Review: An exciting story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 2, 2013
The President of the United States is the protagonist of 'Rude Awakenings'--not Obama, but a fictional character called Michael Macdonald. I've never come across such a story before, but I think it works quite well. The premise is that in the present day, a nuclear attack on the U.S. and Canada leaves millions dead and injured. Early in the novel, President Macdonald makes a stirring speech, in which he promises to bring the culprits to justice. I appreciate the many nods to the financial crisis, and the parlous state of Detroit, in this scene and throughout the book. (Of course, a nuclear strike can be a metaphor as well as a plot feature.)The fast-paced story is driven forward by an urgent search for the perpetrators of the attack, but Macdonald's personal drama also takes centre stage. I found the author's depiction of counter-terrorism and the inner politics of the White House enjoyable and realistic, and if those plot elements sound interesting to you I would certainly recommend this book.