"Intense, brilliant debut thriller."

The world is indeed an unfair place. Just ask Eugene Escobar, who life has seen fit to grace with a cousin he barely knows. Eugene has created a wonderful, relaxed slice of life for himself in his homeland of Columbia. Running a scuba diving business and sharing a home with his beautiful wife, Julie, and his lively mature 15-year-old daughter, Shiara, comprises his day and happily occupies his time. However, genetics and a trail of blood thicker than water, shackles him unwittingly to his cousin.

An infamous Columbian drug lord, Pablo Escobar was bagged, tagged and buried, DNA and all, as far as the world knew in 1993. Everyone who wanted him that way was sure this was the case. That is, until a Swiss Bank account with millions of dollars suddenly has numerous withdrawals -- an account that only Pablo had access to. Mario and Javier Rastono, drug lords themselves, want the money they believe to be rightfully theirs. But how do you get to a certified dead man who's virtually untraceable? The Rastono's believe innocent Eugene is their only hope. Kidnapping his wife and daughter, they give Eugene an ultimatum. The scuba instructor can use his blood tie and instinct to find Pablo and get the account number in two weeks, or his wife and daughter forfeit their lives. Suddenly Escobar is thrust into a world previously known to him only in newspapers and vilified movie scripts. Eugene must win over and ally forces with Cathy Maxwell, an agent of the CIA, Alexander Landry of the DEA and Senator Irwin Crandle if he has any hope for success. Unfortunately for him, Pablo is truly a criminal mastermind who's planted a mole inside their cozy little team. How do you find someone who doesn't want to be found, when they seem to have all the aces up their sleeve? That's what bloodlines are for.

Buick has created an intense, gut-twisting thriller with his brilliant debut. With characters modeled from real-life headlines, he gives the book depth and a life of its own. This one is guaranteed to make you sit on the edge of your seat, cheering, sweating and groaning with Eugene as he risks all to save those he loves.

Reviewed by Anne Barringer
Posted January 14, 2005