Into the Fire

                              Interesting places . . . Sintra, Portugal 

Father, thank you for all the beauty you've created for us. Although perishable, your divine hand was used. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

There's just some great guitar and vocal work in this Bachman Turner Overdrive hit of 1973. They did something with this song that I'm sure most musicians hope to accomplish: everyone recognizes those first few bars of this song whether or not they can accurately identify the band. It's a good oldie – typical lyrics of that time "back in the day". 

Father, you give gifts. Either we use them for you in gratitude or we don't. Only you know our hearts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Near Dark by Brad Thor is the latest thriller in the Scot Harvath Series. 

Scot Harvath is a broken operator, having been forced by a Russian ops group to watch the slaughter of the people he loved, and then to be transferred and tortured and crashed into the frozen tundra in Backlash. Now in Key West he spends his waking hours drunk in the hotel bar until he's requested to leave. 

Encountering sure death after a mean fight outside another bar in a Florida town, Scot is rescued.

Knowing his former boss, the "Old Man" (Reed Carlton), is gone and his friend and computer genius Nicholas is in command, he returns to hear about why he was suddenly rescued. What he learns is that Gary Lawlor, former friend and associate, is now in charge having taken Reed's place since Nicholas expounded on why he wasn't the best man for the job of leader for the Carlton Group.

The shocking revelation of the bounty out on the lotto death of Scot Harvath is coupled with the knowledge that no one knows who the donor is of this $20 million reward. Added to this is yet another revelation from the NIS (Norwegian Intelligence Service) that a former colleague and friend has been brutally tortured and murdered with evidence of the perpetrator(s) looking for information on Scot Harvath. 

Lawlor is displeased and unsure of the plan Harvath creates to flush out the source of the bounty along with the identification of the man who tried to kill him in Florida. Lawlor recognizes this prime operative he once had in Scot Harvath isn't fit to do this serious of a job at this time. He's got a major drinking problem and his head is in disarray and not fully in the game as expected after the tragedy he's endured. But you don't really argue with Scot Harvath because if you do, and he's determined enough, he'll just find a way to do it on his own. And they value him enough as an operative and as a person who is deeply hurt to go along with his cockamamie plan.

With Nicholas in full operation mode, Scot heads out to discover who wants him dead enough to pay the exorbitant bounty. Scot's every intention is to make sure his friend Carl Pederson's death is avenged as well. There's someone else who wants that particular death avenged, and she won't take no for an answer. When Scot is introduced to her unexpectedly, things begin to change for him. 

Near Dark shows us the brokenness of an operative who dared to fall in love, who suffered the consequences of a grave loss, and who couldn't cope like many who've survived the losses of those precious to them. When a stark reality zooms into his attempts to slowly kill himself, he forces himself to take responsibility for solving a problem. This solution requires a lot of strings being pulled, trips to different countries, a Norwegian and Lithuanian ally, quick exits, and a resolve to do what Scot's best at which requires him to stay sober and focused.

While the conclusion is somewhat satisfying, having established Scot's weakness, it seemed surprising to add alcohol back into the "celebration". It also left the door open for yet another calculated attack on his life in a future book.

Interesting characters, profanity present from page one, intriguing confusion, some calculated violence, and ultimate resolution. 

Father, only you know the hearts of all of us. We're laid bare before you. No secrets kept. Please continue to bless Brad's life and provide what he needs to continue writing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Woe to those who plan iniquity,

   to those who plot evil on their beds!

At morning's light they carry it out

   because it is in their power to do it.

They covet fields and seize them,

   and houses, and take them.

They defraud a man of his home,

   a fellowman of his inheritance. 

Therefore, the Lord says:

"I am planning disaster against this people,

   from which you cannot save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly,

   for it will be a time of calamity.

In that day men will ridicule you;

   they will taunt you with this mournful song:

'We are utterly ruined;

   my people's possession is divided up.

He takes it from me!

   He assigns our fields to traitors.'"

Therefore, you will have no one in the assembly

   of the Lord

      to divide the land by lot.

Micah 2:1-5 (NIV)

Have you ever . . . ?

Broken your nose?

Yes. A line drive softball direct hit at me, the pitcher. Knocked me down. Blood everywhere. 

Thrown something in anger?

Of course – probably outdoors. 

Screamed at the top of your lungs?

Yes, making a recording on my new little tape recorder with my mom and a friend pretending to be the audience at a concert.

Fired a pistol?

Yes. More than one. More than once.

Fainted? 

Yes. Three different times.

Father, you've always taken care of me even when and especially when I didn't deserve it. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                                                Destination

Thomas Grand serves his time for manslaughter in the second degree and leaves jail as a divorced felon for his unintentional crime. After an emotionally brutal encounter with his ex-wife and with little to look forward to except a hint of hope in his heart, he heads back to the obscure location of his childhood and the one person he hopes is still alive to propel his faith to the next level and to restore meaning to his damaged life.

The summer heat swirls around him along with the dust as he drives up to the magnificent Spanish-style home of the elderly widow he has always known by her familiar nickname of “Grams”. With little ado about his arrival, she immediately accommodates his need for lodging as well as that of acceptance, companionship, and genuine friendship. 

Father, only you. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Oh, the crazy thoughts and things (some) writers think, do . . . 

Speaking solely and soul-ly for myself, here's what I've been known to think and do. 

While driving, I picture scenes and characters interacting, hear their dialogue, describe the weather, see the background. 

While washing dishes, I wonder if I can really have a character die – can I do that to him/her?! I don't want to. The feelings involved make me cry. There. Washing the dishes. (I use my perfectly good, brand new dishwasher for a dishrack mostly.)

