Reviews - Contention
Feathered Quill Book Reviews - As a newcomer to this author and series, I was not sure what to expect from Contention or from Mr. McGugan, but let me just say WOW! This is an incredible, fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller that hits readers right from page one and will keep you thoroughly engrossed until the very end.
In Contention, readers are introduced, or re-introduced as the case may be, to this author's fabulously written characters as they continue their journey. Fidelia Morales is the leader of The Organization, which is one of the biggest groups to be found in the organized crime world.
Howard Knight is the man who has lived a good part of his life under Fidelia’s control as he helped to scam and steal millions of dollars for this woman he might have once loved and her criminal organization. Finally, we have Suzanne Simpson, a rich, smart, and honest woman who is the executive of a huge company that seems to be caught in between Fidelia and Howard and their plans. In this new installment of the series, Fidelia is attempting to run her huge organization, which has members leading groups in every part of the world with interests in any illegal activity you might be able to think of.
While her goal is for everyone around her to pledge complete loyalty to her and the group, there is one person who wants only one thing from Fidelia and that is Howard. All he wants is to be free. To become closer to his goal he asks Fidelia to give him the opportunity to step away from her side and work on developing a new corporate espionage plan from the island of Aruba. A plan he tries to convince her will bring even more money into her business.
When Fidelia approves of the idea, she agrees to send Howard and her own longtime friend and financial wizard off to the Caribbean to start working on the new plan. Now she has to figure out a way to keep control of all that she needs to run her business while also finding a way to spy on and manipulate Howard and his new people from the outside. In addition, Fidelia is still trying to gain control of one of the world’s largest businesses, Multima Corporation, which is controlled by Suzanne - taking over Multima has been a dream of Fidelia’s for a very long time.
As these three people, and many others, work to achieve all that they want, the readers are gifted with an intricately woven and enthralling tale that is not be missed. Contention is so well-written and the author is able to keep control of all the different parts of the story and keep readers involved in every aspect of the plot through his excellent writing.
The way each of the characters stories is interwoven with the others seems effortless as McGugan laces everything together and that makes the story an absolute joy to read. In addition, the characters and dialogue are excellent. Every single character, even down to the supporting cast, is interesting to read about and has a reason for being a part of the story.
Another thing that I absolutely loved was that, although this is the first story I have read from this series, there is just enough background given so that I knew exactly who each character was and how they were connected. While I would highly recommend reading the books in order...and I promise you that I am currently getting copies of the first six myself since this one is so great...it is not something that would be critical to enjoying this single book. You can begin on page one of Contention and fall right into the storyline and the background with very little effort and enjoy the book immensely.
Contention is simply the perfect book.
The plot is interesting and will hold your attention easily and the characters are well-developed and fascinating in every situation. In short, this is a book and author that is definitely not to be missed. I have become a huge fan in a very short period of time and look forward to the next tale in the series. Quill Says: Contention is an excellent addition to this series wrapped around Howard Knight. This book gives readers a riveting and suspenseful tale that they will not want to put down until the last page and one with an ending that guarantees us another installment, thank goodness.
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Reader Views - Contention, by Gary D. McGugan, is the latest book in his series of corporate intrigue and is a thrilling ride for fans of exciting crime dramas everywhere. If you don’t know who top mobster Fidelia Morales is, you will meet her in this book, and you won’t soon forget her. She has her hands in drugs, prostitution, money laundering, gambling, modern slavery, even payday loans. She is not a gangster to be messed with and can make anyone wilt under her power. She and her former lover Howard Knight have an understanding that has worked for them, but what would she do if this wizard of the financial world wanted to bow out of the picture and be free of her?
Yes, he’s done many nefarious things for her: cheating, scheming, scamming, stealing, cybercrimes—generating income in the millions. Now The Organization is something Howard wants to put behind him, but his freedom seems like an impossible dream. On the opposite side of the coin is Suzanne Simpson, the ethical CEO of Multima Corporation, who wants to do the right thing and expose how organized crime influences the corporate world. How will these intertwined fates collide? And can anyone truly escape the dark grasp of The Organization?
