4 out of 4 stars
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Boston Burning is an action-packed suspense-thriller written by Eric Salin. Most of the story takes place over seven fraught days of paranoia and fear as the city of Boston is held under siege by a ruthless terrorist named Hassan Bucheri. Known as “The Fox”, Bucheri is every counter terrorism unit’s worst nightmare—he’s highly educated, professionally trained by the old KGB, and has been the mastermind behind some of the worst terror attacks the world has ever seen. On the cusp of retirement, he’s even more dangerous now that he has nothing to lose, and there’s also no negotiating with someone whose only goal is revenge.
No one knows this better than Harley Jones, formerly of the Army Special Forces as well as the FBI. Still grieving for a friend who died in a crisis negotiation gone wrong, Harley has been involved in everything from combat in the Vietnam War to undercover operations for US Intelligence. Now he has been called upon to serve his country once again, heading up the effort to stop Bucheri’s reign of terror on Boston. However, The Fox is a wily foe who keeps evading law enforcement at every turn, and as the body count rises amidst the mounting violence and chaos, Harley has no choice but to pull out all the stops in order to save the city.
Boston Burning hooked me from the start. The author created tension by swiftly introducing all of the story’s major characters on both sides of the conflict, switching frequently between perspectives to show different views of what’s going on across the city. Over time, the cast list expands even more as Bucheri begins launching his attacks, requiring the attention of multiple agencies at all levels of government.
Much of the book, however, is focused on the actions and decisions of Hassan Bucheri and Harley Jones. Harvard-educated, Bucheri is a smart enemy who understands American culture and politics, using the media to sow more panic while the good guys have their hands tied with miles of red tape and bureaucracy. As the city suffers attack after attack, the story begins revealing the psychological effects on the populace, which is gripped with anxiety and paranoia. Just when you think the situation can’t get worse for Boston, the violence continues to escalate to new and terrible levels. Throw in a couple of betrayals and some dissension among the ranks of Harley’s team, and you have yourself an intensely addictive read.
Here, the author also examines the difficult and emotionally wrought question of “Freedom versus Security”—an age-old debate which asks whether safety is worth the price of giving up certain individual liberties while allowing the government more control to do what it deems necessary. This is the problem Harley is faced with, watching the death toll rise as Bucheri gains the upper hand again and again. Some readers might condemn Harley’s decisions, such as suppressing the news media, lying to the public, or tapping into civilians’ phone conversations. However, it’s also hard not to sympathize with his position, considering some of the traumatic experiences in his past and the fact that all he wants is to save as many lives as possible. This book confronts us with all sorts of moral gray areas, making you ponder just how far you would be willing to go if it means preventing the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
Eric Salin’s background as a former Marine Corps officer and engineer also makes him very knowledgeable on the topics in this novel, which shows in his writing as he covers law enforcement, military, and intelligence operations at every level. The only area of concern I can think of is the huge number of agencies and characters involved, as well as the frequent point-of-view changes that can make following the plot difficult and a little confusing. However, this is only an issue at the beginning, and the good news is that you get used to the story’s rhythm quite quickly. There’s also a list of characters and a glossary of terms provided at the end of the book, which might be helpful to review first before starting to read.
In addition, the book feels professionally edited, containing only a few errors. I could count the mistakes I spotted on one hand, and all of them were very minor at that.
All in all, I’m happy to give Boston Burning a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Featuring a gripping story about the struggle between good and evil, the novel’s intense atmosphere and dynamic pacing along with its thought-provoking themes will make this one a perfect choice for thriller fans.
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Boston Burning
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This one has to go on my "to read list" for sure! Superb review mate 
