Customer Reviews

The DMZ

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

DMZ by Jeanette Windle is a fast-paced, political suspense novel that is almost impossible to put down, especially towards the end. It's practically addictive!
The story is very believable, not surprising considering the incredible amount of research that has gone into this novel and the fact that the author has herself lived in South America for many years. (Windle has written an earlier book entitled Crossfire, a story dealing with the drug trade in Bolivia). Her writing is so realistic that government agencies have questioned her to determine if she has received classified information! The novel chronicles the adventures of Julie Baker, a young journalist who is caught in international intrigue while covering a story involving the deaths of three U.S. citizens in the Columbian demilitarized zone. Julie is part of the media, medical, and political contingent sent to investigate the incident but she has a personal agenda as well. Her missionary parents died in Columbia and she is seeking answers in hopes of reconciling her feelings with the haunting memories from her past. Julie soon learns that besides the mysterious deaths of the three Americans, a sophisticated military aircraft has also disappeared and the FARC guerrilla rebels who roam the jungles of Columbia are considered prime suspects. Julie gets first-hand information about this group when she is kidnapped by the rebels and taken into the impenetrable interior of the rainforest. Her life among the rebel troops is intriguing and captivating as is the guerrilla soldier, Enrique Martinez, who rescues her from danger and death. Together they pit their lives against overwhelming odds as they attempt to uncover a deadly secret beneath the jungle's canopy.
This story has a compelling plot, great dialogue, realistic characters, and a powerful message of faith and courage. I recommend this wonderful book to all readers - male and female - because it is sure to captivate all who read it. (Just don't expect to get much work done until you've finished reading it. You really CAN'T put it down when nearing the final chapters!)

I'm glad that I finally finished this book because my housework and outside chores were suffering. It was good all the way through, but impossible to put down towards the end. Jeanette Windle certainly did her homework and the fact that she wrote about exotic people and places that she knew intimatly certainly showed. Very colorful and believable and exciting! Buy this book and read it. Be sure to get her other book, Crossfire, too. They're addictive. She is a new "favorite author" of mine.

This is a great book! I read it during a book tour, and could hardly wait for my next break to get back to the Colombian jungle and the adventures of this young reporter who is caught in international intrigue while trying to sort out her own feelings about her past. The story is compelling, with good characters, great dialogue and descriptions, and an ending you cannot put down. Windle writes as well as Grisham and does a better job of weaving faith into the story.

One look at this book and some might pass it on. With 512 pages, it does seem like a rather daunting read. When I picked this up and began it, I confess that I wasn't grabbed from the very first pages, but I persevered through it. By the time I was past the first hundred pages, I completely forgot about how big and thick it was--I was hooked! Jeanette has woven together an awesome suspense book that I would love to see turned into a movie one day.

It took a little while for the main character to come onto the scene--I believe it was on page 71 that you were first introduced to Julie Baker. There was quite a bit of background and different scenes and aspects that needed to be shown before then. But once Julie walked into the plot, things got going and never stopped after that. Julie was a very three-dimensional character that I quickly came to like and loved as the heroine for this book. The other characters were just as impressive and believable--Tim, Enrique, Aguilera, Carlos, Rafael, Rick....everyone! The slight love story at the end with Julie was very sweet and added to the plot, making me fall in love with Julie and her man even more (who, by the way, I thought was totally awesome and made the perfect hero). I won't say anything else, as I don't want to give anything away--there are so many surprises in this book!

The plot for this amazing suspense thriller was amazing. The mystery surrounding who the spies were was great, too. I guessed almost from the beginning of Julie's captivity at who the two spies were, and I was so pleased with myself when I discovered that my guesses were right. lol! The whole book was very complex and completely believable. I can understand why government agencies questioned the author to see if she'd received classified information (as she mentions on the back cover). It's so in-depth and realistic it's completely believable! As I continued to climb the very high tension-level to the climax of The DMZ, I was seriously gripping the pages and cheering Julie on.

If there was anything I did not like in this book, it was the very minute detail that Jeanette often gave to the plot--especially for the first hundred pages or so. And from the other glowing reviews of this book, I might be the only one who grew a little restless to skip the very extensive details and explanation and get to the action. I am very much an action/adventure reader and found myself skimming sometimes in the beginning, eager to get to when Julie is kidnapped. (I love a good kidnapping story--and being kidnapped by guerrillas who think she is a spy sounded awesome to me. I wasn't disappointed.)

So, all that said, I give The DMZ 5 stars for an awesome suspense story, though I readily confess when--and I do say "when" as I have no doubt I will want to relive this story--I pick it up to reread I would no doubt skip over the first hundred pages. But that's just me. If you want a suspense thriller that has great detail and will take you away and into the thick jungles fighting for survival right alongside the characters, then I highly recommend this book!

I reviewed this book for LitFuse and Kregel Publications. Thanks to Christy Anderson for sending me a review copy. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.

