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As the story evolves, Peter unknowingly engrosses himself deeper and deeper into a complex web of international politics involving the Japanese government, Australian aboriginals, a beautiful and precocious young woman, and even the Japanese mafia.

Midnight Script’s plot is intricate, complex, and multi-themed, to say the least. The basic structure follows the traditional model perfectly, with a proper introduction, explanation of conflict and action, climax, and resolution. What makes it most interesting, however, is how it is organized. The details and subtleties of the plot are linked together seamlessly throughout.

By far, my favorite descriptions of action are the scenes where Pete and Sam go to the desert and are attacked by dingoes, and the climax when they are kidnapped and placed on the Furious. It felt very real and believable; for example, Peter’s description of the smells, how his body felt at being beaten, and his emotional concern for Sam’s well being. Midnight Script presents a few themes that truly make it an insightful and meaningful novel of depth and interest. These themes take it several steps beyond the standard escapist suspense thriller.

Probably most poignant to me was the theme presented by the “thing” in the desert and its impact on the Aboriginals. The conflict here is illustrated by Peter and Sam’s differing points of view on the matter. Peter sees it as immoral to expose the conspiracy to the world because it will open up the natives’ very secretive and coveted lives to international interest that is motivated by greed and wealth. Sam takes, as she sees it, a more “realistic” approach: others are eventually going to find it and cash in anyway, so shouldn’t they be the ones to enjoy the wealth first?

Second is the theme of self-discovery. At the beginning of the novel, Peter White is obviously a man in need of a life change. He is depressed and in mourning. The adventure Peter goes through is like a re-birth for him, a true test of his character and the way he wants to live his life from then on. In the end, he emerges with a new lease on life, which is very inspiring.

Making Pacific Rebound more than your average escapist thriller as well is the deep attention paid to characterization. The rest of the cast of characters is very well portrayed. The Australians, in particular, were very likeable and seemed spot on with cultural sayings, practices, etc. The Japanese, too, seemed based on an extensive knowledge of Japanese culture. The same can be said for the Aboriginals, whom I really enjoyed reading about with their moonerangs, spears and close-knit community. The description of the Yakuza was perfect—very formidable and villainous.

There are quite a large number of characters, minor ones included. Because of this, it could become easy for the reader to get confused and forget who people are, particularly if the character was only once briefly mentioned at the beginning of the text. However, the author does an excellent job of reiterating each character’s role and describing him or her in a memorable way.

The characterization of Pacific Rebound is very well done. The depth of the characters—illustrated by well-written descriptions, timely-placed scenes in the plot, and tightly linked connections between the important themes of the novel and the characters’ actions and motives—effectively strengthens the integrity of the novel as a whole.

I would definitely classify Pacific Rebound as one of the better action-thriller type novels I have read. I believe the main reasons for this are a) the depth of character added by the first-person narrative; b) the believability of most every aspect of the novel: the character’s thoughts and actions and the plausibility of the Japanese conspiracy; and c) along with a plausibility, an exciting magical quality presented by an intriguing people like the Aboriginals, and all the adventure one experiences in finding that magical feeling. The world travel gives it a multi-cultural, intriguing quality that makes the reader feel like he is also going on the journey.

Pacific Rebound is highly appropriate to a general readership and would be enjoyed by young and old, male and female, alike. I think even readers who do not typically enjoy this genre will find it fulfilling for the reasons mentioned above.

From Pacific Rebound Reviews, 2007/04/01 at 12:16 PM