Author Davis Bunn is the master of writing page-turning fiction and his character Marc Royce reads much like a big screen action hero. In Bunn’s newest novel, Rare Earth
Here is the story-line, courtesy of DavisBunn.com:
Marc Royce has worked for the State Department on a variety of clandestine assignments, most recently in Iraq. Now he is called on to investigate suspicious activities in the Horn of Africa, a region already in turmoil from decades of violence, corruption, and poverty.
Dropped into the squalor of the refugee camps, Marc confronts a stranglehold of deceit and oppression. Women and children are ravaged by hunger. Aid workers are overstretched. Government officials prevaricate. The presence of armed military contractors adds to the menace. Can anyone be trusted?
If you’ve followed my blog for long, you know that I am a big fan of Davis Bunn’s writing. I have recommended several of his books in the past (Lion of Babylon, Book of Dreams, The Damascus Way, and Hidden In Dreams). Davis’ vivid writing transports readers directly into the location and action of his stories. His knowledge of economics and world politics makes his novels come alive.
Rare Earth did have one weakness that I have never felt in his other novels–I felt a bit detached from the characters. I think this was because Marc Royce was such a strong hero from page one that I saw little growth or change in him over the course of the novel. I knew he would be able to face each challenge as it appeared. That didn’t stop me from rooting for him, however. It was more difficult to cheer for the heroine/love interest. Since we never got to see the story from her point of view, I struggled to care about the character and that left the romance a little flat.
With that said, I still enjoyed the rollicking tale and relished meeting each of the local characters and watching as Royce formed them into a team, ready to fight the evil invaders and save the local African community. It played out like a summer blockbuster movie and I could practically hear the inspiring soundtrack rolling in the background.
If you would like a taste of the story, you can read the first three chapters, right now.
I happened to check over on Amazon.com and noticed that as I’m writing this, the price for the Kindle version of Rare Earth
Enjoy!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Bethany House for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Interesting perspective. I’llhave to add that book to my list of must-reads.
Thanks. Pat Lee