| Readers' Comments |
Sheila - VA
Clouds of Deception was great. I loved the non-stop action. I could see that pod where the President stayed and could picture that
mountain vividly though the author did not spend page after page painting boring descriptions. Ray Derby certainly can capture my
attention. I look forward to another book. I've read his other two books and loved both of them.
Mr. Arthur W. Arundel, owner and publisher of 17 newspapers in Northern Virginia, called the Times Community Newspapers,
commented:
“Not since Tom Clancy’s early American military techno-thrillers has anything come along to parallel the credible fast moving
suspense of this first time novelist. The great strength of Ray Derby’s storyline is that he professionally understands from long
insider experience as few others do the developing new age of chemical and biological weapons, the dedicated people who are
trying to protect us from them and the acknowledged terrifying public threat they pose to the United States and other nations
moving into the 21st Century. Shadow Government is one of those rare works of which it is said, I couldn't put it down.”
Mr. Sam Sharkey, former professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, former editor of news for NBC and
former head of the New York Times national news desk.
“Mr. Derby in his book demonstrates that he sure knows what he is doing. I think it could do very well in its genre of futurist
mystery fiction. So I say, run with it. It’s a good read.”
Mrs. Lila Ash, wife of the Honorable Roy Ash, former director of the President’s Office of Management and Budget.
The Shadow Government
“I spend a lot of my time reading and found your style of writing most enjoyable. A lot of books starts out rather readable then have
flat dull pages and then pick up a bit and then more flat and dull. Yours did not. Instead it was exciting from beginning to end. If it
doesn’t become a best seller and stay there, I will be very surprised.”
Mrs. Lila Ash - Bradley's Ghost
“When I got your manuscript, I dropped everything and started reading. I certainly enjoyed reading it. I read an article written by
Louis L’Amour that stated ‘if you can’t capture your reader by the first page you have lost him.’ You not only capture but you don’t
release until the very last word on the very last page.”
Mr. Mike Charrier (Retired), Emergency Preparedness Canada
“Mr. Derby has created an exciting read within a spectacular scenario. By means of the novel, he has publicized the lack of
continuity of government (s) in time of crisis; a problem exacerbated with the apparent lessening of world tension at the end of the
Cold War. In Canada, we have converted our continuity of government
facilities into museums. As Mr. Derby demonstrates, we are less prepared now to face a major terrorist threat than we were a
decade ago.”
William Medigovich, Colonel, USAR, retired
“Mr. Derby provides a gripping, and captivating novel on the dangers of chemical and biological acts of state sponsored terrorism.
In recent years our government has been struggling with finding ways to deal with this new threat, yet Americans remain largely
unprotected and extremely vulnerable. In light of the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Great Britain, Mr. Derby’s novel
has a compelling ring of authenticity and credibility. I applaud you for your effort; it has a wonderful Clancyesque flavor to it.”
Mr. Gary Hull, Virginia State Police Officer
“Mr. Derby, your book was outstanding, once I started reading it I could not put it down. The subject matter and the characters
were superb. It was obvious that you put a lot of thought and hard work into it. It was as if I were there with the characters on
location and actually going through the struggles of trying to figure out who were the bad people. I felt myself tense up at crucial
times during the book, like I was actually there with them. It was not just another suspense spy thriller; it was an eye opener to
think what could possibly happen in our country or any other nation. I wish you well on this work.”
Ms. Sheila Hensley, Professional Speech Therapist, State of Virginia, commented:
“I just finished reading Mr. Derby’s novel, “The Shadow Government,” and all I can say is WOW, what a trip! It was good! Believe
me, I wouldn’t have finished it if it wasn’t really, really good. I’ve been known to put down a book of my favorite author if it doesn’t
hold my interest. If I had received your manuscript on a weekend, I would have finished it in one night. I felt so patriotic, I cried. I
was scared too––because I know that just such an event can happen and may in my lifetime. Did I love the way your President
Bea handled our enemies! I hope your book is a best seller and it scares our enemies!”
Ms. Genell Hardy, a housewife from Utah.
“As I read your novel it got worse and worse until I thought it could not get any worse and then it really got worse. A week later, I
could still vividly remember the characters and could envision them in a motion picture. I could not put it down once I started
reading.”
Jennings Vanover, DLA Criminal Investigator.
“I just finished reading your book. Wow, talk about life imitating art! Like I said before, if this isn’t published, there’s no justice in
this world.”
Frank R. Wolf, Virginia Congressman
“As promised, I did read your novel “The Shadow Government.” I share your concerns over the threat of biological weapons and
hope that is a situation our country never has to face. Fiction has become reality, especially the last few months.”
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