Title:	The ET Murders
	Author:	Mark Bouton
	Published:	2013, Create Space
	No. of Pages:	261
	Cover Price:	$9.95 US

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In the third installment of the Max Austin FBI Thriller series, The ET Murders, Max Austin, an FBI agent, is called to the scene of a particularly gruesome murder. The victim is Bill Harper, a fellow FBI agent, and while Max and his colleagues quickly come up with a few suspects, they are having a tough time finding a motive. When more FBI agents are murdered, Max must find the common thread that connects the victims. As the novel progresses, Max learns that before his death, Bill Harper had done extensive research on UFOs, and was a member of a group that met periodically to discuss the subject. The group is comprised of not only FBI agents, but also a small-town sheriff, a retired Colonel, a prospector, a detective, and an aeronautics engineer. The murdered agents were previously members of the group, and Max fears that the remaining members are in danger. Max and his partner, Pete, travel to New Mexico for a meeting with the group, and to obtain the information he needs to solve the murders. The end is perhaps implausible, but since this is fiction, after all, and the subject matter is quite controversial, it’s only fair that anything goes.

By the sound of the title, it seems that this FBI thriller is geared more toward fantasy, but that is incorrect. Bouton has done extensive research on UFO and alien sightings in the world, and has woven his fictional story in among the documented facts. The information on extraterrestrial aircraft and beings contained in the novel is fascinating, and readers may find themselves leaning toward the category of believers.

While the story is good, and flows easily, there are a few minor grammatical errors; I’m sure the second edition will have these corrected, and they don’t really take away from the storyline.

Bouton’s obvious sense of humor is evident in The ET Murders , and readers will find some welcome comedy scattered throughout the novel. However, the author’s animosity regarding the airline industry, and air travel in general, is a little over the top, and is mentioned a bit too often. In addition, the characters are likeable, but could use a little supplementary development to turn them into real believable people.

For readers looking for something a little different from the mainstream police procedure type thriller, or for those who are interested in facts regarding extraterrestrial sightings, this novel is definitely recommended.

Special thanks to the author for supplying a review copy of this book.

This book may be purchased at Amazon: The ET Murders: an FBI thriller (The Max Austin thrillers)