There are a lot of things to like about BOOMERANG  an ensemble-cast thriller from author Glenn Muller. The opening scene, for one - the middle of a doomed rocket launch in the Soviet Union - is gripping, and there’s a real sense of urgency with the action.

After that gripping opening scene, Muller takes a while to set up the scenario, introducing a multitude of characters, some who never make another appearance. The ones who do stick around—and there are a lot of them—are interesting and well-rounded. That’s not usually the case with thrillers, especially ones with so many moving parts.

BOOMERANG is the rare thriller in which you find yourself rooting for all the characters to win - even though they’re all competing with each other. Even the gruff Chinese secret agent who is set up as the book’s antagonist has a compelling point of view at times. Muller has a gift for making the characters come alive on the page.

As the characters come into focus, and their goal becomes clearer, the action hums forward nicely. That goal? To find a fallen Chinese satellite in a mostly-rural Canadian town before the other people do - the technology onboard the satellite may have critical implications for the security of North America.

But BOOMERANG can’t decide if it wants to play it seriously or tongue-in-cheek. As the novel progresses the tone shifts from the former to the latter, but the change is subtle and the story is never boring.

Muller has great command of the language. It’s clear he has put hours and hours of research into satellite functionality and challenges, as well as the geographic challenges of his setting. This type of research can result in pedantic passages but not here. Muller writes tense, vivid action sequences with none of the "Basil Exposition" cringe-worthy conversations that are often rife in thrillers.

The bottom line? BOOMERANG is an enjoyable, satisfying novel. Great characterization got me through the slow setup phase. All in all, a worthwhile read.

—Paul Austin Ardoin

A Caseful of Clues

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