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The Bootstrap Ultimatum
Investigative reporter Ben Teller pursues a disgruntled Air Force veteran, who is determined to punish America for the commercialization of Memorial Day. Their conflict straddles the fine line separating right from wrong and turns into a fierce match between cutting-edge technology and human resilience. The unraveling series of dramatic events lead up to a climactic confrontation at the Gettysburg National Battlefield. Praise for Avraham Azrieli’s earlier The Mormon Candidate – “Plotted like a cinematic thriller, Azrieli has come up with a very powerful novel. At work here is his extraordinary magic in making his readers as eager as his protagonist in uncovering the truth and thus effectively creating pervasive fear and suspense. Sure to keep you up late against your better judgment. Don't say I didn't warn you.” Norm Goldman, Examiner. The Jerusalem Inception - “Beautifully and superbly narrated.” Bookpleasures. “Boldly realistic plotlines and genuine, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!” Yahoo News/Politics. “Protagonist Jerusalem Gerster is the quintessential recruit.” NY Daily News. The Jerusalem Assassin - “Action-packed escapade ... memorable cast of characters ... pages turn as fast as the plot twists and locales shift, taking the reader from Paris to Zurich to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv.” Jewish News. Thump - “A light-hearted romp through sexual proclivities ... the characters are lovable ... the irreverence is delightful. Thought-provoking. Interesting. Unconventional. Recommended!” U.S. Review of Books. Christmas for Joshua - “In its own gentle way, the book is as much a page-turner as Azrieli’s thrillers - pulling the reader into complex personal and familial conflicts.” The Jewish Journal. The Masada Complex - “Brims with gritty authenticity ... a genuine treat!” David Liss, author of Conspiracy of Paper, winner of Edgar. “Riveting portrayal of global intrigue!” Stella Pope Duarte, author of If I Die in Juaréz, winner of the 2009 American Book Award.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2014
7 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Avraham Azrieli
21 books36 followersAvraham Azrieli writes books and screenplays. His first novel was The Masada Complex (a political thriller), followed by the Israeli spy novels The Jerusalem Inception and The Jerusalem Assassin, as well as Christmas for Joshua (an interfaith family drama), The Mormon Candidate (a political thriller), Thump (a courtroom drama featuring sexual harassment and racism), and The Bootstrap Ultimatum (a mystery involving the commercialization of Memorial Day). More recently, he has written a series of novels inspired by the true story of the first woman to lead a nation in human history, starting with Deborah Rising (HarperCollins 2016), which won the 2017 Illumination Book Award for fiction, Deborah Calling (HarperCollins 2017), and continuing with Deborah Slaying and Deborah Striking. A prequel to the Deborah series, The Elixirist, was published in 2020. The Plot to Save America, a mystery set in an authoritarian America, came out in 2022.
Besides fiction, he has also authored Your Lawyer on a Short Leash - A Guide to Dealing with Lawyers and One Step Ahead – A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler’s Claws, an acclaimed WWII true story, which inspired the musical By Wheel and by Wing.
While growing up in Israel, Avraham received an extensive Talmudic education and performed his mandatory military service in the IDF. After attending law school, he served as a law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. He later earned an advanced law degree from Columbia University in New York City, served as a law clerk at the Federal District Court, and started his legal career with Davis Polk & Wardwell. He has advocated for clients before trial and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He currently lives near Washington DC. Like Ben Teller, the protagonist in The Mormon Candidate and The Bootstrap Ultimatum, Avraham often rides his motorcycle in the mountainous forests of western Maryland.
To learn more, visit www.AzrieliBooks.com
Avraham Azrieli's Books:
The Jerusalem Inception - "Boldly realistic plotlines and genuine, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!" Yahoo News/Politics. "Protagonist Jerusalem Gerster is the quintessential recruit." NY Daily News.
The Jerusalem Assassin - "Action-packed escapade ... memorable cast of characters ... pages turn as fast as the plot twists and locales shift, taking the reader from Paris to Zurich to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv." Jewish News.
