A Deadly Miracle

After a distinguished military career in the Russian elite soldiering force Spetsnaz, Captain Ivan “Bull" Volkov has big plans for his retirement: propose marriage to Anya, the nurse he loves, buy a farm, and live a peaceful life. As he attends an awards ceremony, fantasizing about his future as a civilian, Bull does not realize that his superiors expect him to complete one last mission. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, on the other side of the world, recent high school graduates Jace and Sage are offered a chance to make some easy money. All they need to do is deliver a package to New York. What should be a quick exchange quickly escalates into a dangerous, complicated mess. 

“A Deadly Miracle" blends international intrigue with family drama and growing pains. There are assorted moving parts that get jammed up with a few too many coincidences, illogical leaps, and featured characters with overbearing personality traits that make it challenging for readers to commit to caring about them. It is a strong story concept with uneven execution and one major element with a predictable outcome. Accelerated pacing from one crisis to the next keeps the flow of events and shocking revelations exciting. There are generic inspirational references, but also some profanity. Family conflicts between parents and offspring, sibling rivalry, birth order observations, and marital communications issues add more emotional depth than is usually offered in the average thriller. It is a strength that occasionally clutters up the forward momentum. Overall, “A Deadly Miracle" is a rousing tale filled with high-stakes gambles of the life-threatening kind. 

Cardyn Brooks