Into the Fire

Gone is Book 5 in A HAM NOVEL Series by Dustin Stevens. 

I've read all the Ham novels, and as long as Dustin writes them, I'll continue to read them. Having said that, they're not for everyone. Ham is a unique character, especially for a female. She's done it all in her previous service in the military and extended forces, and she quit that route in her life and vacated to a place in a desert in Mexico. She kept a distant relationship with an associate from that life who's known as Mikey. They have an understanding from their previous life. She does "work" when he calls IF she's so inclined. She's been gone for a while which he understood because Ham's only family was attacked, and they needed her. Mikey sent reinforcements. Some time passed and now that they're relocated and stable, Mikey calls.

     Sheriff Banacek is not prepared for what happens to the entire family he has considered friends. When he's called out to their large farm, he's barely able to complete the basic investigation. He never thought he'd have to make this call, but he does. 

     When Mikey asks if Ham might consider a job, after hearing the description of the total destruction of a family, she tells him to send directions to the place in Oregon. She meets the sheriff and tours the crime scene while they cement what the sheriff is asking. 

     Ham isn't like what most thrillers portray as a female assassin. She's all business, a highly intelligent killing machine with multiple skills, her favorite weapon of choice being the tomahawk, but well versed in everything that can annihilate the human body, knowing every way to sever bones from ligaments, and muscles from joints. She can inflict massive pain or can end things quickly. Basically, she leaves that up to the target. The particular targets in this endeavor require major pain and as she gears up to inflict it upon them, her determination morphs into the killing mode. 

     One of the interesting facets of this story is the metamorphosis that occurs in Ham is not dissimilar to one of her two main targets known as "The Brick". Considering himself the best in the business of "taking care of" his employers' opposition, his weapons of choice are Karambit knives. He thoroughly enjoys slicing and dicing. While he and his employer in this case are psychopaths in slightly different ways, Ham is not averse to inflicting torture if the target warrants it. Their mental preparation is not that different between them, but their "sides" are. Ham is sent to end the lives of evil people. The Brick doesn't care who he must end including men, women, and children. Just give him the money. 

     This is a hardcore story of Ham's return to "work", gruesome at times, graphic depictions of the slaughter of human beings. It's a rather tainted tale of "good" vs. evil, but Ham gets the job done with lots of cyber help from one of Mikey's assistants "Frost". Giving you fair warning, but it is a good story about extreme evil and Ham cementing she does have to be who she is. 

Some profanity.

Father, you knew and you know what this world contains, how people choose evil over good, staying lost instead of knowing Jesus. May the writers' portrayals of evil remind them that there is good available in this world, but it's only found in you. Please let them know you've given them their talents and gifts that they may honor the true source of their abilities. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.