Preston Fleming

"And have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
-Ephesians 5:11

Great biblical quote from the book to sum up, well, the book. Because this quote is not so simple (to do) if you yourself are evil and can't discern between right and wrong.

This would make a great book club or discussion book: there's a lot going on here, and Root and Branch does a good job at highlighting the inane circuitousness and eternity of war, but also the competing interests and complex casualties of war (that you never think about). In my case--though I haven't read much political thriller or intrigue, I never thought of the role of 3rd party contractors in government operations, or the complexity of being both a proud American citizen and a naturalized American citizen with radicalized children helping the enemy of your country of origin and residence. And, of course, good political thrillers or intrigue highlights total confusion, while simultaneously presenting the confusing question of who the enemy really is. What's really right or wrong. This book may show you just who you really are as an American, especially in the face of crisis. And just how crises are both generated and organic, but how both can be and are exploited for political and capital gain.

I thought main character last names a bit too symbolic and so ridiculous at times, and I think the novel could've benefited from general editing as there are many typographical errors, which bothered me not so much considering the length of this book, but more so because it really is very well written and could've been near perfect.… (more)

This was a terrific read from an author whose other books I’ve also enjoyed. He takes a perfectly realistic scenario (in this case, identifying potential Muslim terrorists before they commit a violent act) into a “what if” thriller: the designer of the technology learns that the results are being manipulated, resulting in large numbers of innocents being labeled as “undesirables,” subject to detainment and deportation.

The story starts out measured and a bit slow, but stick with it—once it takes hold, you won’t be able to put this book down. The research is flawless, the prose is perfect, there’s enough action to keep you turning the pages, and the story is thought provoking. I had to remind myself that this was “only fiction.” Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: As a beta reader, I was provided with a free copy of this book by the author. The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.… (more)