The Masada Complex - "Brims with gritty authenticity ... a genuine treat!" David Liss, author of Conspiracy of Paper, winner of Edgar. "Riveting portrayal of global intrigue!" Stella Pope Duarte, author of If I Die in Juaréz, winner of the 2009 American Book Award.
The Bootstrap Ultimatum - "The real magic here is Azrieli's incredible ability to create well-developed characters as well as his skill in knowing how to draw in his readers." Examiner. “Fast-paced action thriller ... but also full of heart. Sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats." Hollywood Book Reviews. "Riveting. It doesn't get any better than this, folks!!" Sun Francisco Book Review.
The Mormon Candidate - "Plotted like a cinematic thriller, Azrieli has come up with a very powerful novel. At work here is his extraordinary magic in making his readers as eager as his protagonist in uncovering the truth and thus effectively creating pervasive fear and suspense. Sure to keep you up late against your better judgment. Don't say I didn't warn you." Norm Goldman, Examiner.
Thump - "A light-hearted romp through sexual proclivities ... the characters are lovable ... the irreverence is delightful. Thought-provoking. Interesting. Unconventional. Recommended!" U.S. Review of Books.
Christmas for Joshua - "In its own gentle way, the book is as much a page-turner as Azrieli's thrillers - pulling the reader into complex personal and familial conflicts." The Jewish Journal.
Besides fiction, he has also authored Your Lawyer on a Short Leash - A Guide to Dealing with Lawyers and One Step Ahead – A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler’s Claws, an acclaimed WWII true story, which inspired the musical By Wheel and by Wing.
While growing up in Israel, Avraham received an extensive Talmudic education and performed his mandatory military service in the IDF. After attending law school, he served as a law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. He later earned an advanced law degree from Columbia University in New York City, served as a law clerk at the Federal District Court, and started his legal career with Davis Polk & Wardwell. He has advocated for clients before trial and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He currently lives near Washington DC. Like Ben Teller, the protagonist in The Mormon Candidate and The Bootstrap Ultimatum, Avraham often rides his motorcycle in the mountainous forests of western Maryland.
To learn more, visit www.AzrieliBooks.com
Avraham Azrieli's Books:
The Jerusalem Inception - "Boldly realistic plotlines and genuine, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!" Yahoo News/Politics. "Protagonist Jerusalem Gerster is the quintessential recruit." NY Daily News.
The Jerusalem Assassin - "Action-packed escapade ... memorable cast of characters ... pages turn as fast as the plot twists and locales shift, taking the reader from Paris to Zurich to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv." Jewish News.
The Masada Complex - "Brims with gritty authenticity ... a genuine treat!" David Liss, author of Conspiracy of Paper, winner of Edgar. "Riveting portrayal of global intrigue!" Stella Pope Duarte, author of If I Die in Juaréz, winner of the 2009 American Book Award.
The Bootstrap Ultimatum - "The real magic here is Azrieli's incredible ability to create well-developed characters as well as his skill in knowing how to draw in his readers." Examiner. “Fast-paced action thriller ... but also full of heart. Sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats." Hollywood Book Reviews. "Riveting. It doesn't get any better than this, folks!!" Sun Francisco Book Review.
The Mormon Candidate - "Plotted like a cinematic thriller, Azrieli has come up with a very powerful novel. At work here is his extraordinary magic in making his readers as eager as his protagonist in uncovering the truth and thus effectively creating pervasive fear and suspense. Sure to keep you up late against your better judgment. Don't say I didn't warn you." Norm Goldman, Examiner.
Thump - "A light-hearted romp through sexual proclivities ... the characters are lovable ... the irreverence is delightful. Thought-provoking. Interesting. Unconventional. Recommended!" U.S. Review of Books.
