Review: Status: Missing by D.W. Maroney

In this day and age, military thrillers often seem ripped right off the front page, and as technology and terrorism rapidly evolve in a global arms race, stories like Status: Missing become all too believable. Author D.W. Maroney launches readers into a fast-paced, multi-faceted novel of heroism, desperation, loyalty and sacrifice that is both timely and terrifically entertaining.

In response to more and more commercial airplanes beginning to mysteriously disappear, a secret task force is gathered to assess Drone Theory, which relates to the ability to hijack planes mid-flight, redirecting them anywhere in the world, or to the bottom of the ocean. Fearing that the source of this terrifying new power may be U.S. Tech that was downed in a Middle Eastern war zone, Air Force Intelligence Officer Major Sloan is determined to recover this lost tech and re-establish control over the air.

As can be expected in a thriller such as this one, the stakes are almost immediately raised for the main character, when a U.S. jet filled with government officials is commandeered remotely and sent hurtling towards an international incident – or even the next world war. With a ticking clock and very few leads, Major Sloan must apply her significant talents to uncover the truth about who is pulling the strings and what that puppet masters want.

The interesting device in this narrative is that readers are given insight into multiple perspectives in alternating chapters. This isn’t simply a third-person narration of the hero saving the day in the nick of time, but a far more comprehensive and insightful look at what drives violence in the world, and what has fueled the rise of terrorism. Between rapid-fire scenes there are also thoughtful musings on international politics, the meddling of superpowers, and the rise of nationalism and isolationism. Given the condition of the world at present, this book hits home, and raises numerous questions that should be considered by every American and global citizen.

By seeing the events play out through so many different viewpoints, readers are introduced to every side of the story, from the “bad guys” being forced to carry out evil deeds to the suspicious loyalties of some who claim to be fighting on the same side as Major Sloan. There are well-researched procedural moments of Air Force business that lend the entire story credibility, coupled with subtle passages that give readers more of an insight into each character. This thorough approach to storytelling is challenging to do well, and can very often feel disjointed, but Maroney hits it on the head.

There isn’t much variation in the writing style, however, and the descriptive passages are often monotone. The no-nonsense nature of the plot doesn’t necessarily need to bleed over into how the meat of the story is executed, but some of the slower sections could be aided by a bit more flavor in the prose.

That being said, there are few technical mistakes, and the dialogue rings true in almost every interaction. The amount of research that went into Status: Missing is impressive, as is Maroney’s gift for delivering a smart and endlessly suspenseful thriller.