Review by vagrimes -- Devil in False Colors by Jack Winnick

[vagrimes]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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Devil in False Colors, by Jack Winnick, begins with a brutal attack on a Jewish pre-school in Orange County, California. Resulting in the death of five toddlers, the Islamic State, or more commonly known to Western societies as ISIS, had delivered their anti-Semitic message in the most violent way possible. Lara Edmond and Uri Levin, returning as protagonists from Winnick’s previous novels, are recruited to identify the attackers and prevent future acts of aggression.

Lara, a member of the U.S. government’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York, and Uri, an Israeli Mossad assassin, embark on undercover assignments to attempt to locate the Los Angeles-based radical group. When it is revealed that the attacks are in fact being executed by Shiite extremists masquerading as ISIS, Lara and Uri, with cooperation from the U.S. and Israeli governments, are thrown for a loop, forcing them to alter their tactics to identify the perpetrators.

While Devil in False Colors is a fictional novel, Winnick has taken relevant cultural, religious, and political issues seen in today’s Middle Eastern and Western societies, and spun them into an all-too-plausible and equally thrilling plot. While ongoing relations in the Middle East are not always easy to understand, Winnick anticipates the potential difficulty some may have in following along with the complex plotline. He tells the story from multiple viewpoints and embeds explanations of each group’s cultural and political motives within the plot. Names are repeated often, and context is provided to remind readers of relevant characters and important plot points that have already occurred.

One of my favorite things about this book is the role that culture and language play in guiding the story. Uri’s undercover alias was particularly interesting, posing as a Lebanese convict in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood outside Los Angeles. Having not been very knowledgable of Middle Eastern culture or religion prior to reading this book, I found that I not only enjoyed the storyline but learned a significant amount as well. Winnick also played around with language, seamlessly integrating the relationship between Arabic, Farsi, and Hebrew to make it a crucial aspect of the plot.

Although there was not much I disliked about this book, I did find myself needing a bit of background research on specific Middle Eastern cultural and political references, such as the difference between Shia and Sunni Islam; visual appearances of traditional Muslim dress; and geography of the Middle East. However, by the end of the book I saw this as a positive as it enhanced my understanding of these cultures and enjoyment of the story.

I am giving this book 4 out of 4 stars, as Winnick has provided readers with a fictional, but terrifyingly realistic novel that draws on extremely relevant topics in today’s media. His daring plotline and look into the minds of radical terrorists had me not wanting to put the book down.

I recommend Devil in False Colors to those who enjoy political thrillers, crime, and action. As advertised, this book is definitely pro-Israel. Readers should be warned that the Iranian government is not painted in a favorable light by the end of the book. Although this book is not particularly sectarian, Middle Eastern religion does play a large role. Because this book is mainly about radical groups, I do not think it will offend many readers. Although this is the third book in the Lara and Uri series by Winnick, Devil in False Colors can be read as a stand-alone novel.

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Devil in False Colors
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[Aan Granados]

I am familiar with Winnick's work, having read and reviewed "East Wind". I must say I thoroughly enjoyed his writing, and I appreciated reading the points of view of the terrorists. Thanks for your review.

[Ruchi Raina]

Lara and Uri are out to destroy the mission of ISIS who has killed five toddlers. Would love to see how the story progresses. Thanks for the wonderful review.

[Penny Ann Criswell Johnson]

I just chose this book to read after reading the first two in this series. I love following along with Uri and Lara as they embark on their journey. Just like you, I learn quiet a bit about things I knew nothing about. Great review.