The plot jumps out at you the moment you read the first page, although you have no idea what's going on. The main character, Julie Baker is thrown into a whirlwind of painful past events in her mind and present events in reality. Her past is filled with grief and her future is believed with uncertainty. She becomes kidnapped by guerillas (drug "policeman") in Columbia. In her captivity she is unexpectedly protected constantly by a guerilla, named Enrique, from other ruthless guerilla men. But with the help of an old friend surprisingly a guerilla himself, she narrowly escapes. Suddenly she is thrown into a revelation of who Enrique really is and why he is dressed in guerilla fatigues. Her knowledge of who Enrique is causes her to think twice about his character. His personality is one of a mystery and hard steel, but slowly she realizes why. With that, Julie becomes fond of this man who saved her life in numerous events. Her love for him grows, but she tries to keep it hidden for the imminent danger lurks too close for both of them. Enrique on the other hand is well hiding his own feelings for her that Julie begins to think he blames her for all the now blown up plans he had. The story continues with turn after turn of unexpected events as they discover the ultimate threat to America's people and how they become the ones who stop it. This is definitely my favorite book for the romance isn't at all "cheesy" and all about looks, but friendship and teamwork that becomes a love for one another. I completely recommend this book to anyone that loves mystery, suspense, and romance.

Environmental reporter Julie Baker returns to Columbia, her birthplace and the site of her missionary parent's death, accompanying a number of politicians and media personal seeking answers to the unexplained deaths of three Americans in the Columbian demilitarized zone. Julie's deeply held hurts, combined with her bitterness for the seeming futility of her parent's lives of service, leads her to sneak into the village where she was born, looking for clarity and answers. Concerned that she is a spy for military intelligence, and desperate to keep hidden their secrets deep in the DMZ jungle, Guerrillas kidnap Julie while she is in the village square. Her abduction triggers an avalanche of events that has the capacity to destroy the US, and reveals secret plans brewing unknown to American intelligence for the last ten years. With the fate of Colombians she knew as a child and the welfare of millions of Americans resting in her hands, Julie learns what love, belief and God's clear call to sacrifice means for her, no matter what her uncertain future may hold.

DMZ is a fast-paced novel that gripped me from the opening scenes. This is actually my second read through the book and will undoubtedly not be my last as I have enjoyed it just as much the second time through! Jeanette Windle is an incredibly skilled author with the ability to transport readers to the world of her characters - in this case war torn Columbia, terrifying guerrilla camps and the beauty of a jungle seemingly untouched by man in all it's created beauty. Windle brings much insight into how civil war has decimated Columbia and yet provides hope in how it still continues to survive. She also provides insight into the hate of Islamic extremists determined to destroy a country they consider the "great Satan". And she ties it all together beautifully with the personal story of a spunky reporter who has to learn what sacrifice means and the many ways sacrifice and love are worth it in the end. Not only does she provide an entertaining read, but she raises important questions about world events and about faith and trust in God at the same time.

I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Kregel, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

After three US assets died under mysterious circumstances in a Colombian demilitarized zone (DMZ), the guerrilla Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) immediately came under suspicion. FARC denied their involvement in the deaths and invited a group of reporters and politicians to the DMZ for a press conference. Among the group is Julie Baker, a magazine reporter. Julie's parents had been missionaries in Columbia but they were killed when she was 16. Now she returns to the country that had taken her parents from her. Her only goal is to revisit her birthplace. But, something happens and her plans are thrown into disarray. Joining her in the adventure is United States Army's Special Forces officer, Captain Rick Martini. They have to investigate whether the FARC is responsible for the deaths or whether there a deadly plot involving Middle Eastern counterparts?

At 512 pages long, The DMZ is the longest book I've ever read for reviewing purposes. Despite its lengthiness, it was a very entertaining read and I couldn't resist peeking at the back of the book to see if the hero and heroine survived. The book's theme is suspense and it stayed true to its theme throughout the book. But there were a few well-placed funny scenes that helped ease the tension brought by the suspense. The DMZ`s plot is superbly well-written. I like the way Jeanette Windle started the story by giving readers background information about the parties involved and interested in the Colombian DMZ. I also like the way many general knowledge information can be learned from reading The DMZ. Since it is a novel that has to do with politics and knowledge about Colombia, it contains many well-researched facts ranging from the guerrilla situation in Colombia to military machinery. There is also much to be learned about not taking for granted the safety of the US as a nation. This book involves characters who are Muslim terrorists and it couldn't have been coincidental that the rough draft for it was completed on the morning of September 11, 2001. Reading it has made me realized how potentially vulnerable the United States is and how God is indeed protecting her from harm. Overall, The DMZ is a wonderfully fantastic book. I just can't get enough of it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through The LitFuse Publicity Group book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The DMZ by Jeanette Windle is an interesting story about the cold war in Columbia. Jeanette definitely did her homework. The book is thoroughly researched ... a note on the back stated that government agencies have actually questioned her to make sure she hadn't received classified information. The plot is deep with plenty of twists throughout. I will say that this isn't exactly the style novel that I normally choose to read. So ... I'm sure others will really enjoy it ... it just wasn't exactly for me. (The other reviews on Amazon were really positive, so check those out.)

