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

Washington, D.C. July 4,2006
I read your book on the way over here and I absolutely loved it. Seriously, it is exactly what I look for in a good book. Excellent character development, fast moving, well researched, and I learned a lot.

New York, NY–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–October 11, 2005–In his book, Havana Passage, author and international lawyer Jay Lillie lifts the veil on Cuban political propaganda in the United States. His portrayal of the issues—from both the American and Cuban perspectives—dispels myths, challenges the status quo, and presents readers with a cast of alluring, intelligent, and courageous characters.

A novel set several years in the future, the United States’ first female President has taken office with a mission to make some changes. Her sense of history indicates that the time for political change in Cuba has come, and she astutely perceives it to be vulnerable.

Not everyone in Washington shares the new President’s willingness to become proactive in Cuban/American affairs. To test her perceptions about the political climate in Cuba, she covertly sends her most trusted private advisor, Gordon Cox, on a secret reconnaissance mission to Havana. A seasoned, high-powered Washington attorney, Cox has recently taken on representation of an American fishing boat captain who was arrested by the Justice Department for porting and trading in Cuba. This case presents Cox and the President with the perfect guise for investigation of the larger issues at hand.

Joining Cox on his mission is a young, beautiful, Spanish-speaking associate named Kate Stevens. Together, the two take on the highly charged environment and match wits with one of the most clever and ruthless adversaries Cox has ever confronted. Gordon and Kate bond in their isolation from Washington, and they succumb to the seeds of an attraction that fully blooms in romantic Havana.

The readers’ eyes and ears to the agendas of persons in Havana and Miami take shape in the character of Santiago deChristo, a Cuban Key West resident and ex-bodyguard of Fidel Castro. When he sneaks back into Havana on his own assignment, his alliance with Kate steers the plot around sharp corners and into surprising revelations of American and Cuban foreign policy. Havana Passage feeds on the spirit and aptitude of ordinary Cuban people living on both sides of the Florida Straits.

Readers are given a guided tour through the adventures of a lawyer whose client is the President of the United States, along with a glimpse at a Cuba without Fidel Castro.

Havana Passage is only available in English at this time.

With the end of the Cold War writers of thriller/suspense novels have had to search for a new foe for their heroes to confront. International drug cartels just don’t cut it anymore, so since 9/11 various Islamic nations or ‘terrorist’ groups have become the main focus.
While the last few Communist nations (China & North Korea, for example) can still cast their evil shadows over the U.S. and their allies, it really amazes me that some authors seem to let their gaze wander only ninety miles from our shores.

In the past few months this is the second book I’ve reviewed in which the main character and his/her companions are threatened by elements in Cuba. In both, the chief protagonist ends up in Havana, caught between parties attempting to overthrow the Castro government or attempting to gain power when the current regime ends with Fidel’s passing. Also, oddly enough, in both novels the characters at some point are escaping from Cuba by boat only to be caught off the Florida Keys in approaching storms or hurricanes. I guess this happens more frequently than you’d think.

When a fishing vessel is stopped by the U.S. Coast Guard off the coast of Cuba, it is discovered that one of the men aboard is without documentation. When the boat’s owner is arrested and his boat confiscated this triggers a series of events which brings together law student Kate Stevens, Washington D.C. lawyer Gordon Cox and the first female President of the United States. The President, looking to end the decades old trade embargo, sends Kate and Gordon (who at one time dated Kate’s mother) to Havana in order to discover what the reaction might be to such a decision. The lawyers find that things are much more complicated than they appear with angry Cuban exiles on one side and a possible coup by Army officers on the other. Add to this mix the mysterious Santiago deCristo, a one time member of Castro’s elite guard who has his own reasons to return to his native land.

Writer Lillie brings an old fashion feel to his book, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s a fast read, ideal for vacation reading. The author throws in the occasional sexual detail and “F” bomb, but it feels as if he is doing it more to appeal to a section of readership who want that sort of thing, rather than something which comes naturally. While the character of the President never rises above reminding me of Geena Davis in COMMANDER IN CHIEF, Lillie brings enough life to the rest of his cast to pull the book up a notch from similar fare.

Three stars