In his inimitable "two track" style of creating a fictional future and flashing back to actual events in recent history, Peter T. King once again places Congressman Sean Cross at the center of international terrorism, this time coming from radical Islam in cahoots with the Irish Republican Army. The "reality-based" track gives a minute-by-minute account of September 11, 2001 and its effect on the cities of New York and Washington, and continues with month-by-month accounts up until September 11, 2002. A leading congressional Republican, King offers keen insight into President Bush's inner circle in the days immediately following the attacks. In King's fictional future New York once again comes under attack, and it falls upon the resourceful Sean Cross to uncover the odd bedfellows that comprise this latest conspiracy to visit terror on American soil.
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Review
Vale of Tears is a must read for those passionately addicted to the genre.An intelligent balancing act between reality and all-too-real fiction is maintained throughout this taut, action-packed thriller difficult to put down until the final sentence of the last chapter. (Baldwin Tribune )
The strength is in the "you are there" narrative.All in all, if you like Pete King you'll like the book. (Jim Mulvaney Irish Echo )
Vale of Tears provides a chilling look at terrorist threat and also a glimmer of hope that increased vigilance might thwart future attacks. (The Weekly Standard )
The six-term congressman shares his unique insight into political events in a new novel that speculates on a connection between radical Islam and the Irish Republican Army that threatens thousands of lives in a near-future New York City. (Forecast )
The strength is in the "you are there" narrative.All in all, if you like Pete King you'll like the book. (Jim Mulvaney Irish Echo )
Vale of Tears provides a chilling look at terrorist threat and also a glimmer of hope that increased vigilance might thwart future attacks. (The Weekly Standard )
The six-term congressman shares his unique insight into political events in a new novel that speculates on a connection between radical Islam and the Irish Republican Army that threatens thousands of lives in a near-future New York City. (Forecast )
About the Author
Peter T. King was recently elected to his sixth term in Congress, where he serves on the Financial Services Committee and the International Relations Committe. Vale of Tears is his third book. He lives in Seaford, Nassau County, New York.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
97 of 103 people found the following review helpful
By G. Davis
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have always liked Rep. Peter King when I've seen him on television. In this book, he presents us with an equally-admirable, fictionalized version of himself, Congressman Sean Cross. But a likeable main character is not enough for a novel: it needs an interesting, at least occasionally-exciting, plot.
Unfortunately, while this book is purported to be about terrorism, it isn't really. It's actually about meetings about terrorism.
I imagine that, in real life, Peter King spends a lot of time in meetings and no time at all doing dangerous, exciting things like chasing down terrorists. That's a good thing in real life but not so good in a novel.
In Vale of Tears, the even-numbered chapters are about Rep. Cross' life in Washington on and after September 11, 2001 -- probably a fictionalized version of what actually happened to Rep. King during that time. After a chapter or two of it, I found that thread to be way too much sentimental tear-jerking and flag-waving for my taste and not much else, even though I am in general agreement with most of Peter King's politics. I skimmed the rest of the chapters about September 11th.
The odd-numbered chapters tell a fictional story of more-recent terrorist attacks and the attempts of Rep. Cross, his contacts in and out of the Muslim and Irish communities and law-enforcement to stop even-more-serious attacks before they happen.
You might expect a story like this to be told from the points-of-view of the characters involved in it: terrorists and anti-terrorists, with lots of on-the-street action, leading to an exciting climax. But all we get are meetings -- interminable meetings, one after the other. We are never where anything actually happens; rather, we are always where people talk about what happened a long time ago, what might happen, how they could prevent it from happening, what is probably happening somewhere else and then, finally, in lieu of an exciting climax, what actually did happen -- far away from the meeting.
Maybe this book should be in the Business Section, for people interested in how to set up and run successful meetings.
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Lo, I entered the darkness, and it was seen through a vale of tears. And Peter King was there, and he was a bloated moron.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There's nothing worth reading - the cover is the most exciting part of the book. And in case you haven't already heard, the author is a fervent supporter of the terrorist group, the IRA, responsible for killing thousands - including hundreds of civilians in random bombings in bars and department stores. According to the author, IRA terrorism is acceptable because it's not against the United States. Don't support this filth. Ignore the book, shun the author.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dry, good for a flight
It was a somewhat interesting viewpoint into the life of a veteran politician, though it hardly needed to be 300 hundred pages. Read more
Published on March 15, 2011 by Lance
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not good.
Complete and utter nonsense. Save your money and don't buy a book that promotes racism. Also, extremely boring. Read more
Published on March 15, 2011 by N. Halim
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pathetic
Every time a publisher accepts a work like this, presumably due to the status of this author, a more talented writer is denied an opportunity. Read more
Published on March 14, 2011 by Jim O'
1.0 out of 5 stars
A waste of money- Recall the Author
As a terrorist supporter himself, and general all around insane bigot this gentleman has no place in politics. Read more
Published on March 12, 2011 by LMallia
1.0 out of 5 stars
Utter tripe.
Unimaginative and dull. Oh wait, that's no surprise given the author.
Never bothered to post a comment until I learned this hypocritical, bloated moron avidly supported... Read more
Never bothered to post a comment until I learned this hypocritical, bloated moron avidly supported... Read more
Published on March 11, 2011 by John
5.0 out of 5 stars
tragedy and heroics 911 -a novel from a politicians viewpont
This novel expresses clearly the heroic accomplishments of police and firemen and actions by politicians both positive and negative during the 9-11 terrorist attacks and a spins a... Read more
Published on March 20, 2006 by Leslie W. Hodges
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tears Not Shed in Vain
Peter King has given us his best novel yet. It's a great read from cover to cover. The dialogue is superb. You can hear the words you read. Read more
Published on March 30, 2004 by Martin N. Kroll
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bigotry, racism, and hatred
Dear Readers,
I was astonished and utterly disgusted, abhorred, appalled, displeased, grossed out, nauseated, nauseous, offended, outraged, repelled, repulsed, sickened and... Read more
Published on March 28, 2004 by TH
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read
Congressman Peter King's third book Vale of Tears tells a tale of future terrorist attacks on Long Island and Brooklyn and one local Congressman's attempt to thwart another attack... Read more
Published on March 25, 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
A powerful book, required to read
The only problem I have with Vale of Tears is that it is classified as fiction.
The book is so true.
The book is so true.
Most people do not understand the threat of militant Islam. Read more
Published on March 15, 2004 by Eric Kent
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