McGugan is the kind of writer you can’t wait to read, because his writing is so dependably solid. He takes his time with scenes, and characters, and details, yet plunges forward with the plot in a pace that excites you and leaves you wanting more. This crime novel is perfect for those who love mob stories, but it’s also a personal story, too—between the precarious dynamics of Fidelia and Howard, and Suzanne’s fight for justice.
The differences between the three are what really drives the story. It’s nice when you can trust an author to take you on a ride that you know holds a lot of character, heart, conflict, and high stakes ahead. The author’s use of multiple points of view, from Fidelia, Suzanne, and Howard, gives an objective and complete picture of how the story is unfolding.
Things really ramp up a third of the way into the story, and Suzanne’s character really shines here as she is out to thwart organized crime. The almost otherworldly aspect of mob life is so intriguing, but actually relatable in this story. McGugan knows how to bring the corporate world to life, making it seem more dramatic and dangerous than it probably is in reality, but that’s what’s so addicting about corporate novels.
He teases the audience in a good way, keeping you guessing as to where the story will go and what the characters will do next. I like how he has threaded the pandemic through the story, to keep it real and show its effect on the corporate world. This author is a naturally gifted storyteller that knows how to deliver, with detailed descriptions, good dialogue, and a sense of mystery. He grounds larger-than-life drama in small details and can build the feel of a character in just a few short sentences, like Howard’s near photographic memory, New Balance shoes, and encyclopedic knowledge of certain things.
Aspiring writers can learn a lot from him. With its suspense, unexpected deaths, and big, well-rounded characters, emotion, and plot, you are in for an irresistible joyride.
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GoodReads - Cheryl Harrison - Again with the book that I am unable to put down due to having to know what's going to happen next. Gary McGugan makes it so easy to read his novels by keeping the chapters short, intense and very visual. I love how many different countries are involved and how the author uses excellent and intricate description of the surroundings to keep us right there with the subjects of the novel. I feel the sun, the rocky waters and the hot, hot humid days.
Personally I have had it with the "The Organization". The author inspires me to have as much of a distain for the corrupted individuals as he inspires me to have respect for their incredible ability to think outside of the box and create their plans with incredible precision. I often wonder "how are they going to take care of this one"?
The depth of the information we receive and the amount of imagination the author uses to help us "get the picture" is amazing. I am always waiting to turn the page to see what's going to happen next. As well as the bad guys we certainly enjoy a nice sprinkling of the good guys, however, constantly wondering if the good guys will be taken down or if good really does overcome evil. Can't wait to see what happens in the next novel!
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Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers’ Favorite
Contention: A Novel of International Suspense and Intrigue by Gary D. McGugan introduces readers to Fidelia Morales, the leader of one of the most prominent groups in the sinister world of organized crime. Living under Fidelia's strict control, Howard Knight masterminded various crimes for her and her illicit organization. Howard wanted his freedom and asked Fidelia to give him a chance to create a new corporate espionage operation based on the island of Aruba.
Suzanne Simpson, a wealthy, intelligent, and honorable woman, was the chief executive and owner of Multima Corporation but she was in the way of Fidelia and Howard's plans. Fidelia had always wanted to take over Multima Corporation, one of the biggest companies in the world, and was determined to accomplish her goal. Would Suzanne recognize the warning signs of imminent danger in time to protect her company?
Contention by Gary D. McGugan is an edge-of-your-seat thriller, and I was hooked from the first page. It was fast-paced and full of action. With all the twists and turns, I never knew what would happen next. There was always a surprise waiting around the corner.
The characters were well developed. They were authentic and relatable. The stories of the three main characters were woven together intriguingly. Each character had a background story, and I got to know them better as a result. The story is well-written, and I was engrossed throughout. Reading this account was a nail-biting experience that had me guessing until the end. It was much more than I expected.
