154. Nelson DeMille ~ Wild Fire ~ Vision (Nov 2007)

     On the back of the book, Before the synopsis of the story, there’s a quote from Nelson DeMille that I found very interesting:

“This work of fiction is based on a rumor, repeated on the Internet, about a government plan very much like the one I call Wild Fire. Hopefully, the story I’m about to tell will play out only in these pages…” 

    The story that this wonderful author then goes on to tell is a nail-biting, breath-stealing, chuckle-rousing, on-the-edge-of-your-seat ride that will keep you glued to the book… at least it did for me. Drat the need for sleep anyways! And yes, while adding “chuckle-rousing” to the description of a thriller may seem to be an error, it’s not: John Corey, one of DeMille’s returning characters, has the smartest, and funniest, mouth around. Irreverent, somewhat laissez-faire when it comes to rules, extremely loyal and all-round excellent hero, John Corey also makes me laugh all the way through the book. A serious story? You bet… but with a good dose of relief throughout. This story was, for me, a no-brainer as a Winner.

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent to OUTSTANDING ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: not really applicable (married behind-doors sex) 

BOOK READ:
Nelson DeMille; Wild Fire; Vision; November 2007 [mass market pb edition]

FROM the BACK:
     Welcome to the Custer Hill Club, a mountain hunting lodge whose members include some of America’s most powerful business leaders, military men, and government officials. The club appears to be a place to relax with old friends. But one fall weekend, the club’s executive board gathers to talk about 9/11 ~ and finalize a retaliation plan, known only as Wild Fire. Soon after, a member of the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force is found dead near the hunting lodge. Investigating this mysterious death, Detective John Corey and his wife, FBI Agent Kate Mayfield, uncover a shocking plot that begins with the Custer Hill Club ~ and ends with American cities locked in the crosshairs of a nuclear device. Now Corey and Mayfield are the only ones who can stop global chaos from being unleashed…

Further NOTES:
     I wanted to make a few additions to my thoughts about this book.  The heroes in this book are John Corey and his wife-superior-colleague Kate Mayfield.  This is John's fourth outing in one of DeMille's books and, I believe, it's Kate's third showing.  They are, on the surface, very different people, but I think that it's their differences that make the magic.  I've also noticed, that as they make another showing, that their initial biggest differences aren't so much anymore.  Either way, they work very well together... and really that says it all.  You forget, at least I do, that these are only characters created by an author, they become so real.

NB:  In the synopsis on the back it says that "the club’s executive board gathers to talk about 9/11 ~ and finalize a retaliation plan, known only as Wild Fire."  Actually they only discuss 'Wild Fire' only tangentially insofar that they have a plan to have the 'Wild Fire' plan put into action... not a very nice group of people ya know.

Books read in May: 20
Har / Sil ~ 13
Others ~ 7

October's MEMBER OF THE MONTH

kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!