Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
1 Corinthians 4:18-21 (NIV)
Excerpt from 5th chapter of WIP Race:
We heard her before we saw her reaming the security guard who’d put up one hand in defense and cocked his head in an attempt to cool the lady’s rapid fire repartee. Her arms wind-milled around pointing into the victim’s room and encompassed the shedrow. Neither of us moved for at least 30 seconds, watching the breeze catch her Farrah Fawcett hair and play with it. Finally the guard pointed toward us and the woman stomped her brown leather boots and sprayed on designer jeans in our direction. Her Levi jacket hung open exposing a pale pink form-fitting scooped-neck top which drew our eyes to the tan flesh protruding and bouncing with each stride. I sensed Jesse throw a quick glance my way and I stepped forward into the shedrow to greet who I assumed must be Mrs. Trainer in a tizzy. Also a potential suspect now that I could see what she looked like.
“Speak of the devil?” Jesse said softly, barely moving his lips.
“Officers, what happened to Roman? He can’t be dead! He helped me switch my ponies last night. He—”
“What time was that, ma’am?”
“It’s Renee Casey. And—” She hesitated. “Sometime after eleven, I guess. Why?”
Jesse jumped in with a good question. “Do you always exchange horses that late at night?”
She glared at him and her tone took on a condescending note. “I exchange horses whenever I feel like it, Officer—”
“It’s Detective, ma’am. I’m Detective Jesse Davidson and this is Detective David James.”
“Well, Detectives,” she said, ice forming a glacier around each word, “I had to run a horse in the last race and our pony horse pulled up sore so I had to go home, get my trailer, and bring another one back.”
I wouldn’t want to be in the area if Mr. and Mrs. Trainer ever got in a tussle. It’d be hard to say at this point who might win that skirmish.
“Mrs. Casey, we don’t know yet what happened to Mr. Diego, but he is dead. And so far only you and his girlfriend happened to be in the vicinity around the time he passed,” I said as gently as I could muster.
“Well, Detective, he was alive and well when I left the barn. And Carmella wasn’t here—probably out partying. The only other person at the barn last night was Dr. Sims, Ronnie, the vet. She and Roman had some vet work to do. Our other grooms weren’t available.”
The almost empty syringe in the garbage can flashed to mind.
“Was Dr. Sims here when you arrived?” Jesse asked.
“Yes.”
I noted the slightest bristling at the question. “When you left?”
Hesitation. “No.” She scuffed the toe of her leather boot in the shedrow dirt. “They were finished by the time I got my pony unloaded. I called for Roman to get the horse I was taking home.”
“So you switched the horses and then hung around for a bit before leaving?” Jesse made sure his voice sounded strictly business without implication.
She shoved hands in her jacket pockets and looked to her right down the shedrow. “I had some things to take care of in the office, so it took me a few minutes to get out of here.”
“Do you know where Roman was when you left?” I asked.
Her voice strained. “In his tack room I assume.”
“Thank you for your time, Mrs. Casey,” I said.
“When is all this tape going to come down? We have a business to run here. That tape can be very disruptive to Thoroughbreds.”
I’m not putting racetrackers down because they’re just regular people, but most of them would never use the word “disruptive” in this situation. Mrs. Trainer had some education, and I wondered about her background before becoming Mrs. Trainer. From the looks of her and what I could remember from grainy newspaper photos of Walter Casey, the missus was considerably younger and much better looking than her husband.
Jesse replied to her question, making an effort to execute his politest voice, but the answer was “up to our determination”. She literally huffed away to the other side of the barn.
Father, thank you for it all. Again and again. Always desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
("Figuring out those . . . Opening Moves" originally posted on September 9th, 2012)
Opening Moves by Steven James is the prequel to the Patrick Bowers Series (The Pawn, The Rook, The Knight, The Bishop, The Queen; The King is due out in July 2013). Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., Opening Moves has been released in Mass Market Paperback.
Steven James tells readers in the first sentence of his foreword that he had nightmares while writing this novel. He'd have to be one cold-hearted beast not to have had some kind of adverse reactions while composing this work. This is the introduction to the young Patrick Bowers, homicide detective, the one who can't escape recurring nightmares of his teenage discovery of a young female victim of a terrible killer in a tree house and that of another little girl buried alive by the same man.
If you've read this series, you're well acquainted with the talented Steven James. The master storyteller, the complex plots, the literary prowess . . . and the dark natures of the savages he portrays so vividly. This is the story which gives us a less cynical Patrick Bowers, a man who still considers and contemplates things like heaven and hell, justice and reckoning, love and hate, good and evil, God and . . . He examines his own demons clawing at him to escape their boundaries when certain situations arise and he wants unmitigated justice and wants it immediately. Opening Moves blows off all restrictions on the evil of villains. Readers are methodically guided into the darkness of multiple characters which will chill most souls. The TV series Criminal Minds has nothing on Opening Moves. Steven connects all the dots in this masterful plot.
