Downtime: A Literary Caribbean Suspense Story of Legacy, Land, and Lethal Revenge

by Thomas Scott

Virgil Jones came to Jamaica looking for peace and quiet. What he found was a war.

When a diver’s corpse drifts onto the beach, Virgil and his brother, Murton Wheeler, uncover a conspiracy buried beneath the island’s Drug runners, money laundering, and government bureaucrats who use toxic waste as a weapon, and lies as their currency of choice.

Downtime is Thomas Scott's sharpest mystery novel to date...one where the beauty and brutality of the Caribbean collide with a deeply lyrical beat that creates a perfect storm. And this time, it's a storm one of them might not survive, because in paradise, the tide never forgets.

420 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing story

I know that there's been a lot of readers that have had mixed emotions about this book, which in a way, I can understand. It's not like the typical Virgil Jones stories, but that doesn't mean that it was bad. Honestly, I think if this would've been the first book in this series then most everyone would have really enjoyed it.

I've never been to Jamaica, or anywhere like it, so I don't know if most of the things written in this book were a true representation of the people there or if it was the authors ideas. I will admit that some of the story seemed repetitive, and the characters were different from how they've been portrayed in the previous books. It's not that it was bad, because it wasn't, it was just different from what these stories are usually like.

If everyone would go into this book without any expectations, I think that a lot more people would enjoy it. JMO!

I would recommend this book, series, and outstanding author.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Story But The Style Was Off

I love this series and I have come to know and love these characters like they were real. This story felt like it was written by someone totally different. The tone was scattered. There were only brief appearances by characters that usually are much more present, even when not featured.

If the goal was to keep the reader uncomfortable, frustrated and unsure, then the story met its goal, but unlike any other story in this series. These characters do not need a lot of chatter, but this story relied heavily on feelings and poetic foreshadowing. It would have worked great had this been a short story but as a book, it just seemed to drag on much longer than it needed and the final confrontation did not live up to the hype.

The ending sealed it for me like the blue tape featured in this journey. I hope the next story goes back to the tone and personal relationship building I have always loved.

[Ron Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Geez…enough with the abuse of all the literary devices Mr. Scott! Did AI write this for you? Seriously, I have never read so many metaphors, similes, analogies, yada yada stuck on every page in my entire reading life! I finished the book because I have always enjoyed the rapport between the cast of characters, and kept hoping it would show up in this book, but alas, they left their witty banter back in Indiana.
I’ve read the entire Virgil Jones ‘alphabet’ series and after each one I can’t wait for the next one. But, #27 was so different and for me not in a good way. It was a somewhat boring storyline, and the over-the-top flowery verbiage made character interaction seemed stilted & interfering-it didn’t flow like the previous books. I won’t give up on the series and hope the next one is more entertaining.

[Mary Ann Olsztyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the dedication and picture of a friend at the beginning. This novel seemed really different and the writing very different from the preceding novels. I probably would not list this as one of my favorite books in the series. Kinda felt off. But I did appreciate the ending.

[Elizabeth Louitus Moncur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of my Seat!

This was an awesome read and Mr. Thomas, thank you for it. I enjoyed Virgil and the gang's vacation, if you want to call it that. The suspense carried all the way to the end and it was great reading about their adventure in Jamaica! Great book!

[Doug Newhouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointed in this book. A classic example of purple prose. This is F. Scott Fitzgerald on bad steroids. I normally give an author 100 pages. I surrendered on this one in about half of that

I’ll give the next one a shot with trepidation

[Jeff Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not your typical book in the series. I felt it was a very slow read and a chapter or two of action in a normal Virgil Jones book spread over an entire book.

[Vickie McGath · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best

I loved every chapter of every book. Every member of the crew, 100% each and every one. more soon please!

[John Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Scott has woven another deep thriller, while you try to figure out how it is going to end.... highly recommend another 10 Star thriller.

[Phil Poyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read all the books.

This reads like it was written by someone else. Too many descriptive phases that take away from the reading flow . could not finish the story.

[ChrisMichele Newhouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with all comments in Ron Porter review. I was disappointed. I quit reading about halfway and probably won’t finish.

[Russ Leavitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little different than the previous books in this series. Still enjoyable.

[Claudia Belanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a douzzy!!

I really enjoy your work. I love this series it’s familiar. The characters are like family. It makes sense. On to the next. Thank you