Montgomery Vale: Scorched

by Patrice Williams Marks

The year is 1937 and England's well-respected investigator, Montgomery Vale is aboard the Hindenburg, determined to find answers about his family's mysterious past. But, an even more disturbing mystery derails him along the way.

Moments after discovering a dead man in the smoking lounge, a bomb goes off, downing the Hindenburg and leaving Montgomery dumbfounded as to how the two horrific events are connected. What he doesn't yet realize is just how much more danger is lurking.

Teaming up with a local police chief in New York, Montgomery goes on a search for answers. His quest will expose him to a tangled web of deceit and betrayal. However, his efforts will not go unnoticed and soon he'll find himself a target of sadistic conspirators and one equally distracting woman, who just may alter his destiny.

Can Montgomery solve the case before more lives are lost, including his own?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2016

About the author

www.PatriceWilliamsMarks.com

"I've been a writer since age 6 when I pinned the wildly successful (in my own mind) THE DAY SNOOPY GOT MARRIED. My teacher was so impressed that she shared it with the entire school staff. Unfortunately, I never got it back!

I've written over 10 screenplays; some of which have been optioned. Hoping one will make it to the big screen some day. I envision Universal's spinning globe, with it's majestic horns announcing the opening of the film ... my film. Gives me chills.

I've written and directed a few short films, "STRINGER," about a rogue photog on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and "F-HARMONY"; a funny spin on the dating site with an unexpected twist at the end. I've written and produced a short stage play, as well as founded "two film festivals. I've also written and produced/directed three book trailers..

After reading short stories from Derek Haas' (bad-ass, big time screenwriter and producer/creator of Chicago Fire) website, aptly called "Popcorn Fiction," (where he features short stories from writers), I decided to give it a go.

I came up the idea of THE UNFINISHED by marrying 1940's Film Noir with Sci-Fi. Love the idea of taking a character out of one world and implanting them in another... known as "fish out of water" story.

My lastest release, THE ABDUCTION OF NELLY DON; is a full length novel I am so proud of. It released July 2,

www.PatriceWilliamsMarks.com
Twitter: @PWilliamsMarks @Unfinished_The
Facebook.com/Author.PatriceWilliamsMarks

Keywords: film noir, crime, true crime, detective, 1940's, gumshoe, future, futuristic, short story, great depression, bootlegging, organized crime, gangsters, the dust bowl, bathtub gin, 1940s, 1930s, famous kidnapping

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanking the author for providing me a copy and giving me the opportunity to read and review Montgomery Vale: Scorched.

Montgomery Vale lost his parents at a young age and was brought up by his grandfather in England. Once he passed away as well, Montgomery sets out to unravel his family's mysterious past. The ball starts rolling as soon as he hops aboard the Hindenburg, a zeppelin. Murder, violence, lies and love follow each other up. Other than the portion of Steampunk being a tad smaller than expected, is this a great mystery and crime book with an unexpected twist!

[Elizabeth Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Montgomery Vale is described by the author as “biracial” of both European and African descent (11). Vale was born in the American south, but in 1916 when he was 13 his parents were killed and he was sent to England to be raised by his white grandfather. Since Vale was never allowed to see his parents’ bodies he became obsessed with the idea that they were still alive and that the car accident that claimed their lives was somehow conspiracy. Vale channelled his obsession into making himself a brilliant private detective with connections to Scotland Yard. With the death of his grandfather he gains access to vast wealth as well as a new clue to the mystery of his parents’ deaths: a photo of them outside an unassuming townhouse in New York City. Vale boards the Hindenburg, on a certain day in 1937, to take him from London to New York so he can investigate. He discovers the recent murder of one of the passengers just minutes before the famous explosion. In Marks’ novel the explosion is caused not by lightening, but a bomb and is a diversion to cover up a murder. After Vale not only escape the Hindenburg, but rescues a pretty girl, Ivie, he goes on to be recruited to look into events by Chief of Police Hyde. What follows is a fast-paced romp sure to thrill the heart of any conspiracy theorist.
Marks’ novel reflects her past as a screenplay writer. The action scenes are dense and well described, no one is lost in the shuffle and Marks’ actions scenes are extremely visual. Yet her emotional scenes completely lack depth. Vale’s dialogue with Ivie is stilted and superficial. Their time together is spent more on showing the reader where they are then expanding on their feelings for each other. While setting the scene is important it needs to be balanced with dialogue and the inner voice of the narrator. Vale needs more development as a character to make him relatable to readers. Right now he reads as completely unbelievable especially as Marks as chosen to make him African and set her novel in 1937. Given the setting of her novel Marks cannot make race a non-issue in her novel. It has to be addressed as more than a few throwaway lines. Marks is still finding her feet in the medium of the novel and the subtleties that are available to her. Though Montgomery Vale: Scorched is not as deep a story as the reader would like it pulls the reader along to the conclusion and leaves them looking for more.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. I gave it three stars for its possible potential and great ideas. I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read it.

