False Refuge [Kindle Edition]

Steve Anderson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

US Army reservist Alex Swenson has gone AWOL to avoid Iraq duty. He's fled to the Big Island of Hawaii, where he finds himself attracted to cute and wily Kanani, a crime-world survivor searching for a better life. Yet Alex's old army buddy, Jerry, is hot on Alex's trail.

A secretive island haven, Krieger Estates, was supposed to grant Alex a new life and identity, but soon Alex finds that the estates' amoral founders thrive on absolute power, lockstep obedience, and unjust violence. Fleeing's no option this time. Alex refuses to play along and it brings his new overseers' full wrath. To save Alex, Kanani and Jerry join forces with a hard-nosed plan that enlists even the rugged and unforgiving Big Island terrain itself.

"The descriptive details alone make this book a good read but it's balanced out with a great story line as well." — Juniper Grove, book review

"A well-composed story with somewhat interesting characters and dramatic possibility amidst a lush setting." — LL Book Review

"'Fantastic read' ... I wanted to know what Alex was going to do." — Babs' Book Bistro

"A great story and it's told in a memorable way. At the very least, it'll make you think." — Chris Truscott, Amazon (US) review

About the Author

Steve Anderson is the author of The Losing Role and other novels with crime, history and mystery, noir and humor. Anderson has written short stories and screenplays, and was a Fulbright Fellow in Munich, Germany. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 473 KB
• Print Length: 265 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002W5RGDA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,806 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Steve Anderson is the author of The Losing Role and other novels with crime, history and mystery, noir and humor. Anderson was a Fulbright Fellow in Munich, Germany, and has written short stories and screenplays. He has worked in marketing, advertising and journalism. Other day jobs include language instructor, waiter and freelance copywriter. He lives in Portland, Oregon. http://www.stephenfanderson.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars False Refuge by Steve Anderson, December 14, 2009

By 

Gary Cruiser (Sandy, OR) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: False Refuge (Kindle Edition)

Rico Bocanegra is surely the finest alias for a fictional character in modern literature! Of course, with a name like that, I have to believe that Alex Swenson did not want his lie to go unnoticed. That, on some level, he always wanted to be held accountable for his actions and his point of view. I read Steve Anderson's, False Refuge, in a handful of sittings. It is the engaging and thought- provoking story of an army reservist gone AWOL. Even more, it is a meditation on war, politics, economics and social justice. The ultimate theme, as embodied in Alex Swenson, is personal responsibility and how the individual must take a principled stand, all the while, expecting to be held to account. In the absence of this individual, we get violence, war, injustice and Reacton Uni-Corp. But don't take my word for it. Give this book a read and decide for yourself.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bought this book after reading the preview, February 15, 2010

By 

19933 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: False Refuge (Kindle Edition)

Have you ever felt so strongly about something you'd be willing to give up everything? Alex Swenson did when he questioned what honor and loyalty really meant to him. Author Steve Anderson has created a cast of diverse and interesting characters who all have their reasons for establishing new identities on the Big Island of Hawaii. Steve Anderson has captured regional accents in his writing so well that I could hear some of the characters voices in my head while reading. Honestly, Alex Swenson and I would probably not agree with each other while sharing our beliefs over brewskis. But I have to say, even though we are so different, I still found myself empathizing with him as Steve Anderson developed and expanded on this characters experience. By far my favorite character was Swenson's girlfriend (Kanani) who I would love to see again in a future story. This was an easy to read, and well constructed story. I would recommend this book to anyone who can put their political ideals aside and enjoy the author's efforts to create this thrilling chess match in paradise.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great story that someone needed to tell, January 7, 2011

By 

Chris Truscott - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: False Refuge (Kindle Edition)

This is the third Steve Anderson novel I've read over the past six weeks or so--and it's the best.

Anderson does an amazing job telling a tough story about a 1991 Persian Gulf War veteran who'd rather go AWOL than deploy to Iraq for the continuation of that conflict more than a dozen years later.

In addition to vivid descriptions of Hawaii and his trademark character development, Anderson also articulates a point of view on the current Iraq War that got little airing during the 2002 war debate and the subsequent press coverage of the 2003 invasion.

Even if you don't agree with the political points of view expressed, False Refuge is a great story and it's told in a memorable way. At the very least, it'll make you think--and that's not a bad thing.