A prisoner transport 'baby-sitting' assignment literally crash-lands FBI Agent Kirk Ingram in a double homicide. The victims are a Libyan migrant-trafficker and a Los Angeles-based human rights activist. Cryptic clues in the dying words of the migrant-trafficker leads Ingram to a warlord, The Sheriff of Tripoli, in Libya, while a trio of his confidential informants—Dragon, Unicorn and Augur—follow suspicious financial transactions to a Carmelite convent in Cologne. Their parallel investigations uncover a heinous scheme. Driven by disillusionment, revenge, and a lack of faith in existing policies, an anti-migrant think-tank known as The Council wields a horrific solution to the Migrant Crisis in the European Union: an ethnic bio-weapon, codenamed Diablo. Defying a stand-down order, Ingram and his CIs, and The Sheriff are in a race against time to stop a genocide. But when the United States’s Defence Intelligence Agency seizes Diablo, Ingram must join forces with The Council to prevent an even greater atrocity from being unleashed upon the world.
In the middle of migration crisis, human trafficking problems, violence and intolerance, a greater danger is looming over the world and the beleaguered public has none to turn to. Would the protagonist be able to resolve the issues? The narrative is worth finding out!
Diablo is ample with futuristic technologies, refugees' journey and much more. It was a beginning of a war that's abnormally psychological. A few true accounts of the tale fuels your interest way too much. The book serves you with totally new dimensions and puts you in a do or die situation.
Douglas initiated his stories with a bang. You read the blurb but the theme of the book; you don't see it coming. He surprises you almost every time. He has a perfect sense of what the reader might expect from the author and he doubles up the curiosity with serious plot twists and you don't realize when and how the scenes just got tensed up and you got hooked to the book.
Completely.
He managed to make my eagerness climb several notches up with every page I turned. Thrilling plot and mysterious characters were in perfect tandem with the narrative.
He fabricates the real life incidences and a mature fiction pretty fabulously. He keeps you entangled with the newspaper clips in between the story and doesn't let you go off the grave issues.
I confess that Diablo was one of my best finds this year. I'll also compliment the author for experimenting with different plots and cities. By each end of a sentence, an emergency of googling the cities and places he described, developed in me and because of this, a lot of things brought themselves swiftly to the light. Now, I'm very much aligned to the fast paced and action-packed writing style and the language of the narrator and I'm very excited to dive into more of his work.
I will give it with full 5 stars because it nourished my enthusiasm and kept me invested in it for several nights.
NOTE: Free copy from author in exchange for an honest review.
As someone once pointed out to me, Anyone who is a published author, is already a winner. I agree and would like to add to it. Someone who is self-published, even more so. I have nothing short of respect and admiration for all authors who treat their readers with the same. It is with this admiration and respect I write this review.
This is my second book from the author and I think we have a budding star writer who can be a game changer. I can tell you Douglas Misquita is a master of Kickass starts & High octane scenes. His books, simply put, start with a Bang, quite literally I might add, and reel you in. He never underestimates the reader and is not afraid of the bold plot line he has. The author is like a craftsmen. He has all the right tools. He has the resources. Most of all, he has the faculties to utilize the resources at his disposal.
And yet, yet he falls short of creating his masterpiece. He starts off this book brilliantly and it seems like he has a good story brewing but quarter of the book in, it becomes a downhill ride. In his relentless pursuit to keep the reader on the edge of the seat, he starts to lose track of the original plot. He keeps adding elements without tying them off completely. He keeps jumping from country to country, ship to airplanes, cars to helicopters. At one point we even find ourselves in SPACE. Gunfights and blast. Nanobiotechnology. Gene Modulation. Radio Triggered Viruses. Satellites. CIA. FBI. DIA. DOD. POTUS. SecDef. Way too much is going on and it just doesn’t coalesce. Simply doesn’t.
It is only his decent writing style that kept me pushing through the book. While he manages to maintain a breakneck pace throughout the book, the plot takes a backseat in order to achieve that feat. Another good thing going on for the author is that he has a vivid imagination and has the capability to fuse the real life facts in his story. It compliments his writing and story both.
I believe, a story, a book, a novel for an author is like their own baby, flesh and blood. A brainchild. No matter how they look at it, it is always perfect. They might know it isn’t, but that’s how it feels. I think, when publishing houses refuse to publish a new author, it might be because due to their years of experience and expertise on the matter, they see all the points where the story lacks and why it might not be well received. So do the readers.
Looking past the large number of editing mistakes, here are a few other things that bring the book down, which otherwise could’ve been great.
There are way too many intense action scene very early on. Scenes like cars being rammed into a Helicopter taking off to stop it. And it does not relent. They keep on coming and after a point, say half the book, they become mind-numbing.
Lines like, “Ingram was on his feet and coming after him like The TERMINATOR” and “Diabolically Devilish virus, Diablo” steal the thunder from the book.
Author has a penchant for decapitation and cleaving bodies in half and killing people off. While in itself there is nothing wrong with it, the scenes have to chime in with the story and not seem forced.