I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The book begins by giving the reader a plot that began over a decade ago between 2 countries that are at enmity between each other, yet united against the infidel America. The carrying out of this plan moves to the South American country of Columbia. Columbia a hostile and volatile country that leans toward communism, not to mention the drug cartel. When three Americans are found dead, and their deaths gruesome and under mysterious circumstances, vigilance is given to find out what happened. American Politicians and media are invited to Columbia in order to show goodwill between the 2 countries. Julie Baker a journalist from an environmental magazine travels to Columbia as 1 of the journalist's. Julie's parents were missionaries in Columbia and Julie was born and raised in this country. She thought that she had left it behind several years ago, but the longer she is in Columbia the more she feels confused and her emotions are hard to keep hidden. As the story progresses every fiber of Julie's being will be tested.

The main character in The DMZ is Julie Baker. She is not only a well-rounded character, but she is a character that I grew to care about what happened to her, and I dislike the idea of not knowing the rest of her life story. Even at 512 pages I wanted for the story to continue.
We see her as an intelligent and confident woman, and also with confused and mixed feelings about her past. She is unsettled about unresolved issues, yet tries to stuff those feelings stoically. She is a strong minded independent woman, yet through circumstances she meets her fears and limitations. She is a person that I admire and yet she is approachable.
There are surprises in other characters that were introduced, twists in what I thought they were like.
I was introduced to characters that I do not usually see in Christian fiction, those that are the very debased of humanity.
I am impressed with the knowledge and amount of research from the author; in knowing about the country Columbia, the jungle, Indians, American military and counterintelligence.
I did not feel The DMZ was predictable; but it is intense, well written, just a great story!
The DMZ has it all: missionary work, travel, romance, suspense, military, history, mystery, and I also felt a study in well-written character's.
The Christian fiction element in The DMZ is never alluded to, nor an afterthought. We see Christianity being lived out in the depth and breath of its characters, not in just words that sometimes have nothing deeper.

Thank you to Kregel Publications and LitFuse Publicity Group for my free review copy.

My laundry didn't get folded this week. I had every intention of getting caught up on that chore, but one evening I was rocking the baby and I picked up a book to read for awhile. The DMZ, by Jeanette Windle, was a really thick book. I knew I needed to review it, but I kept waiting for some extra free time (and being caught up on chores) before starting to dig into its 512 pages. I didn't get very far into it that first night, but I did get hooked on the story. I've been reading it in my spare time ever since ... thus the unfolded laundry.

The DMZ centers around Julie Baker, a young reporter who had been a missionary kid in Colombia. Having been raised in the Amazon rainforest of Colombia, it has been seven years since she left Colombia at the age of sixteen, following her parents' death. She returns to chase down a story, hopefully a Pulitzer prize-winning story. But, she didn't realize that "quick" journalism trip would overwhelm her as she struggles with her grief, her anger, her faith in God, her love for Colombia and its people, and her very survival.

This book begins with an introduction to the supporting cast, and the setting. Readers don't meet Julie Baker until page 71, but they do find themselves thrown into the middle of a dangerous and unknown situation in Colombia that has taken the lives of several American citizens. Someone is hiding something in the DMZ and Julie Baker, and the US government, want to know what is going on deep in the Colombian rainforest. With guerrilla forces, paramilitary forces, Colombian and US military forces already involved in the area, there is also an unknown element endangering the people of Colombia.

Even though the book begins with a history of the complicated political situation in Colombia, I was still hooked from the beginning. Maybe that's because I was stationed in Panama with my military family as a teen, so the setting had greater interest to me. By the time I met Julie Baker on page 71, I was invested in exploring the mystery with her. This is the best book I've read this year!! As I read it, I kept wondering how much was truth and how much was fiction, as it all seemed so real and plausible. That realism is a testament to Jeanette's familiarity with Colombia, as well as her extensive research. Originally written in 2001 (completed on September 11, 2001) and published in 2002, the copy I was reading is a re-release. Yet, even 10 years later, this book is still current and realistic.

Even more important, it is a truly CHRISTIAN book. The characters wrestle with deep questions about their faith and the ugliness of this world we live in. As they work through these feelings and confusion, their conversation presents the gospel and God's truth in a way that is entirely natural and compelling. It didn't feel forced or preachy, but it showed the deep faith of the characters as they dealt with their hurts and the harsh reality of the situations they faced in Colombia. The author doesn't offer us easy answers and trite platitudes through her character's lives, either.

The DMZ is a political-suspense book filled with mystery, action, history, romance, and a strong Christian foundation. Its exotic setting introduces you to a new country, as well as the varied people who live there. Jeanette Windle truly brings both Colombia's beauty, and its ugly side to life. She weaves the beliefs and philosophy of its people into the story with artistry and ease. I highly recommend The DMZ ... add it to your summer reading list!

This book was provided free by Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received, and this is my honest opinion.