Christmas for Joshua - "In its own gentle way, the book is as much a page-turner as Azrieli's thrillers - pulling the reader into complex personal and familial conflicts." The Jewish Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 2, 2014
In a complete change from his regular work, Ariel presents a quasi-sequel to his highly entertaining THE MORMON CANDIDATE. Ben Teller is still a roaming reporter, always looking for the next big story. When a lead regarding a Memorial Day Sale lead to chaos and calamity, Teller begins investigating. After poking around, he discovers he has a vindictive former Air Force pilot on his hands, seeking to bring commercial America to its knees. Teller determines the mastermind behind it all and vows to bring it to an end before anyone else gets hurt. Stumbling into some trouble of his own, Teller must overcome much in order to stop the mastermind, as well as keep from sullying a holiday with much significance to him. Azrieli fans may find this a mixed, but it's a great way to spend a little time reflecting on what freedom means in an age of endless wars.
I will not deny that this shift in gears is not what I expected or hoped for Azrieli and his books. I have read all (save one) of his fiction collection and the theme of religious introspection and politics is firmly rooted in them all. This one lacks both and left me wondering if he wanted to step away from the need to research and head in more of a free-will direction. Even Ben Teller is less likeable in this book, though the theme is still one the reader ought to ingest and spend time contemplating. How far can commercialism go and when do we stop using holidays to fill our homes with cheap products rather than reflect? An interesting look into the North America (Western world?) psyche, where money trumps all.
Kudos, Mr. Azrieli. I am pleased with the product, even though its impact was less than I expected.
I will not deny that this shift in gears is not what I expected or hoped for Azrieli and his books. I have read all (save one) of his fiction collection and the theme of religious introspection and politics is firmly rooted in them all. This one lacks both and left me wondering if he wanted to step away from the need to research and head in more of a free-will direction. Even Ben Teller is less likeable in this book, though the theme is still one the reader ought to ingest and spend time contemplating. How far can commercialism go and when do we stop using holidays to fill our homes with cheap products rather than reflect? An interesting look into the North America (Western world?) psyche, where money trumps all.
Kudos, Mr. Azrieli. I am pleased with the product, even though its impact was less than I expected.
November 13, 2017
Memorial Day has become a travesty for thousands of Americans, the greedy word of commerce has taken it over. As with many other holiday days, it is used as another excuse for companies to make huge profits running special ‘Memorial Day Weekend’ sales, selling things people really don’t need, to people who just can’t resist going shopping, and then coming home with a bargain!
Not surprisingly US veterans, and the families of those who have lost their lives fighting for their country feel resentful. Many veterans are every day tragically suffering silently, terribly maimed and traumatised by war, often forgotten, or refused help by the authorities. However, this year is going to be different, as one person, an ex-Air Force Veteran has decided to do something about it! What’s more, the veteran has a powerful ally, modern technology, and aims to use all its considerable power to reap revenge on the world of commerce!
This exciting political thriller begins with Ben Teller, investigative reporter for NewZonLine Media and his girlfriend Keera popping into his father’s grave to pay their respects. They are just about to head off for a weekend away. Then Ben receives a text from Ray, his boss, asking if he can take a job on. There is trouble expected at Out-Mart. It’s on their way, so Ben decides to cover the story, and on arrival discovers a riot in progress. Someone has emailed all the Out-Mart customers an ‘Everything $1 on Memorial Day Weekend’ coupon!
This is just the beginning! Soon more coupons begin arriving in inboxes, and the troubles quickly escalate. We join Ben as he frantically tries to find the perpetrator, fitting the pieces of the puzzle together, only to discover to his dismay that a vital piece is missing. With time running out and disaster looming on the horizon will Ben manage to find the final piece, discover who the culprit is, and apprehend, them before it is too late?
I really enjoyed reading this exciting suspense mystery which has plenty of twists and turns, and a storyline which kept me riveted until the very end.
Not surprisingly US veterans, and the families of those who have lost their lives fighting for their country feel resentful. Many veterans are every day tragically suffering silently, terribly maimed and traumatised by war, often forgotten, or refused help by the authorities. However, this year is going to be different, as one person, an ex-Air Force Veteran has decided to do something about it! What’s more, the veteran has a powerful ally, modern technology, and aims to use all its considerable power to reap revenge on the world of commerce!
