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The Gatekeeper
by Michelle
Gagnon
The kidnapping of
sixteen year old Madison Grant draws Special Agent Kelly
Jones's fiance Jack Riley into a case tied to an unthinkable terrorist
plot with an uthinkable ransom, a ransom that demands a father choose
between his daughter and his country. Meanwhile, the FBI assigns
Kelley to the case of the murder and dismemberment of a
senator. As Kelly tracks down the clues to this crime, she
investigates the fanatical fringes of American society who might resort
to murder rather than the political process to achieve their
goals. More terrifying than any one fanatical group itself, she
unveils the mysterious figure of The Gatekeeper, an anonymous but
powerful force uniting the hate groups towards one common goal in one
of the domestic terrorist worst attacks on American soil. At
first the two cases seem disconnected but could they be related?
Will Jack and Kelly uncover the culprit and the plot efore it is tyoo
late or will the case lead them into perils from which they might never
recover?
Michelle Gagnon's new thriller THE GATEKEEPER chills the reader with an
all too plausible scenario of the enemy within now united, of a blind
patriotism turned so fanatical that it will stop at nothing to achieve
its goals, a goal even more horrifying as the means itself. Seemingly
isolated events become more ominous as the links between them are
uncovered, but even more terrifying is the twisted mind manipulating
these fringe groups. The kidnapping plot itself magnifies the
horror of the plan as Michelle Gagnon turns her vision from the broader
look at hate politics to the dilemma and emotions faced by Madison's
father. By detailing these human moments, Michelle Gagnon unmasks
the twistedness of political obsession, an obsession that seeks to
destroy what it claims to value.
Michelle Gagnon's THE GATEKEEPER is a page-turning thriller that speeds
up to an action-packed shocking ending. She takes Kelly into the
most dangerous case she has faced to date. Readers of the Kelly
Jones series will discover even more development of Kelly Jones as a
character. Her relationship to both Jack and the FBI receives
more attention here, building up the depth of her character for
hopefully will be more. Michelle Gagnon's thriller achieves its
goal in part due to recent headlines and the often divisive political
tenor in this country, creating a scenario that is all too real.
As the political tenor in this country is often so antagonistic, THE
GATEKEEPER might appeal to those on one side more than the other,
although her novel does not make use of any real life political
personalites and the more independent ot introspective type of reader
might find THE GATEKEEPER even more chilling as one uncovers the
chilling nature of the Gatekeeper, a force more deadly than any
individual group or political persuasion, a force that turns one
against oneself.
What distinguishes THE GATEKEEPER, however, is the developing portrait
of Special Agent Kelly Jones. Tough, determined and talented, she
is also a woman ambivalent about her job with the FBI. Even her
realtionship with Jack Riley is not so clear cut or simple. All
these elements add to the depth of her character, making a reader want
to see more of her character. In addition, this book in
particualar benefits from the complexities of her character,
juxtaposing her humnity to the fanatical absolute values of those she
tracks. THE GATEKEEPER coelesces into a cliffhanger that will
leave reders anxious for news of Michelle Gagnon's next release.
Publisher: Mira (November 2009)
Author
website
Previous Kelly Jones books: The Tunnels and Boneyard
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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