Vacation

by Tim Ruth

Middle-aged businessman Don Fennell gathers a group of his old friends together to the unconventional tourist spot of Isla Margarita, Venezuela. A former classmate of theirs is living there, Paul Lancaster, and they have decided to get together for an off-the-beaten path vacation. The day after they arrive, however, Paul is arrested and subsequently goes missing. With the help of his girlfriend Teresa, they begin tracking down clues to find him; but to do so they must deal with a shifting set of characters whose connections to and intentions toward Paul they can only guess at - small time drug dealers, local politicians, former army officers, and a syndicate connecting them all whose very existence Paul may have put at risk. Don and his friends must decide what they are willing to do to save him, while at the same time being drawn into a world where little is as it originally seems, and where the beauty of the island hides a way of life that is gradually slipping away.

205 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2022

About the author

Hi! My name is Tim Ruth, and I currently live in Georgia with my wife and two kids. "Vacation" is my first novel; I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know your thoughts or comments by writing a review or by emailing me at timruth7201223@gmail.com.

Reviews

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Killer Vacation

Oh how I love finding new authors to follow. This book is action packed and full of drama and mystery.

[Sandy Harvest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vacation surprised me because what begins as a trip to an unusual destination quickly turns into a tense mystery. I liked how Don and his friends are pulled into the search for Paul, with every new clue introducing another questionable character and making the situation more complicated.

The setting of Isla Margarita also adds something interesting to the story. Behind the beautiful island atmosphere is a much darker world involving criminals, politicians, former military figures, and hidden connections. I enjoyed the contrast between the idea of a relaxing vacation and the increasingly dangerous situation the characters find themselves in.

Overall, Vacation is an entertaining mystery with a good mix of suspense, friendship, and unexpected twists. The story kept me curious about what had happened to Paul and who could actually be trusted. It is a solid choice for readers who enjoy travel-based mysteries where an ordinary trip turns into something far more dangerous.

[Tammy Stern · Rating 1 out of 5]

what happened to the rest

The chapter 26 title comes up and that’s it. Where’s the rest of the book? It doesn’t seem it was meant to end, don’t know what happened there…there has to be some kind of resolution or point to the whole story which isn’t made by the end of chapter 25 when it just stops.

[Sarah Elabd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel. I’d highly recommend.