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Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (08/2023) 5*-
Immersing us once more into the world of shadows and suspense, Contention emerges as the thrilling seventh novel in Gary D. McGugan’s spectacular series of international intrigue.
Get ready for a ride – this one is action and thrills all the way! As choices shape destinies and ambitions collide, the unfolding drama is one you simply must not miss.
Fidelia Morales is the formidable leader of the crime syndicate known as “The Organization.” Not only is she feared for her ruthless approach to disloyalty, she’s also well-respected for her vast reach in the criminal underworld across international borders.
At the core of this story is Fidelia’s complex relationship with Howard Knight, financial architect extraordinaire. Their ambitions clash as Howard proposes a new corporate espionage operation in the Caribbean, potentially taking him far from Fidelia’s reach.
As Fidelia is wary of Howard’s motives, she keeps a militant eye on him while driving ahead with her ultimate objective: to seize control of one of the world’s most prestigious publicly traded global firms.
As the layers of intrigue unfold, Suzanne Simpson, an icon in the corporate world, recognizes the impending threat from The Organization. This propels the Multima team into high alert as they strategize to gear up for a direct confrontation. In this treacherous game of power and deception, who will emerge victorious, and at what cost?
Well, it happened a few weeks ago. That much-anticipated email from Gary D. McGugan announcing the completion of his latest novel, ready for review. When I first discovered his work, Gary had already crafted three novels, which I feverishly read back-to-back. Since then, I’ve eagerly awaited that near annual email announcing each release.
Now having read all seven novels in his series, I can say that each new story sees McGugan setting a higher standard, surpassing his earlier work. The only issue for me as a reviewer is—what can I say that I haven’t already said?
It is a challenge that I concede, and it is a testament to McGugan’s talent that I find myself both thrilled and filled with a touch of writer’s block with each new novel. However, as there is always something new to discover, let me dive into what I uniquely loved about “Contention.”
You know me by now—characters first! McGugan skillfully portrays characters that extend beyond the flatness of the pages (or electronic devices), the vivid details of their endearing qualities and natural imperfections jumping out at the reader with every word.
Fidelia Morales stands more formidable than ever somehow, showing zero tolerance for even a hint of hesitation
from her minions. At times it felt like I was in the middle of a blockbuster action movie, given the staggering scale of collateral damage!
As usual, I was captivated by Suzanne Simpson’s masterful management of the corporate giant, Multima Corp., especially while juggling a personal relationship with her head of security. Suzanne is the epitome of perfection and it’s refreshing to see her “letting her hair down,” if even for the briefest of moments.
Standing with a powerhouse like Suzanne requires strength and security, and Serge Boisvert seamlessly complements her with his steady presence and grounding influence amidst the corporate challenges they face together.
And last but not least, there’s Howard Knight, my favorite character, who seems to have found himself in over his head this time around. While his near-photographic memory is usually an asset, it may be failing him now, leading to some decisions that prove costly. I wish I could divulge more about Howard’s role, but I don’t want to give anything away. All I can say is that his storyline keeps the pages turning.
Gary McGugan consistently showcases mastery in the craft of writing, making each read an absolute delight. His precision and dedication are complemented by his boundless imagination. Whether he’s painting a grisly mob scene of bloody horror or crafting an intimate romantic interlude, he does so with unmatched elegance.
His plots are not only intricate but infused with surprising betrayals and unexpected twists, ensuring readers are always kept on their toes. The depth of conflict and suspense in his stories continually keeps readers on the edge, while his meticulous attention to detail guarantees that they only uncover the truths and revelations he precisely intends at the exact time he intends.
If you haven’t read any of the prior novels in the series, fear not. McGugan provides just the right amount of background information, satisfying both newcomers and longtime fans.
Contention by Gary D. McGugan weaves a thrilling tale of crime, power, and the essential human desires for love, freedom, and legacy. If you’re drawn to narratives filled with global adventures, intricate corporate plots, shadowy criminal undertakings, sharp political dynamics, and contemporary challenges—oh, and of course, unforgettable characters, then diving into this series is a must. It’s absolutely fabulous.
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