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Tim Kelly #1
Point Deception
In August 1956 a troubled teen-age boy runs away from home, seeking the grand adventures he has only read about. Lying about his age he enlists in the Coast Guard at fourteen. A decade later, his career takes him to Vietnam where he is awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry. Returning home, he begins a new career as an undercover narcotics agent. Undergoing torture when his cover is blown, he prays for rescue.
- GenresFiction
316 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2010
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 19, 2011
Right from the opening pages Point Deception had me hooked. It starts with our hero Tim Kelly being introduced to us as an undercover narc. Rather to our hero's dismay however, his aforementioned role is also revealed to the dude who sells all the drugs.
And so begins Mr. Kelly's exceptionally eventful story. From his early years when he joined the US Coast Guard with false documentation, through his service in Vietnam, through his discharge for being naughty, and all the way to his exposé in front of his drug boss, I was in Jim Gilliam's pocket. All common thriller clichés apply: unputdownable gripping suspenseful pageturner. I think though, Point Deception offers a bit more than your normal action man thriller. Tim often runs into trouble. It's refreshing to see Tim abandon his respect for the puppet masters running Vietnam after he sees 3 of his mates killed by friendly fire during a patrol. The incident goes unpunished until Kelly takes action himself. After being kicked out of the USCG for dancing on some pilot's faces, Kelly unloads his distaste for the High Command; "There was no expression of condolence......just the good ole boy shuffle, close ranks and deny everything", "This so-called war on drugs is just another senseless unwinnable American war". And of course Mr. Kelly is correct, war is actually kinda senseless isn't it? I think that's what marks Point Deception out from your average action thriller, Tim Kelly actually has a sense of reality. You won't find Jack Ryan's unflinching commitment and reverance for all decisions American here. Point Deception is much more down to earth (if that can be said of action thrillers), it's much more gritty, much more conceivable and convincing. I finished this in under 24 hours, it's definitely worth a read for those "I just want something exciting" book-cravings. On a negative note however, which there must of course be, I found the dialogue a bit wooden at times. It came across too formal, too precise. A bit more slang and dialect and we could be looking at 5 stars here. None the less, Point Deception is good. A must read for all military heads and action junkies. Being the first reviewer of this is nuts. go buy it.
And so begins Mr. Kelly's exceptionally eventful story. From his early years when he joined the US Coast Guard with false documentation, through his service in Vietnam, through his discharge for being naughty, and all the way to his exposé in front of his drug boss, I was in Jim Gilliam's pocket. All common thriller clichés apply: unputdownable gripping suspenseful pageturner. I think though, Point Deception offers a bit more than your normal action man thriller. Tim often runs into trouble. It's refreshing to see Tim abandon his respect for the puppet masters running Vietnam after he sees 3 of his mates killed by friendly fire during a patrol. The incident goes unpunished until Kelly takes action himself. After being kicked out of the USCG for dancing on some pilot's faces, Kelly unloads his distaste for the High Command; "There was no expression of condolence......just the good ole boy shuffle, close ranks and deny everything", "This so-called war on drugs is just another senseless unwinnable American war". And of course Mr. Kelly is correct, war is actually kinda senseless isn't it? I think that's what marks Point Deception out from your average action thriller, Tim Kelly actually has a sense of reality. You won't find Jack Ryan's unflinching commitment and reverance for all decisions American here. Point Deception is much more down to earth (if that can be said of action thrillers), it's much more gritty, much more conceivable and convincing. I finished this in under 24 hours, it's definitely worth a read for those "I just want something exciting" book-cravings. On a negative note however, which there must of course be, I found the dialogue a bit wooden at times. It came across too formal, too precise. A bit more slang and dialect and we could be looking at 5 stars here. None the less, Point Deception is good. A must read for all military heads and action junkies. Being the first reviewer of this is nuts. go buy it.
June 10, 2012
Action packed story of young Tim Kelly from the age of 12 up to and includeing his time as an undercover drug agent. Fast pace page turner with real life relationships and hardships.
November 10, 2011
What happens when your loyalties are in conflict and you must betray your old mentor in order to fulfill your duty? What if this old mentor who used to protect and help you as a kid is now a dangerous drug-and-human trafficking overlord? This is the predicament our protagonist, Tim Kelly, faces at the beginning of this partly autobiographical suspense thriller by talented first-time author Jim Gilliam.
An undercover narcotics officer now working in the Mexican hacienda of Guzman, his old mentor, his real identity is discovered by Guzman’s ‘right hand,” Rucho, a bully who also knew Kelly from his childhood days. Guzman decides Kelly’s fate and orders that he be injected with heroine so he’ll become an addict and beg for his own death. Unbeknown to Guzman, Rucho adds physical torture to the punishment. Kelly slips in and out of consciousness and through his mind we begin to see flashbacks of his life. So the book starts in the present but then goes back in time to relate the events that led him to his present situation, from his early days of fighting bullies, when he met Guzman and Rucho, to his escape at 14 to New Orleans to join the Coast Guard, to his experiences in the military and later to his becoming an undercover narcotics officer.
