4 out of 4 stars
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John Bishop is a killing machine and the most decorated soldier in recent U.S. military history. When he retires from 14 years in the special forces he comes home to live the quiet life in Manhattan with his childhood sweetheart Maria. The quiet life is not ready for him, however, and he ends up being confronted by the same terrorist operatives he was fighting in Afghanistan. When he prevents a suicide bombing by the Afghan terrorists in Union Square he makes himself and his family the terrorist's new target. The operatives get more than they've bargained for, though, because John's family is not ordinary. They are the Valdez family, New York City's most notorious mob.
Through a series of unfortunate events John and the entire Valdez clan end up in a two-week-long war with the Afghan terrorists in the heart of New York City. They also find themselves at war with the Deputy Director of Homeland Security Michael Meecham. He is a self-important psychopath convinced he will be the next president of the United States. When he is insulted by John's hot-tempered cousin Felix in front of a room full of military personnel, he vows to destroy John, Felix and Gonzalo, the head of the Valdez family. What ensues is a fast-paced action thriller that takes the reader to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mexico, Greece and the United States. It is an exciting ride that the reader won't want to disembark until they've reached the end of the book.
Bishop's War is the debut novel by Rafael Amadeus Hines. It is the first in a series of books centered on John Bishop, but it is far from amateur. The writing quality is comparable to bestselling authors on the market today. Reading this story is like watching a Hollywood action thriller complete with a fast-moving plot, believable characters, a compelling story and some comic relief. All that's missing are the popcorn and the Red Vines. Mr. Hines develops characters that readers can easily relate to, like John, Felix and Maria. Even though they are part of a crime family, they are likeable, fiercely loyal, self-sacrificing and true to their word. It is easy to root for them. There are also characters readers will love to hate, like Meecham. He is a detestable man. People will long for his comeuppance.
Even with the great writing and captivating scenes, readers with weak constitutions will not enjoy this book, as there is abundant graphic violence and gore in the story. Some people may also find the profanity in the book excessive.
Action thriller fans will love this story. Mr. Hines writes a great novel, with smart dialogue and well-written emotional scenes that are not overdone or cliché. It is engaging and has the reader invested in the outcome of events. There are only a handful of grammatical errors which is impressive for a book nearly 450 pages long. I rate Bishop's War 4 out of 4 stars. Read this novel and then look forward to the next book in the series, Bishop's Law.
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Bishop's War
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However, I might be bothered by 'abundant graphic violence and gore'. Good job on the review. Congratulations to Rafael Amadeus Hines on such an obviously well written book.
