My Review of The Jerusalem Protocol from David Orlo

The Jerusalem Protocol

The second novel from new author David Orlo continues the Regan Hart series. While it's not necessary for the reader to have read the first book, it would be helpful. The three main characters in the book are continued from The Cloud Strike Prophecy and while there are retrospective narratives that provide some insight into how the story developed, first time readers may wonder how and why this team is together. Readers can always go back and read the first book to fill in the blanks after completing the current story.

The main trio of Ty, Solly, and of course Regan Hart are back and involved in an international incident that could have been ripped from the pages of any current newspaper. The only negative about the plot line is that with a little more effort it could have been split into at least two books. There are several sub plots and twists that are really solved a little too easily to be truly believable. I wish Orlo had taken a bit more time to develop these stories and inserted a little more tension for the characters by not having all of them work out in favor of the good guys. That is something that seasoned writers include to build intrigue and identification with the characters. As an avid reader of fiction that is what really separates the good from the great authors.

Knowing the author personally I can see where his desire to have the message of Jesus be the focus of the book caused the story to flatten out a little. This makes sense given the nature of the book in some ways as a part of the series, but might cause some new readers to scratch their head as to why it becomes the central theme in a book centered on the rebuilding of the Jewish temple. The story is a bit too neat and tidy for me. I would have preferred a little more left unfinished to adequately mirror real life and help me stay connected to the story and characters.

With that being said, the book is a great read. The story is interesting in its scope and implications. It's based on good research and many trips by the author to the places included in the book. With more experience writing the development of the back story of the characters will improve but it is adequate now. The plot has enough twists to keep you engaged. You will want to keep reading until you get to the end. I was intrigued by the weaving together of the stories concerning ISIS, the Jews, intelligence agencies, and Christian concerns. It makes perfect sense and while it may be too simplified the reader can imagine the outcome actually happening sometime in our near future.

I highly recommend the book and I look forward to future installments from Orlo and the Regan Hart Series or other stories. This book will be appreciated by anyone, but for those interested in Christian or Jewish Prophecy, it will be a thought provoking masterpiece. It might even get them to ask, "Is this fiction or a not yet fulfilled reality?"

I received a complimentary copy of the book for my review and honest commentary.

The Domino Effect is a must read book for such a time as this!

In the latest novel by Davis Bunn the reader is confronted with a storyline that might have been taken from the headlines of any news channel. The main character is appropriately named Esther. The name is both symbolic of the character’s place in the story and the story itself in the place of history. It’s not difficult to read between the lines to see that Bunn is making a commentary about the current state of financial times. His background in business can be seen throughout the intricate details of the banking industry as expressed in the fictional account of Esther.

Set among the high risk and high reward investment banking sectors, the story is both believable and terrifying. The information shared in the dialogue between characters is rich and appears to be accurate, although I admit that the technical issues of the banking industry are well beyond me. The plot develops quickly and the story is hard to put down once you get engrossed in the intrigue and back story issues that the characters face.

Some Bunn fans may be a bit disappointed with the lack of a strong spiritual story woven within the main plot, but it’s there in the background for those with the wisdom to perceive it. This work just doesn’t have it in the foreground as do most of Bunn’s previous stories. But that’s all you will have to complain about if you are a fan.

The characters are richly developed and contain the necessary flaws and cracks to make them loveable from the start. They appear as real people who might live down the street or work in the bank that you visit on a regular basis. There is intrigue, conflict, turmoil, and some unexpected twists in the plot to keep the reader engaged throughout the book. It might even cause you to make some changes in your own personal financial strategies if you are perceptive enough.

Overall, I would highly recommend you buy this book and read it as soon as possible. While the risk might not be as urgent as the one faced in the book, this is a book for the times in which we live. Or from the line in the book of Esther, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” This book has that feel about it. This is a book that had to be written and deserves to be read and acted upon, even if it fiction!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for my unbiased review.