ICON: The Road to Amsterdam
Douglass K. Davies
Manuscript
527 Pages 
Check back for date of publication!

Action, adventure, international intrigue, mystery, suspense, with a taste of the supernatural—it’s all there! Douglass K. Davies, in writing ICON: The Road to Amsterdam, has produced an epic novel!   And it is just the first book in a planned trilogy!  I am excited just to know there is more coming! 

Davies has worked as a screenwriter, winning the “Best Screenplay in International Competition” through the Christian Distributors Association.  I include this, not to highlight his writing expertise, which is considerable, but rather to show the background and knowledge of this industry that is so clearly evident through the novel.  The movie business is in the center of this future blockbuster with the leaders of the fourth leading Hollywood production company, Capital, in the midst of it all.

Running as an exciting story in itself is the normal movie-making activities that continue throughout the book. Just as you are caught up in a major disaster being filmed, in which several of the crewmembers are hurt, you also learn of the work of the CIA, or actions in Amsterdam.  Between the dangers presented by competitors versus the dangers presented by a mission totally known only by the head of the movie company, this book has non-stop, fascinating scenes racing toward the reader that move the story fast and furious, but gets you no closer to solving the underlying mystery. It’s edgy, it’s exciting, it’s frustrating!  You want to know more. . .and you want to know it now!

The reader is not quite sure who are the good guys and bad guys.  The Secretary of State is personally involved, but so is a major assassin known as The Scorpion.  There are definitely a lot of individuals who are trying to stop Sid Steinburg, head of the Capital studio; David Mitchell, the visionary of his staff, and Thomas Dearns, Sid’s friend and money man.

One bad guy is definitely out to destroy Capital¾Peter Bloom, a major agent who has many of the top stars as part of his stable.  He is constantly striving to keep one step ahead of Steinburg, with whom he had formerly worked.  Is he possibly the one who has had all phones bugged? Would he even steal valuable information of upcoming productions in order to stop or hinder Sid’s work?

But Sid Steinburg has a higher mission.  He has been working on a secret goal to acquire ICON, a major satellite system, which would move the owner into global communications.  Competition is fierce and deadly.  In fact, the main designer, Peter French, is running for his life!  The director of the foundation has already been murdered as has most of the original design team.  And as Sid continues working to find the necessary money, he hires an elite security team to protect his people.  But when the doubles that had been hired to act in place of the top three men are attacked, as well as the security team itself, can Steinberg afford to continue to Amsterdam where the bidding will take place?

Striking out on their own, with no protection, Sid’s group finally arrives to meet with the foundation representatives.  Although the board had not anticipated Capital, a small movie company, as really being in the running, they are overwhelmed when full documentation, plus a $9.4B USD price is offered. 

I’ve purposely left out what is happening to David Mitchell, the visionary who knows instinctively what movies will be blockbusters and who begins to have visions that are far scarier than any movie he’s conceived or seen!  I’ve also left out Sid’s background and what is driving him forward to acquire ICON and what ramifications may affect this story and his future books.  Needless to say, these are experiences and passions that drive men to seek the impossible, and sometimes to succeed, no matter the personal cost.

ICON: Steinburg’s War and ICON: Empire are the remaining books in the trilogy.  They will undoubtedly follow the same road of this first book. . .action thrillers that, if not the best, then certainly ranks up there equal to those by your other favorite thriller authors. Remember the name Douglass K. Davies—add it right now to your “Must-Read” author list!

G. A. Bixler
For IP Book Reviewers