Using a camera on a contact lens in the story sounds straight out of the movie MI: Rouge Nation. Kinda works counter to the point.
The 2 things that really do not work for me as a reader are:
1. His stories are not character centric and the protagonist is just another character. There is no real motivation behind the actions of the protagonist. No character curve.
2. Writing yourself, the author, into the story, well that’s a strict no-no for me. It seems too…Chetan Bhagat-esque, I don’t know, tasteless? That thing just kills the book for me.
On the whole, I think this book is a little amateurish compared to The Apocalypse Trigger
In my humble opinion, Douglas can do way better if he can understand his limitations on just how many elements he can use and tie them off in a neat little package. If he can only make all his elements come together towards the end, he can out do himself. Once he realizes that, I think his books will turn out so much better and polished.
I wish him the best and hope to read more of his works. It would be amazing to see his books grow.
In any year, Douglas Misquita’s Diablo would be deserving of a place near the top of your book queue. But now, as the worldwide migrant crisis continues to dominate headlines and policy agendas worldwide, the book’s subject matter and timing makes it nothing less than a must-read.
Diablo follows Agent Kirk Ingram from Haunted fame into another adventure, loaded with bloody fists, armored vehicles and artificial intelligence, in the midst of a very real-world immigrant crisis and political treachery. Navigating the twists and turns of Ingram's story the book also narrates a very intimate parallel arc of the struggles of a fleeing mother-son duo escaping a war torn nation with hopes of a better future, bearing inhumane afflictions along their journey .
Peppered with futuristic bio technology and research, Diablo showcases another dimension of Douglas Misquita's writing capabilities and understanding on how it conforms into the socio-political landscape. Diablo's up-close and personal encounter with the tribulations and mistreatment of victims seeking refuge from war is commendable, both in its research and bringing awareness to their plight. Douglas Misquita has fine tuned his character sketches, spending more time on developing characters, making them relatable. The book harbors elaborate details, which at times seems to drag the narrative, but are a toast to the book's attention to detail, to which the author seems to take a gleeful pride in. Conversations between characters could do with a bit more energy and may seem a bit dry at times. The story telling needs polish in balancing a fast action thriller with the pace of political and interpersonal relationships. The book's dramatic final chapters were to me, the most interesting part of the book. It was the author's final punch showcasing his true potential, prognosticating his signature style in the action thriller genre. Elegantly brutal and calmly high-octane. A showdown which earned this review it's fourth star.
Anyone who has been following Douglas Misquita as an author would have expectations of fast paced action, cinematic and research detail, with a multitude of characters weaving into the story line. With Diablo, Douglas Misquita goes further than before, giving us a peek into what may lie ahead in his literary future.
I can write a one line review and make the author's day by saying "Reading Diablo was somewhat like reading a novel by authors like Clive Cussler or even Robert Ludlum" .... (as a matter of fact, i did get that feeling in the beginning and i as very happy about that).
BUT, Douglas is still a long way to go before he reached those levels ... but he is very much on the path and he is pretty good at it.
The book is well written ... international espionage, global conspiracy, secret group of men and women trying to twist fate of the world, tight edge-of-the-seat action drama including an exploding ROCKET (don't remember any other book which has that except a rocket explosion in space) ... the story line is well thought out and the book definitely is a good read.
And yeah, dont know about others but i liked the idea of the author himself taking on a role in the story :) ... Nice touch !! I was half expecting my own name to appear somewhere as a minor character who appear and disappears or gets killed (more likely in a novel like this) in a matter or a few moments (read: one or two pages)
Why i said Douglas has a long way to go to read CC or RL levels is the missing humor. I loves Ludlum cos he would write suspense filled action thrillers and there in the middle of it, strewn everywhere in the book would be one liners that would make you smile. Douglas manages to do that a couple of times (so i say he is heading in right direction) but there needs to be more of it ...
The novel overall has a good storyline and the basic plot is around a global problem that exists today so people reading it can identify with it.
The climax was well written ... and very hollywood'ish :)
Looking forward to the next Kirk Ingram action thriller ... way to go !!!
The book Diablo reminds of an action role-playing hack and slash video game by the same name, Diablo. Just as in the game there is intolerance, violence and disintegration in the story, where a lone man has to battle against all odds to stop the genocide. However, the difference between the game and the story is that the story is presented in a very realistic manner and shows the hard work and research of the author. Douglas Misquita has used a great mix of technology and modern day problem to create an entertaining and thought provoking thriller. European migrant crisis is a rising problem as people from different nations like Middle East and South Asia try to enter into the EU often illegally. While the migrants suffer real problems in their native lands to risk such dangerous journeys, the natives also suffer a number of problems by these illegal immigration. The author focuses on this problem from various angles and shows the need to solve it in an immediate manner. The book takes the readers along in a number of journeys through different cities across the world such as Somalia, Austria, Libya, Mumbai and Kazakhstan and all the places were well described. The tone of the book is serious as if both the protagonist and the author are on a serious mission to save the humanity. The plot is tight and fast and the book maintains its grip all through its ending.
