4 out of 4 stars
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Shadow Saints, by M.C. Jackson, is a fictional book about a radical cult. Their members are young people who have been brainwashed by a fanatical leader. This cult leader declares he is the Son of God. He also believes God has told him to overthrow the corrupt federal government.
The last time Senator Frank Watkins saw his young daughter was when the Covenant of Saints kidnapped her. She grew up inside the cult.
Sam, the older brother, became an FBI agent. One day, while comparing data with a fellow FBI colleague, he recognized his kidnapped sister in a photo. When he discovered that she might be alive, he immediately made plans to rescue her. This involved some careful planning and traveling. He wanted to infiltrate their isolated camp, deep in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. His goal was to rescue his sister and prevent the cult from using their weapons and bombs to destroy the country’s financial system. He teams up with Mickey, a forest ranger, whose husband died at the hands of the same cult. Together, they hope to enter the camp, rescue Sam’s sister, and thwart the cult’s malicious plans.
The plot was very intriguing and built up the suspense throughout the story. The twists and turns grip the reader, making one anxious to uncover more details. The author chose an excellent setting for this story. This cult, hidden in the mountains of Idaho, was a perfect secluded area to conceal their activities from spying eyes. I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the mountain landscape. The pacing of the book was excellent. The dialogues were also very believable. The speeches delivered by the cult leader were especially captivating.
One thing I particularly appreciated was the explanation of acronyms. Each time an acronym appeared, the author took care to explain its meaning. This helped with the reading flow and avoided confusion.
The one frustration I had with the text was the weak development of some of the subplots. The suspense rose to a peak. Then, the author changed from showing to telling. I felt there was an abrupt ending to several situations and didn’t understand why the author changed his method of storytelling.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. There were very few editing issues. The captivating story line, the development of the characters and the plot kept me intrigued until the end.
This book would appeal to anyone who enjoys suspense. Be aware that the text does present some difficult themes. There are references to torture and sexual abuse.
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Shadow Saints
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