Mystery / Thriller
Plot/Idea: In this well-plotted military thriller, Ali and Harley are charged with monitoring a potential terrorist in Dearborn, Michigan: Ahad Nabar. As Ahad enacts Hezbollah's plot against America, various other individuals are swept up in the chaos.
Prose: Bultema's writing carries the action forward at an engaging pace; the writing relies too much on narrative 'telling,' however, and dialogue can be clunky.
Originality: Taking inspiration from America's previous encounter's with terrorism, there is a solid backbone of truth in Bultema's writing. Though the storytelling is not always dynamic, Bultema provides verisimilitude and brisk movement throughout.
Character/Execution: Bultema's characterizations are effective, many provided with distinctive traits and varied backgrounds, while the author's familiarity with the subject matter is apparent.
Plot/Idea: Tribal Honor is a gritty mystery that centers around characters living Jericho Nation Reservation. While the work has some uneven pacing, the novel picks up speed, tension, and emotional urgency in the latter half.
Prose: Brown's prose is generally smooth and carries the story forward, though the work is sometimes stalled with dry exposition before getting into the heart of a scene. Additionally, the switch back and forth between first (Warren Lawson) and third person POV can be jarring.
Originality: The reservation setting and the focus on vigilante justice provides a layer of texture to the novel. Brown's knowledge of police procedures is immersive and evident throughout.
Character/Execution: Although each new character arrives with ample description and the author effectively conveys several characters' anguish and distress, their development feels somewhat rote. Warren Lawson proves to be a formidable lead and the villain, effectively vile. However, readers may wish for more variation in terms of the presentation of the Native American characters throughout the novel.
Plot/Idea: Continuing the John Moore series, Legacy of Lies is a far-flung international thriller starring the titular character, a Vietnam vet and intelligence agent. In this installment, he embarks on a mission to rescue a friend from the clutches of Somalian pirates and becomes embroiled in a neo-Nazi plot to overthrow the German government. The narrative is often riveting, though the story doesn't carry a consistently unifying thread.
Prose: Overall, the prose is clear and appropriate for the style of a thriller, though it does get bogged down in repetitive details (often relating to airplane and weapon designations and the landscape and fauna of Africa). Frequent flashbacks to the protagonist's military operations offer backstory, but can sometimes take readers out of the more immediate action.
Originality: Marohn integrates a number of high-stakes sub-plots, with well-narrated action.
Character/Execution: In between stretches of procedural exposition, Moore reminisces about time spent in Vietnam, past operations as a CIA agent, and his emotional and physical attraction to the Vietnamese security office, Hieu. Despite his vast experience, he doesn't always emerge as a fully dimensional character. Hieu, the head of security for the Vietnamese president, proves to be an intriguing but somewhat inconsistent character, while side characters nicely populate the places and circumstances.
Plot/Idea: Ried's environmentally driven plot is timely, and the focus on Daniel—as a character who undergoes a complete change of heart following a devastating climate change related tragedy—is compelling.
Prose: Ried is a master at staging scenes, and the fear of his characters as flood waters rise—or explosions threaten innocent lives—is palpable.
Originality: The plot feels familiar, but Ried executes eloquent, striking descriptions throughout that give the book added depth while transporting readers directly into each scenario.
Character/Execution: The sheer number of characters makes it difficult to track them at times, allowing less space for readers to deeply connect with the main players. Daniel's internal struggles and guilt are painful to watch, but his eventual success at overcoming his crippling phobia is compelling.