This exciting political thriller begins with Ben Teller, investigative reporter for NewZonLine Media and his girlfriend Keera popping into his father’s grave to pay their respects. They are just about to head off for a weekend away. Then Ben receives a text from Ray, his boss, asking if he can take a job on. There is trouble expected at Out-Mart. It’s on their way, so Ben decides to cover the story, and on arrival discovers a riot in progress. Someone has emailed all the Out-Mart customers an ‘Everything $1 on Memorial Day Weekend’ coupon!
This is just the beginning! Soon more coupons begin arriving in inboxes, and the troubles quickly escalate. We join Ben as he frantically tries to find the perpetrator, fitting the pieces of the puzzle together, only to discover to his dismay that a vital piece is missing. With time running out and disaster looming on the horizon will Ben manage to find the final piece, discover who the culprit is, and apprehend, them before it is too late?
I really enjoyed reading this exciting suspense mystery which has plenty of twists and turns, and a storyline which kept me riveted until the very end.
May 28, 2024
Memorial Day 2024 Holiday Read
Started off OK, interesting premise, writing had a decent flow, but around half-way it deteriorated.
The authors descriptions of scenes, while in his mind may have been cool, he was unable to pull it off in words.
Had characters jumping to conclusions without explanation or details.
The ending was predictable.
Started off OK, interesting premise, writing had a decent flow, but around half-way it deteriorated.
The authors descriptions of scenes, while in his mind may have been cool, he was unable to pull it off in words.
Had characters jumping to conclusions without explanation or details.
The ending was predictable.
January 26, 2015
I met author Avi at the corner while waiting for a child's school bus. I promised him I would read this book and review it on Goodreads. It reads easily with lots of short dialog. Sometimes the journalist hero, Ben Teller, is talking or texting his boss or others, sometimes he talks to his girlfriend, Keera, a doctor, and sometimes he is just talking to himself.
Avi had a lesson on his mind to share when he wrote this mystery. As a person who grew up in Israel, he was appalled when he moved to the U.S. and discovered that our kind of celebration of Memorial Day was bargain commercial sales and gave little emphasis on remembering veterans and war. Writing a story is an admirable way to make a point when something bothers one. The story not only makes the point, but it gives plenty of entertainment.So the book is a mystery and builds suspense, even as it relates some implausible events.
A disgruntled, amputee war vet feels the sentiment of being appalled as Avi was. So he tries to bring down the whole economy by sending $1 Memorial Day coupons out from major stores in the US through Internet data lines which he apparently hacked. Ben Teller, a journalist, tries to find out who the guy was who did it, to prevent a rash more of coupons from going out, and to report every clue he finds as he chases the perpetrator on his BMW motorcycle.
My suspension of belief mentioned above: Imagine a motorcycle dropped into a deep pit with inward walls and the driver attempting many times to get himself and his motorcycle up and out. He falls often and is hurt but perseveres in spite of having many major multiple damage to his body.
Avi had a lesson on his mind to share when he wrote this mystery. As a person who grew up in Israel, he was appalled when he moved to the U.S. and discovered that our kind of celebration of Memorial Day was bargain commercial sales and gave little emphasis on remembering veterans and war. Writing a story is an admirable way to make a point when something bothers one. The story not only makes the point, but it gives plenty of entertainment.So the book is a mystery and builds suspense, even as it relates some implausible events.
A disgruntled, amputee war vet feels the sentiment of being appalled as Avi was. So he tries to bring down the whole economy by sending $1 Memorial Day coupons out from major stores in the US through Internet data lines which he apparently hacked. Ben Teller, a journalist, tries to find out who the guy was who did it, to prevent a rash more of coupons from going out, and to report every clue he finds as he chases the perpetrator on his BMW motorcycle.
My suspension of belief mentioned above: Imagine a motorcycle dropped into a deep pit with inward walls and the driver attempting many times to get himself and his motorcycle up and out. He falls often and is hurt but perseveres in spite of having many major multiple damage to his body.
December 6, 2015
Amazing story that hits close to home in more ways that I would have imagined when starting the book. The main characters are incredibly engaging and realistic, with dramatic backgrounds and personalities that kept me interested throughout the story. A thriller with great depth that I think will appeal to readers of all kinds. Intellectual, honest, and gripping. I definitely recommend!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews