“Sky Dance is a dark and dangerous adventure novel by Richard Meredith. The plot follows the volley of increasing violence between two central male characters. The first is Carlos Serrano, a tour guide who leads tourists carefully through the wilderness of the Amazon, and the second is Douglas Reynolds, a black-hearted scientist with a grudge against the multi-national petroleum company Steator. What begins as a stunt to frame Steator Energies for wrongdoing catapults Serrano and Reynolds into a vengeance fuelled tit for tat, where kidnap, rescue and ultimate satisfaction are the order of the day. With innocent lives caught up in the deadly feud, the novel explores how deep a grudge can go, and the consequences that ensue when things get out of control.
What I loved most about this novel was author Richard Meredith’s attention to detail in bringing his locations to life. Centering the majority of the action on the northern countries of South America near the Amazon Basin, the wild geographical features of the area seem to reflect the growing violence and chaos in the hearts of the central characters as the action escalates around them. As with many adventure novels of this type, there’s a heavy swing towards political themes and macho-style expertise, but both Serrano and Reynolds are characters firmly grounded in reality, making for a highly engaging and realistic read. If you’re looking for a complex, literary-style adventure in the heart of a brand new vista, I’d highly recommend Sky Dance for your next big read.”
K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite, 5 stars
“Driven by devotion to friends and the promise of vindication for feeling helpless as his father succumbed to cancer years before, Carlos Serrano, a tour guide and bird expert in the Amazon rain forest, vows to safeguard the lives of four birders under his charge as a case of “wrong place, wrong time” goes horribly awry. Sky Dance details the rousing adventure of this unwitting group of tourists and their determined leader, who are left fighting for their lives. Having witnessed a key event relevant to a high-stakes pending lawsuit, the innocent bystanders are suddenly thrust into the thick of things.
Attention to detail and crisp writing propel the story ever forward. It is easy to imagine people, places, and events as they unfold. From the impressive descriptions of thoughts and actions of the characters, to the careful use of just the right words and phrases to capture the essence of a scene, to the use of vague, yet ominous, language to subtly foretell future events, Sky Dance delivers. Additionally, the obvious knowledge base from which the author draws in the areas of science, birding, and nature in general lend a profound authenticity to the story.
Time, an important factor in the telling of the story, is easy to track, as each chapter is time-stamped for ease of understanding. As helpful as this feature is, though, the weekly divisions in the book create the impression of timeline gaps when there aren’t any. One day flows to the next otherwise, but these divisions place odd stops and starts in the middle of continuous action. This is Sky Dance’s only flaw. Otherwise, Sky Dance offers a riveting adventure with unexpected plot twists and outcomes uncertain that anyone could appreciate.”
Laura Mahon for San Francisco Book Review, 5-Stars
“Richard Meredith's adventure thriller, Sky Dance, is an entertaining and fast-paced novel. The Amazon Basin setting is fabulous, and birders will love the descriptions of both the rare birds found there and the methods Carlos uses to entice the birds to show themselves. There's also an intriguing, if troubling, look at the oil industry and the predatory attitude displayed by corporations as well as local governments towards extracting oil at any cost and with little concern over the well-being of the land or its native inhabitants. While some of the corporate figures in the novel seemed to care about the environment and wanted to ensure that the land was left in as pristine condition as possible, the costs to the environment and the fact of the vanishing ecosystem loom throughout the story. Meredith's plot is intricate and well-designed, and his writing style is smooth and assured. Sky Dance is recommended reading for fans of the adventure and thriller genres.
Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite, 4 Stars
“Sky Dance is an engaging story. The plot encompasses various parts of the world. This helps the reader to become more wrapped up in the story. I enjoyed reading the descriptive scenarios, especially the ones concerning the natural beauty of the rainforest. This really showcases the creative skills of author Richard Meredith. The language used is semi formal and is easy to understand. I love the fact that the author included a variety of characters. This creates an interesting story whereby the average reader can glimpse a different perspective of the unfolding storyline. The details of the private lives of the main characters give the plot more depth and increase the overall intrigue of the novel. I loved the contrast between the peaceful scenes of nature versus the ensuing violence by the henchmen. I enjoyed reading Sky Dance. It is an interesting novel that sensitizes readers to the frailty of nature. I recommend it to all readers.
Valerie Rouse for Readers’ Favorite, 4 Stars