"The Twelfth Imam" by Joel Rosenberg

How much do you really know about Shia Eschatology? If you are like me and know pretty much nothing, you will learn a little bit by reading this book. The main character is a CIA operative who has been given the task of gathering information concerning Iran's nuclear development operations. While all of this is going on, the Twelfth Imam (an Islamic Messiah-type figure, also known as the "Mahdi", or the "Promised One") seems to have appeared and is rallying the Muslim world together. There is much more to the story, of course, but this hefty book (480+ pages) will keep you interested until the very end.
This book is a fairly sharp departure (in my opinion) in style and substance from the "Last Jihad" series. In fact, it is very heavy on emotional drama and relationships and very low on action, at least until the last 100 pages of the book (which are the best, by the way). The story starts very slowly, weaving the lives of different characters (across different decades, in different countries) into one unified tale. If you have read "The Last Jihad," you will remember that a plane was blown up by an RPG in like the first five pages of that book. Not so in "The Twelfth Imam"; it's much more mellow.
Impressively, Rosenberg utilizes a lot of real information - including actual article snippets and transcribed conversations that really happened. I'm a big fan of "spy" stories, and this book delivers big on that front. Rosenberg also makes it a point to uplift the name of Jesus Christ, and there are several characters in the book that give their hearts to Christ. Very moving scenes, almost bringing me to tears a few times.
Great book, but "The Last Jihad" still sits at the top of my list for Joel Rosenberg.

"Hunter's Moon" by Don Hoesel

A historically wealthy and influential family is dealing with a lot of drama from within. CJ Baxter - a prodigal son of sorts - heads back to the town of his youth to attend his grandfather's funeral. As he begins to re-involve himself in the affairs of the Baxter clan, it is clear that he is bitter towards his family. And they pretty much all hate him. I mean HATE him.
When I first began reading "Hunter's Moon", I was expecting a thrilling story, a mystery, a conspiracy - something along those lines. For this reason, the book falls below my expectations. It is a decent book, and I half-heartedly recommend it - just don't expect a nail-biter story.
My next issue was the pacing and plot development. Have you ever been with a friend at their family reunion, where everyone is telling stories and inside jokes or reminiscing about memories? You know that uncomfortable feeling you get, because you realize you are an outsider? That's the feeling I had for about HALF of this book, literally. There is so much space dedicated to CJ's past and memories...
You know, I'm not really sure what was the MAIN plot....more specifically, what was the big SECRET that the back cover talks about. We never find out in the book. There were also many details and side issues left unresolved at the end of the book - which I find unforgivable. If you are going to lead people along for close to 400 pages - and several hours of their life - you had better clean up your mess at the end. This author failed to clear the mud at the end of this one.
And about the little matter of it being a "Christian Fiction" book.... well, the main character refers to God in between his beers, poker playing, and trying to seduce a married woman. CJ Baxter talks like he became a Christian, but we never hear a salvation theme, or a redemption theme, or a repentance theme.
Good things to say about it: Um... I laughed out loud a lot; there was some good humor. That's pretty much one of the only good things I can say about it. The story was decent, that's all.
In short, it's not a bad book...just not a great one.