Smoke Screen

Well, I went against my own rule of NOT awarding five stars because I have always felt they were suspect. The cynic in me has usually been under the impression that five star reviews nearly always come from author friends and family members and all of that, so they were probably not entirely genuine.My rule, then, was to never award higher than a four star review here, so anyone reading a review I've written or posted here would not be compelled to harbor the same cynicism about any of my reviews and they would know I was not biased in any way about whatever I was or am reviewing.For the record, I do not know Kyle Mills, personally or anywhere else. He's neither friend nor family, nor am I now nor have I ever been, in Kyle's employ in any capacity.All that being said now and out of the way, this is an excellent book. I love the premise and the plot, and I liked the fact that, even though it's main character was, at the beginning, kind of living his life as a somewhat entitled ass, he was pretty honest and along the way admitted to having flaws.(Plus, if you have read any of my recent reviews, you know that I only read novels written in first person point of view and this one is, so that makes the reading and reviewing process work better and flow more smoothly. I have done extensive and painstaking work before and after reading this novel, and sadly, this is Kyle Mills's first and only foray into first person narrative point of view territory.However, as it turns out, Kyle considers this his favorite book, if anyone asks him or tries to pin him down into picking just one of his many novels. Fellow thriller novelist Lisa Scottoline shares Kyle's single-foray into a first person narrative point of view novel. Her novel, Final Appeal, is her one and only first person.Lisa's Final Appeal also benefits from having been awarded the prestigious Edgar award for best mystery thriller. Sadly, unlike Kyle, Lisa actually now hates Final Appeal, in spite of its Edgar award, solely because it was the only novel she published written in first person, rather than third person, as all the rest of her novels have since been written.)Anyway. Leaving that discussion aside, and back to the novel, when I finished reading Smoke Screen, the one thought that kept going through my head was, this is a book that needs to have had a much wider audience than I suspect it originally had, and it also needs to be mandatory reading for ANYONE in Big Tobacco, or the numerous Anti-Smoking lobbies, our federal and state governments, or anyone who smokes, and maybe most importantly, anyone who does not smoke and vehemently decries all the evils of smoking.Full disclosure: I am currently a smoker, though I consider myself something of a recreational smoker at most. I typically only smoke late at night and I typically only smoke a few cigarettes a night. Some nights two or three, sometimes four, some nights five or six.Depends. I can also for the most part take it or leave it. So, if I'm sitting outside in our smoke shack and it's only 12 degrees outside, for example, I only stay out long enough to have two or three smokes and I call it a night.I actually quit smoking for about 17 years. Just quit cold turkey, back in 1997, and hadn't really had any interest in smoking until a couple years ago when I came to the veteran's transitional residential community I currently still call home in January, 2016.All my friends that I enjoyed conversations with usually sat outside smoking and I wanted to be one of the cool kids, so I hung with them for a while and resisted the temptation. But, I eventually decided I could smoke one or two a day and could walk away any time. I haven't done that yet, and I still smoke.But I do feel still in control of it rather than the other way around. So why is any of this relevant to my review? Because I've been on both sides of this particular discussion or argument, even though I admit I was never really a vehement anti-smoker after I quit back in 1997.So, I know what it's like to be discriminated against for being a smoker, and occasionally wishing I still was a smoker when I wasn't, so I could run outside for a smoke break, too, on any particularly stressful work day. Truthfully, I was never really a totally perfect non-smoker anyway. For those 17 years I did okay, but I never fully sat in either camp, non-smoker or smoker. I quit but I was never a braggart about it, I never flaunted it in anyone's face, and I never tried to get other smokers to quit because I had been able to. I was rarely ever more than half a pack a day smoker, even at my very worst.The basic premise of the book is what would happen to the entire country if ALL the tobacco companies literally pulled all their products off ALL the shelves at the same time, and shut down all the factories where cigarettes are made. And what all that would do to our country and our economy.And it was a fascinating revelation, especially considering all the industries that were impacted that we might consider ancillary. Let's just say, the economy was thrown into chaos and suddenly everyone realized just how much one "evil" industry actually impacted multiple other industries.Kyle Mills tells a wonderful story, and I truly believed what happened in the novel's fictional world, even back in 2003 when it was published, would have the same or an even more dire impact if the same thing happened in 2016.It's still relevant and it's still a story that needed to be told and needs to be shared. My parents never smoked a day in their lives and I strongly recommended both of them should read it. It's that important. It's truly a timeless message, and one of the best books I've read in a long time.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another edition of Book Review For U. Today we will be reviewing a book by Kyle Mills called Smoke Screen. which is Mill's sixth book and whereas his previous books were all mystery thrillers, this one shoots off in a new direction.""With us this fine Saturday morning our usual panel members ET and Pamela Anderson. Et of course is our resident Science Fiction expert and Pamela doesn't know that much about books but she sure is nice to look at, right ET. Gimme three! That a boy! The gentleman in the middle is ET's long time interpreter Hailey Comet and last but not least is our two guest panel members, Film Maker, Michael Moore and Comedian Jerry Seinfield and Mike, please don't worry about that chair, I of course am your host, William Jefferson Clinton. I used to work for the government but now I've got a real job and I'm loving it.""As usual I'll read the fly leaf of the book, giving everybody a feeling for the book Then we'll have our usual comment from our Mr. D and then we'll open up for discussion by our panel. Sorry ET, this one isn't Sci-Fi but it is a good book, right? You haven`t read it yet? You`ll read it on the commercial break.""Gee, I wish I could read that fast. It took me a week solid to read this one""Well baby you know you don`t have to contribute. You just have to sit there like you do, doing your thing.""I know Billy boy but I want to contribute for a change.""Okay, let's move on. Here's what the fly leaf has to say.""Through an inexplicable series of unwanted promotions, Trevor Barnett has become the lead spokesman for the tobacco industry just as it's on the verge of extinction. Plaintiffs' attorneys have finally found the weakness they've been searching for and filed a $200 billion lawsuit that the industry will be unable to appeal.""America's tobacco companies react by doing the unthinkable - they close their plants and recall their products from retailers' shelves. Trevor is charged with the task of going on national television and making the announcement: Not another cigarette will be manufactured of sold until the industry is given ironclad protection from the courts.""There's more but I think the audience gets the idea. We now have Mr. D on the phone to get his analysis. Good morning Mr. D. May get right to the point, what did you think of Smoke Screen?""Well Bill, I really loved it. Up until this book, Kyle Mills has been a serious novelist but on his latest novel, Smoke Screen he has borrowed from the masters of tongue in cheek humor to put out a subtlety droll and amusingly clever book. He succinctly tells an excellent, witty story, doesn`t get too detail oriented doesn`t try to foist his superior vocabulary on the reader, so you don`t need a dictionary next to you""What I like about Kyle Mill`s books, which I like at varying degrees, is that he comes up with some seriously different and interesting plots. He`s not the only one that can do that, of course but it seems like some major authors rehash the same plots only on a more massive scale.""I read a bio on this guy and he don't even have a background in writing, he just tried it, managed with difficulty to get his first book published and now he's off and running. I'm impressed and I`m impressed with his writing as well. He doesn`t waste words. His writing is direct, he doesn`t meander off in other directions and he`s smooth. This book is less than 350 pages, when 500 plus is the apparent norm.""Thanks again Mr D for your insights. so what do you rate rate this book?""Sorry Bill, I thought that was obvious - Five big ones!""Super. We`ll take a break now and when we come back we`ll hear what our panel has to say"_______________"Ok Panel, let's talk about Smoke Screen.""Yes Pamela.""I loved it, it was humorous and droll and clever and ah..............oh yeah succinct and I give it five stars.""Hmmmm, ok ET, how did you see it""Mr ET thought it was very good but he would like to have seen some sex scenes and for it to take place in space but he still gave it five stars""I see, sex scenes huh, I thought you guys were unisex, oh well Mike what did you think? Mike, hello Mike!""Sorry Bill, I was just noticing a spot of dirt on Pamela`s ........never mind. What did you ask me Bill?""Your evaluation of Smoke Screen.""Sure, I thought it would make a great movie, though I wouldn`t let the bad guys, I mean tobacco guys off the hook. You know there are so many bad guys. Everywhere you look bad guys. Look what happened to you, scandalous,""Michael!""No no, not you, the way you were treated. You`d think you started a war or something""Michael!""Yes, yes, sorry I digressed. I thought the book was excellent. especially the union guy. I laughed so hard at what he said about Trevor`s father that I lost my cigarette and burned the couch. Five Stars""How about you Jerry?""Good book Bill, but I don't think we've said enough about the excellent character development. Michael mentioned the pragmatic Union leader, Larry Mann but we also had Trevor's anti tobacco activist, love interest Anne, the calculating corporate guru, Paul Trainer, Trevor's always partying, friend Darius andTrevor's suppressive, conniving father Edwin Barnett.""I thought it was a clever, sarcastic story with some funny lines. I may have to borrow some for my act. Just kidding. I`ll make it unanimous, Five Stars.""Thanks Jerry. So there you have it, Smoke Screen by Kyle Mills. Buy it!"

