Stray Cats (Kane-Owens Book 1)

What happens to a not-quite-over-the-hill spy who has outlived his usefulness to the Company but knows too much for them to pension him off? Simple. He's given one last job that will literally blow up in his face. Tommy Kane miraculously survives, but he's not quite ready for the shuffleboard. He hooks up with a couple of old combatant spies cast off by their governments―a crack-sniper Englishman and a kill-crazy Russian―to steal a fortune from the drug cartel. Unfortunately, it's a trap, but all is not lost. The three anachronisms have another shot at the big time--almost a billion dollars. With Tommy at the helm, they enlist a ragged troop of specialists to face off against a clever and deadly adversary. I won't tell you if they pull it off; you'll have to read the book to find out. Stray Cats is a combination of the movie Sneakers and Red, and it's a rollicking good time. The characters are well-drawn and fun. I hope they come back in a follow-up book.

If you are looking for a well-written story that is both action-packed and suspenseful, this is it. Mehl has a refreshing style that keeps your interest and keeps you guessing. He builds the characters so that you really care about what happens to them. He put together an eclectic group of people with an unusual camaraderie. The author is obviously very knowledgeable about espionage, the government, weapons, boating, even golf: "...and the ball obeyed and skipped across the fringe into safety on the green". He keeps the storyline believable and easy to follow. I love his use of similes: "Like the head of cold beer too quickly poured into a warm glass, apprehension grew". I am looking forward to future similar stories about Mr. Kane and his friends.

Stray Cats without a doubt went the distance. Light but rich, vivid description without being verbose and the perfect combination of serious character reflection coated with humor all made this book a MEMORABLE read. The evident three layers of depth were carefully woven throughout and leaves the reader fully satisfied. I absolutely loved Tommy's character traits. Yet despite the durability of his nature, the reader is a intricate part of his internal journey along with fast paced adventure these three Stray Cats find themselves in.

5-star review for Stray CatsI loved the wonderful characters and how they pulled together when thingsgot tough. It was very entertaining and exciting to read. The risingsuspense throughout drew me all the way to the end.

The novel, Stray Cats, by Geoffrey Mehl, is an excellent read. The author's research and conveyance of knowledge is astounding. Hats off to this new writer on the scene. Hope to see more from him!