Into the Fire

When you read a Dustin Stevens novel, you know to expect certain things: lots of firepower, thrills, anxiety, all kinds of action, intriguing characters, and a fair amount of "first draft" typos and errors – some grammatically, some punctuation, some wrong words, etc. The Debt is no exception. 

Laredo Wynn is 10 years removed from the military where he was a Delta operator all over the world. His girlfriend Rae is less time removed from the military where she served as the closest a female could get to being a special operator. They've "retired" to a small southwest town in Texas where they live on their ranch in a relationship that survives on minimal words and deep understanding. 

On one operation many years ago, Laredo was severely injured and would've died if the doctor attending him hadn't saved his life. As it was, he retained an ugly scar on his neck as a reminder of that event. That doctor, who is now hoping to be the next Vice President, is also calling in a favor to pay back the debt of having saved Laredo's life. Laredo has dreaded this possibility and makes sure if he gets the favor done that his debt will be paid in full. However, when the information he's received after he leaves Rae and the ranch for Chicago turns out to be incomplete, he hopes his assignment is over. The young female hacker he's been assigned to locate has vacated her last known address. 

In the most unlikely of arrangements, Rae joins Laredo as they team up with the young hacker who desperately needs their protection because of what she knows about the VP wannabe. If things were crazy before this, they're ultra dangerous for all of them now as their debtor, the psychopathic narcissist doctor, has become their staunch enemy and has risked no expense to erase their existences including the hiring of a former group of military men now engaged as private for hire mercenaries. 

With extemporaneous plans and daring attempts to re-acquire the incriminating information that's been stolen from the young hacker, the three of them realize their final stand may be their last one. 

What I didn't expect from The Debt and Dustin Stevens was an affirmation of liberal politics and choosing to make the wicked nemesis a "right wing conservative" much like TV dramas enjoy making the serial killer or evil antagonist a "Christian pastor". That went absolutely nowhere in endearing this otherwise entertaining novel to this reader. 

Sadly, one of Dustin's better written novels, his politics ruined the overall experience of reading The Debt. 

Profanity present. 

God, you're the only One who knows hearts, redeems lives, and is Truth. May each of us who tells stories incorporate real truth in them. Please continue to bless Dustin's life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.