Eight stars
Political thrillers have become my bread and butter of late, with Joseph Flynn proving to be the catalyst. This series is not only highly entertaining, but poignant when it comes to topics of interest and political relevance. Whole novels tackle hot button topics and they all link together, with strong story arcs and equally impactful characters. Gun violence has riddled the US for decades and after yet another school shooting, President Patricia Grant plans to take action. However, there are other events that will shape that plan, pushing her husband, Jim McGill, into the middle of another great investigation. This was once more a book I could not read fast enough, supported with great storytelling, which goes to show that Flynn had what it takes to impress.
Jim McGill arrives at work one Saturday morning, still reeling from the suspension and jail time he has been handed down. All this is shelved when he is visited by a new potential client, Zara Gilford. Mrs. Gilford tells a harrowing tale about her husband that makes McGill take notice. Jordan Gilford has become known as a whistle-blower and recently took a position within the Pentagon, a cushy job to keep him out of the limelight. Jordan is ready to talk, which leads to rumours that he is going to be killed to keep him quiet. Jim McGill is highly intrigued but also quite concerned for Jordan Gilford.
Across town that same morning, Abel Mays makes his way onto the football field of an elite school and begins opening fire. He leaves a number of coaches and star students dead, with many others injured. Mays flees the area, starting a manhunt in the latest school shooting to taint America’s image. After a time, Mays’ body is found in his vehicle across town, but not before Jordan Gilford is also located shot with Mays’ gun. The irony is not lost on anyone, but it opens a number of mysteries that Jim McGill will not be able to handle alone.
With President Patricia Grant seething from the news of the shooting, she begins to concoct a plan to react. Armed with the level-headedness of her husband, McGill, President Grant begins to speak of possible tightening of gun laws in the country, which could also mean a new Constitutional Convention to rewrite the ominous Second Amendment. The gun lobby and those whose political placement are funded by them have begun a counter-offensive to this limit of their right to bear arms, spewing the same rhetoric. This only fans the flames and pushes President Grant even further.
All the while, there are investigations in to the attempted assassination of President Grant leading up to her second inauguration, where characters who have remained hidden come to light. The hunt for truths and a clear narrative adds to an already busy novel that seeks to tackle gun violence and means to curb congressional backlogs. There is no end to the drama and tensions in this novel, with a cliffhanger that is sure to bring readers back. Joseph Flynn does a great job providing the reader with a strong political thriller.
Joseph keeps exemplifying that his writing style is perfect for this type of series. He weaves together strong political aspects with great development to keep the reader on their toes. A base narrative that is as easy-flowing as it is complicated, Flynn provides so many facets on which the reader can focus their attention that the story pushes itself along. Strong narrative momentum leaves things getting better as each chapter pushes along, strengthened by great characters who emerge to tell their own stories and develop aspects of their personal sub-plots. Flynn addresses issues of political and social importance while also keeping the reader wondering what awaits them at the turn of the next page.
As with most Flynn novels, there are many plot points to juggle. While this might be too daunting for some, it is necessary to keep threads from dangling in the wind, yet not tying them off too readily. I enjoy trying to keep things straight, as there is a sense of real story arcs emerging and no need to box an issue up into a single novel. Flynn has me captivated and I am eager to push forward with in the series. I liked to see some mention from the collection of short stories that preceded this book, knowing that thy were not entirely one-off moments in writing about the characters. I eagerly await news of how Flynn with resolve some of the poignant moments he left to hang at the end of this book and will be reaching for the next piece soon.
Kudos, Mr. Flynn, for a busy yet powerful novel that pushes the yardsticks along.
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