This title is available free on Kindle April 15th - 19th - 2012 Link at the bottom.
Title: Redemption
Day
Author: Steve O’Brien
Review: When it comes to political thriller genre, in
the current marketplace, an author needs to step-up to the challenge because
there are so many great political thriller authors out there. In that respect,
I feel that Steve O'Brien fell a little short. The story starts out with Nick
James, a contracted analyst for the Government, who is fired from his job one
day and the next is wanted for the kidnapping of a Supreme Court Justice. Nick James has to discover who is behind the
kidnapping before the terrorists strike again.
The book promised
action and intrigue but what was there instead was nonstop confusion with your
typical political thriller characters. For example, Nick James goes from being
an unemployed analyst to being wanted, to being held by terrorists, then goes
to lead an investigation under the watchful eye of the FBI. I felt like I was missing something from
Nick's past that would take him from unemployed desk jockey to the status of
lead investigator for an FBI investigation.
We are also introduced
to Wesley, an investigating officer with the FBI, who suspects Nick of secretly
working with the terrorists. Wesley is a hothead and very annoying though out
the book, giving nothing but trouble for Javier, his boss. Then there is Kate, Nick James girlfriend and
attorney, who is also working the case and believes her boyfriend to be
innocent regardless of the evidence against him. Wesley's character gives Kate and Javier a
lot of problems and almost becomes more of a distraction to the story than
enhancing. I also question where the
rest of law enforcement was hiding because Nick was able to escape the police
very easily when he was a wanted man. I
can't drive on a freeway without seeing a billboard of America's most wanted
and he would have been number one on the list if he were suspected of
kidnapping a Supreme Court Justice.
My one question is why
are all Militia's "right winged"? There are no "Left
Wing" Militia's out there too?
I found it brave for
Steve O'Brien to take on the topic of home grown terrorism because I feel it is
sometimes a topic most political authors avoid. It hits so close to home and is
very personal for Americans. There were a few editing problems, but I was able
to easily look past them because the action was so fast paced.
In the end there are
certain rules that need to be followed in this genre and Redemption Day just
missed the mark.
Thanks go to Heidi for
this review.
Publisher: Published
March 22nd 2012 by A & N Publishing
ISBN: 9780982073520
Copyright: 2012
Pages: 304
Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)
Why I Read It:
Sent by The Cadence Group for review.
Synopsis: The terrorist to be feared is not one
across the seas.
It is the one in your
backyard; the one indistinguishable from your neighbors.
Redemption Day is a
highly paced thriller set in Washington DC. The story is founded upon
historical events and documented
teachings of the Posse Comitatus. The Posse was an anti-government militia
group in the 1980’s that tried to
convince farmers that banks could not lawfully foreclose on their properties.
Their beliefs led to the bombing of
the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on a date of significance to the group—April 19.
Author Biography: Steve O'Brien is an award winning author
and attorney. "Bullet Work" and "Elijah's Coin" were
recipients of multiple literary awards, including Best Fiction, National Best
Books Awards, and Best Novella, Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
"Redemption" Day is his third novel.
Steve lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife Becky; they have two children.
Steve lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife Becky; they have two children.
FYI: A Note From the Author:
April 19 has become a date marking horrific violence in this country's history.
The date is not well known like September 11 or December 7, the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Unlike dates that commemorate great military victories or the end of World Wars, April 19 is about a different kind of violence.
Violence between citizens of this nation and the government itself.
Like most traditions it began as a coincidence, but later transitioned into a date of significance for members of sovereign citizen groups like the Posse Comitatus.
It began in 1985. Jim Ellison was the leader of a sovereign group called CSA (The Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord. On April 19, 1985, three hundred federal officers surrounded his compound in northern Arkansas. Ellison surrendered and was later convicted of conspiracy and weapons charges. Aside from traditional firearms, the federal officers rounded up hand grenades, plastic explosives, blasting caps, land mines and even a US Army anti-tank rocket. One of Ellison’s men, Richard Wayne Snell was charged with murder and his execution took place ten years later as fate would have it, on April 19.
April 19, 1993 the FBI stormed the Branch Davidian complex outside Waco Texas, killing seventy six members, including seventeen children. David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidian group was sought for illegal weapons charges, something sovereign groups adamantly believed was not a crime, but a right. This came on the heels of the Ruby Ridge shootings which had enraged members like Tim McVeigh. Terry Nichols and McVeigh saw Waco as yet another illegal intrusion by a corrupt government.
Following Waco, April 19 became a date of significance for sovereign groups. They would use the date as a symbol and cause to retaliate against the government.
On April 19, 1994 militia leader Linda Thompson issued a call for sovereign citizen groups to assemble in Washington DC, armed and in uniform. The purpose of the assembly was the forced repeal of the Brady Bill and the arrest of Congressmen and Senators for treason. She identified herself as the acting adjutant general of the Unorganized Militia of the United States. Although later rescinded, her call to arms became known as the Thompson Ultimatum.
At nine pm April 19, 1995, CSA member, Richard Wayne Snell, was put to death by lethal injection in Arkansas. Twelve hours earlier, Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols had ignited a truck bomb outside the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City killing 168 people.
For McVeigh and Nichols the date was not a coincidence.
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