3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
The novel WaterForce by Jack Bell Stewart is an environmental crime thriller. Set in New York City, it focuses on bioterrorism and the immediate environmental consequences it can have on a large city. Terrorists dump toxins inside a reservoir that provides drinking water for the people in NYC. Upon the discovery of this substance, the authorities are now faced with a difficult decision. Should they make the public aware of the hazards inside the waters or should they keep quiet so as not to cause a panic?
Herb Rose, a worker for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is one of the first to discover the white powder inside the waters. Upon further inspection, he and his co-worker, Mo, begin to realize the danger that this substance poses to the city’s drinking water. Meanwhile, Parker and Titus, Herb’s sons, are striving to become environmental activists. The two boys soon find themselves tangled up in the present environmental crisis. They decide to collaborate with their father and some friends to form a group that will combat and raise awareness for these environmental hazards.
This book is very fast-paced and has a consistent flow all throughout. I really enjoyed reading about the possibility of bioterrorism and the things that may arise from such a threat. The plot was unique and well-thought out. The author seemed very informed about environmental issues and the political aspects of it. It was clear to me that Stewart did his research prior to writing this story. The characters were very well-developed and relatable. Every single character had a back story, even the minor ones and the villains. I was able to understand why the terrorists were doing what they were doing. The dialogue was also very realistic.
This novel was well-written for the most part. The only issue I had with it is the grammatical mistakes. While for the most part it seemed professionally edited, I still caught at least ten errors as I read it. Most of the mistakes were missing punctuations and omitted words. They seemed like careless errors and made this otherwise exceptional book look a little sloppy. These mistakes were not enough to completely deter me from the book’s overall content. However, I would still recommend another round of editing to fix these issues.
Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It held my attention the entire time that I was reading it. The plot was original and explores a topic that could very well become a reality someday. If not for the grammar errors, I would have given this book a perfect score. I recommend it to those who are passionate about environmental causes and those who enjoy a good crime thriller novel.
******
WaterForce
View: on Bookshelves
Like Mely918's review? Post a comment saying so!
