Fault Lines is the perfect blend of politics and action in a thriller that is as intellectually stimulating as it is wildly entertaining with gruesome shootouts and wonderfully developed characters. Steven Hildreth Jr. delivers on the highest expectations a thriller aficionado can have going into the first book in the Forsaken Patriots series.
John Bradshaw is a former Army Ranger rocking a 70’s stache as a private investigator/bodyguard who is assigned to protect Gabriela Rivera, an outspoken Latino political activist fighting for the rights of immigrants, facing imminent danger from white supremacist groups. As Bradshaw investigates the threat, he comes across a certain individual aiding the white supremacists, a Russian who Bradshaw had crossed paths with and shot during a skirmish in Afghanistan. With a new threat vector and a political conspiracy going up to the highest levels in the new administration at the White House, Bradshaw must protect his principal’s life at all costs, no matter what lines he may have to cross.
Fault Lines tackles the divisive political ideologies in a fashion unlike any I’ve read. Bradshaw and Gabriela are on the extreme opposite spectrum of political ideologies on all things from weapons to immigration and there’s no blatant favoritism in the writing itself. As the narrative progresses, we see the characters warm up to opposing sides of the conflict, evaluating the two-sided conversation with cooler minds, warmer hearts, and declining egos. The political theme stemming from the characters rather than a narrative-push is engrossingly fascinating and refreshing that makes you ponder over the realistic points made by the characters.
I picked this book for the promise of spectacular action and I was blown away by the sheer excellence of the combat sequences. From tactically and technically descriptive and authentic shootouts to quick and dirty hand-to-hand combat, Fault Lines is packed with cinematic action sequences to hook even the most hardcore action fans. From shootouts in enemy hot zones to urban settings, the sequences take on lives of their own with exquisite tempo to match each scenario.
Smart narrative, pragmatic protagonist freed from cliched tropes, an engaging political tit-for-tat, and top-tier action; Fault Lines should be your next immediate read if you haven’t read it already. With such an emotionally jarring ending, the whole experience is one of the best roller coasters you’ll ever get on.
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