***** Overall *****Story ***** Narration – Trust but Verify Always —- Review by Rox Burkey
‘Caveat Games’ by Michael Wegman is an exhilarating suspense thriller that immediately captivates listeners. The story follows U.S. Navy Lieutenant Jill Sinclair and her husband, Ross Sinclair, a successful professional broker. While his wife is on assignment aboard the USS Admiral De Grasse, Ross lands a new lucrative client in Virginia. During her deployment, Jill becomes compelled to locate a sunken jet linked to a global sports betting empire. What starts as an underwater mission quickly escalates into a gripping narrative filled with high-stakes government corruption, thrilling conspiracy, and a looming terrorist plot. Mr. Wegman’s extensive military background lends authenticity to the story, particularly evident in the vivid portrayals of naval operations and underwater exploration.
The character development is strong, although a few more introspective moments could have enhanced the motivations of some antagonists. Jill is the leading kick-butt and resilient protagonist. Lieutenant Sinclair emerges as a compelling and resilient protagonist. She navigates through a web of deception and danger. Ross is devoted and supportive of Jill as he builds their future nest egg. He and a few close friends keep busy as musicians in their off hours. The insidious villain David Choi adds depth to the tension as he intersects Jill and Ross’s lives with a hidden agenda. Each of the players in this thriller is essential and relatable.
The book is well-researched, intertwining themes of loyalty, greed, and power without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail. While it begins at a relatively even pace, it swiftly builds to an engaging climax. The narration by Brandon Vissar is smooth, with poignant intonations and subtle voice shifts between characters that are perfectly maintained from beginning to end.
Overall, ‘Caveat Games’ is a fantastic debut novel that combines military precision with a thrilling plot, making it a must-listen or must-read for fans of high-octane action and intrigue. It is an entertaining action and adventure ride. Fans will cross their fingers for more stories about Jill Sinclair’s journey with her loyal husband Ross! Well done, Michael Wegman.
About the Author
Michael Wegman was born in Spain and raised in a large family with six siblings on Air Force bases in Ohio and Eastern North Carolina where he developed his work ethic on tobacco and hog farms starting at age 11. In high school, he was a student bus driver for the local junior high school and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, competing in wrestling, low hurdles, and throwing events such as shot put and discus. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was trained as an interior communications electrician and ship’s SCUBA diver on the fast-attack nuclear submarine USS Bluefish (SSN-675). He deployed twice while serving as a crewman on board the Bluefish.
From submarine duty, Michael was competitively selected for back-to-back participation in two major Navy college education programs. He served as yearbook editor and student body president at Wayne Community College (WCC), Goldsboro, North Carolina, and as yearbook editor and Regimental Adjutant of the nation’s second-largest Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Michael graduated from Auburn as a distinguished naval graduate, receiving a BA in Political Science and a Navy commission as an Ensign before returning to the fleet.
Michael’s officer assignments, both afloat and ashore, deployed him around the world in command and non-command naval and joint military operational environments. Those assignments provided him with the hands-on experience and perfect qualifications for relating harrowing and realistic, nail-biting stories of intrigue. Some of those commands included Oiler USS Canisteo (AO-99); Destroyer USS Comte De Grasse (DD-974); the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill; Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, North Carolina; Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Honolulu, Hawaii; Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois; the Theater Field Confinement Facility, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; the U.S. Sixth Fleet, Naples Italy; U.S. Second Fleet and U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.
Beginning his naval career as a seaman recruit almost thirty-six years earlier, in 2014, Michael retired from active duty as a full commander from the Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and he became a high school Naval Science Instructor at the Navy Junior ROTC Unit, Smithfield-Selma High School, North Carolina. Today, he remains an avid artist/painter, a writer, a distance backpacker, and a downhill snow skier. Michael is a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network and has been married to his high school sweetheart, Carolyn, since June 1980. They have two grown married daughters and two grandchildren, with one on the way.
About the Narrator
Brandon lives in the Pacific Northwest and has all of his life. Age 32 (2024) he married his wife Morgan in 2021. He loves playing D&D with his long time friend group of fellow fantasy lovers as his main hobby. An avid consumer of audiobooks and with background in music production and studio recording, he pursues this work drawing inspiration from his favorite childhood cartoons, video games, and stunning performances of well known voice actors like Tom Kenny, Jon Dimaggio, Sean Schemmel, Chris Sabat, Tony Jay, Matthew Mercer and others. Visservoice@gmail.com
