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The Scam
Uncovering a grand conspiracy that encompasses nations, Jonathan Malone must face his past if he wants to expose a criminal mastermind and save himself.An FBI rookie is recruited for a top-secret mission that touches on his past. The same man who murdered his parents has come back, hoping to finish the job. With a small team of men, Jonathan searches out conspiracy on an international level, conspiracy rooted in all the top organizations--FBI, CIA, even the White House. Will he be able to catch a master criminal, with a long list of crimes that started with the redistribution of the wealth stolen from the Jews in WWII? How deep does the mystery go?
- GenresChristian FictionFiction
431 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
82 people want to read
About the author
James Byron Huggins
24 books222 followersA veteran novelist and best-selling author, James Byron Huggins' life story reads more like fiction than fact. His career as a writer began normally enough. He received a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from Troy State University, and then worked as a reporter for the Hartselle Enquirer in Hartselle, Alabama.
Huggins won seven awards while with the newspaper before leaving journalism in 1985. With a desire to help persecuted Christians in eastern Europe, Huggins moved to Texas to work in conjunction with members of the Christian underground in that region.
From the Texas base, Huggins helped set up a system used to smuggle information in and out of Iron Curtain countries.
In 1987, Huggins was finally able to leave the United States to offer hands-on assistance in Romania. As a jack of all trades, Huggins photographed a secret police installation, took photos of people active in the Christian underground, and also continued his work as an orchestrator of smuggling routes.
Huggins was instrumental in smuggling out film and documentation that showed the plight of Christians in Romania. He even found time to create a code that allowed communication with the United States. As in Texas, Huggins' life had few creature comforts. To survive, he would often remain hidden in the woods or in secure basements for days at a time.
After his time in Romania, Huggins returned to the United States and took up journalism once more. He again worked for a small newspaper and won several awards as a reporter. Later on, he worked at a nonprofit Christian magazine before becoming a patrolman with the Huntsville Police Department in Huntsville, Alabama.
After distinguished service as a decorated field officer, Huggins left the force to pursue writing novels. His first three novels--A Wolf Story, The Reckoning, and Leviathan--achieved best-seller status in the Christian marketplace.
From there, Huggins broke into mainstream science fiction with Cain and Hunter, both of which were optioned for film rights. Huggins then released Rora, a historical novel depicting the harrowing life of a European martyr. His following book, Nightbringer, was met with critical acclaim and is in production for a movie.
Huggins won seven awards while with the newspaper before leaving journalism in 1985. With a desire to help persecuted Christians in eastern Europe, Huggins moved to Texas to work in conjunction with members of the Christian underground in that region.
From the Texas base, Huggins helped set up a system used to smuggle information in and out of Iron Curtain countries.
In 1987, Huggins was finally able to leave the United States to offer hands-on assistance in Romania. As a jack of all trades, Huggins photographed a secret police installation, took photos of people active in the Christian underground, and also continued his work as an orchestrator of smuggling routes.
Huggins was instrumental in smuggling out film and documentation that showed the plight of Christians in Romania. He even found time to create a code that allowed communication with the United States. As in Texas, Huggins' life had few creature comforts. To survive, he would often remain hidden in the woods or in secure basements for days at a time.
After his time in Romania, Huggins returned to the United States and took up journalism once more. He again worked for a small newspaper and won several awards as a reporter. Later on, he worked at a nonprofit Christian magazine before becoming a patrolman with the Huntsville Police Department in Huntsville, Alabama.
After distinguished service as a decorated field officer, Huggins left the force to pursue writing novels. His first three novels--A Wolf Story, The Reckoning, and Leviathan--achieved best-seller status in the Christian marketplace.
From there, Huggins broke into mainstream science fiction with Cain and Hunter, both of which were optioned for film rights. Huggins then released Rora, a historical novel depicting the harrowing life of a European martyr. His following book, Nightbringer, was met with critical acclaim and is in production for a movie.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 23, 2023
Another excellent book by James Byron Huggins. Not as much faith-based content, which was a bit of a disappointment, but still a solid action thriller. Charon makes a classic and unforgettable villain and in himself, worth the read. As you pull for the honest, righteous but powerless good guys who fall like chaff before Charon's storm you realize that it takes an abundance of good to defeat evil. This book has the good, the bad and the ugly.
The ending was a bit disappointing as through much of the book, Logan and the other antagonist said repeatedly they would definitely have to kill the Silman as he was protected by money, politicians and bureaucrats and wouldn't go to trial. However, in the final wash it's like this was never said. These were men who follow through with their plans. It was like a promise that was broken for no good reason. The difference between five and four stars.
The ending was a bit disappointing as through much of the book, Logan and the other antagonist said repeatedly they would definitely have to kill the Silman as he was protected by money, politicians and bureaucrats and wouldn't go to trial. However, in the final wash it's like this was never said. These were men who follow through with their plans. It was like a promise that was broken for no good reason. The difference between five and four stars.
April 14, 2021
Even though this book was predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed it and had trouble putting it down. It starts with a young boy who is in the house when his parents are killed. He grows up to become an FBI agent and ends up on a small team trying to tackle a problem that reaches into all sorts of areas.
December 13, 2025
Maybe 2.5. Parts of it were good, action was intense as always, but I wasn’t captivated by the writing. It was hard to follow at times - lots of exposition, especially in the first half. And for a Christian writing, any Christianity was a mere mention at best. It almost would have been better to not be included at all. Not my favourite Huggins book.
December 28, 2017
A cracking read. Couldn't put it down .
June 28, 2021
A robust male drama; plenty of action ...but at the cost of the detail on the characters.
January 19, 2011
Mr. Huggins has managed what seems to be almost impossible - to write a political/financial thriller without offensive language and sex. The plot in The Scam in intricately complex and woven in such a way that the reader is pulled along through the action. Though published in 2006, Mr. Huggins had foresight into problems in the national and international banking system which make the story believable.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews