While Jill Nichols interviews an executive for a deposition, his assistant finds a bomb in the room directly below them. Employees race down the stairs, only to find themselves caught in the blast. As Dan and the rest of the Newpointe emergency service rush to the aid of the local rescue units, they find the bomber has left an unpleasant surprise. Catastrophe reigns and lives are lost and the details of the investigation lie in the head of the assistants daughter, an angry teenager Jill befriended in the evacuation. Line of Duty, the fifth novel of the Newpointe 911 series, is reminiscent of September 11th, and with good reason. Terri Blackstock states in the acknowledgement that after the terrorist attack, I was overwhelemed with the need to say even more about those men and women who are among Americas truest heros. She originally planned to end the Newpointe 911 series with only four books, but the national tragedy prompted her to include one more. As the emergency personnel struggle with various losses suffered, Ashley, the grieving teen, must reexamine her life. Her mission thus far had been to rebel from her mother, but after her mothers death, she realizes how shallow a goal that was. As she struggles to control the grief that overwhelms her, she must decide whether she wants to choose lifeor something far worse. At the same time, Dan must fight to overcome the injuries suffered in the line of duty. The greatest injury was to his pride, as he wonders why he worked so hard to build a body that now fails to serve him. In time, he must come to rely on his wife, on his friends, and most importantly, on the Lord. Once again, Terri Blackstock invites her reader into a dramatic and compelling novel that brings its characters and hopefully its readers closer to the Savior. The action is fast-paced and the tension high, although the guilty party quickly becomes evident. And Ashley must struggle with her need for revenge. The more crime novels I read by Blackstock, the more I wonder how she could have started her career with romance novels. Although most of her tales carry a hint of romance, she has great talent when it comes to grabbing the readers attention and never letting go. I am sad to have concluded the series when I have come to know the characters so well. Each person she created lived a realistic life, with plausible human actions and reactions. Dans struggle especially touched me, as it reminded me again to put the Lord first, and the rest will fall into place. |
