THE GLASS BUTTON

THE GLASS BUTTON: Genre: Mystery,  Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ The Glass Button Series, Author: RICK YOCHUM, Publication: Nov 2023, Formats: KINDLE, AUDIO BOOK, PAPERBACK: Pgs. 332,  ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8866643837, Price:  Rs. 987.98

Normally many events happen by chance in life, but sometimes even small things have designs behind them and create bigger problems later. As a thriller this book has been set historically in pre-WW-II New York City, around the 1940s. There was a hit and run incident on a street in New York City. An unidentified person (Dennis Fellow) is hit by a taxi. It looks like an ordinary accident. But suddenly the body disappears from the morgue. A city Police Officer Detective Wil Bartrum is assigned this case for investigation. The Police Officer finds a polished glass button around.  Based on his experience he feels that it is not an ordinary case. In the meantime, he has come to know about many mysterious similar glass buttons in different places in the city. Therefore, he feels that he must unravel the secret of these glass buttons. There are Nazi plots due to which the lives of many innocent persons of the city could be under threat. The natural question arises whether the lives of the citizens can be saved. However, it is difficult to imagine that a glass button can have a communication (or any other destruction) device with required power and remotely operated. The detective himself is also exposed to different war-like dangers. The book combines mystery, espionage, foreign agents, FBI cover ups, betrayal, murder, dramas and so on. Now the matter involves prevention from destruction all around and survival. It is difficult to identify the attacker or the enemy. Such things happen at wartime. Now the question arises as to whether the city could be saved from destruction. If successful, then only the people can have faith in justice and the administration. 

This is the first book in the Glass Button Series written by the author. The first Chapter starts with "Early Autumn New York City 1942". There are 60 Chapters in all, followed by "Epilogue", 13th Precinct New York City.   But the length of the novel appears to be a little high. After starting the book, I finished it in two sittings and enjoyed it. Names of some characters mentioned in it are Bartrum, Douglas, Politano, Mary, Stanley, Sam Johnson, Radolph Ressling, Gloria, Delaney. The author is successful in taking the readers into the past, exploring New York Laws and WW-II era spy craft, with several characters. The book lets us know how in the olden times (about 85 years back), when technology was not so advanced, the investigations were handled and managed. It keeps the readers engaged and guessing till the end about what will happen next and whether Bartrum is able to foil the German plot and save New York.  I very much liked the writing style of the author keeping the suspense on. Due to many unexpected twists, turns and events, one is kept on tenterhooks to know as to what would happen next.  This novel will be found exciting, interesting, and enjoyable. The book has also received "The BookFest Awards for Fall 2025 - 3rd place in the mystery category". To conclude, based on the e-version, it can be stated that it is a good read, and it is recommended to the readers, who enjoy action, curiosity, fast moving events, intricate plots, detective elements and suspense, with a rating of 4.5 out of 5.  The readers must keep their fingers crossed, about the plots and nature of the events in the other books in the series. 

                                                      ------------------Reviewer: vijaiksharma