Customer Reviews

Blood of Patriots

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Despite the so-called co-authorship, the plot and James Burlane is pure Hoyt. The Congressman obviously provided "insider" info on Congress and the White House.
Some of the points of the previous reviewers are valid (Confusion on dates, and anti right wing bias). BUT I do not think date discrepancies reduce the readability of this James Burlane Novel.
Also if you are a conspiracy theory advocate of 9/11, READ this Book.

I read this book primarily because I like the Clancy-type of political intrigue storylines, but this book is ridiculous. First of all, the multiple storylines are introduced haphazardly, and are so jumbled and lacking development that it is hard to follow the plot. Dozens of characters are introduced randomly and many are not even necessary to the plot. The authors' bias is blatant: all liberal progressives are noble and principled, while Republicans, talk radio, and conservatives are seen as inherently evil and self-serving. If you enjoy balanced political intrigue, do yourself and don't bother with this book.

Chapter 1 starts off with the date January 18, 2004. Subsequent to that on page 83 it talks of Gore "running in place....and talking of returning to the Senate," but on page 84 it speaks of Gore's defeat in 2000. On page 140 it speaks of the story's crime committed in the U.S House chamber on January 18, 2004 as happening, "just days into the year 2000." At the opening of Part 3 Chapter 14, page 198, a "Transcript of a taped call received at 10:20 a.m., 22 January 2000, by hot-line operator Roberta Jaimeson.," is given. The story line was interesting and plausible, but all of these discrepancies in dates made for difficult reading. This reader wondered whether he had missed some statement of retrospective presentation, or whether there was a major and unforgiveable oversight on the part of the authors and proofreaders. Alfred McWilliams (almc@gsu.edu) Atlanta, Georgia

It was inevitable that, with the Oklahoma City bombing and news of anti-government militias still fresh in our minds, right-wing powermongers would become the villains of the late 1990s. Feature this scenario from "Blood of Patriots": It's the year 2000, and gunmen suddenly storm the US House of Representatives, killing the speaker and the majority leader and decimating the Democratic ranks. Then the assassins flee in helicopters, which have somehow infiltrated Washington, DC's tight no-fly zone, but die apparently in an explosion over the Tidal Basin. President Thomas Erikson, a Republican who reached his position in 1996 after the GOP dumped a bumbling Bob Dole at the 11th hour, prepares to go to war with Colombia when it seems that the Cali drug cartel masterminded this terrorism. Meanwhile, he must deal with challenges from insurgent extremists in his own party and word that his charismatic Democratic opponent may have been deliberately infected with the AIDS virus. Enter James Burlane, the maverick, randier-than-thou ex-CIA operative who starred in "Japanese Game" (1995) and several previous works by Richard Hoyt, a former counterintelligence agent. With Erikson's imprimatur and the help of a computer superhacker, Burlane trails the real perpetrators of the House massacre to the estate of a Cali kingpin, the redoubt of Oregon zealots, and a cabal that includes a liberal-bashing talk-show host even more revolting than Rush Limbaugh. Like other Hoyt stories, "Patriots" boils with action and spirited, often light-hearted dialogue. Democratic Congressman Neil Abercrombie contributes insider knowledge of Beltway wrangling. However, the results are more diverting than memorable. Character development is given scant attention here, and the story relies on a more-than-astounding coincidence to tip Burlane off to the domestic roots of America's latest national nightmare. With President Bill Clinton's easy re-election last November, "Blood of Patriots" already seems dated

Prior to reading the "about the authors" at the end of the book it was apparent the writers had disdain for all things conservative and or republican. Shots were taken at "talk radio", Ollie North, the 2nd amendment, etc. It should have been no surprise to learn that Neil Abercrombie was an elected democratic Congressman and Senator, obviously embittered at losing the House and Senate to the Republicans.
Don't waste your time reading this farce of a book! It's partisan politics at its worst!