John Ross reviews Freeper Travis McGee's "Enemies Foreign and Domestic"!

Official EFAD Site ^ | January 15, 2004 | John Ross

[Jeff Head]

John Ross, Author of, "UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES",
reviews Matt Bracken's "Enemies Foreign and Domestic"

I have several complaints about most thriller novelists. First, their protagonists are too often 100% virtuous with no humanizing flaws. Second, the protagonists let their enemies live when you KNOW the bad guys are going to come back and murder their kids etc. Third, everything the government does (hi-tech weapons, military & police tactics, criminal investigations, etc.) functions flawlessly. Fourth, too many stories have all the brilliant thinking and brave actions done by government employees (Special Forces, policemen, Intelligence operatives, etc.) Lastly, some novels have a basic premise that is just not believable. (Clancy's RAINBOW SIX is a prime example.)

Novelist Matthew Bracken has avoided these sins almost entirely in his excellent debut novel ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.

It is a challenge for any writer to come up with a plot that is at once plausible enough to have the reader accept it but also unlikely enough that it has not actually happened yet in real life. EFAD's dramatic concept is this: Wally Malvone, a lone mid-level ATF executive, engineers (with one accomplice) a long-range shooting into a football stadium and successfully arranges for an addled, destitute veteran to take the blame and be killed in the process.

Malvone does this because he needs an emergency that will encourage the President to embrace a plan he has put together: Forming a secret "hit squad" comprised of overaggressive ATF agents with disciplinary problems. This squad's duty is to be proactive: identify domestic terrorists ("militia members") and kill them during raids. The trial is in the media, when the cameras see the (planted) contraband retrieved from the slain terrorist's dwelling. Malvone wants to have this hit squad for the obvious reasons: funding, power, and prestige.

Naturally, some of the victims drawn into Malvone's web of treachery decide they have no choice but to fight back.

At each point in the storyline, as the good guys and bad guys acted and reacted, I kept asking myself if what was happening was plausible. How would *I* rewrite it to make it more believable? In some cases I thought that I would have had the parties react a bit differently, but I had to admit my alternate scenario was not necessarily more likely.

The fact is that when you get into the realm of serious, institutionalized government abuse of power in an environment with lots of resourceful, angry, well-armed people and the near-instant information flow of the Internet, you're in uncharted waters.

One critic said the female lead was an adolescent fantasy (21 yo, beautiful, motorcycle rider, expert shot, virgin) and I would have given her more edginess, but hey, a lot of readers like their heroes untainted.

Anyway, EFAD is an action-packed read, with most of the skill and creativity being demonstrated by the private sector, which is IMO 100% realistic.

Send a copy to your favorite Senator or Congressman...

EFAD is also good inspiration for me to get back to work on DETOUR, the sequel to UC. No promises, except there should be something in it to offend just about everyone.

By John Ross, author of "Unintended Consequences" January 2004

[Ancesthntr]

Jeff - thanks for posting this phenomenal review; it is always good to see praise given where it is due. The only problem is that now I have to go crazy for a while wondering about the plot of John Ross' book, and then salivating uncontrollably until he comes out with it.

Matt - renewed congrats on your book. This excellent review is very well deserved, and I hope that it brings you a lot more sales. Oh, yeah, and don't forget to hurry the Hell up with EFAD's successor!

[B4Ranch]

Talked about...but no one has done anything with it yet. I'd buy them.

If someone will do the footwork, I might fund the initial printing.

[AppyPappy]

I'm not that weird. I've been to Jacksonville, NC

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Wow. Great review.

To EFAD's success ~ with thanks for your continuing service, Travis.

You, too, Jeff.

[Jeff Head]

Me too...it was quite the shocker...but then, that's what makes Matt such a good author. He pulls off those shockers (which really do happen in real life) and then is able to keep you riveted to the story. I can't wait for the sequel, which he is working on now.

[spodefly]

Great Review from Ross. Deservedly so. It's a great book.

[spodefly]

You shouldn't post spoilers like that. Not everyone has read the book yet.

[Centurion2000]

BUMP

[RightWingMama]

It is a book that once started, you don't want to put it down. So, don't give it to him if you are expecting chores to be done the same weekend. He'll curl up in a chair and you will have to bring food to him.

When he is reading the house could be on fire and he would not notice. LOL

[yarddog]

Gosh, I didn't even think about that. I like to heckle commedians too.

[Doomonyou]

Matt,

Congraduations! Having read both EFAD and UC, I found them similar in many aspects, mainly being a great read and worthy of reading again. Cant waint for EFAD 2!

Jeff,

Really enjoying "The Long March"!

Keep writing, and I'll keep reading!

[gcruse]

Naturally, when I first saw EFAD, I thought, "Eat something And Die." Too much internet.

[B4Ranch]

Way too much internet!

[RightWingMama]

I just ordered Matt's book and another book written by some guy who lives in Idaho.;-)

[Gritty]

A great and well-deserved review!

[blackie]

Travis McGee ~ Bump!

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe ~ Molon Labe!

[in the Arena]

Good news...Good review, except I think Ross missed the point with Ranya...Congratulations Matt...

[humblegunner]

That darn Yellow Book again ping!

Y'all don't ping Travis, he needs to be a-workin' on the next installment!

[hattend]

Good review, Matt.

I have your book, it's #3 on my to-read list. I hope to get to it in the next few weeks. John Ross' review heightens my anticipation.