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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Book Review - Redemption Day - Steve O'Brien

 This title is available free on Kindle April 15th - 19th - 2012  Link at the bottom.
Redemption Day
Title:  Redemption Day


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.
Steve O'Brien 
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.


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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