It seems there is a killer who kidnaps victims and threatens to kill them if their loved ones refuse to follow precise acts which require them to deposit others at specific markers in the city. These markers are significant because they note the locations of crimes committed by some of the worst serial killers. Even though the instructions are followed, one of the victims experiences a gruesome mutilation.
Detective Bowers is joined by the gigantic Ralph Hawkins from the FBI, and as they bicker and joke about who's leading the investigation, they cement a solid trust and friendship. Those who've read the series will note this is where we meet the astute Dr. Werjonic who implements the geographic profiling into Patrick's repertoire and is added to the investigation as a consultant leading Patrick to the location of another terrible crime and killer.
Most of the time we're in Patrick's head as his first person accounts of the goings-on in the investigation keep us on edge. Alternating with Patrick's growing knowledge and perspectives, we listen to the demonic logic of the killer, learning of his demented childhood, his "normal" double life, and his compulsion to do what he does while wondering if redemption can cover his deeds.
Plus we are introduced to the brilliant and excoriating young nemesis who has gained the dubious and infamous nickname of "Maneater" in the most literal sense of the word. It's a familiar character to readers of this series, and now we know his origin.
A true crime thriller novelist, Steven James has written his darkest novel yet. Recalling true stories of evil serial killers and adding fictitious ones to the mix, this is not a book for the squeamish. However, for devoted Steven James' fans, prepare for a harrowing ride through the pages of Opening Moves, a portrayal of the darkest threads of humanity, contrasting them to those who struggle to do right and good in the midst of horror. A quick, pulsing read with sinister philosophical implications, a touch of faith, and a cast of dedicated pursuers of incredible evil: some to embrace it and others to extinguish it.
Father, you have given us all a purpose in our writing. Please watch over Steven as he goes to the depths to expose evil for what it is. May he honor you in all he does and all he writes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Here's what I think: American Assassin by the late inimitable Vince Flynn deserves to have its incredible story followed to the letter. Here's what isn't happening with the movie American Assassin: following the bestselling novel with much accuracy to the story. Having said that, it looks like it's going to be a decent thriller to watch but will probably disappoint diehard Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp fans such as myself if we can't wrap our heads around the casting of Mitch and Irene (his CIA handler). And I can't.
This isn't to say that neither of those actors aren't qualified and talented. It is to say that neither of them even remotely fit my impression of Mitch Rapp or Irene. And I'm not alone in my perceptions. If you read the commentary of those Flynn fans who've seen the trailers, there's a lot of disappointment. A lot. We loved the original story and premise of each book in the series, and this script flies in the face of an excellent story and somehow arrives at the conclusion that they could make it "better", "more contemporary", or who knows what they were thinking when they wrote the script and cast the roles? Clearly, they had no compulsion to stick to the storyline.
I will go to see it. I will pay my money to see it. I will view it as a thriller. I doubt very seriously I will exit the theatre with the feeling that I've just watched a film rendition of Vince Flynn's first prequel American Assassin in the amazing Mitch Rapp series. And that's a shame.
Father, we are grateful to you for every creative inspiration we own. Thank you for Vince Flynn's devotion to his family, to his work, to his patriotism, and most of all for his love for you. He is missed, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
I loved this song so much. I nicknamed a race horse I took care of "Tiny Dancer". Still love this song. One of the best of so much of Elton John's music.
Father, you know our hearts and souls. You revive our dead spirits if we're willing to give up death for life eternal. Thank you is never enough. Love you, Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
This passage opens Brad Thor's eighth novel in the Scot Harvath series The Apostle:
In our nation's war on terror, a new breed of operator has emerged. Passionately dedicated to their craft, they ignore the trials and hardships of their profession and work tirelessly in the face of limited support and bloated bureaucracies to achieve one singular goal — mission success.
Motivated by a deep and undying love for their country, these operators willingly face intense danger so that America may remain free.
Once labeled "true believers," this term no longer applies. These warriors have become Apostles.
Surprised to be summoned by the new less-inclined-to-use-men-like-Scot Harvath president, Scot is asked to do something he's not sure he can morally do. The major donor and close associate to the president's campaign has learned her doctor daughter has been kidnapped in Afghanistan. The ransom for her is the freedom of a jailed terrorist. Scot has no problem with trying to find and free the woman, but exchanging her for the freedom of a brutal terrorist rubs him the wrong way. Nevertheless, he agrees to go after the doctor.
Scot has friends in unsafe places all over the world and Afghanistan is one of them. As always, they're ready to help with everything he needs including connections in the "neighborhood". The main problems arise from the common reference initials "TIA" (This Is Afghanistan). The Taliban leader in the area is feared and resented, but there are a few men who are willing to risk it all to provide information and assistance.
