Tick, Tick, Tick…Boom

by

Felicia Ferguson

High-stakes thriller with relatable characters racing against the clock.

Army CID Warrant Officer Gabby Carmichael gets a 2 AM wakeup from an unknown caller warning her he’s going to detonate a bomb and hurt a lot of people, and the location of the bomb lies within Gabby’s past. It is up to Gabby and her team of Army specialists working with her psychologist husband’s team of FBI agents to deconstruct her past, decipher any clues to the bomber’s identity, and stop the bomb. Oh, and they only have 24 hours to save the day! 

Tick, Tick, Tick…Boom by Felicia Ferguson is suspenseful and tense; the story’s action hits the ground running from the opening page, with its menacing middle-of-the-night phone call, and never lets up. You know that person who doesn’t realize they were holding their breath? In this case, it’ll be you, the reader. 

The story unfolds from multiple points of view: Gabby’s, Gabby’s husband, Matt’s, and that of the unknown person behind the revenge bombing plot. Readers are privy to the inner thoughts and feelings of these complex characters, gaining empathy for some and experiencing breathless terror because of the other. 

Gabby is a smart and strong protagonist, but is suffering from the guilt she bears for the death of her younger, less-experienced partner some months earlier. Her unaddressed trauma has driven a wedge between her and Matt, who, besides his private practice, is also a profiler in the local FBI office. Their marriage is literally crumbling around them as she refuses to accept help for the impact of her partner’s murder. While they initially met on the job working a joint case for their respective agencies, their pairing at this particular time may have been a mistake. Gabby is a seasoned leader, and she and her team operate with smooth, practiced efficiency, even as she succumbs to the stresses of working with Matt on this desperate case. 

Dr. Matthew Carmichael had hoped that their working together again might recreate the bond he and Gabby had once had, but sadly, they seem to clash at every turn, drawing attention to their private struggles. Still, he puts the job first, offering any insight he can into this unknown antagonist, at times drawing his wife’s public scorn for his ideas. I couldn’t help seeing him as an underdog. 

I enjoyed the El Paso setting and was riveted by the process of their investigation, taking such a small amount of information from the bomber’s very first call and parleying it into ideas, then clues, and finally, answers and evidence. I was on the edge of my seat until all was revealed during the final resolution. 

I recommend TICK, TICK, TICK…BOOM to readers of thrillers, mysteries, and tales of suspense.

For this and other reviews, visit my blog at Guatemala Paula Loves to Read or Boys' Mom Reads!