Review by jfetterling -- East Wind, 2nd edition

[jfetterling]

[Following is a volunteer review of "East Wind, 2nd edition" by Jack Winnick.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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East Wind tells the story of two skilled agents that must investigate the aftermath of a terrorist attack on the Los Angeles area. When the FBI cannot locate the source of the tragedy, they put Laura and Uri to the test. Laura is a computer expert with the Bureau, Uri is part of Israeli Special Operations; together they discover how the bombers have been evading the FBI and communicating undetected. Gradually the two agents develop a deep connection with each other as time passes. Setting aside their best efforts, they are always one step behind, Laura and Uri are in a race against time - will they be able to stop the impending threat?

The story takes place after 9/11 which combines fact and fiction into one solid storyline. Jack Winnick does an outstanding job of creating characters and back-stories that effortlessly fit into the time-frame. When I started this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. This had been my first time reading a Spy/thriller. I got lucky, thankfully, and found a diamond in the rough. With 260 pages, I found this to be a decent length for a novel.

Typically, I don’t finish books in a weekend, this can be one of those rare cases where I did. It was well worth it. The velocity and flow of the story does not drag nearly as much as you think and the introduction defiantly caught me off guard but sets the tone well.

I liked the drama and intrigue; it doesn’t hesitate to drop you right into the action. The writing makes sure you spend time with characters, before and after dangerous events; this made its representation more realistic. Principal characters have complex relationships that play a crucial part in the plot as well.

I disliked the brief romance overall, it’s not much, but it’s there. When thinking from another perspective, it makes me wonder how different the story might've been. I see a reason for it, but a part of me kept begging for a buddy-cop dynamic.

Every antagonist/protagonists interplay in a way that resonates with a mature audience. Fans who enjoy a modern Spy/thrillers will flock to this piece of literature. I suggest this book for anyone who wants to try a different genre. As a final note, I love the writing. Parts of the book that depict action/intimacy have enough description that it doesn’t dwell on it, which made it easier to follow; I recommend this book to everyone. This Novella deserves 4 out of 4 stars.

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East Wind, 2nd edition
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