Title: The Schwarzschild Radius
Author: Gustavo Florentin
Genre: Thriller
Publish Date: 9/23/2014
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
~ Book Synopsis ~
Rachel, an 18-year-old Columbia University student
descends into the netherworld of runaways and predators to find her sister,
Olivia, who has suddenly disappeared. After getting a job in a strip joint
where Olivia worked, then doing private shows in the homes of rich clients,
Rachel discovers that Olivia has been abducted by a killer who auctions the
deaths of young girls in an eBay of agony.
As she closes in on the killer who's taken
Olivia, Rachel becomes his next target.
~Buy Links~
~Excerpt~
Ancient Greek philosophers used a
face-slapping technique to engrain a point in the student’s mind; here, it
conveyed the truth that the girl was going to die.
The
Webmaster activated the camera, and Olivia Wallen’s image traveled across four
continents. Her jet-black hair was cut in bangs across the forehead in the
classic China-doll style. Her voluptuous American figure was incongruent with
her Thai features and was accented by the red Brazilian bikini which offered a
triangle of coverage in the crotch.
“Turn
around,” said the voice. She did so, revealing the flawlessness of her back and
legs.
“The
skin is like pearl,” said the Webmaster, now addressing the others via web cam.
“As you like it in the East. She is five-feet six inches tall. Her measurements
are 32-24-33.”
The
clients on the other side of the world were impressed. Men like Masutatsu
Nakayama, Vladimir Zeitkin and Mohammad Qasim.
Vladimir
Zeitkin’s loyalty to Putin had won him his own oil company and now he spent his
time competing with Paul Allen of Microsoft fame by building the biggest yacht
in the world. He collected Greek and Roman statuary and Nazi art looted during
World War II. But it took time to build mega-yachts and while the static images
of paintings were sublime, the living, breathing art of torture, suffering and
death redefined beauty.
And
there was Mohammad Qasim. There was little entertainment in Saudi Arabia
despite his oil billions. He had taken pleasure for a while in abusing the
Filipina housemaids he brought in for his entertainment and that of his
friends. But that grew dull. He sponsored a small jihad organization and
followed their exploits as he followed Manchester United, but blowing up anonymous
infidels got repetitive.
Now,
without leaving his office, he could witness what surpassed even the public
beheadings and honor killings he’d seen.
Masutatsu
Nakayama was a man for whom all things had become tiresome. Now retired from
industry with an estimated fortune of two-billion dollars, he was on a quest
for the few experiences he had left unvisited. And this site gave it to him.
While other sex sites featured photos
and videos, the Webmaster’s had live captives. He performed whatever the clients
requested. And in the end, they always requested death. This left no doubt that
the girls were not actors. The manner of death came from the depths of the
subconscious. He had performed hangings, beheadings, electrocutions, tooth
extractions, dismemberments. Occasionally they requested a boy, but usually it
was a young girl. The clients voted on the type of victim, the race, age, even
social standing. For some of these men, it was their first experience in
democracy. Payment consisted of a wire transfer to a Cayman Islands bank
account. Half due on winning the auction; half after delivery of the product.
The clients paid an initial membership fee, then bid on what they wanted done
to the victim. The abuse lasted until the clients agreed that it was time for
execution. This, too, was put up for auction and only the winner received the
final product. The winning bidder received the exclusive live stream and
download of his request. It was the eBay of agony.
~My Review~
5 “INTENSE” STARS!!!
WOW…
I can’t even
describe the intensity of this book and how thoroughly I enjoyed reading it.
The Schwarzschild Radius is a story of survival, perseverance, depravity and
compassion.
Rachel is an 18
year old brilliant student at Columbia University whose life is turned upside
down when her adopted sister Olivia mysteriously disappears. Frustrated with
slow-moving and failed police efforts Rachel takes it upon herself to
investigate the events leading up to Olivia’s disappearance; events that
immerse Rachel into a world of prostitution, abuse, manipulation, pedophilia
and some of the most inhumane, evil and vile behavior that you can fathom. She
is in way over her head and sinking fast. In her pursuits for the truth she
meets various individuals that will impact the choices leading to a fight for
her own life. Father Massey, a man who preaches safety and compassion for
homeless or runaway youth but holds a dark secret that he would kill to
protect, Sonia a lost soul who sells her body for money to make ends meet, and
Detective McKenna who will do anything in his power to stop whoever is behind
the abduction and murders of the young girls.
This book is a
rollercoaster of emotion, from fear to anger to disgust to sorrow and to bitter
relief. The acts described in this book are not for the faint of heart but
shows a side of mankind that while unfortunate and repulsive is easily
believable. Florentin does an amazing job of keeping your heart racing
throughout this book as well as keeping you guessing at who the mastermind is.
With every new clue or sequence another layer is peeled back in this mystery
and the reader falls further down the rabbit hole right alongside Rachel. I
found myself many times clutching my kindle or holding my breath waiting for
what would happen next. The writing in this story is fascinating and
descriptive. Florentin describes the world of internet deviance and hacking
with fine precision that doesn’t confuse the reader but rather enthralls them.
This book is the ultimate story of survival and the bonds between family.
Rachel does everything in her power to find her sister no matter the consequence;
never losing hope and never turning back. She is both admirable and brave and I
don’t think I have ever rooted more for a character then I did for Rachel. Her
determination and fortitude is remarkable and only makes the reader that much
more invested in plight to find her sister and stay alive in the process.
The Schwarzschild
Radius is a thrilling, intense and emotional read that I could not put down.
~About the Author~
Gustavo Florentin
was born in Queens, New York and received a bachelor's degree in electrical
engineering from the Polytechnic University of New York. He spent a decade in
the defense industry working on the F-14 fighter jet and classified electronics
projects. After the fall of the Soviet Union, many thought America wouldn't
need weapons anymore, so while others waited for the peace dividend, he moved
on to the financial sector in New York where he is currently a network
engineer. His passions include violin, travel to exotic places and exploring
worldwide conspiracies. He lives in New Jersey where he is working on his third
novel. His thriller, In the Talons of the Condor, won the following awards:
WUACADEMIA--Prix d'Or Best Novel The Verb First Chapter Contest--First Prize
Mount Arrowsmith Best Novel 4th place The Writing Show--Second Prize best first
chapter of a novel. Second Prize--2014 International Latino Book Awards
~Social
Media~
~Giveaway~
Giveaway is 10 ebooks of past best seller book Talons of the Condor