Review of The Date Farm
Posted: 22 May 2023, 17:28
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Date Farm" by Jack Winnick.]
The Date Farm by Jack Winnick is the fourth book in a series, but it certainly stands alone as an excellent novel. This action-packed contemporary thriller features FBI agent Lara Edmonds and Mossad agent Uri Levin. Although there are mentions of events from previous books, the author fits these seamlessly into the story.
The book opens as newlyweds Lara and Uri are relaxing on vacation with Lara’s family. A group of ten suicidal terrorists opens fire on a crowded mall in Los Angeles. Dozens of innocent people are slaughtered, and Lara and Uri are immediately called to the scene to assist the FBI. Oddly, no terrorist group claims responsibility for the incident. After three frustrating weeks, Lara and Uri are about to return to their home in Israel when another group of terrorists storms the Federal Reserve building and Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. Authorities there discover that the group is headed by an old nemesis from a previous case, Sheikh Zainal Abidin, and Lara and Uri are summoned to New York. They soon find themselves overseas in an attempt to infiltrate the terrorist organization and stop the activities of Abidin.
My favorite thing about this book is that Winnick writes with a strong, authoritative voice about complex issues in terms that an average reader can understand, without talking down to his audience. Even for a relatively short novel, the characters were well-developed, and the story is frighteningly realistic. I felt that Winnick must be an expert in international espionage or spent a great deal of time in research.
Upon reflection, there was nothing I did not like about The Date Farm. The plot moved very quickly between descriptive, character-driven scenes and heart-stopping action. There were so many twists, turns, and surprises that I am glad I had time to finish in two reading sessions. I am very much looking forward to starting with the first book and reading through all five books in the series. Fortunately, it appears there may be a sixth book in the works!
I give The Date Farm five out of five stars. This book was beautifully edited, with no typographical or grammatical errors. I found no profanity. Although there are scenes of death and violence, the author handles these very well, and they are not overly graphic. This book is a must-read for anyone who likes robust international espionage thrillers.
******
The Date Farm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Date Farm by Jack Winnick is the fourth book in a series, but it certainly stands alone as an excellent novel. This action-packed contemporary thriller features FBI agent Lara Edmonds and Mossad agent Uri Levin. Although there are mentions of events from previous books, the author fits these seamlessly into the story.
The book opens as newlyweds Lara and Uri are relaxing on vacation with Lara’s family. A group of ten suicidal terrorists opens fire on a crowded mall in Los Angeles. Dozens of innocent people are slaughtered, and Lara and Uri are immediately called to the scene to assist the FBI. Oddly, no terrorist group claims responsibility for the incident. After three frustrating weeks, Lara and Uri are about to return to their home in Israel when another group of terrorists storms the Federal Reserve building and Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. Authorities there discover that the group is headed by an old nemesis from a previous case, Sheikh Zainal Abidin, and Lara and Uri are summoned to New York. They soon find themselves overseas in an attempt to infiltrate the terrorist organization and stop the activities of Abidin.
My favorite thing about this book is that Winnick writes with a strong, authoritative voice about complex issues in terms that an average reader can understand, without talking down to his audience. Even for a relatively short novel, the characters were well-developed, and the story is frighteningly realistic. I felt that Winnick must be an expert in international espionage or spent a great deal of time in research.
Upon reflection, there was nothing I did not like about The Date Farm. The plot moved very quickly between descriptive, character-driven scenes and heart-stopping action. There were so many twists, turns, and surprises that I am glad I had time to finish in two reading sessions. I am very much looking forward to starting with the first book and reading through all five books in the series. Fortunately, it appears there may be a sixth book in the works!
I give The Date Farm five out of five stars. This book was beautifully edited, with no typographical or grammatical errors. I found no profanity. Although there are scenes of death and violence, the author handles these very well, and they are not overly graphic. This book is a must-read for anyone who likes robust international espionage thrillers.
******
The Date Farm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon