The DMZ

Rating:
Summary: Addiction at its best!
Review: DMZ by Jeanette Windle is a fast-paced, political suspense novel that is almost impossible to put down, especially towards the end. It's practically addictive!
The story is very believable, not surprising considering the incredible amount of research that has gone into this novel and the fact that the author has herself lived in South America for many years. (Windle has written an earlier book entitled Crossfire, a story dealing with the drug trade in Bolivia). Her writing is so realistic that government agencies have questioned her to determine if she has received classified information! The novel chronicles the adventures of Julie Baker, a young journalist who is caught in international intrigue while covering a story involving the deaths of three U.S. citizens in the Columbian demilitarized zone. Julie is part of the media, medical, and political contingent sent to investigate the incident but she has a personal agenda as well. Her missionary parents died in Columbia and she is seeking answers in hopes of reconciling her feelings with the haunting memories from her past. Julie soon learns that besides the mysterious deaths of the three Americans, a sophisticated military aircraft has also disappeared and the FARC guerrilla rebels who roam the jungles of Columbia are considered prime suspects. Julie gets first-hand information about this group when she is kidnapped by the rebels and taken into the impenetrable interior of the rainforest. Her life among the rebel troops is intriguing and captivating as is the guerrilla soldier, Enrique Martinez, who rescues her from danger and death. Together they pit their lives against overwhelming odds as they attempt to uncover a deadly secret beneath the jungle's canopy.
This story has a compelling plot, great dialogue, realistic characters, and a powerful message of faith and courage. I recommend this wonderful book to all readers - male and female - because it is sure to captivate all who read it. (Just don't expect to get much work done until you've finished reading it. You really CAN'T put it down when nearing the final chapters!)

Rating:
Summary: Hard to put down.
Review: I'm glad that I finally finished this book because my housework and outside chores were suffering. It was good all the way through, but impossible to put down towards the end. Jeanette Windle certainly did her homework and the fact that she wrote about exotic people and places that she knew intimatly certainly showed. Very colorful and believable and exciting! Buy this book and read it. Be sure to get her other book, Crossfire, too. They're addictive. She is a new "favorite author" of mine.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: This is a great book! I read it during a book tour, and could hardly wait for my next break to get back to the Colombian jungle and the adventures of this young reporter who is caught in international intrigue while trying to sort out her own feelings about her past. The story is compelling, with good characters, great dialogue and descriptions, and an ending you cannot put down. Windle writes as well as Grisham and does a better job of weaving faith into the story.