ISBN: 0-9776276-7-5
Capital Crime Press
Trade paper, 287 pages
$14.95
July 2006
Synopsis
Harv Tucker, a good ol’ boy from Oklahoma, sells primo roosters in Manila, the cockfighting capital of the world. With his profits he buys Chinese AK-47’s, then sells them to para-military groups. When his body turns up behind one of Manila’s notorious sex clubs, the ensuing homicide investigation becomes international.
Sam Haine, decorated agent for ATF, teams up with world-weary Filipino detective, "Bogie" Lorenzano. Though Sam is a fish out of water in the Philippines, and Bogie doesn’t care if Sam goes belly up, the two cops share a strong sense of justice.
Sam discovers that US intelligence is covertly managing the conflict between competing rebel groups, complicating his task. On the local level, Bogie finds that his ex-lover is deeply involved in the crime syndicates’ gun running and sex club operations.
Jennifer Santos is a US-educated prosecuting attorney, born into the Filipino oligarchy, and determined to make this case stick. She chastises Sam for his tactics in collecting evidence. She then seduces the good-looking kano, reeling Sam in like a trout—and he loves it.
The two detectives are making progress until Sonja, Harv's behemoth of a sister, shows up to kick butt, take names, and get answers about her brother's death. About as couth as a roach in a sugar bowl, she makes Sam and Bogie's lives immeasurably worse...until they discover that she is there to collect her brother's guns. She provides the final clue that lead to the man behind the deals.
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR PHILIPPINE FEVER
“In Philippine Fever, Bruce Cook tells a riveting tale as contemporary as tomorrow's breaking dawn. Philippine Fever stands out as being among the most auspicious debuts in recent years. Bruce Cook is a major talent with whom the crime fiction world will soon need to reckon. Set against the often gritty backdrop of the modern day Philippines, Cook's novel deals with international smuggling, worldwide terrorism, homeland security, murder, intrigue, espionage, and more than a dash of romance. His Sam Haine creation is truly a winner. Philippine Fever is an action-packed story, and Sam Haine is the perfect mystery lead for our new millennium.”
Kent Braithwaite, The Wonderland Murders
"In Philippine Fever, Bruce Cook creates a world that immediately grabs us and keeps us riveted. I found his characters so vivid and clearly drawn I could swear I'd met them. Read this book and not only will you enjoy an interesting and entertaining story, you will feel that you've actually traveled to Manila yourself and experienced the culture."
Toni Ann Johnson 2 time winner of the
Humanitas Prize for Crown Heights
and Ruby Bridges.
"A bookstore buddy lent me his Advance Reader’s Copy as soon as he finished it. Philippine Fever is quite a ride, enough mystery, sex, and violence for three novels. Sam Haine is a cool guy. What really sets it apart though is how real it feels. I knew I was reading fiction, but it was like being there. It put me in mind of Barry Eisler’s Hard Rain. I read it straight through and went to Amazon looking for more."
Robert Fate, Baby Shark and Academy Award Winner for Dune and 2010
"Bruce
Cook has written a wild, convincing ride of a crime novel set in the
underbelly of modern day Manila, and peopled it with characters who
stick long after the story ends. Cook needs to write another one—this
cast should return." Kirk Russell, author of Deadgame in the John Marquez series
ATF agent Sam Haine arrives in Manila on the trail of a gun trafficker buying guns for freemen militia in the United States. When he gets there he finds his quarry in the morgue. Paired with the local federal police, Sam attempts to piece together Harvey Tucker's last days to locate the missing weapons, and more importantly, the man behind the deal. The first half of the book was light on clues but heavy on local culture. It is obvious Cook spent a lot of time in Manila. I felt like I had been there. When the clues started to roll in and the action heated up, I couldn't put it down. Haine stumbled a bit since he is unfamiliar with the culture or local politics. He innocently managed to offend more than a few locals. Sex clubs, legal cock fighting, CIA involvement, and international suspects are just a few of the elements that make this an excellent debut novel. Armchair Interview says: We eagerly look forward to more in this series. Kim Reis, reviewer for Armchair Interviews.com PHILIPPINE FEVER by Bruce Cook: Homeland Security Agent Sam Haine is tracking a cargo container of Chinese AK-47s destined for terrorists in Texas when he finds the American buyer of the weapons dead behind a sex club in the red light district of Manila. In order to stop the shipment, Sam must first find the killer. He soon finds himself deep into an unsavory stew of CIA covert operations, corrupt politicians, Al Qaeda and the international trafficking of sex slaves. Fast paced and not for the faint of heart. To be released 07/06. Jack Quick, reviewer for www.bookbitch.com
Agent Sam Haine arrives in steamy Manila, tired and still in mourning
for the love of his life Christy. His assignment is to investigate the
death of Harvey Tucker, gunrunner for Al Qaeda operatives and US
terrorist groups. When the body is discovered behind a sex club,
Filipino detective, Bogie arrests Chito, the brother of the club owner,
Olivia. Chito does not provide much information and is soon released
but Bogie knows that this case goes much deeper than the obvious
evidence. Bogie has a secret past with Olivia that is later revealed.