**Spoilers*

The description seemed very interesting, I love a good mystery with a little romance. This didn't quite meet my expectations though. The first chapters were very awkward and clumsy. Sometimes good books have a bumpy start, so I kept reading. The main character and hero Montgomery Vale wasn't a very complex character. In some parts he was very shallow, in my opinion. His interactions with his love interest Ivie from the start felt forced or unlikely. I couldn't take Vale's interactions with Leadbetter (after he saved her life) seriously. Vale looked at her and felt like he knew her. Based on what? How beautiful she is? How shallow...
Grammar. This book needs a good editor and proof reading. (After-end? I looked this up. Aft means 1) at, close to or towards the stern or tail or 2) situated at or toward the stern or tail.) Several sentences, especially in the first three or four chapters, had misspelled words/wrong word for understandable sentences. I liked the twist of the chief being a villian. I thought the ending was good but a little predictable, for me at least. Montgomery Vale: Scorched is a short read that I could have enjoyed more as a distraction if the characters were better developed, statements or sentences weren't so redundant, and if this story had a good editor who spell checked. Nice ideas that were muddled into a messy delivery. I hope this review was helpful.

[Kathleen Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intriguing

[C.M. Krishack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Montgomery Vale is a young man on a quest to find answers behind the suspicious death of his parents. His parents died in an apparent car accident when he was a child and he never really believed that they were dead. He was sent off to England to live with his grandfather who too later died leaving Montgomery a wealthy man. After his grandfather’s death he discovered a suspicious piece of evidence that lead him to believe that his parents might still be alive. As he sets off to find answers he stumbles upon a dead man named John Babcock, who’s mysterious death takes him on a whirlwind adventure filled with suspense, murder, violence, deceit, and lies.

Set in the 1900’s this book has everything, love, suspense, and murder! Lots of twists and turns! Definitely a good read.

[251 Things To Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great imagery, lots of research has gone into the writing of the book. The author details the engineering and mechanics of the Hindenberg very well. I personally didn’t find the cover that attractive..but don’t let that fool you. The contents of the book made up for it.

The main character, Montgomery, is of black ancestry in the 30’s who inherits a large fortune from his Grandfather. An interesting twist to the Hindenburg disaster, he is on the last flight but discovers a murder immediately before the disaster. Survives and searches for clues, unfolding secrets to his life and parents' deaths. Great read.

[Cruikshank · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story about a young man investigating the death of his parents with the help of the police, but he quickly discovers that the new circumstances he's found himself in are even deadlier and more mysterious than what set him off on his journey. Montgomery Vale: Scorched by Patrice Williams Marks is a great story with a lot of twists and turns along the way that are sure to excite any reader!

It's well-written and the characters are beautifully crafted!

Highly recommended for anyone interested in a sort of steampunk detective mystery set in the mid-thirties!

[Carol Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scorched

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just ordered Shadows. Montgomery Vale was raised by his grandfather. When his grandfather dies he ballooning for his parents. He had been told that his parents had died. He always felt they were still alive. So his search begins. This is a short mystery. It has several twists and turns in it.