Rainbow's End
Bob Adamov
c. 2002
Greenleaf Book Group LLC
Cleveland, OH &
Packard Island Publishing
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
ISBN:1-929774-16-8

For his first novel, Bob Adamov has put together a fast-moving, action-packed adventure. It begins with Colonel Shelby Harrington, commissioned by Jefferson Davis to make a daring rescue of Confederate officers imprisioned on Johnson's island in Lake Erie, and others imprisioned in Columbus, Ohio, and in Indianapolis. The mission also includes accepting a trunk filled with treasure for the South and a secret document, both to be personally delivered to Jefferson Davis. The elaborate plans require stealth and coordination by Harrington's thirty men, unfortunately, the men, unable to discipline their own ambitions, act too soon, and the mission fails. On January 5, 1864, the men are captured or killed, and the trunk with the secret document is lost.

The story then jumps to the present time, introduces new characters: Emerson Moore, Jacques and Francois L'Hostes, Martine and Tim Tobin, their son Austin, Martine's grandfather Professor Anderson, Emerson's Aunt Anne and Emerson's close friend Slamming Sammy Duncan. The locale remains the islands in Lake Erie near Sandusky, Ohio. Adamov provides interesting descriptions of the islands, both at present and during the Civil War. The descriptions are obviously based on first-hand experience. His historical details, upon investigation, turn out to be correct. Only the characters and the plot are fictional.

The reader gets to know Emerson Moore, some of the wounds Emerson suffered, and sees how Emerson acts toward a beautiful woman (Martine) who is in a troubled marriage. Jacques and his son are the villains, rich, powerful, and corrupt. Adamov skillfully blends the experiences of the modern day characters with the Confederate rescue attempt in a way that keeps you guessing until the end of the book. The action includes friction between Moore and the L'Hostes, a developing affection between Moore and Martine, fist fights, automobile hit and run attempts, murders, speed boat chases, helicopter attacks, dangerous underground caves, and a technological marvel of a robot that really exists. Adamov describes the place setting for the novel, the Lake Erie islands, in enough detail to make you want to visit them yourself. Professor Anderson is a geologist with Ohio University. His exploration of the underground caves makes the islands all the more interesting.

Adamov comes from a human resources, public relations background and has written for industry. This is his first work of fiction. He is a history buff, which greatly enhances his book, and owns a restored 1939 Packard. His knowledge of cars and mechanical devices also come out in his book. Without ruining the reader's suspense, I can say that "Rainbow's End" is an interesting story of modern day people struggling with good and evil, their lives molded by events in their youth and events one hundred and fifty years ago. They struggle to set things right amid challenging obstacles, lots of adventure, and, in the end, things work out in a surprising and satisfying way. You will like this book. If you are interested in the Civil War and sight seeing on the Lake Erie islands, you will especially like this book. ( )