Review of Waterworks

[Seetha E]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Waterworks" by Jack Winnick.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Lara and Uri now work for the Mossad. Lara is a former FBI agent. In this book, Lara and Uri have been married for about two years. They are available to assist the FBI when needed. The duo hopes to start a family. However, the vacation for this purpose does not go as planned, as they end up getting called to stop a deadly terrorist mission.

After unusual occurrences at the Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant, Mayor Atkins bans the use of the city’s water for cooking and drinking until further notice. There seems to be a fair possibility that polonium, a deadly substance, was used to pollute the city’s water supply. The Iranian jihadi terrorists were plotting to target more locations on July 4th. Will Lara and Uri succeed in stopping the terrorists? Will they survive yet another deadly mission? Pick up a copy to find out.

The premise of this fiction uses water as a medium for a terrorist attack. The possibility of this occurring in reality is scary and made me want to pick up this book several times. The only thing that deterred me was that it was the fifth in the series. Encouraged by comments that it can be read as a standalone, I chose to read it, and I am happy I did.

Waterworks is the fifth in the Lara and Uri series. The author, Jack Winnick, is a professional engineer and an educator. He has published several editorials on Middle East affairs. The reader will appreciate how the author has employed his scientific, geographic, and cultural experience in creating this believable and thrilling novel. The successful use of the same substance to murder a Russian dissident, Alexander Litvinenko, adds an element of fear. The long-standing unease and the current geopolitics make it a much more relatable read.

The best part about this narrative is its ease of reading. The story progresses smoothly as the short chapters give due importance to the specific parts of the narrative. The writing is simple and walks you through all the settings and the emotions of the characters involved. One can feel the tension, the fear, and the uncertainty. The camaraderie between the US and the Israeli groups and the independent support setups is noteworthy. The author draws the reader’s attention to the motivation that drives the warring factions: one to protect and the other to harm. Unnecessarily confusing plot progression was avoided, making the novel very believable. The vivid descriptions of the man-to-man combat scenes were a delight. The pacing was the king with no dull phases.

I do not have any negative comments to report. With just one very minor error, I commend the exceptional editing. No part of the story puts down any religion. The presence of profanity and sexual advances, though not overt, is enough to restrict the book to mature readers. This work of fiction is a beautiful tribute to all those men and women who do not think twice as they put themselves on the line to protect the country and its people. For the reasons mentioned above, I gladly rate it five out of five stars.

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Waterworks
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[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Ah, Uri and Lara, how I miss this duo. I have read this book before, and a couple of others in the series, and I enjoyed them. The thriller kept me at my toes, and I couldn't wait to jump right into the next one once I finished the one I was reading. That's how excellent Jack's writing was. Your review fit this well-written book, and I say good job.

[Gerry Steen]

I agree with your review. I read this book too, and I enjoyed it. I like this author's writing style.

[Benita Ogarekpe]

This seems like a very packed read, full of every trope and theme I could think of to make a great book. I will definitely be checking this out.

[Victor Nwabuisi]

What caught my attention is the use of polonium as a weapon and how the book ties in real incidents like the Litvinenko poisoning. That level of realism paired with an intense plot makes this novel very intriguing. Thanks for the captivating review.

[Priya Murugesan]

I have read great reviews for this book, and I am still waiting to read it. Your review just increased my interest. Thanks for sharing it!