Shields of Deception

Rating:
Summary: A powerful mix of police suspense and terrrorism
Review: A tremendously captivating and suspenseful novel about an NYPD detective trying to make the best of a bad assignment when he stumbles over the case-of-a-lifetime. A case which has the possibility of devastating the city of New York and wrecking an otherwise promising career. It is a book as much about the investigative toil of the detectives assigned to the case and the elusiveness of their prey as it is about the personal conflicts and character flaws of the primary players. The author's descriptions of police procedures is reminiscent of a W. E. B. Griffith novel but without the detail that might cause the reader to become bogged down. The personal ambitions and feelings of the lead detective, as well as the plot structure and magnitude of the crime is akin to earlier novels by William Caunitz. The reader finds himself drawn into the life of the lead detective, empathizing with his setbacks and conflicts, and not really able to formulate a decision as to which path the detective should take in his personal life. The antagonist is an expertly characterized ex-Soviet military field operative who is marvelously introduced and leads the reader on an adventure that almost has the reader cheering for the bad guy. His attention to detail and his cool-headed and painstaking preparations reminds the reader of a character from a Robert Ludlum cold war novel. The book is replete with peripheral characters with short, but pivotal appearances that add realism and keep the reader from becoming complacent with the pace of the story. Once the reader gets past the initial character introduction, the story takes off at a pace that doesn't slow until the surprisingly exhaustive and unexpected climax. Though the reader is aware of the terrorist's primary objective, there is a parallel target that eludes the reader until it is almost too late for the main character to alter events. The writer is successful in making the reader experience the urgency and desperation felt by the main character as he wrestles with the likely consequences of a failed attempt at finding the secondary target. "Shields of Deception" is a long book, but once the plot takes off the reader won't want it to end.

Rating:
Summary: Book 'Em, Ben-o
Review: This book was a fabulous read. His meticulous use of detail adds to the atmosphere of a police investigation. His seemingly very personal knowledge of the region and police techniques is impressive, and he puts it to great use. I can't wait to see more from Ben Beeler!