Veterans Day is unlike any action thriller I have read. It has all the elements of a dark exciting vigilante thriller with a damaged but intriguing protagonist who will remind you of a feral Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, grounded and gritty plot, and well executed action sequences that have a cinematic quality to them. Taking the best characteristics of a captivating dark story, Jack Stewart fuses them with theological elements to create an exciting take on the genre. This is a character-driven action-packed narrative that puts you in the front seat of a broken man’s violent journey to salvation from his inner demons.
The story revolves around Ronan Doyle, a badass Combat Controller who blames himself for a tragedy that leads to the deaths of his teammates in the field. We see Ronan’s fall into despair and darkness as his guilt eats away at him, until he finds purpose when a mysterious voice talks to him in his head. This voice seems to be stronger than simple instinct and propels Ronan into situations to save lives. When the voice pushes Ronan to go to New Orleans, he stumbles across a human trafficking ring, only to realize it is not a chance encounter, but the work of a higher power that is guiding Ronan towards saving lives of those who need saving. Teaming up with a New Orleans Detective Kashm, Ronan is exposed to a whole new world that he didn’t believe existed.
Along with brutal descriptions of severe guilt taking over Ronan’s life, readers are also treated to fantastic action sequences described in wonderful detail that bring the action to life. Ronan is a bonafide badass with both his fists and his weapons, as he engages his opponents in spectacular display of bone crunching and headbutting violence. Think Jack Reacher, but more violent and feral. That is not to say there aren’t shootouts; Ronan shreds bad guys with his Glock and rifle in fast-paced shootouts that evoke feelings of authenticity with the tactical movements and descriptions of the shootouts. To top this off, there is a WOW sequence involving flaming swords and armor and inhuman entities that is sure to blow you out of your seats!
What I found most intriguing was the unfiltered focus on Ronan’s POV as we resonate with him on his journey from rock bottom to having a sense of purpose. With the challenges he faces, the surprises he comes across, the unfathomable twists and turns, I felt deeply connected to Ronan on his journey with such great character development. Ronan’s personal journey sets up a great platform to introduce a theological component into the story, with the idea of good vs bad taking form not only in humans but also with angels and demons.
I immensely enjoyed Veterans Day and found it to be a unique take on the thriller genre with the fusion of theology with hardcore thriller that readers of the genre love to get into. The nonlinear story builds the mystique while revealing the necessary developments of the story without detracting from the fast-paced narrative. I am very excited for the next adventures of Ronan and Kashm. Think of a more vicious version of Jack Reacher’s vigilante vibe infused with theological elements of Constantine, and you have Veterans Day! A must-read introduction to Ronan Doyle who will be an instant fan favorite.
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