"Inside Threat" - Riley Covington series book #4 by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn

***SPOILER ALERT!!!!  This book is #4 in a series, and there are some major SPOILERS in this review!!!!***

As I was looking back at my blog, I can't believe I didn't write any reviews for the other three books in this series. They were all enjoyable, although some were better than others. The first book "Monday Night Jihad" may have been the best...

In this book, domestic terrorist attacks begin to intensify. The analysts in Riley's former counter-terrorism unit believe they are diversions for the "big event." They are correct. Terrorists take over 300 people hostage at a funeral - several of whom are congressmen and congresswomen (also taken captive are their security personnel, including Khadi, Riley's old romance flame).

This was my least favorite book of the series, for several reasons. Incidentally, I can't help but feel that I put Jason Elam and Steve Yohn at a disadvantage by reading this book immediately after "Blaze of Glory" - which is superior to this book in every way. But this book was just bad, so it may not have mattered.

Let's talk about what I hated:
1. Riley Covington was an out-of-control jerk in this book. That's what I got, anyway. He was rude, quick-tempered, selfish, and forced his friends into compromising positions because of his thoughtless actions. He totally lost his mind when he found out Khadi was held hostage. He coerced people into letting him have his way and get into the action. It seemed so out of character from the Riley I remember in the other three books...but it's okay, because:

2. The authors kill the main character at the end. Is there any better way to alert the readers that there will be no more books in the "Riley Covington" series than to kill off Riley Covington? He trades himself to the terrorists for Khadi, and they kill him before the good guys can diffuse the situation. The authors attempted to make his death look so noble - but because of his horrendous attitude and behavior in the first part of the book, his death didn't make me sad or even shocked. It was just STRANGE. (Not to mention that he broke all kinds of governmental agency protocols in order to get to the hostage site to begin with).  His death was not noble in my mind. There was no redemption, even though he gave his life for Khadi. Did the authors have a grudge against Riley when they set out to write this book?

3. The first half of the book seemed drawn out and full of unnecessary fluff. It really annoys me when a book that claims itself to be a "thriller" (and that also has a really cool cover photo) is SOOOO SLOOOW to get to the action. There was an inordinate amount of time given to the fact that Khadi and Riley still desired a relationship with each other, although they had agreed to part ways. Many of the scenes in the first half of the book involved them...simply... missing each other.

4. Humor is overused at a teeth-grindingly frustrating pace (okay, so I use made-up words occasionally). I am not an "operative" or an "operator" or a "spec-ops warrior" or a "CIA spook" or even a school crossing guard. But I can't imagine that average law enforcement/military professionals use so much cheesy humor, especially in tense situations. If they do, don't tell me. It would shatter my mental picture of them.....

5. In order to get to the hostage scene where he will eventually perish, Riley is held up by a young marine who is in charge of screening people through the security line... Riley doesn't have time to wait in the line like everybody else, so he CUTS in front of EVERYBODY, dials the PRESIDENT (!??!?!) on the president's private line, and the president (despite the intense hostage situation) happens to have time to tell the young marine to let Riley through....because he owes Riley a favor. Seriously. It would have been more believable and interesting if Riley had just shanked the marine with a broken spork.

What I liked about the book? Good guys win. Khadi starts to seek out the true God. It was less than 400 pages.... after that, I'm struggling.

I hate to say it, but I give this book 1 out of 5 stars. Fortunately, the other books in the series are better. Unfortunately, the authors won't have a chance to redeem themselves in the next book, because the series is over.

"Homeland Insecurity" by Richard & Evangeline Abanes

Shaken. I was shaken after reading this book. I enjoy fiction novels involving terrorism, because I like to see the good guys winning. It helps me deal with my emotions regarding 9/11. But this book didn't HELP me with any emotions.... It created some new ones.
I had never really heard much about (or thought much about) white supremist groups in America. I knew they existed. I knew about the KKK, but I had no idea who they are and what they believe. The terrorists in this book are MUCH more frightening to me than the Islamists in Joel Rosenberg's books, mainly because I don't know any Muslims personally. I have no knowledge to compare them to. But as I met the characters in this book, I realized that I MIGHT know some people like this... People I grew up around, people I went to church with, people I went to school with. My neighbors. My friends. Is it possible? I suppose it is possible, and it scares me to death. I pray to God that none of my relatives, friends, or acquaintances have any beliefs that mirror the terrorists in this book - although racism is at least faintly present in some of the people I know. And to me, racism is one step toward the horrors of these terrorists. GOD CREATED ALL MEN OF ONE BLOOD, the Bible says! (Acts 17:24-27)  We are all humans, and we are all sinners, and we all need to be saved. We don't all need to be white. God offers salvation to WHOSOEVER will believe on Christ. This is the plain teaching of Scripture. Racism is an affront to the redemptive nature of God.
Now, for some plain facts. This book was not the greatest or best-written novel I have ever read. However, it was a good story, and very captivating. The ending was (in my opinion) a little obvious. But I still enjoyed it. ***NOTE: There are quotes by white supremists and terrorists in this book that contain racial and disturbing language. Please be advised before reading.
I am glad Richard and Evangeline Abanes had the guts to write this book. It was something that I needed to hear. So, from a pure thrilling-story fiction-loving side, this book is five out of five stars. But be warned: you cannot un-read what you have read. It may change the way you think.....