Review
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Title: Diamondback Cave
Author: K.L. Fogg
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Genre: Fiction
Year Published: 2008
Number of Pages: 377
Binding: Hard Cover
ISBN: 978-1-59811-512-3
Price: $16.95

Reviewed by Jaymie Reynolds

"Diamondback Cave" is the third book in the Serpentide series. It is the quintessential adventure novel for young people. K.L. Fogg has successfully incorporated kidnapping, bombs, grenades and rattlesnakes into the story of three separate families. Two of these families are working as a team to protect and help one another. One family is turning inward and ripping itself apart at the seams. Throughout this story, there is non-stop action enough to satisfy any young person who reads it. At the same time, there is an underlying message of choice, accountability, and forgiveness that will satisfy any parent.

Jack Mackey would like nothing more than to see Imogene Vandergrift rot in jail, permanently. Now that he has finally regained Wesley, the son that she kidnapped from him years before, Jack is ready to move on and continue building a life with his family. Imogene Vandergrift would like nothing more than to be bailed out of jail so that she can recover the two million dollars worth of diamonds that she has hidden. Unfortunately for Imogene, her sister is not locked in jail and, with the help of terrorist Peter Jaworsky, is hot on the trail of those diamonds. All that they need is the code for the vault in which the diamonds lay. The race is on and the participants will stop at nothing to win.

In the meantime, Jack's attorney and friend Alex Harris is kidnapped by Peter Jaworsky, shot, and left for dead in Diamondback Cave. Through a picture he takes with his camera phone, Alex lets Wesley know that he is in trouble. Wesley and his best friend, Amanda, who is Alex's future step-daughter, set out to find and rescue him. Once they are also captured, Peter uses them as leverage to force Jack into bailing Imogene, and the code, out of jail. Explosions, chaos and mayhem ensue. As a result of this adventure, Maggie, Jack's wife, loses her memory.

Jack's anger builds as Imogene continues to torment Jack and hurt his family. He feels his wrath is justified by her actions. Throughout "Diamondback Cave" Jack comes to realize that only forgiveness will truly heal his heart and allow his family to move on.

This book flows very smoothly. There really is something for almost everyone in the family. It is a book that children can enjoy reading on their own or listening to their parents reading to them. It is exciting and flows very smoothly. At times, it does move a little slowly, not because there is little happening but because there is so much happening. This is a great book for mothers to read when they need some light reading to fill those rare moments of free time. It is easy to pick up where you left off the last time you read. "Diamondback Cave" has a well-earned place in our family library.