Review of Devil in False Colors

[Oputu Dora Timi-Ebuoh]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Devil in False Colors" by Jack Winnick.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Devil in False Colors by Jack Winnick is a gripping work of fiction that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The novel began with malicious murders at a Jewish preschool in Beverly Hills, California. Five preschoolers were slaughtered and left with a bloody note pinned to one of the preschoolers' chests. The hate note was written in Arabic. It stated, "The Islamic State warns: stay out of our land or more will die!" Not long after this attack, Rabbi Rosenblum, a passionate advocate of Israel as a Jewish state, was assassinated. A similar warning message was delivered in Arabic. Authorities were led to believe that ISIS terrorists were the culprits of these heinous crimes. Upon further investigation, the clues led elsewhere. The LAPD and the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles summoned Agent Lara Edmond and Agent Uri Levin to track down the terrorists and prevent further attacks. Lara was a member of the United States Joint Terrorism Task Force. Uri was a seasoned agent from Israel and one of the most famous Mossad assassins. Though they have worked together in the past and know how to get into terrorist groups, they search for the truth in different ways. Lara pretends to be a Western bride, and Uri joins a Muslim community while pretending to be a terrorist who got away. Will this duo prevail and uncover who terrorized so many, or will they be uncovered in the process?
 
To stop the "false flag" operations this time, the agents had to take a different approach. The book's clever title refers to the radical Shia Muslims who were murdering Sunni Muslims and attempting to blame them on American Jews by dressing and speaking like them. Instead of cooperating, Lara and Uri devised separate plans to go undercover and infiltrate the terrorist network. Lara devised a daring plan: she would go online and respond to ads for attractive, young American brides. Being a radical Islamic bride would give her access to terror plots targeting her home country. Uri was given the difficult task of disguising himself as an escaped terrorist. He pretended to be Farid Refai first. He went to various Shia mosques in search of the imam who was behind these evil plots. When he arrived, he was identified as Mohammed Azizi, the notorious assassin who had escaped from prison. The imams were overjoyed to be collaborating with him! His mission had officially begun. Both of these undercover assignments were so dangerous that a backup plan was devised. Agent Sarah Emelkies and Agent Ahmad Mohammad, two new Mossad recruits, were sent in as backup.
 
The book shows that the author knows much about the Middle East's politics, religion, and culture. The book takes the reader to places like the U.S., Israel, Iran, and Russia, giving the story a rich and complex background. I loved Lara’s determined personality. She was incredibly determined and focused throughout the entire book. All the characters were extremely well-developed and well-rounded. The dialogue in the book was effortless and believable. I loved the relationship between Lara and Uri; it was believable and captivating. I love how the author was able to bring different people’s perspectives into the novel. The different perspectives were the perfect way to set the tone and show how different people would think in different situations.

What sets this book apart is its geopolitical outlook. Even though it's a work of fiction, the author has woven historical events and current events together to make a novel that makes you think and conveys new ideas. Jack Winnick’s knowledge of Middle Eastern affairs is admirable. He entrenched Middle Eastern politics, religion, and culture into the text. The setting shifted between the countries of the United States, Israel, Iran, and Russia, providing a comprehensive background. The plot is competently built around the ideas of religious terrorism, Iran's nuclear threat, and Russia's reasons. This gives the reader a unique view of these important issues. The way the author illustrates the creation of the State of Israel, feelings against Israel, and bias against Jews is especially interesting. The discrepancy between Sunni and Shia Muslims and the underpinnings of Hezbollah are also handled with great care and attention to detail. His proficient narration shifted between the perspectives of the protagonists and antagonists. This option assisted the reader in getting to know each well-developed character. My favorite aspect was the unpredictable plot! I was mesmerized as I read each chapter. The novel was action-packed and suspenseful. In addition, I enjoyed witnessing the evolution of Lara and Uri’s romance. Their scenes together provided a welcome break from the tense adventure segments.
 
A few parts of the book made me feel uncomfortable. It contains graphic and sensitive material, making it inappropriate for some readers. For example, the violent scenes show children being brutally killed, beheaded, attacked with knives, and shot. In addition, the narrative includes anti-Semitic and racist comments, which can be offensive. Though extremely graphic violence was expected because it is a book about terrorism, again, I am aware that it is the typical language of those particular characters in the story. This is more important evidence of Jack Winnick’s talent as an author; his writing evokes a wide variety of emotions.
 
The book was professionally edited, and there were no grammatical or spelling errors throughout. I recommend this book to matured minds. Graphic violence, rape, mutilation, suicide, and murder are all part of it. It contains antisemitism and disturbing terrorist plots. This book is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy political crime thrillers and historical fiction. International espionage mixed with fast-paced action and suspense is my favorite genre. As a result, I eagerly await the next installment of this fantastic series. I confidently rate Devil in False Colors by Jack Winnick 5 out of 5 stars because it was thrilling and kept me engaged from the beginning till the end.

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Devil in False Colors
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Max Tiffany]

This is another series from Jack Winnick, an interesting plot that will amaze readers who love action stories.

[Boluwatife Ade Aderogbin]

Jack Winnick's Lara and Uri
series is one enjoy reading. The information, the technology equipment used, and the tireless fight against terrorism are aspects of this book I like. The agents' commitment is second to none. This is a very detailed review.