Book Review: The Siege

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

The Siege     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Stephen White
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Dutton, 2009, 416 Pages

Sam Purdy is really down on his luck. His police detective girl friend, Carmen, is pregnant and is on doctor ordered bed rest. Sam is suspended from the Boulder police department and maxed out on his credit cards. Filling in for Carmen, he goes to Miami to attend events planned to honor her daughter, Dolce's, engagement to Andrew Calderon. Sam’s only thought is to just manage to get through the celebrations and get back home.

Sam is approached by Ann Summers Calderon, mother of the groom, who takes Sam aside and reveals her fears regarding her daughter Jane who is a student at Yale. Ann has received a note that makes her feel that Jane may be in danger. She convinces Sam to fly to Yale and investigate.

Meanwhile, at Yale, Sgt. Christine Carmody is acting as a hostage negotiator. A number of students are hostage inside a fortress like building owned by one of Yale’s secret societies. Word of the hostage situation has been on the news and FBI Agent Christopher Poe rushes to the scene. Chris was in the building during the Oklahoma bombing and is still suffering after effects from that tragedy. Deirdre Drake, a CIA analyst, joins Chris. The two eventually join up with Sam Purdy and the group tries to make sense of the terrifying situation.

The Siege will terrify any parent as they read of students allowed to leave the building only to die in front of the hostage negotiator. Yet, some do come out and are unharmed. What is the key and what do the kidnappers hope to gain? This puzzle keeps the reader turning the pages.

Stephen White has written sixteen previous suspense novels and this one is a winner.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM

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