Meanwhile back in the states, a devoted Secret Service Agent learns the president she voted for might have been involved in a critical act. Although she'd quit the police force to become a Secret Service Agent because she didn't see herself as becoming a detective, she launches a personal investigation into the matter as unobtrusively as she can. At first, it's difficult, but as she speaks with some of her fellow agents, she realizes her suspicions might not be too far off base.
Scot learns where the woman was held and plots a course to enter the Taliban village. Information gathered gives them some new options, but Scot quickly realizes they might have to enlist the assistance of the Canadian liaison who Scot believes is a clandestine operative. His objective was to keep as few persons involved as possible, but circumstances require more help than they have. A surprise move by the Afghan government both surprises and confounds their plans to capture the terrorist they need if an exchange is required.
Back in the states, the investigation heats up and the outcome requires serious soul-searching for more than one Secret Service Agent.
Filled with incredible descriptions of the Afghan landscape, culture, townships, mini-strangleholds of power, the constant conflicts, the morose circumstances and sometimes forced lifestyles of the citizens of this country, The Apostle is an amazing story of perseverance, bravery, mercy, and courage by people who've been toughened by horrific conditions and/or victims of tyranny. TIA.
I highly recommend Brad's books because, like Vince Flynn's (and now Kyle Mills), they're real. They tell the truth and, by so doing, they don't pull punches. Scot Harvath clearly will sacrifice himself to accomplish good and he doesn't flinch from putting down evil. Sometimes reflecting on what he must do gives him pause, but when he considers the alternative, he goes forward with purpose and authority. He is an Apostle.
Father, your word is the guide for all we need in this life. It's not easy, but it's Truth. Please help us all to live in truth. Please continue to bless Brad's life, writing, and family. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." So then, no more boasting about men!
1 Corinthians 3:18-21 (NIV)
Excerpt from 5th chapter of . . . in a love song (WIP):
It was 2:30 when he walked in, the jukebox playing rock ‘n’ roll tunes from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Not as loud as last evening. The place had a healthy crowd for a Saturday afternoon with several tables occupied. He strode toward the bar and straddled a stool next to his coworker Keith who looked like a hangover danced in his head.
“Bud, you look like you shoulda left when I did,” Dale kidded.
Keith looked over with a sly smile after taking a sip of his tomato beer. “And miss all the fun?” His smile turned into a grin.
“Hmm. Yeah, hard to pass up a little fun, huh? Gotta pay the price, though. You know it ain’t free.”
“Never is, is it?” And he laughed a bit like that much movement hurt.
“Here ya go, Trouble. Hope it goes down easy cuz it won’t come up that way.” Pet turned to Dale after setting a plate full of sunny-side up eggs, hash browns, sausage, and toast in front of Keith. “What can I get for you?” Her smile was confident this afternoon.
“Cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke, please. Heavy on the onions.” He looked her in the eyes when he ordered, and she didn’t flinch.
“Onions, huh?”
“No reason not to,” he replied with a subtle smile. That comment got to her ever so slightly.
“Heavy on the onions it is then.” She turned to get his Coke and when she placed it in front of him, she said, “You got a name?”
“I’ve been called my fair share of them, but Dale Rivers is my given name.” He held out his hand to her.
“Patricia Edison. No relation.”
He smiled at her quip. Her grip was firm, and he didn’t let go for an extra beat. “Nice to meet you, Patricia.”
For that extra beat, her confidence wavered as it had last night. Her hand was soft, and it felt good in his. He let go. She disappeared into the kitchen.
“Whoa, dude. What’s up with that?” Keith seemed to have surfaced from his haze.
“What?”
“Pet don’t talk to just anybody like that. She makes herself off limits to most everyone.”
“How come you guys never mentioned anything about her? You filled me in on all these other chicks around town but not her. Why?”
Keith stared at his eggs for a moment. “Pet’s different.” He took a forkful and shoved it in his mouth, chewed, and then downed a big swig of the red beer.
“Different how?”
“She’s a Cadillac. Know what I mean? There’s some nice cars out there, but you know you got somethin’ special with a Cadillac.”
Dale could see Keith was dead serious. Respect in his tone. Keith kept eating, staring down at his food.
“Like an El Dorado?”
“Like a classic shiny red El Dorado only belonged to one owner its whole life.” Keith pushed his plate away and downed the rest of his drink. As he tugged his wallet out of his back pocket, he said, “Word of advice? Don’t go there. See ya Monday.” He put a twenty on the counter and walked out.
Dale turned slightly on his stool and watched him leave.
Father, thank you for it all. The inspiration, the words, the everything. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
(Originally posted on June 20th, 2014 with its first cover.)
Miranda Warning by Heather Day Gilbert is the first in the A Murder in the Mountains Series.