In one line, this book makes a good read for any action genre reader. The book is set in the modern world, with the problem of refugee crisis being the base. The story has all the elements of an action movie and as I have said before about his earlier books, the authors description makes it more of a movie screening in your mind than a book in your hand. The plot twists are also well dealt with. The only thing I could have expected more of was humour. While the story has a very good plot with a lot of details, unlike Haunted , which was a page turner from page 1, it takes some time for the story to pick up pace. But once it does, it is very gripping. Any action genre lover would surely enjoy this book. I am surprised there are no movies yet on Douglas Misquita 's books.
Diablo is a well written story, an action real-time thriller based the global issue of illegal immigration. As the name suggests there is lots of violence, intolerance and disintegration, but still touching the facts. A story of a man Kirk Ingram, an FBI agent who is fighting against all odds to stop the genocide and the barbarity to the world, but the time is running out. The author has created a thoughtful action filled plot which is fast paced and captivating. He has highlighted the serious problem of illegal immigration (especially European migrant), impacts and urge to find a solution. The characters, one of it is the author, are developed and realistic. The plot has drama, thrill, some mystery, twists and turns, some witty lines but above all touches the serious topic on the global stage. Additionally, kudos to author for enormous research on the topic and then creating an interesting novel!
This story was pretty hard to read because of some of the things that are happening in this book. They are very similar to things that are actually happening in this world, including some migrant and refugee issues in and near the Mediterranean. I was interested in the different storylines and how they interweaved with each other, since some of it seemed rather plausible in a real life scenario. There is so much going on at a pretty furious pace, which makes the whole tale exciting and the character of Ingram is someone that I really enjoyed reading about. He reminded me a bit of 80s action movie stars. The settings throughout the book are also quite interesting, and encompass countries all over the world. Read this one if you’re looking for a great action thriller or love cop novels. This one will have you on the edge of your seat, although there are times where it can get confusing.
"Diablo" plunges the reader into a maelstrom of international intrigue and moral ambiguity, crafting a relentless action thriller that transcends typical genre conventions. The narrative's strength lies in its intricate weaving of disparate threads, from the gritty reality of migrant trafficking to the cold calculations of political extremism. FBI Agent Kirk Ingram, a character marked by a compelling blend of dogged determination and weary cynicism, anchors the story, his journey a descent into a world where the lines between justice and vengeance blur. The initial crash-landing, a visceral and immediate catalyst, propels Ingram into a complex investigation that spans continents. The author deftly balances the raw intensity of Ingram's pursuit of the Libyan warlord, The Sheriff of Tripoli, with the more cerebral, almost conspiratorial, tracking of financial trails by his enigmatic informants—Dragon, Unicorn, and Augur. This parallel structure creates a sense of mounting tension, each revelation adding a layer of dread to the unfolding plot. The introduction of The Council, an anti-migrant think-tank, injects a chillingly relevant political dimension. Their plan, the development and deployment of the ethnic bioweapon "Diablo," is a terrifyingly plausible extrapolation of contemporary anxieties surrounding migration and national identity. The narrative doesn't shy away from the horrific implications of such a weapon, forcing the reader to confront uncomfortable questions about the nature of prejudice and the potential for technological malevolence. The setting, shifting from the sun-scorched landscapes of Libya to the cloistered quiet of a Carmelite convent in Cologne, is rendered with vivid detail, enhancing the sense of a world on the brink. The characters, from the ruthless Sheriff to the morally conflicted members of The Council, are complex and well-developed, each driven by their own motivations and haunted by their own demons. The twist, where the United States's Defence Intelligence Agency seizes Diablo, is a masterstroke, elevating the stakes from a regional crisis to a global catastrophe. Ingram's forced alliance with The Council, a group he initially opposed, creates a compelling moral dilemma, forcing him to confront the lesser of two evils. The narrative avoids easy answers, instead exploring the gray areas of international politics and the compromises inherent in combating existential threats. Ultimately, "Diablo" is a thought-provoking thriller that transcends its genre, grappling with complex themes of xenophobia, technological hubris, and the slippery slope of moral compromise. It’s a fast-paced, action-packed read that leaves a lingering sense of unease, a testament to the author's ability to craft a narrative that is both thrilling and disturbingly relevant.
Our modern world truly is facing an immigrant crisis, one that seems to have no solution. Governments are responding as best that they can but those responses are often inhumane in nature, shutting out people who are desperate for help. At the same time, there exists major fear about immigrants and their implications for modern populations and governments. With all of these issues happening around our ears, Diablo is a well-timed book and a poignant one. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that I loved the plot and how it was executed. The author strongly relies on detail but that was never so significant that it drowned out the story. Instead, the detail simply added to the overall picture. Personally, I liked the pacing, although it was slower than other thrillers.
The book is certainly a good read and manages to be exciting from start to the finish. In fact, the end of the story was particularly well done and the author did a great job at ending on a strong note.