Sam and Bogie set out to solve the mystery but not without constant
interference by the local politicians, crooked cops and underworld
characters. When Sam meets Jennifer the Fiscal, he is attracted but cautious.
Is he ready for a relationship? Can she be trusted? Romance is not what
Sam is looking for in Manila but he finds Jennifer hard to resist.
Filled with suspense, intrigue, humor and a dash of romance, this book
will appeal to lovers of international espionage. Author Bruce Cooks assiduous writing style keeps readers
enthralled as they explore the world of sex-slavery, cock fighting and
profuse poverty in Manilas back streets. The author worked in Manila
while researching this novel. He currently lives in California. The sounds, smells and people of the Philippines come to life in
this modern day thriller. An intriguing imbroglio, well presented and
worthy of attention, this is a mystery that detective who-dun-it fans
won't want to miss. Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews. Bruce R. Cook’s debut novel, Philippine Fever, is an engrossing and entertaining quick read, although at times a trifle gory. Mystery novels are usually corpse-driven, and this one is no exception with its slew of suspects. Set in Manila in the Philippines, where the author had worked and where he researched the material for the book, the story centers on an American from Texas, Harvey Tucker, who is found dead in a dumpster behind a sex club. Apparently, he had been brutally beaten and taser prongs had been hooked to his testicles. Not a pleasant sight! As a result, Sam Haine from the Los Angeles division of Homeland Security (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) is assigned to the case to find why and who killed Tucker. Haine is not overjoyed about traveling to Manila, however, as he states, “it was better to be busy in the field, rather than be stuck behind an analyst's desk.” Our protagonist soon finds out that his time in Manila will be more than he bargained for, as he synchronizes his investigation with the local authorities, Detectives Lorenzano and Garcia. Haine discovers that Tucker had been mixed up in a world of unsavory characters involving questionable and sometimes horrendous business activities as the selling of Chinese immigrants. Apparently, Tucker was selling roosters for cockfights- a legitimate sporting event in the Philippines. With the profits, however, Tucker would purchase arms, such as automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and perhaps satchel mines, selling them to various paramilitary groups. One such group of terrorists was from Texas that was in the process of purchasing from him a cargo of Chinese AK-47's. It was now up to Haine and his colleagues to sniff out and track down Tucker's killer and prevent the shipment. Thrown into the investigation are a series of events and clues that are difficult to connect and don't seem to go anywhere, although all are in one way or another connected to Tucker and his murder. Further complicating matters is that the stunning Jennifer Santos from the office of the fiscal, whom Haine falls for, is asked to drop the case by a prominent congressman. Philippine Fever is well paced storytelling with convincing characters, geographical setting and story plot at its best. Cook has made the most of his working years in Manila, as he succeeds in offering his readers a glimpse of a corner of the world with a unique culture and social context which effectively enhances the novel's many thrilling scenes. Moreover, Cook provides his readers with clues without surprising coincidences that very often mar mystery and detective novels. This one should prove to be a winner and I look forward to more from Bruce Cook- perhaps a series of Sam Haine mysteries? Norm Goldman, www.Bookpleasures.com
Reviews
"I don't think I've ever read a book that was so evocative of a place. I felt as though I'd actually visited Manila and seen all the sights, the good, the bad and the...well, you know. Bruce Cook is a master of description, and he has created a set of finely drawn characters that I actually cared about. The story is complex, topical, and scarily believable. I'm already looking forward to the next Sam Haine book. "
Sheila Lowe, Handwriting of the
Famous and Infamous