By Stacey Longo

The Button—Book I of II (2014, Lucid Dream Press) is the latest offering from author Vlad V. and is an intriguing start to a well-written mystery that will leave you clamoring for the sequel.

Brothers Pete and Gary Godfrey are hiking one day when they discover a cave containing artifacts from different time periods, including a sleek, mysterious cube, inset with a button. A temptation that would tug at anyone’s primal instinct (who doesn’t see a button and want to push it?) Pete is eventually unable to resist depressing the button, setting off an irreversible chain of events that ensnares the reader in a captivating puzzle. Without giving too much away, suffice to say the government quickly becomes involved, as well as an underground reporter who is determined to find out the truth about the enigmatic cube. The siblings’ relationship, varying from strained to serious but interwoven with humor and love throughout, adds an important element of humanity in this novel. The book opens and closes showcasing the bond between these two brothers, providing the backbone to this robust tale.

Vlad V. does an excellent job of keeping the reader interested and involved, offering clues, creating a likeable character in Pete and offering possible redemption for Gary, and carefully laying the foundation for the next book. A combination of both science fiction and mystery, The Button will keep you in suspense from beginning to end.

About the Author: Vlad V. is the author of Brachman’s Underworld and Yorick, both solidly written books also recommended by the reviewer. He is a former journalist and freelance writer currently studying history and English at the University of Massachusetts.