Bruce Von Stiers

Most people won’t know the name David Morrell. He is the author of the First Blood. Yes, this is the book that launched the Rambo series of films, Big Wheels and action figures. Morrell is a very talented author. He has written several novels that range from erotic thrillers or conspiracy stories. His latest effort brings to mind some of the rawness of First Blood. This title of this new novel is Long Lost. It was published by Warner Books.

Brad Denning is a successful architect. He is from the Midwest, but is now living in Denver with his wife Kate and son Jason. Brad has done some rather unusual house designs. His fame soon spreads and he ends up being featured on national television.

During an interview Brad lets folks know about a tragedy in his life. When he was a kid, his little brother Petey disappeared. Nobody ever found out what happened to Petey. Now, after the TV segment, several people have come forward claiming to be Brad’s long lost brother.

One of these men coming forward might just be who he claims. This man has a lot of information about what the two boys did and things related to their family life. Brad cautiously takes Petey into his family’s lives.

Shortly after the two men go on a camping trip with Brad’s son Jason. Brad has an accident and falls off a cliff. When he finally gets back to the camp site he finds Petey and Jason gone. He makes it to the authorities and soon discovers that Petey has kidnapped Jason and Kate.

Brad finds out that this man who claimed to be Petey might be someone else entirely. The police can’t seem to do enough and the FBI comes across like they suspect Brad of killing his family and faking the abduction.

Tired of waiting for things to happen, Brad takes things into his own hands. He hires someone to teach him how to track somebody down. He takes firearms and martial arts training. He is going to get his family back at all costs. Brad goes all around the country tracking down leads about his family and the man who called himself Petey.

The more that Brad finds out, the less likely that his family is still alive and intact. This man who abducted them is one scary dude. He is a consummate con man and deranged individual. Brad finds out the history of this man and what may have drove him to be like he is.

The book moves Brad around the country talking to people and tracking down leads. It ends in a fiery final confrontation that will leave a definite impression on the reader after finishing the book.

There are all kinds of books and movies about people showing up on doorsteps, claiming to be long lost relatives. I tend to dismiss these as pure drivel. But not so with Long Lost. At first I thought that it would be a boring book. But with the disappearance of Petey with Kate and Jason, things got up and running and never stopped until the end of the book.

I have always been a little fearful of someone taking off with my son. Now that Josh is fourteen, I no longer worry about that too much. But kids still can disappear at any age, whether on their own or being taken by someone who means them harm. It is a very scary thought. Long Lost is a reminder that nobody is entirely safe and that we have to be cautious about whom we invite into our lives.