Felicity Lennie can write stellar novels for any genre. For INQUILUS, she retains the suspenseful flavors found in her mystery novels yet adds high tech skills and a beneficent extra-terrestrial being named, Link. As a benevolent System Traveler, Link is tasked with linking compatible technologies between other planets for mutual benefit. The theme of Dark versus Light, Good versus Evil remains in play even for extra-terrestrials. Inquilus is the evil extra-terrestrial energy that has wormed its way into the mind of a greedy, evil human being. Carozzi's thirst for power and world dominance blinds him to the total dominant infiltration of Inquilus into his own brain. The author craftily leads the reader towards a fascinating, terrifying and powerful crescendo between Good and Evil.
Enter a motley crew of five human beings orchestrated by Link to be the team to take down Carozzi and Inquilus. Each character begins their journey with very human flaws, a little arrogance for some and for others, a hesitancy with regard to their skills and abilities. Haakon is a gruff, yet endearing computer wizard whose greatest love is of computers, not women. Max, Heini and Helga are siblings who own a computer security business. Each find themselves in situations which challenge them to act from greater self-strength. Jay, an older man who used to be a legend for peace, discovers residual strength of character as he faces challenge after challenge, even one of the heart. The male characters question Link's choice for Team Leader: a young woman reporter named Beatrice, a woman with a resilient nature and a passion to thwart injustice. Throughout the novel, the author shares tidbits of dialogue and musings that validate the wisdom of Link's choice. The team members are highly skilled in their areas of expertise so it is no surprise that there is a lot of grumbling going on. For example: "..a benefit to their discomfort (with each other)..By sharing and complaining about it together, they were becoming closer as a team."
How does this novel end? Like a roller-coaster ride, there are twists and turns that left me clenching my teeth and limbs until, finally, I coasted to a satisfying stop. There's a last chapter, too, which endeared me to the author.
