A Thieves Tale:
The Persian Dagger

Author:  Roger W. Carr

A Thieves Tale: The Persian Dagger is for anyone who loves a great adventure. Thrown together in turbulent times, Thomas and Lucius find themselves slaves to an unforgiving guild of mercenaries known as Latrones. After years of do-or-die training Thomas and Lucius stand before the elders of the guild, having passed the seven inner rings of their training. Receiving the approval of each elder in turn, the young men prepared to be sent on the first of many trials. Succeed and they will go on to the next test; fail and they die- whether it be by the hands of the enemy or the guild’s elders.

Trained in the art of death, educated in the codes, symbols, and ancient lore of the guild, Thomas and Lucius begin their first trial with the breaking of a scrolls seal. Here begins our, and their, great adventure.

Mr. Carr brings to life the people of the day. Readers connect with Thomas and Lucius and join them eagerly as the two decipher the location of their next trial. The inner character of these young men comes to light when to do right is to do wrong. First in the series A Thieves Tale: The Persian Dagger captures the imagination of all great would- be adventurers.

While I enjoyed this story it is not ready for the marketplace. The use of Angels as tools transporting the reader through time has good potential. Unfortunately, Angels are ageless but you wouldn’t know that in this story as the "younger" of the two comes across as a five-year-old child. These transitions are weak and at times confusing, causing the reader to stop and go back a paragraph or two for better understanding. The intrigue of this adventure story is what kept me reading despite being told how the story unfolds rather than experiencing it along with the characters. My greatest disappointment was the ending. There is no conflict resolution or cliff hanger, nothing to make me want to read the next book in the series. A Thieves Tale: The Persian Dagger has good potential once grammatical errors, transitions and a compelling ending are refined.

Reviewed by Mrs. Chantelle Andrews