Sitting at the computer, writing the story, laughing out loud at the repartee. Or thinking: that's not good enough. Or crying through a scene. Feeling the pain. 

Reading back over the manuscript from the top or from a particular chapter and smiling. Satisfied. (Those are the highpoints.) 

Yeah, crazy what some writers think and do . . . (namely moi).

Thank you, Lord, for all you do to inspire me, for any words and stories you give me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Such a great song. Really love this one. 

Father, may the musicians find you and be grateful for what you've given them to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

In Cold Blood by Mark Dawson is Book 1 in the Beatrix Rose Thriller Trilogy.

Beatrix Rose is Number One of Group Fifteen just as John Milton is beginning his new career in The Group. Their first mission together with others from The Group is an utter failure. Control is not happy because it was personal. He messed up, not his team. Beatrix figures it all out and that cannot stand. What Control orders done to her is merciless and in cold blood.

What follows years of exile and hiding, disease and addiction, sets her on a course she is determined to accomplish regardless of the strain and inevitable conclusion. With past help from John Milton and now Michael Pope, her mission is deadly but focused.

Reunited with her daughter Isabella, she's training her to take care of herself in every possible way because Beatrix knows her stone-cold relentless pursuit of those who did what they did to her and her family will be equally relentless. And cruel. She keeps nothing from her daughter about what she intends to do. Just before Beatrix leaves on this mission, her daughter turns 13.   

Master of the kukri and knives in general, they prove to be handy weapons when she needs them the most. Like John, she wasn't Number One for nothing. She's somewhat handicapped because of her condition, but her purpose and resolve to rectify what was done to her drive her. 

Somali pirates, a terrorist group, private security which proves not to be secure enough, and SEALs set to rescue a captain and his crew, but if it weren't for Beatrix Rose, there would've been no satisfactory ending. 

Another good thriller from Mark Dawson. 

Profanity present. 

Blood Moon Rising by Mark Dawson is Book 2 in this Beatrix Rose Thriller Trilogy. (There is a collection of other Beatrix Rose thrillers.)

There are three more to go on Beatrix Rose's list to neutralize, each one a step closer to the top target: Control. He's the one who engineered the destruction of Beatrix's family with his five other operatives from Group 15. And he's going to be found, and he's going to pay – if Beatrix can survive long enough to do what's necessary. Her disease is killing her and might finish the job before any of those on her list have the chance.

She continues the training of her daughter in the brief intervals when she's home. She continues to educate and quiz Isabella about the reasons for the training, and Isabella has taken to her training, of course wanting to make her "Mummy" proud. Which she has done. 

The next one on her list is in Iraq guarding an oilfield with others from the sophisticated private security firm where her former victims were employed. The difference this time is that the remaining former Group members know she's coming for them. They just don't know when. 

Michael Pope has agreed to assist her because "they" need her to rescue someone for them. Pope explains the deal, gives her the contacts she needs with a quartermaster for weaponry and equipment and assigns her Number 12 to help her. Number 12 is a good addition, but she knows he's green. He's been told to do what she asks, and he will. 

The deadly designs she has to do on the fly require additional equipment from the quartermaster and unbeknownst to her Pope's on-sight aid. Faulkner (#12) does his part well, but his concern for Beatrix costs him. 

Beatrix needs to get home, but trouble awaits her.

The underlying message in the guardianship of the oilfield is the bad old Americans yada, yada, yada. And yet the bad old Brits want what the Americans have. That part of the story shows a possible bias on the part of Mark Dawson, but it's fairly easily ignored in light of the tribulation of the heroine to accomplish her goals. She's a fierce force to be reckoned with and her determination will not be denied although she may die trying to fulfill her purpose. Her pain, both physically and emotionally, is palpable. A nail-biter. 

Profanity present. 

Blood and Roses by Mark Dawson is Book 3 of the Beatrix Rose Thriller Trilogy.

Readers who've read the first two books of this trilogy know that as Beatrix seeks to wrap up her mission, it's only going to get worse for her. And now her daughter Isabella knows it too. Beatrix faces her regrets and sorrows but relies on her last bits of strength to carry her to the bitter end of a life she wishes didn't have to come to an end now that she's spent this final year with the daughter that was snatched away from her by Control and his five agents of death. He's her final target.

This story brings sadness and tears to mother and daughter as they face the brief time they've had together, knowing it's about to end. 

Mark Dawson does an excellent job of capturing the utter destruction of a body wracked with cancer, and the incredible determination of those elite agents who risk it all to complete missions very, very few of the human race can even attempt to do. Yes, for some, there must be a level of psychopathy in how they achieve their "successes", but in others it's fair to say they have a crisp and tight definition of good and evil which enables them to do their harrowing jobs. And in still other cases, it takes a combination of both to make good on their assignments. Their abilities transcend the average human being by margins few of us can even imagine. Their training uses their innate skills and intelligence and takes it to super-human levels of competence and achievement. 

The development of Isabella is an absolute requirement based on the knowledge of what Control and his minions are capable of, and if Beatrix can do nothing else before she leaves this earth, it will be to keep her daughter free from him and her past life. In the near end, she regrets it all. But Isabella believes in the mission and must sadly see it through to the end. 

The end is tragic, shocking, and revealing.

Three quick thriller reads that will leave you heartbroken but just short of ready to cheer. 

Profanity present.  

Lord, please continue to provide what Mark needs to tell his stories. Remind him: apart from you, we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

. . . You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)