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| ROLLING THUNDER (BOOK 1 OF "THE TRUTH CHASERS") - MARK MYNHEIR |
| While admitting to a discomfort level with those who consciously and constantly inject religious connotations into their everyday lives, I do love a �fairy tale� with a happy ending.
I�m not sure why it seems easier to forgive a stranger or casual acquaintance who inflicts physical and emotional torment on us � perhaps it�s because we don�t know them intimately and haven�t a clue why they would think of doing such things to us. In a case like that, most of us would tend to think of ourselves as being randomly victimized, with the recovery process being approached from a neutral standpoint. Suffering abuse within a family unit (in the case of this story, resulting in a death) is an entirely different matter. Conflicting emotions most certainly come into play, usually always causing irreparable damage. The story is gleaned from a convergence of purely coincidental events. A young boy placed in foster care six years earlier is suddenly (and without explanation) discovered as �missing, without a trace� in the midst of an election campaign, while an elderly prisoner convicted of murdering his wife 33 years ago is released on parole. Only the young boy�s disappearance has come to the attention of the press. The central character, who calls himself John Russell, is a police officer and ordained minister. He is also the son of the homicidal convict, a fact he has kept to himself. John and his partner, Tim (who has his own personal troubles), are called upon to investigate the disappearance of the young boy. A female officer is later added to their investigative team, perhaps to spice things up a bit. It is quite credible that John would continue as an adult to be haunted by his mother�s murder when he was just a boy, particularly since he was a witness to the crime. It is also conceivable that he would reject any and all advances by his paroled father, who is now seeking forgiveness in the name of Christianity. Interestingly, both the father and son had turned to religion to maintain their sanity, but it is ultimately a test of faith that determines what they, as individuals, truly believe. John�s wife, Marie, is cast in the role of mediator between the two men, and her own religious convictions are put to the test, as well. The author, Mark Mynheir, draws from his own experience as a police officer, alluding to personal tragedies of his own that found closure through his rebirth as a Christian. He has a very straightforward style of writing that is easy to breeze through, and although his d�nouement of the story was predictable in some aspects, I found no credibility in other elements, particularly regarding the missing boy. My personal cynicism towards human nature is at odds with Mynheir�s strong sense of optimism, but I�m willing to agree with the categorization of this novel as �inspirational�. The human reactions he describes are not beyond the realm of possibility, just highly unlikely, but that�s what makes it interesting. To choose whether to �turn the other cheek� or to effect �an eye for an eye� mentality is a decision we must all face at some point in our lives. Rolling Thunder is Book 1 of what is called �The Truth Chasers� series�. Would I read the follow-up novel? Absolutely. Mark Mynheir has succeeded in creating an intriguing group of characters whose motivations and personal attitudes have been firmly established. Besides, the plot, involving Tim�s daughter and her involvement in a religious cult, sounds irresistible. Diane Wells |