the coming months. Highly recommend if you are a fan of Alex Cross and such books.
I loved this book, easy to read, great plot. Mike King is a great character and you see him develop from oil tycoon to fugitive in this wonderful read. It's exciting to know there are two more books in this series, which I will be reading over the coming months. Highly recommend if you are a fan of Alex Cross and such books.
February 17, 2022
“The Bridge to Caracas” had me from the beginning chapter. Quite the page-turner, and I’d love to see it made into a movie. It is filled with passion, deceit, corruption, revenge, and murder. The characters are pretty believable. There are no spoilers here, and I am looking forward to reading all three books in the King Trilogy.
January 12, 2021
overall, a medioche book with cliched characters and an unlikely plot. Obviously, the author knows a lot about the oil business but all that technical stuff is not conducive to crafting a good sory. The language is also jarring with a lot of irritating epithets, A waste of time
October 7, 2021
3.5 stars rounded to 4. This was really well written. It makes you think about the gasoline industry and it’s implications. It took a little bit for me to get into this one. Jim is one crazy guy. I was rooting for Mike and Karen. Now I’m interested to see how this plays out in book 2.
August 6, 2017
infantile
main characters are so dumb they should be left to cross the road on their own; the major plot turns are laghable
main characters are so dumb they should be left to cross the road on their own; the major plot turns are laghable
June 6, 2018
Kept me going
Very interesting, with lots of twist but got a little boring towards the end, overall an easy and enjoyable read.
Very interesting, with lots of twist but got a little boring towards the end, overall an easy and enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews