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Aftershock.: A Novel
Major Penelope Baldwin, accomplished pilot and tactician, could have expected a bright future and stable military career until a dubious flight mission over Al A’Zamiyah, Iraq results in the loss of her left leg, and any opportunity for motherhood.
As Penelope struggles in recovery, her mother Evelyn struggles to secure their financial future and cover mounting medical bills. Buying the lies of disingenuous bankers and marketing shills, Evelyn places her savings within the derivatives market, a bubble that (unbeknownst to her) is on the verge of bursting. The collapse will destroy what’s left of her finances, along with the investments and pensions of countless citizens.
Within months, on a wintry night in Georgia, a coked-up stock trader miscalculates a power turn in a Porsche coupe, sending its right front wheel over the curb and crashing into that which Penelope holds most dear.
The stage is set for a dedicated warrior, an American heroine, to turn her sights on those greedy, callous men responsible for ripping away her future.
Baldwin, along with Tessa Montgomery (Senior Chief USMC), Cynthia Washington (RN MSW), and six other highly competent women, all similarly devastated by the avarice, arrogance, and indifference of America’s ruling elite, channel their grief and rage, and their search for justice, to become a finely orchestrated and well-financed band of predators.
Several months later, several of the most powerful of America’s financial and political elite are slaughtered in forty-storied monuments to their egos. Then a terror―a terror so primal that it rends the very fabric of everyday life―is released into the homes, limos, and private jets of America’s quasi-monarchical class.
An invisible society of professional predators is leading a lethal attack on the long sacred relationship between money and politics.
Two critical questions are explicitly raised by the When the voice of the few, the wealthy, the privileged is the sound of the money essential for election, can the voice of the common citizen be heard at all? Can an ethical government exist when the special interests it’s charged with policing have captured the political system and the means of election through their vast wealth?
Find the answers in the thrilling debut novel by Joe Lane
As Penelope struggles in recovery, her mother Evelyn struggles to secure their financial future and cover mounting medical bills. Buying the lies of disingenuous bankers and marketing shills, Evelyn places her savings within the derivatives market, a bubble that (unbeknownst to her) is on the verge of bursting. The collapse will destroy what’s left of her finances, along with the investments and pensions of countless citizens.
Within months, on a wintry night in Georgia, a coked-up stock trader miscalculates a power turn in a Porsche coupe, sending its right front wheel over the curb and crashing into that which Penelope holds most dear.
The stage is set for a dedicated warrior, an American heroine, to turn her sights on those greedy, callous men responsible for ripping away her future.
Baldwin, along with Tessa Montgomery (Senior Chief USMC), Cynthia Washington (RN MSW), and six other highly competent women, all similarly devastated by the avarice, arrogance, and indifference of America’s ruling elite, channel their grief and rage, and their search for justice, to become a finely orchestrated and well-financed band of predators.
Several months later, several of the most powerful of America’s financial and political elite are slaughtered in forty-storied monuments to their egos. Then a terror―a terror so primal that it rends the very fabric of everyday life―is released into the homes, limos, and private jets of America’s quasi-monarchical class.
An invisible society of professional predators is leading a lethal attack on the long sacred relationship between money and politics.
Two critical questions are explicitly raised by the When the voice of the few, the wealthy, the privileged is the sound of the money essential for election, can the voice of the common citizen be heard at all? Can an ethical government exist when the special interests it’s charged with policing have captured the political system and the means of election through their vast wealth?
Find the answers in the thrilling debut novel by Joe Lane
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2014
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 24, 2014
At its essence this story is the ultimate vigilante tale. Anyone that's visited my site or looked at my bookshelf will recognize that I love a good vigilante story.
The star vigilantes of the story are surprisingly, entirely women, something I don't see very often. Pen, the main heroine of the book is a military pilot forced to fly a mission everyone suspects to be trouble. As the prediction comes to fruition two Black Hawks are down and Pen winds up in a coma with injuries that eliminate any future children and force the doctors to remove part of her leg. Reeling from the injuries of her only child Pen's mother is forced to make tough decisions that ultimately contribute to the fire of rage burning in the souls of the WA women. These woman have seen and been victimized by the ugly side of a democratic fee market where the rich get richer and money is power.
The protagonists of the tale, Wall Street, Banks, Politicians, and the financial leaders of the country are painted with a broad brush. Greed rules the day where enough is never enough whether it's money, power, or influence.
In this book we are treated to ruthless, vicious deeds done by women that epitomize that old saying "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned".
The dizzying array of methods that vengeance is dished out will most assuredly keep you turning the pages and just when you've got your blood pressure back under control the next page forces it right back up. We have multiple targets dropped at the same time, snipers, high explosives, snakes (yes, even "Snakes On Planes"), high tech toys, computer hacking, murder, and especially that age old tool of blackmail.
A vigilante thriller that lives up to both those descriptions in spades.
The star vigilantes of the story are surprisingly, entirely women, something I don't see very often. Pen, the main heroine of the book is a military pilot forced to fly a mission everyone suspects to be trouble. As the prediction comes to fruition two Black Hawks are down and Pen winds up in a coma with injuries that eliminate any future children and force the doctors to remove part of her leg. Reeling from the injuries of her only child Pen's mother is forced to make tough decisions that ultimately contribute to the fire of rage burning in the souls of the WA women. These woman have seen and been victimized by the ugly side of a democratic fee market where the rich get richer and money is power.
The protagonists of the tale, Wall Street, Banks, Politicians, and the financial leaders of the country are painted with a broad brush. Greed rules the day where enough is never enough whether it's money, power, or influence.
In this book we are treated to ruthless, vicious deeds done by women that epitomize that old saying "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned".
The dizzying array of methods that vengeance is dished out will most assuredly keep you turning the pages and just when you've got your blood pressure back under control the next page forces it right back up. We have multiple targets dropped at the same time, snipers, high explosives, snakes (yes, even "Snakes On Planes"), high tech toys, computer hacking, murder, and especially that age old tool of blackmail.
A vigilante thriller that lives up to both those descriptions in spades.
November 22, 2014
This is a very well-crafted first novel. It shows the tragic consequences of letting political opportunists have input into tactical military planning. We follow the journey of a top notch female pilot from her near death in an ill-fated mission, through her physical recovery by way of a warm, loving Golden Retriever, and finally to her return to the States. Here she encounters the indifferent VA medical system and has to cope with the loss of her savings, as well as her mother and canine companion. She encounters a group of similarly affected women and they set their collective sights on what they see as the cause of their problems, self-serving politicians and power brokers. We now see how a group of well-trained tactical warriors seek the redress of their grievances in a most unorthodox manner. The book is well written, the situations and dialog quite believable, and the characters evoke your sympathy. You are left to work out the moral dilemma asking if the end truly does justify the means. You may agree or disagree with the basic premise of the story, but you will be forced to carefully weigh the issues.
January 15, 2017
I was really excited to read this book and absolutely astonished at the poor quality. I'm usually pretty lenient with new authors, however this particular book leaves much to be desired. It was so poorly written and seemingly NOT edited at all by the publishers that I was actually shocked at how bad it was.
While I love the idea of kick-ass women getting even with all the bad guys on Wall Street, they were portrayed as totally enraged women all the time; not just when there was an injustice visited upon them. It got old really quick. There was no finesse to them achieving their revenge.
The final straw was when one of the distraught mothers of the young boys was said to be so upset that she had to be hospitalized, then, later in THE SAME PARAGRAPH she was in the waiting room talking with neighbors. Confused much?
This book is in serious need of editing and revision. Don't bother reading it. At least until there is an edited and revised edition available.
While I love the idea of kick-ass women getting even with all the bad guys on Wall Street, they were portrayed as totally enraged women all the time; not just when there was an injustice visited upon them. It got old really quick. There was no finesse to them achieving their revenge.
The final straw was when one of the distraught mothers of the young boys was said to be so upset that she had to be hospitalized, then, later in THE SAME PARAGRAPH she was in the waiting room talking with neighbors. Confused much?
This book is in serious need of editing and revision. Don't bother reading it. At least until there is an edited and revised edition available.
January 19, 2015
The END SUCKED!!!!!
What a way to leave the audience hanging.........I'm still very upset.
Very good book. Love the main character, she is an amazing person.
What a way to leave the audience hanging.........I'm still very upset.
Very good book. Love the main character, she is an amazing person.
December 17, 2020
Fun read! Action-packed, full of unexpected twists and turns, and strong, multi-dimensional characters who all happen to be women!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews