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Home > Strike Terror > Comments And Reviews Strike TerrorComments And Reviews
"... Strike Terror is a continuing crescendo to the last word on the last page of the book." --- ActionTales.com
Having read one other McElwain book, I can recommend heartily that anyone who enjoys action stories, or mystery stories, or political stories, or today's-headline stories, should seriously consider this one, or any other titles by this imaginative author. His characters live down the block, until they are snagged into circumstances that bring out the best of humanity, while they manage to maintain believable and likable personalities, and admirable idealism. This completely leaves out the individual and collective heroism displayed by one and all. Heroism, after all, is acting selflessly for the benefit of others while conquering one's own fear of what logic tells us are impossible or no-win situations. I particularly enjoyed the scene in Nick's hospital room after the leave-taking, in high dudgeon, of the reverse-prejudiced, arrogant police Lt. Jackson. But then, I particularly enjoyed the entire book. To call it a page-turner the reader is unwilling to put down is to overuse a clichéd image, yet it faithfully describes my reaction to the story. Not bad for someone who is, and remains, speechless! Brenda Russell
>Caught in a sniper's crossfire, Nick Boshard witnesses the death of a young woman. Infuriated, he charges the towering building where he suspects the sniper is holed up, only to be shot himself as the sniper suddenly exits the building. Recovering in the hospital, Nick learns the police and FBI suspect the sniper attack is the work of the Peoples Freedom Front, an ultra right-wing group. But why target a bunch of lunch-hour strollers in a serene city park? After an attempt on his life in the hospital, Nick loses what little faith he had in the police and FBI handling the case. Nick, harboring deep secrets from his past, believes one must make the rules as one goes along. After repeated attempts by street people to eliminate him, he puts that belief into action. But now he's being chased by the police and FBI as well. Meeting Kate Vanshelt, an up-and-coming expert on terrorism, he reveals his true self and the reasons he must play by his own rules. They're soon off on a chilling chase to find the answers. What they uncover in this high-stakes game spells impending doom for the entire world. But whom to trust with this information? They must make an immediate decision. As the suspense builds toward a gripping climax, it soon becomes clear 'nothing is as it seems' is proved true once again. Get set for one heck of a turbulent ride! ActionTales.com
Bob McElwain set his novel, Strike Terror, in the time when Gorbachev and perestroika were on the minds of many. But some lived with fear and heavy hearts, dreading a preemptive nuclear strike launched by the Soviet Union. McElwain opens with snap: ". . . the bullet shattered glass." He then sustains a runaway pace. Yet the settings, characters and actions are vividly and deftly drawn. The characters glow as three dimensional beings, as if one were viewing them in a film. All against the dynamic background of that vast sprawling region that is Los Angeles, California. The protagonists, Nick Boshard and Kate Vanshelt, find themselves forced to define the objectives, beyond those stated, of a domestic terrorist group that has targeted both of them for death because of what they already know. When they finally discover the structure of this group, and its real objective, they face an awesome dilemma. Who can be trusted with detailed records of extortion, blackmail, and murder, and the group's plan to take control of the U.S. government? Anyone could use such information to enhance their wealth and power many times over. They can't release it to Agent Dewitt of the FBI, for he would destroy all named, regardless of circumstances or consequences. And not to Wilson Starr, a powerful, secretive industrialist who controls an international empire. So then who? How Nick and Kate resolve this dilemma brings an ending that will surprise and startle all. Strike Terror is a fast-paced, fun read in which the characters seem to lunge up at you from each page. They will linger in memory long after you have finished the book. And the plot may linger as well, for it may be happening right now. ActionTales.com
Once started, you won't put this book down until you're read the last word. Another barn-burner, that's certain. --- ActionTales.com
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