Review of The Final Millennium

[Stephanie Runyon]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Final Millennium" by David T. Wolf.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Dan Jessup, a news reporter, is searching for information about Simon White, the new Republican candidate. Simon is an evangelist who used his speeches to convince voters that morality is the ultimate answer. Jessup becomes curious about what secrets Simon’s past may hold, particularly upon uncovering a significant gap in Simon’s life prior to his television evangelism. While interviewing campaign supporters, Jessup meets Maggie. Despite Maggie’s adoration of Simon, Jessup is determined to win her attention. However, his work and private investigation into Simon’s background occupy much of his time.

Meanwhile, Joe Pangborn is brought into a special project for General Hagenmeier, Dr. John Reitske, and General Forster. Pangborn is part of a group of elite strategists assigned to create a simulated preemptive strike against Russia using nuclear weapons. The group watches their work run through a scenario and is successful. When Pangborn was checking work emails, he discovered the USS Blackfish, a submarine destroyed a year ago, was stationed near the Arctic Circle. A dark thought enters his mind. They were not running a simulation; they were rehearsing a sinister plan of destruction.

The Final Millennium by David T. Wolf is a dystopian book that combines political corruption, military strategy, and intrigue into a suspenseful thriller. Jessup was a cynical reporter who thought Simon’s blank history was too good to be true. Simon’s best friend, Webster Tierney, was a constant presence that interfered with Jessup’s interview questions. Jessup’s determination to get answers was portrayed in a realistic length of time. He had to balance his paid work assignments, his relationship with Maggie, and avoid drawing attention to his investigation.

There was nothing I disliked about The Final Millennium. The character development was exceptional. The amount of detail given to show the military strategy was perfect. Wolf used vivid descriptions of every event, immersing me in an unpredictable plot that built intense suspense on every page. I could understand Pangborn’s guilt for creating a devastating strategy. His involvement in a top-secret intelligence sector complicated his life, as he could not leave or communicate with anyone.

I rate The Final Millennium five out of five stars. The personal growth of every person was easy to follow. The supporting characters added depth to the story. Wolf even added Maggie’s eleven-year-old son for shock value. I felt including a child’s direct statements was relatable to what I experienced with my children. Jessup’s verbal sparring was captivating. He knew how to push people into making mistakes. For example, Jessup could get Simon to admit he had died in the past and was reborn to bring the future. His words gave Jessup a clue to finding “the real Simon.”

Readers who like books about military strategy, mysteries, and politics will enjoy The Final Millennium. Sensitive readers may find drug use, mild sexual content, death, and graphic descriptions of nuclear bomb effects overwhelming. Young adults will find conspiracies of secret military missions and the sway of political leaders intertwined from different angles in this novel.

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The Final Millennium
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[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I rate The Final Millennium five out of five stars. The personal growth of every person was easy to follow. The supporting characters added depth to the story. Wolf even added Maggie’s eleven-year-old son for shock value. I felt including a child’s direct statements was relatable to what I experienced with my children. Jessup’s verbal sparring was captivating. He knew how to push people into making mistakes. For example, Jessup could get Simon to admit he had died in the past and was reborn to bring the future. His words gave Jessup a clue to finding “the real Simon.”

I'm rarely one for political intrigues because we get enough corruption from the news. But I love how in almost all of your reviews, you weave a little bit of your personal story. I think that makes them stand out.

[NetMassimo]

This is a thriller with interesting ramifications, as it's about politics and the military digging into corruption and mysteries. I expect twists and surprises that keep readers engaged until the end. Thank you for your great review!