Fifty ATF agents raid a remote compound outside Waco, Texas, at dawn to execute search and arrest warrants. The search warrant identifies two .50-caliber Browning Machine Guns; the arrest warrant names Jesus Christ. The ATF agents don’t make it to the front doors.
Ninety miles south in Austin, Professor John Bookman reads a letter from an old woman whose daughter took her two young girls to … girls to live in a religious cult six years before. Her daughter wrote that the End of Days is near. She fears they might drink the Kool-Aid. She begs Book to save her granddaughters. The cult inhabits a massive compound called the Garden of Eden outside Waco.
Book and his intern travel to the compound intent on bringing the girls out peaceably, only to find the Feds there first—and to learn that peace is not an option.
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There are moments of excellent writing in this story, but the story itself is less than perfectly developed. Juxtapositioning in writing is difficult. This author pulled it off sometimes, and not sometimes through most of the book but when the last fifty pages came he left his method and began a political tirade in the guise of one of his main characters, Jesus Christ. He lost my five star award there. The change was too dramatic, too distracting. The book was otherwise well written, the characters a little lean in some ways, the editing well done but for a few errors. One I picked up on right away was that Abrams tanks do not run on diesel, they run on aircraft fuel since their engines are turbines. All in all the ending was predictable but acceptable.
John “Book” Bookman is the motorcycle lawyer. Here he must negotiate a resolution to a violent standoff. A religious cult led by Jesus Christ has illegal weapons which they use to kill several government agents. The FBI arrives and surrounds the compound. The author creates a wonderful satire. Bleeding-heart liberals versus NRA rednecks. All the divisive forces in America today are exposed and poked with the stick of irony. Evangelical fanatics versus the LGBTQ crowd. Fox news versus MSNBC. Even POTUS’ tweets make an appearance. For all the laughs, many folks are about to die.
This writer is one of my favorite. Great story line with entertaining characters.
I’ve yet to read anything by Mark Giminez that I haven’t loved, and that doesn’t haunt me long after I’ve finished the book. Inspired by true events (IMHO), this book takes twists and turns constantly, covering what appears to be a cult plunked down in central Texas. It’s not a reprisal of the Branch Dividians; it’s unique in and of itself. There’s the innocent daughter of a wealthy Houston businessman, the man her dad has sent to rescue her, some special ops characters, the National Guard, and of course the media. And Jesus, or at least a man who appears to truly believe he IS Jesus.
I will read this one again!
Keeps the action coming.
Interesting scenario. Political and religious undertones.
Did not care for this book. Enjoyed all of his previous books, however this was a disappointment, not realistic at all.
love his books! great!
Dumb and sophomoric. Unbelievable and unappealing characters. Sad disappointment from an author who has done much better.
This author is great. I have read several of his books.
Disappointing compared to his other books. Trite.
I have read other books by the author that were great. This one was not. After a while it became boring with a cycling theme and too many pages. Also, the choice of constant use of the F word left me feeling dirty for wasting my time with the reading.
Giminez hits another home run. Rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors.
one of my favorite authors, his books are always cleaver and entertaining.
Good book that I would recommend. Interesting concept with a law professor involved as a major character.
I love the way this author writes. Have read most of his books. Love the character development and plots.
Kept me turning the pages for sure
LONG-WINDED POLEMICAL HARANGUE. AUTHOR USES THE WACO, TX CULT STANDOFF , UPDATED TO THE PRESENT, TO AIR HIS EXTREME RIGHT POLITICAL VIEWS.
Not up to his usual writing. I really enjoyed his other books.
This is a strange book. Not a legal thriller at all. Disappointing.