Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Jackson Quick is working for the Governor of the State of Texas when he’s kidnapped by a man calling himself “The Saint.” His kidnapper wants to know what was on the Ipods that Jackson delivered to different locales around the globe on behalf of the Governor. Once released, Jackson goes on the run with television reporter George Townsend to uncover a conspiracy that he’d never have suspected boiling under the surface of Texas politics involving even those closest to him.
The author, Tom Abrahams, gave me an advanced reader’s copy (ARC) of [easyazon-link asin=”1618689959″ locale=”us”]Allegiance[/easyazon-link] in exchange for my review. As always with ARCs, content may change between the writing of this review and the publication date.
I had the pleasure of reviewing Abraham’s first novel, “Sedition”, not long ago. Click here to read that review. I called the first release “smart and entertaining” and that description holds true for [easyazon-link asin=”1618689959″ locale=”us”]Allegiance[/easyazon-link]. Abrahams’s story is complex and conveys specialized information to the audience in a relatable way enhancing the continuous action of the narrative.
Jackson Quick is a character underestimated by his adversaries and, in a way, by the reader. As Jackson’s story develops, we’re treated to snippets from his past that define him and how his childhood was a bit of a reluctant training ground for what he would now face in [easyazon-link asin=”1618689959″ locale=”us”]Allegiance[/easyazon-link]. Jackson faced some pretty dramatic twists and turns in the plotline and never did this reader stop and say, “That couldn’t happen.” He may be a bit wonderful at times and a bit clueless at others, but Jackson, in the first novel of a planned series, is a man with a huge potential to count himself among the top action heroes of our generation.
The addition of George Townsend, the television reporter, felt like a fun nod to the author who is himself a reporter and anchor for a Texas television station. George isn’t in the chase because he’s brave or because of his ability to stop bullets with a steel-plated will. George is ambitious. He’s smart and willing to do what it takes to get his story, though. He regrets the loss of life but he will cherish the awards. Some of the best moments in the novel were born of this character’s willingness to take a chance. While George filters in and out of the story line, Abrahams shows us a real person in this sometimes less than willing sidekick. In benefit of the audience, George frequently acted on behalf of readers, like me, who might not know nanotechnology or have researched development of alternate fuels.
Nothing in the story presented in [easyazon-link asin=”1618689959″ locale=”us”]Allegiance[/easyazon-link] is as it seems. The tale, like “Sedition” is one of misdirection and a focus on the core goal. At the heart of the story is a gubernatorial race, but the truth lies in what the candidates stand for and that might not always be as simple as it seems. Abrahams opens the novel with a beautiful scene of a spotter and sniper taking aim at a candidate. While the idea may sound like a horrible tragedy, it was a very cleanly written dance. Abrahams sets the stage for the reader as to what to expect. Never would he give us unnecessary fillers and never would we lose a player without purpose. The body count would be high and the narrative fast moving but it was all to the common goal of truth. Clarity for Jackson and George.
On a final note, as a child, I was not permitted to watch television in accordance with my mom’s religious beliefs. One of our local radio stations replayed Old Time Radio shows from the early part of the 20th century and “The Saint” was a favorite. I appreciated this nod to writers that come before in the narrative. I’ve never read Leslie Charteris’s work but have listened to the radio show and TCM recently replayed all of the movies starring George Sanders as the title character. (to learn more about Simon Templar a.k.a. “The Saint” click here). Perhaps because of this, I was drawn to the Sir Spencer character and hope to see more of him in the novels to follow.
If you like political thrillers, you cannot go wrong with [easyazon-link asin=”1618689959″ locale=”us”]Allegiance[/easyazon-link]. A continuing series has the promise to develop into phenomenal spy fiction. Abrahams has the skill and talent of story development and self-editing that fans of the genre should take note. Tom Abrahams will soon be a “can’t miss this author” on your new release sheets. [easyazon-link asin=”1618689959″ locale=”us”]Allegiance[/easyazon-link] was a wonderful read. If you like Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, Brian Haig or any of the great political thriller authors, Tom Abrahams is an author you need to discover today.
Read an excerpt and buy Allegiance by Tom Abrahams on
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To learn more about Tom Abrahams and his work visit his website. You can connect with Tom Abrahams on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter @Abrahamsbooks.