Point Deception is a compelling novel and its strength lies in the protagonist. Kelly is a complex character with lots of flaws, yet sympathetic in a bittersweet kind of way. A hot-tempered, impulsive romantic hero, he won’t play by anybody’s rules and makes his fair share of mistakes.
Though it may put some readers down, I found all the details about weapons, drugs and the military fascinating. I also enjoyed the dynamics between the characters. At times I felt there was a lot of telling but it didn’t bother me for the most part. This is a novel that will strongly appeal to fans of military thrillers.
Like his protagonist, Jim Gilliam ran away from home and joined the Coast Guard at 14. He has recently retired from the Navy's Military Sealift Command and is currently writing the sequel to his novel. He lives with his wife Laura in Warwick, New York.
An undercover narcotics officer now working in the Mexican hacienda of Guzman, his old mentor, his real identity is discovered by Guzman’s ‘right hand,” Rucho, a bully who also knew Kelly from his childhood days. Guzman decides Kelly’s fate and orders that he be injected with heroine so he’ll become an addict and beg for his own death. Unbeknown to Guzman, Rucho adds physical torture to the punishment. Kelly slips in and out of consciousness and through his mind we begin to see flashbacks of his life. So the book starts in the present but then goes back in time to relate the events that led him to his present situation, from his early days of fighting bullies, when he met Guzman and Rucho, to his escape at 14 to New Orleans to join the Coast Guard, to his experiences in the military and later to his becoming an undercover narcotics officer.
Point Deception is a compelling novel and its strength lies in the protagonist. Kelly is a complex character with lots of flaws, yet sympathetic in a bittersweet kind of way. A hot-tempered, impulsive romantic hero, he won’t play by anybody’s rules and makes his fair share of mistakes.
Though it may put some readers down, I found all the details about weapons, drugs and the military fascinating. I also enjoyed the dynamics between the characters. At times I felt there was a lot of telling but it didn’t bother me for the most part. This is a novel that will strongly appeal to fans of military thrillers.
Like his protagonist, Jim Gilliam ran away from home and joined the Coast Guard at 14. He has recently retired from the Navy's Military Sealift Command and is currently writing the sequel to his novel. He lives with his wife Laura in Warwick, New York.
July 21, 2012
POINT DECEPTION by Jim Gilliam
Point Deception is about a guy named Tim Kelly, who at the age of 14, ran away and joined the United States Coast Guard. He later signed up to fight in Vietnam to escape a court martial. While in Vietnam he found himself dealing with the loss of his friends. He received a dishonorable discharge after fighting in an Air Force officer’s club. Soon after, he finds himself in the midst of an undercover narcotics taskforce. He later finds himself at the mercy of the drug cartel, once his cover is blown. Rodolfo Guzman, a Kingpin in the powerful Campeche Drug Cartel sort of what you would call, raised Tim, was the person he was actually investigating. Tim who had an attachment to Rodolfo, was reluctant at first about doing it, but volunteered to do it anyway. After 14 months of hard work, an enforcer, in the cartel took pictures of Tim with Officer Dave Holt. He found the link that would prove that he was an undercover narcotics agent. There was another side to the story Dave Holt was going to soon be his father-in-law. Faced with the information, Rodolfo has to decide what to do with him. He decides at first to get him hooked on heroin, while he talks to the Don. He knows the Don is going to want him killed, but he can’t do that. He knows that Deputy Holt is his soon to be stepfather. He knows that Tim is telling the truth about it, but he can’t prove that, so he has to listen to the Don or follow his heart. There is just too much to list here, if you want to know more about the book, read it!!!
I give this review a five star rating. You get a book about the military, cops, and a drug cartel; you have a great read on your hands.
FTC GUIDELINES: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE FROM THE AUTHOR JIM GILLIAM FOR THIS REVIEW. THE OPINIONS IN THIS REVIEW IS UNBIASED AND REFLECTS MY HONEST JUDGEMENT.
Point Deception is about a guy named Tim Kelly, who at the age of 14, ran away and joined the United States Coast Guard. He later signed up to fight in Vietnam to escape a court martial. While in Vietnam he found himself dealing with the loss of his friends. He received a dishonorable discharge after fighting in an Air Force officer’s club. Soon after, he finds himself in the midst of an undercover narcotics taskforce. He later finds himself at the mercy of the drug cartel, once his cover is blown. Rodolfo Guzman, a Kingpin in the powerful Campeche Drug Cartel sort of what you would call, raised Tim, was the person he was actually investigating. Tim who had an attachment to Rodolfo, was reluctant at first about doing it, but volunteered to do it anyway. After 14 months of hard work, an enforcer, in the cartel took pictures of Tim with Officer Dave Holt. He found the link that would prove that he was an undercover narcotics agent. There was another side to the story Dave Holt was going to soon be his father-in-law. Faced with the information, Rodolfo has to decide what to do with him. He decides at first to get him hooked on heroin, while he talks to the Don. He knows the Don is going to want him killed, but he can’t do that. He knows that Deputy Holt is his soon to be stepfather. He knows that Tim is telling the truth about it, but he can’t prove that, so he has to listen to the Don or follow his heart. There is just too much to list here, if you want to know more about the book, read it!!!
