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Ascending Power Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

When a rare mineral discovery pits a small west Texas tribe against Big Oil, it turns into a battle for survival that will leave the world changed forever.
NFL star quarterback Billy Strikeleather is living the dream—he has a beautiful wife, adoring fans, and a multi-million-dollar mansion. But when an injury sidelines him permanently, he turns to the bottle for solace. With the DWIs piling up, his marriage hits the rocks and his self-confidence is shaken.

Feeling unmoored, Billy warily responds to a call from his uncle, returning to his childhood home on the Chinati reservation in rural west Texas to help the old man investigate a troubling mystery. Something’s been contaminating the reservation’s hot springs, and Uncle Sam Longbird is hoping Billy can help him uncover the truth.

The water is contaminated, all right. The deep springs have brought to the surface a rare mineral that could disrupt the global energy market and make the tribe wealthy beyond its imaginings. This may be Billy’s one chance to restore his tribe’s fortunes and prove his value not only to his people, but to himself.

But when Longbird narrowly avoids death at the hands of a mysterious gunman, Billy realizes someone will kill to keep that mineral a secret, someone with pockets deep enough to bribe local law enforcement and government. What can a washed-up quarterback do against influence like that?

Billy may not have much power, but he does have friends: a lonely professor with a shipwrecked career and dangerous knowledge, a young TV anchor whose ambitions for the future are at war with her past, and an old Indian chief whose love for his people is rivaled only by his self-doubts. They must work together to protect the hot springs’ gift—or die trying.

Lovers of James Patterson’s twisting plots and relatable characters will enjoy this thrilling David-and-Goliath tale.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A simply riveting read from first page to last, "Ascending Power" showcases author Malcolm Gibson's impressively effective and entertaining narrative storytelling style." -The Midwest Book Review

Synopsis: NFL star quarterback Billy Strikeleather is living the dream -- he has a beautiful wife, adoring fans, and a multi-million-dollar mansion. But when an injury sidelines him permanently, he turns to the bottle for solace. With the DWIs piling up, his marriage hits the rocks and his self-confidence is shaken.

Feeling unmoored, Billy warily responds to a call from his uncle, returning to his childhood home on the Chinati reservation in rural west Texas to help the old man investigate a troubling mystery. Something's been contaminating the reservation's hot springs, and Uncle Sam Longbird is hoping Billy can help him uncover the truth.

The water is contaminated, all right. The deep springs have brought to the surface a rare mineral that could disrupt the global energy market and make the tribe wealthy beyond its imaginings. This may be Billy's one chance to restore his tribe's fortunes and prove his value not only to his people, but to himself.

But when Longbird narrowly avoids death at the hands of a mysterious gunman, Billy realizes someone will kill to keep that mineral a secret, someone with pockets deep enough to bribe local law enforcement and government. What can a washed-up quarterback do against influence like that?

Billy may not have much power, but he does have friends: a lonely professor with a shipwrecked career and dangerous knowledge, a young TV anchor whose ambitions for the future are at war with her past, and an old Indian chief whose love for his people is rivaled only by his self-doubts. They must work together to protect the hot springs' gift -- or die trying!

Critique: A simply riveting read from first page to last, "Ascending Power" showcases author Malcolm Gibson's impressively effective and entertaining narrative storytelling style. Original, engaging, deftly crafted, "Ascending Power" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Ascending Power" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B081TN3Y59
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 20, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2617 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

About the author

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Malcolm David Gibson
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Malcolm “Mack” Gibson is an author and a national award-winning newspaper columnist based out of Houston, Texas. His work has been featured in The Houston Chronicle, The Beaumont Enterprise, The Galveston Daily News and many more.

Gibson is also a practicing lawyer, representing banks, real estate developers, and wheeler dealers in the boom-bust Texas markets for the past forty years. His time practicing has given Mack plenty of ammunition for his human-interest stories and his first novel, Ascending Power.

Mack loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.MackGibson.com to join the email list!

Follow Mack:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MGibson_Author

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/malcolmdgibson/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/MackGibsonWriter/

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
21 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-written. They appreciate the well-developed characters and find the book an enjoyable read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

5 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's story quality. They find the story engaging and well-researched. The plot develops consistently and ends with an unexpected twist. Overall, readers describe the book as a terrific tale that captures their interest from page one.

