The Protected Witness: An Alex Booker Thriller

by Al Macy

It's 2029, and Alex Booker, the president's accountant, has a He's uncovered a money-laundering scheme managed by the president herself. Alex is reluctant to expose the crime until he's analyzed the heck out of it, but at the urging of his less-cautious assistant, he brings his discovery to the FBI.When Alex's life is threatened, he's placed into an experimental witness protection program. As a guinea pig for a risky scientific procedure he is changed in ways he never thought possible. That's when things start going wrong.If Alex can't overcome his cautious nature and fight the president while maintaining his anonymity, the United States will be forever changed.

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2018

About the author

Al Macy writes because he has stories to tell. In school he was the class clown and always the first volunteer for show and tell. His teachers would say “Al has a lot of imagination.” Then they'd roll their eyes.

But he put his storytelling on the back burner until he retired and wrote a blog about his efforts to improve his piano sight-reading. That's when his love of storytelling burbled up to the surface, along with quirky words like “burble.”

He had even more fun writing his second book, Drive, Ride, Repeat, but was bummed by non-fiction's need to stick to “the truth” (yucko). From then on it was fiction all the way, with a good dose of his science background burbling to the surface.

Macy's top priority is compelling storylines with satisfying plot twists, but he never neglects character development. No, wait … his top priority is quirkiness, then compelling storylines, then character development. No, wait …

Reviews

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so Macy is usually a safe bet for mindless entertainment. Plus he’s pretty funny, so it’s usually a good time within reason. Lately though, and it’s possible I’m changing as a reader or he’s changing as an author, but lately the mindless aspect tends to veer off toward inane. Take this story, it’s a typical Macy story, part one in a new series. The middle age accountant to the commander in chief uncovers some financial irregularities and ends up on a lam along with his hot 24 year old assistant. Of course none of it is plausible by the sheer virtue of the said commander in chief being a woman and one with a 90% approval rating. Imagine that in US? What a laugh. So that alone places it in the fantasy realm. But the story moves along all action and silly like it does and then it gets ridiculous. Ok, so the funny thing here is that the protagonist reads very much like Macy’s fictional stand in, like his dream self, best version, etc. The guy’s about the right age with eerily similar family situation, but he’s 6’5” with superhero bone structure and there are some seriously ludicrous shenanigans that take place so that by the story’s end he ends up with his banging assistant, despite that both are married at the start of it. This is something of a plot giveaway, but it seems ok to disclose…the guy ages backwards. (Oh where have we heard that one before?) So he ends up a teen. About to marry his now 25 year old former assistant. Ok, but that aside…and seemingly the moment the deaging occurs, the narrative start getting less and less mature and more and more stupid, much like the protagonist. Devolution all the way. And then it’s just intelligence insultingly stupid at times. And as much as one hates being snobbish about dumb fun, there are lines and limits and after that it’s just…well, it was quick enough, like all Macy’s books are, but you really have to not mind the mindlessness. Go in with expectations adjusted and it just might entertain sufficiently. Maybe.

[Paula Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man who is an accountant finds evidence that The President of the United States
moved eighty million dollars into a shell company, then in to off shore tax havens.
Then within a few weeks the government put down rebellion in Sudan with US troops and
another eighty million was moved .

I couldn't allow her to get away with this.. But how was I supposed to know
that other people would kill to protect her.. That innocent people would
get hurt and lose everything they had.
There were traitors in the FBI. People who knew about her crimes, and are loyal to her.
The author said it best," Im a whistle blower, and someone higher up
wants to silence me.
This team thats coming, they're going to kill me."
The President wants me and my assistant dead -- what choice do we have?
In order to survive we have to run , we have to hide.

Through a series of remarkable occurrences, and science. We were able to survive
and eventually the world would know exactly what had happened.
A fascinating good book, and one that I enjoyed very much.

[Pam Resner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I almost didn't read all of this book because the first few chapters seemed very drawn out. As the pace built up it captured my imagination and I was hooked from then on. I enjoyed the book but I feel like a few areas weren't very well explained over the course of the book though. For example, the connection between the main characters later in the book happened too quickly based on the relationship that was established between him an his wife. The issue with him continuing to age down was never really addressed and neither was how the word got out about the president.

[Pat Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age reversal

He was a nerdy school friend. He became the President's accountant. She was born on the wrong side of the track and could not get enough money. She robbed the public to fund rebellions, and fill her bank account.
He was very happily married to a Swedish woman a lot older than he was but she was involved in a crash which revealed cancer in an advanced stage. His funny secretary helped him overcome his grief.
They became targets for the corrupt FBI.
To protect him, a scientist injects him with a serum to restore his youth. You wil enjoy the story.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun futuristic story

Certainly kept me guessing how they were going to expose the corruption. And loved the survivalist experience in Alaska. The tech kids were a bit sketchy.
But still a fun read

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Al Macy, is an author that I have just discovered through a promotion, so pleased I did. The protected witness held my interest from the very first page. This one has conspiracy, love, heartache and some funny moments. Page turning suspense. Highly recommend.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic stotryline

This was a book with a unique premise and storyline. .a splendid cast of characters crafted nicely into play in the book. I read a lot of legal thrillers and mysteries. I have never come across any story like this. Thanks for allowing me to read it

[Virginia Goatcher]

Another Great Story, Al!

I have enjoyed all of Al Macy's books so far. He has an awesome style of creating unique characters and a storyline that is not too wordy...gets to the point and holds my attention from beginning to end. On to the next one. Thanks Al.

[Alfred Michaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

This book was intelligently written, funny, and sexy all at the same time. It had me daydreaming about taking the shots myself and going back to high school. I'm quite sure you would all enjoy it.

[Kelly Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

A good read that kept things interesting! A little bit of science/technology involved that’s not real yet, but was still believable!

[Karen L Hoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I could not put it down! I love all Al Macy’s books!

[Barbara Whalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al Macy is my new favorite author! I love his story lines and characters, and the fact that he keeps things clean! Keep these books coming Al!

[Rachelle Bachiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story kept me entertained. Between running and de-aging will they ever get to take down the President? No worries they actually get it done with the help of young hackers.