I give this review a five star rating. You get a book about the military, cops, and a drug cartel; you have a great read on your hands.
FTC GUIDELINES: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE FROM THE AUTHOR JIM GILLIAM FOR THIS REVIEW. THE OPINIONS IN THIS REVIEW IS UNBIASED AND REFLECTS MY HONEST JUDGEMENT.
June 6, 2012
POINT DECEPTION, ©2011, Jim Gilliam, Thriller (Coast Guard/Law Enforcement), Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-60910-621-8, Paperback ISBN: 978-1-60910-620-1
“You have never lived ‘till you’ve almost died. For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know.” ―Jim Gilliam
In this masterful thriller portrayal of Tim Kelly, the boy, the man, the soldier and undercover narcotics agent, the author weaves a story of intrigue. The character of Tim Kelly will keep you enthralled in gratitude for those who protect and serve. Tim, the boy, in the midst of discovering who he is, is often misunderstood to be something he isn’t. He yearns to learn the necessary things it takes to be a man. Without paternal influence, he chooses the honorable path with twists and turns that lead him into the Coast Guard, Law Enforcement and the underworld of the drug cartel. Civilians get a “you-are-there“ look behind the news headlines. Beyond fascinating―this accurately detailed work is the fictionalized experience of the author himself. An unflinching take on what happens when an ordinary man’s focus applies training and dedication to the dissemination of the underworld of the drug cartel. Get ready for that “elevator going down” feeling.
January Keck-Reviewer
“You have never lived ‘till you’ve almost died. For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know.” ―Jim Gilliam
In this masterful thriller portrayal of Tim Kelly, the boy, the man, the soldier and undercover narcotics agent, the author weaves a story of intrigue. The character of Tim Kelly will keep you enthralled in gratitude for those who protect and serve. Tim, the boy, in the midst of discovering who he is, is often misunderstood to be something he isn’t. He yearns to learn the necessary things it takes to be a man. Without paternal influence, he chooses the honorable path with twists and turns that lead him into the Coast Guard, Law Enforcement and the underworld of the drug cartel. Civilians get a “you-are-there“ look behind the news headlines. Beyond fascinating―this accurately detailed work is the fictionalized experience of the author himself. An unflinching take on what happens when an ordinary man’s focus applies training and dedication to the dissemination of the underworld of the drug cartel. Get ready for that “elevator going down” feeling.
January Keck-Reviewer
April 13, 2013
Point Deception is a work the reader will either enjoy or abandon half way through. The author presented a great story concept, and fully developed, the book could have been a thriller. I wanted so much to get involved with Kelly and his development from boyhood to adulthood, but was frustrated by superficial treatment and some snapshot scenes that prevented me from being fully engaged. There were far too many superfluous flashbacks, especially at the beginning, that served only to impede the flow of the story. Kelly’s relationships with women and his penetration of the drug cartel were far too fleeting to be believable.
Jim Gilliam shows flashed of excellent writing in this book, which makes reading some very good parts of his work a pleasure. With more sophisticated plot and character development, he is sure to become a popular writer.
Jim Gilliam shows flashed of excellent writing in this book, which makes reading some very good parts of his work a pleasure. With more sophisticated plot and character development, he is sure to become a popular writer.
July 5, 2012
Point Deception by Jim Gilliam is a thrill ride through many high-energy incidents, from a teen running away to the Coast Guard and even to Mexican drug cartels. Point Deception follows Tim Kelly's experiences starting as a young, precocious boy. There's nothing more that Kelly wants but to run away from home and make a name for himself. At fourteen, he does make his getaway, ending up in New Orleans. But after a few scary moments and a couple of strokes of luck, Kelly ends up enlisting in the Coast Guard. His adventures continue from there, taking the reader around the world, from the United States to Vietnam and Mexico. READ MORE
March 17, 2013
What’s so fascinating about this book is that many of the stories are true – or at least based on real characters and semi-autobiographical in content. Author Jim Gilliam really did run away from home and joint the Coast Guard – at fourteen. The story of the Point Deception, a Coast Guard boat, actually did occur during the Vietnam War. Military buffs and veterans alike will both enjoy the fast-paced action and the stories of life in the service.
Yet, there’s much more to this novel. The reader finds himself caring about young Tim, watching his struggles and his triumphs, agonizing over his decisions and wanting to help him when his loyalties are tested. All in all, it’s just a very good story.
Yet, there’s much more to this novel. The reader finds himself caring about young Tim, watching his struggles and his triumphs, agonizing over his decisions and wanting to help him when his loyalties are tested. All in all, it’s just a very good story.
June 19, 2012
This was an exciting story full of action and suspense. There were several grammar and punctuation errors. However, I learned a lot about the Coast Guard since the author has experience with them. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book and follow the characters, but once I did, it was hard to put the book down!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews