Identity Check

by Rich Allan

Scott Harold grew up believing his father died in the war, but when his mother, Christina, is murdered, he, along with his brash girlfriend, Jessie, uncover his illegitimate past. Skirt-chasing President Walter Kendall is fighting to stay in the office for a second term and cannot afford another scandal. His blonde trophy wife, Gloria, hates his indiscretions but believes a baby will save their marriage. Stuttering Frank Tate, abused as a child, spent most of his early adulthood in the “Maze,” a Tennessee psychiatric institution until a mysterious Washington D.C. benefactor rescued him to carry out a series of political “dirty tricks.” These three stories weave together in a mystery-thriller that will keep you intrigued until the last page.

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2017

About the author

Richard Jones has been a reader and a writer all his life, getting his first library card at eight years old. He is a published author - DRAFTED & IDENTITY CHECK, communications executive, actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. He is listed in Who’s Who in Entertainment and accredited by the Public Relations Society of America, holding an M.A. in Journalism and a B.A. in Communications from The Ohio State University. An Army veteran, he proudly served as a 1st Lieutenant during the Vietnam War era and a DC lobbyist. Jones resides in Los Angeles, California, with his wife, Diane, Sunset, the Conure, and Lily the Beagle.

Reviews

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich Allan masterfully weaves together three distinct storylines into one satisfying thriller in Identity Check! All three storylines were equally interesting, from a man investigating his parents’ mysterious deaths, to another man in a psychiatric ward, and even to the President of the United States. But it’s in the way that they’re all connected that makes Identity Check a real gem. Allan’s writing is both fast-paced and meaningful, and his characters are likeable and believable. This is a great one if you love a good political thriller or mystery!

[Viga Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter of Identity Check by Rich Allen until half-way through the book, readers will have more questions than answers regarding who the bad guy is behind the bloody murders of nice law-abiding folks who don’t deserve what they get. Then, even when readers start to put two and two together, the bigger mystery surrounds the “why” of these brutal deaths. Readers will also find themselves wondering why someone is so intent of getting rid of the young college student, Scott Harold as he investigates the obvious murder of his mother, when all he wants to do is find out the truth about his father whom he believed died while he was an infant.

Into a nicely controlled unfolding of the plot and the characters in Identity Check, Rich Allan weaves humor, romance, suspense and surprising twists while exploring important issues like childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual preferences. It is quite remarkable just how well Allan blends all these areas into a well-constructed story, where the characters, even the murderer himself, are realistic, and several of whom are tragic figures.

Scott and his loving, but outspoken and somewhat zany girlfriend, Jessie, find themselves escaping death by the skin of their teeth several times. The murderer doesn’t like killing innocent people but he has to do it. Why? Is he just simply crazy? And when the climactic ending arrives, as usually happens in the movies or a thriller, do the evil ones get their just desserts? You won’t be able to put the book down until you find out but don’t be surprised if you find yourself sympathizing with the cross-bow killer and arsonist at the end.

Amongst other things, Identity Check is an interesting look inside White House protocols, security, the movers and shakers and those in charge of what the general public knows…or doesn’t know…about White House politics and society. All up, Identity Check is a sometimes fun, but generally compelling read from start to finish. Enjoy!

[Rich Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Harold grew up believing his father died in the war, but when his mother is murdered, he and his feisty girlfriend, Jessie, begin a dangerous journey to uncover the truth. Skirt-chasing President Walter Kendall is fighting to win a second term and cannot afford another scandal. His blond trophy wife, Gloria, hates his indiscretions but believes a baby will save their marriage. Stuttering Frank Tate, abused as a child, spent his childhood in "The Maze," a psychiatric institution until a mysterious benefactor rescued him to carry out to carry out a series of political "dirty tricks." These three stories weave together in a thriller that will keep you intrigued until the last page.

Readers' Favorites said "Identity Check by Rich Allan would be an ideal movie script because of its story line built with intrigue, mystery, and suspense. Pick up your copy today."

Identity Check was one of five finalist in the fiction category of the 2017 Author U "Draft To Dream" Book Competition. "Love these characters!" "Parts of the character interaction here is LOL-funny, while at the same time providing momentary respite from the steadily-building tension." "There is definitely an audience for this book!"

Reader review on Amazon..."Great story Rich. It would be a great movie! It had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I would definitely recommend this to my friends and will share on Facebook."