Miranda Warning begins with a stunning paragraph penned in first person much like a journal or diary entry. The entries continue throughout the story from past to present and reveal a character who is deeply troubled.
Miranda is the 69 year old best friend of a young-married woman named Tess Spencer. Tess and her up-and-coming lawyer husband Thomas are still paying off student loans, live in Thomas' parents' small cottage across the driveway from their house, and have just discovered Tess is pregnant. After two years of marriage and so many financial difficulties, Tess can't imagine being ready for a baby but is simultaneously excited and nervous.
Tess's ties to Miranda go back to when Tess was a young teen whose dad was long gone and whose mother was in and out of trouble with the law over drugs. Miranda rescued the young Tess, showed her love and commitment, introduced her to God, and became her best friend. Miranda, now a widow, has suffered both a heart attack and a stroke which has left her in a wheel chair where she resides in the plush assisted living "resort" called The Haven. Still sharp in her insights and resolute in her faith, Miranda receives a threatening letter from what appears to be a long-dead friend.
Enter Tess to the rescue. To return the unsoliticed favor to Miranda, Tess is compelled to investigate this haunting warning to her friend. In the process of her desire to help, Tess receives some personal warnings, gets followed, has ghostly stalkers appear on her in-law's property, receives flowers with hidden meanings delivered by an old college acquaintance, and manages to rile up her husband and family who want to protect her.
Progressing from the typical young wife, who only knows what guys are like in her perceived notions of them, to the increasingly hormonal pregnant woman, Tess is sometimes a super sleuth, sometimes an over-protective jealous child, and sometimes just a carelessly obsessed friend on the hunt for whoever is threatening her friend and her. She's usually armed with her knife because she can't carry the Glock without a permit, but this doesn't always reassure her or her husband that she's safe as the threatening incidents increase.
There are many more details and characters in this well-written story of betrayal, resentment, revenge, friendship, forgiveness, loyalty, and love, but I'll let readers investigate along with Tess's first person account of her adventurous pursuits in solving the mystery of the Miranda Warning.
Heather Day Gilbert has written an enticing tale to begin her series, endearing us to many of the characters, creating a credible mystery with snapshots of truly humorous quips of internal dialogue, behaviors, and circumstances. A good first novel in A Murder in the Mountains Series.
Father, please continue to keep Heather in your care, diagramming her writing journey, filling her with stories you have just for her to tell. Watch over her and keep her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
No one likes to read fiction or watch "entertaining" films with a concrete agenda – especially if it disagrees with our own. However, there are some truths which cannot be ignored especially in particular genres. Political and espionage thrillers pack a lot of punch when done well, and the only way to do them well is to include a significant amount of truthful elements.
Two authors who excel at these truths with no holds barred, political correctness be you-know-what'd, and by so doing have managed to collect huge audiences precisely because of their truthfulness and realism. The late Vince Flynn and his masterful creation of covert super-operative/assassin Mitch Rapp wrote some of the most impactful novels of the current messes in this world and Kyle Mills has successfully continued Vince's legacy with his power-packed continuations of the Mitch Rapp sagas. Brad Thor created Scot Harvath who, like Mitch Rapp, is out for the truth and not afraid to recognize and neutralize evil in whatever forms are necessary. It's black and white for these operatives. Good v. evil. Rarely grey areas.
In order to demonstrate straightforward truth in these thrillers, the authors I mentioned must engage reliable research to reinforce their core stories. Make no mistake: they do. Their insider information is second to none which is the main reason their novels pack such a realistic punch and give them the "right" to expound on matters of truth.
Here are just a few snippets of these truths in fiction from author Brad Thor:
Between intensive interrogations, Roussard had had time to think – lots of it. And in that time, certain things had become clear to him. America's time was drawing near.
It wouldn't happen in months or even years, but in a matter of decades, America would fall. It was already happening. It was happening right before the eyes of every American, yet they were too fat and happy with their Big Gulps and satellite television to see it. (Antagonist Roussard, "Juba" from The First Commandment by Brad Thor)
"You overestimate the people of this nation. They are soft and stupid. The reason political correctness and multiculturalism exists is because they are too lazy to hold others to what it once meant to be American. This nation is dying and we are not the problem; we are the solution. Islam – true, pure Islam – is what will save America." (Sheikh Omar from The Last Patriot by Brad Thor)
These are just a couple of the sterling examples of displaying and characterizing truth in fiction. It's important to note when you're tackling thrillers of this kind, realism is imperative and truth had better not be scarce. These authors tackle current events and the political climate with deft intelligence and understanding that comes from having learned from those who've experienced the worst of humanity in crisis situations. To be able to depict and tell the truth in fiction is an art form that establishes these authors as the best in their genres.
Father, you are Truth. You will prevail. This world as we know it will eventually pass away. You will not. You offer us forever with you through Jesus. Draw the lost to you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