"...As a Texan, I found the subtleties also impressive: from expressions used by the characters to descriptions of places and items, I could tell that..." Read more

"...Malcolm Gibson has done well with his debut novel. The characters are well developed and you actually care about them -- well, not all of them...." Read more

"An intriguing David and Goliath book that captured my interest at page one, then kept me enraptured through one unexpected turn after another...." Read more

"...It is a well researched story that dabbles in a wide range of endeavors from high finance to in the dirt oil field technology...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the character development. They say the characters are well-developed and you care about them.

"...The dialog is tight, the story-telling excellent, and the characters have real depth...." Read more

"...Malcolm Gibson has done well with his debut novel. The characters are well developed and you actually care about them -- well, not all of them...." Read more

"...A fascinating array of characters from mighty corporate CEO’s to poverty stricken reservation dwellers interact to produce a thrilling heat-..." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story engaging and describe it as a great read.

"Mr. Gibson’s debut novel is one heck of a read! The dialog is tight, the story-telling excellent, and the characters have real depth...." Read more

"So very well written! The story kept me enthralled throughout. Highly recommend this book." Read more

"Big and Bold Just Like Texas..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2019
    Mr. Gibson’s debut novel is one heck of a read! The dialog is tight, the story-telling excellent, and the characters have real depth. As a Texan, I found the subtleties also impressive: from expressions used by the characters to descriptions of places and items, I could tell that he has spent a good portion of his life in the culture and environment in which he has set his novel. From the start the book maintains a fast tempo and keeps the reader engaged as the story unfolds. I’m looking forward to his next publication.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
    Be ready for some twists and turns in a book that you just cannot put down. Malcolm Gibson has done well with his debut novel. The characters are well developed and you actually care about them -- well, not all of them. The plot develops steadily and consistently, ending in an unexpected sprint to the finish. Highly recommend.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2020
    An intriguing David and Goliath book that captured my interest at page one, then kept me enraptured through one unexpected turn after another. Shows that we can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges in life and even in business.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2020
    Mac Gibson has put together a terrific tale that captures the essence of the Lone Star state. From the barren plains at Big Bend out west to the skyscrapers of Houston the reader is treated to a fast moving page turner. We are taken behind the scenes of Big Oil where the almighty dollar tries to once again quash our native Americans. It is a well researched story that dabbles in a wide range of endeavors from high finance to in the dirt oil field technology. A fascinating array of characters from mighty corporate CEO’s to poverty stricken reservation dwellers interact to produce a thrilling heat-throbbing conclusion. Ascending Power gives us a glimpse of the real Texas.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020
    So very well written! The story kept me enthralled throughout.
    Highly recommend this book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2019
    Ascending Power by Malcolm Gibson was received direct from the authors publicist. I had never heard of the author or obviously read any of his books prior to this one. I had also never read any books about “Big Oil” or a NFL quarterback either. This book kind of made me think of books I read growing up, with the bad entity, the good entity (good vs evil), and the mysterious substance that can make one or the other rich beyond their wildest dreams. The book is well written, in that I didn’t get bored with unnecessary dialogue that tends to slow books down nowadays. As always, I won’t go into details, but I do think this book will not be a solo effort. If you like David vs Goliath type reads, or books about Texas, or buy gifts for someone who does, give this book a read.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2019
    I ordered this book as soon as I read that it was released since it was recommended by a friend. I have been saving it for a quiet weekend and COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!!! Fabulous story, great characters, sharp dialogue! Read it nonstop COVER TO COVER!! Laughed out loud, snorted, cried and cheered! I will be completely surprised if someone doesn't read this and option it for film!! I LOVE THIS BOOK and Mack is my new favortie author! When is the next one due to be published??
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2020
    This compelling novel is filled with twists and turns that make it a true page-turner. The story stands out for its topical subject matter, diverse cast of characters, and evocative setting. The author does an amazing job of weaving together a number of complicated subplots while keeping the action consistently moving forward.

    Overall, this is a smart, unique, and riveting thriller.

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