Nine stars
I am back to read another of the early Nelson DeMille novels, in which the plot and storytelling supersede dry wit and humour. DeMille showcases a great attention to detail and touches on the decades-old struggle for Irish control of the entire Emerald Isle, while setting the story in New York City. A brilliant piece that keeps the reader engaged and gasping throughout. DeMille shows his strong writing abilities with a story that will grip the reader from the outset.
More intense and celebrated than the Fourth of July, St Patrick's Day in New York City is the height of party season. Everyone is ready for the parades, the drinking, and the celebratory nature this day brings, when everyone adopts a temporary Irish heritage. While this seems like the most joyous occasion, others have something in mind to mark St. Patrick's Day for an entirely different reason.
With Irish blood rushing through his veins, Brian Flynn has ideas about how to celebrate the day. Raised in the violent, Irish-Protestant conflicts that have subsumed Northern Ireland for decades, Flynn has a plan to make his mark and ensure that the Irish struggle is not soon forgotten. With his eyes on the great St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC, Flynn and his handful of new Fenians will storm the building and demand change. Keeping four hostages and the image of all things Catholic in America under their control, Flynn and his men are ready to destroy it all if IRA prisoners who fought to free the Northern counties are not not freed by dawn on March 18th.
Leading the cause to protect the cathedral and save the hostages is an Irish-American police lieutenant who understands the struggle, but is not set on allowing violence to move the yardstick, and an NYPD hostage negotiator whose training could not have prepared him for this night. With pressure from the American, British, Irish, and Vatican leadership, this hostage taking will have to turn swiftly or there will be blood shed and a building destroyed. As the cathedral remains booby-trapped, there is little change for storming the building for success, though something has to be done on this day of days. A tense story that pushes a political agenda and social struggle that has roots over the last century, though its intensity is just as fresh today. DeMille pens a stunning story that kept me flipping pages well into the night and has me wanting more!
I have been reading some of the older Nelson DeMille novels of late, in hopes of getting a better perspective on the man whose acerbic wit has always attracted me in my reading adventures. DeMille has wonderful elements in this early novel, pushing an agenda that is clearly demonstrated in a powerful narrative. The story moves slowly, though gains momentum throughout as the intense nature of the tale becomes clear. The political and social implications are dripping from each chapter, which helps tell a story the reader may not properly understand. Characters pepper the piece effectively and offer up an all-around point of view that will help the reader see what is to come and how it all fits together.
Plot points are key to this story's intensity, which DeMille effectively presents for the reader to devour. DeMille uses his writing skills to surprise the reader with each passing moment, while also pushing a strong agenda that cannot be lost on the attentive reader. Political events that may not be currently savvy become highly intriguing once more with DeMille's stellar book and strong themes. I will keep reading some of the earlier novels, which exemplify great writing above sharp wit.
Kudos Mr. DeMille, for this wonderful piece that left me so impressed.
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