Thank you to Austin Macauley Publishers LLC for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings since I was unable to finish reading this novel.
// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 2/5 Stars
Plot: 2/5 Stars
Setting: 3/5 Stars
Characters: 1/5 Stars
Writing: 1/5 Stars
Memorability: 3/5 Stars
// Quick Review //
I started reading Dark Clouds Over Montana for its intriguing plot but was severely disappointed. Although I tried to keep reading, I could not look past how the story was carried out and how boring the characters were. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing the book because I couldn’t look past its faults.
// Other Information //
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers LLC
Page Count: 266 pages
Release Date: June 30, 2021
Series: None
Genre: Fiction, Adult, Mystery, Thriller
// Book Description (from Goodreads) //
Biotechnology and medical inventions are exciting these days. Glenda Sands has a position as a patent attorney for a biotech corporation, where she is instrumental in getting these advancements produced. She is proud of her part in evaluating new treatments and potential cures to be approved and developed for the world’s population.
But what if some of the scientists involved with her company are creating various forms of WMD to be sold as military weapons and disaster control using both organic and chemical compounds? Does the president of the company know this? The destruction she witnesses puts her family and friends in danger. Some may die as a result.
A film company travels around Montana to film scenes for a new movie and they come upon the terrorists in wilderness areas and a small town. The scenes they shoot help the FBI and Homeland Security catch up with the criminals who unleash some painful consequences from their testing in this beautiful state.
Glenda uncovers the actions people will take to use their knowledge and scientific discoveries for evil purposes and cause harm instead of good. She puts herself and those who work with her at risk to combat these forces that have infiltrated the military, the government, and her company.
// Characters //
One of the things that disappointed me in this novel was the lack of depth in the characters. There was a multitude of characters, yet none felt fleshed out or realistic. The first few chapters were dedicated to introducing the reader to all of the characters at once. Loads of information about every character were thrown at me within the first few chapters, which made the characters not only non-compelling but also forgettable.
Personally, I prefer discovering more about the characters throughout the story, rather than learning all of their information at once at the beginning of the novel. The complete reveal of characters ruined the mystery and fun in discovering attributes throughout the story.
// Writing and Setting //
I was not a fan of the writing style, as it felt very bland and lacking liveliness. I felt like I was reading a non-fiction novel about actual events rather than a thriller.
The atmosphere of this novel (besides the plot) is what kept me reading for so long. It is risky, mysterious, and full of shady events. The novel is set in a small town in Montana, where moving in warrants a full police investigation.
// Plot //
The premise of this novel is what intrigued me in the first place. However, I was very confused throughout the novel. The characters and writing style definitely did not help with my confusion, either. It seemed like the different POVs of the story were pointing in completely opposite directions. Maybe I didn’t read far enough into the story to see the clash of these directions, but I truly could not overlook many the disappointing aspects present.
// Overall Review //
I chose to give this novel two stars because I think it has potential. However, the characters, writing, and lack of a clear plot really made this novel drop 3 stars, in my opinion.
I could not locate a website for N. Hall.
Purchase Dark Clouds Over Montana. (Affiliate link)
Add Dark Clouds Over Montana to your Goodreads shelf.
Maya's Reviews 