The Inheritance is a quick, exciting read. Its less than 200 pages can be polished off in a single enjoyable sitting. It scores full points for mysteriousness, tenseness, and believable unbelievability. Stires takes his protagonist on an enticingly entertaining yet emotional rollercoaster ride of curiosity, disappointment, disbelief, sarcasm, and need – love and need, hate and need, rage and need, and justice and need. Just about any read can readily identify with this protagonist; if not directly with the individual, certainly with his decision-making.

I have but two quibbles: The first could have been addressed by more thorough editing. Story and author suffer huge disservice by the numerous typos that unfortunately knock a reader out of sorts. If experienced often enough, a reader can be soured to the entire tale; at the very least discombobulated. Competition for consumer entertainment time is fierce already; no author can afford to defeat him/herself in such a manner.

There was also a wee let-down at the conclusion. After delighting in the rollicking and roaring action from the start, the story seemed to settle into more of an ‘Ooh-ahh’ bystander’s view of the fireworks and explosions come tale’s end. After decidedly NOT playing nice throughout events, the protagonist’s decision to do so at the close was also somewhat surprising.

All in all, The Inheritance is a fine read, and I am delighted to add it to my library.