Review by estair56 -- East Wind, 2nd edition
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estair56
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Review by estair56 -- East Wind, 2nd edition
[Following is a volunteer review of "East Wind, 2nd edition" by Jack Winnick.]
East Wind, 2nd Edition by Jack Winnick follows FBI agent Lara Edmond who is skilled in computer programming and code-breaking and Uri Levin, an agent to Mossad which is Israel’s equivalent to the FBI. After an explosion rocks Los Angeles, the two are placed on a team to understand the explosion and prevent more if they are planned after threats emerge from a terrorist organization bent on taking over Israel and claiming it for Palestine. This book drew me in because I enjoy reading alternate realities, and I’m interested in current events, and government law enforcement. I am also interested in differing viewpoints as people cling to their beliefs and contrasting each one can be a challenge. The book also delves into the politics of the Israel-Palestine situation, which I only briefly learned about in school.
I enjoyed this book. The action scenes are heart-pounding, and the actions that are taken after the explosion are unpredictable and seem realistic about what might happen if something like that would ever occur once again on U.S. soil. Especially since the plot changes as each character carries it differently before they intersect. Winnick has done his research about how the different branches of government law enforcement work (FBI, Homeland Security, NSA) and how they intersect with each other, as each one has some department dedicated to terrorism response/counter-terrorism. The story highlights the conflicts and competition between the organizations in this story, adding another layer for the reader to consider. The story is interesting, slow but interesting because you connect to the characters, feel the emotions they are feeling, and watch as they change because of the attack.
Jack Winnick creates a realistic setting as it shifts from the middle east to America. While the book starts a bit suddenly with the first scene of the terrorist attack that doesn’t occur until much later, Winnick crafts the story to connect each character to the event and the climax of the story. The story doesn’t move fast but keeps a good pace, allowing each character to develop and grow into what they ultimately become at the falling action. Each character’s thoughts are presented in the paragraphs, so the point of view doesn’t change (excluding the times when the scene changes to the other characters forming their portion of the plotline). Each character develops the plotline which is different because in other books I’ve read there’s typically one set of characters, some minor ones they run into along the way, and then the antagonist that the protagonist and their group are trying to defeat in some way.
What I disliked most was the character development in the story starts weak, as it delves the storyline more into action to draw the reader in. However, the characters develop, and some even reconsider their position in their respective organizations, which is a bit cliche, but always nice to see as it adds to the plotline. However, the epilogue is a bit confusing, it’s vague. It took me a few reads to figure out who the characters were and what was happening. It might make more sense once I read the sequels but I shouldn’t have to read the sequels for an epilogue to make sense but in a way it makes me want to come back for more.
There is profanity (First profanity used is on page 10 although it’s minor but still considered profane by some) and one erotic scene (It’s 2/5, not graphic and it’s short). The erotic scene is only mentioned one other time but is in the thoughts of a character and isn’t graphic at all. The book is violent, but it’s a book about terrorist cells and attacks, so shouldn’t come as a surprise. Older young adults and adults are better suited for this book.
I am giving this book 4 out of 4 stars because the plot is interesting. It explores the agencies we hear a lot about but see nothing but the outside of. It also is different because it follows both sides of the story, the protagonist and the antagonist plotlines equally, and they merge beautifully to create the climax. This is probably one of the most exciting works of fiction I have ever read because of how real the story feels. It helps that the story is set in 2013, so that helps, but it felt like I was observing the characters perform their parts in their story.
******
East Wind, 2nd edition
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
East Wind, 2nd Edition by Jack Winnick follows FBI agent Lara Edmond who is skilled in computer programming and code-breaking and Uri Levin, an agent to Mossad which is Israel’s equivalent to the FBI. After an explosion rocks Los Angeles, the two are placed on a team to understand the explosion and prevent more if they are planned after threats emerge from a terrorist organization bent on taking over Israel and claiming it for Palestine. This book drew me in because I enjoy reading alternate realities, and I’m interested in current events, and government law enforcement. I am also interested in differing viewpoints as people cling to their beliefs and contrasting each one can be a challenge. The book also delves into the politics of the Israel-Palestine situation, which I only briefly learned about in school.
I enjoyed this book. The action scenes are heart-pounding, and the actions that are taken after the explosion are unpredictable and seem realistic about what might happen if something like that would ever occur once again on U.S. soil. Especially since the plot changes as each character carries it differently before they intersect. Winnick has done his research about how the different branches of government law enforcement work (FBI, Homeland Security, NSA) and how they intersect with each other, as each one has some department dedicated to terrorism response/counter-terrorism. The story highlights the conflicts and competition between the organizations in this story, adding another layer for the reader to consider. The story is interesting, slow but interesting because you connect to the characters, feel the emotions they are feeling, and watch as they change because of the attack.
Jack Winnick creates a realistic setting as it shifts from the middle east to America. While the book starts a bit suddenly with the first scene of the terrorist attack that doesn’t occur until much later, Winnick crafts the story to connect each character to the event and the climax of the story. The story doesn’t move fast but keeps a good pace, allowing each character to develop and grow into what they ultimately become at the falling action. Each character’s thoughts are presented in the paragraphs, so the point of view doesn’t change (excluding the times when the scene changes to the other characters forming their portion of the plotline). Each character develops the plotline which is different because in other books I’ve read there’s typically one set of characters, some minor ones they run into along the way, and then the antagonist that the protagonist and their group are trying to defeat in some way.
What I disliked most was the character development in the story starts weak, as it delves the storyline more into action to draw the reader in. However, the characters develop, and some even reconsider their position in their respective organizations, which is a bit cliche, but always nice to see as it adds to the plotline. However, the epilogue is a bit confusing, it’s vague. It took me a few reads to figure out who the characters were and what was happening. It might make more sense once I read the sequels but I shouldn’t have to read the sequels for an epilogue to make sense but in a way it makes me want to come back for more.
There is profanity (First profanity used is on page 10 although it’s minor but still considered profane by some) and one erotic scene (It’s 2/5, not graphic and it’s short). The erotic scene is only mentioned one other time but is in the thoughts of a character and isn’t graphic at all. The book is violent, but it’s a book about terrorist cells and attacks, so shouldn’t come as a surprise. Older young adults and adults are better suited for this book.
I am giving this book 4 out of 4 stars because the plot is interesting. It explores the agencies we hear a lot about but see nothing but the outside of. It also is different because it follows both sides of the story, the protagonist and the antagonist plotlines equally, and they merge beautifully to create the climax. This is probably one of the most exciting works of fiction I have ever read because of how real the story feels. It helps that the story is set in 2013, so that helps, but it felt like I was observing the characters perform their parts in their story.
******
East Wind, 2nd edition
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Devil Among Us by Jack Winnick