First of all, the people who have written poor reviews of this book are clearly demanding that authors stay within the cookie cutter format of novel writing. I was surprised and pleased to see that Mr. Mills has expanded his horizons. The key to a Kyle Mills book is taking a scenario in the real world and focus in on 3-5 main points or hooks and ignore the rest. With a narrow perspective on the world we're able, with only a small stretch of the imagination, to sit back and go on a fun ride. I can see how this is disappointing or frustrating for some because you're screaming at the book, "what about second hand smoke?!?" By focusing on some key points the author expects the reader to suspend disbelief. This isn't for everyone but for those it works for it's an incredibly fun ride. His characters are wonderful; although the main character's love interest is a little under-developed. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

This story expands to the limit what you thought you knew about the tobacco industry in the USA. Trevor Barnett, a young man living on a family trust and doing very little of value finds himself a spokesman for the entire tobacco industry. He jokes about it during a television interview and throws out some ideas designed to help folks quit smoking. Immediately, pandemonium breaks out within the industry, in the halls of Congress and even in the Oval Office...when his next suggestion is that the industry simply stop manufacturing cigarettes in the U. S. This is when things get even more panicky among leaders of the industry, its employee unions, interested congressional committees and powerful forces within the industry who have a hidden agenda.You are going to love this one!

A slow read, even author admits not one of his best.

Bought it because I had seen Kyle writing along side Vince Flynn for some of his novels but didn't find him anywhere in league of Vince. I didn't even complete the novel. Disappointing.

A secondhand book which lives up to its title, it absolutely stinks of cigarette 'smoke', this smell is so strong it has ruined my work bag, not a bad read though. low rating due to smell.