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John Bookman #2
End of Days: Con Law II
Fifty ATF agents raid a remote compound outside Waco, Texas, at dawn to execute search and arrest warrants. The search warrant identifies two .50-caliber Browning Machine Guns; the arrest warrant names Jesus Christ. The ATF agents don't make it to the front doors.
Ninety miles south in Austin, Professor John Bookman reads a letter from an old woman whose daughter took her two young girls to live in a religious cult six years before. Her daughter wrote that the End of Days is near. She fears they might drink the Kool-Aid. She begs Book to save her granddaughters. The cult inhabits a massive compound called the Garden of Eden outside Waco.
Book and his intern travel to the compound intent on bringing the girls out peaceably, only to find the Feds there first—and to learn that peace is not an option.
Ninety miles south in Austin, Professor John Bookman reads a letter from an old woman whose daughter took her two young girls to live in a religious cult six years before. Her daughter wrote that the End of Days is near. She fears they might drink the Kool-Aid. She begs Book to save her granddaughters. The cult inhabits a massive compound called the Garden of Eden outside Waco.
Book and his intern travel to the compound intent on bringing the girls out peaceably, only to find the Feds there first—and to learn that peace is not an option.
685 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2017
210 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Mark Gimenez
19 books498 followersMark Gimenez grew up in Galveston County, Texas, and attended Texas State University and Notre Dame Law School. He practiced law and was a partner in a large Dallas firm. He is the author of ten novels—The Color of Law, The Abduction, The Perk, The Common Lawyer, Accused, The Governor's Wife, Con Law, The Case Against William, The Absence of Guilt, and End of Days (Con Law II)—as well as a children's novel, Parts & Labor: The Adventures of Max Dugan. His books have received critical acclaim around the world. They have been bestsellers in the UK, Ireland, Australia, India, and South Africa and have been translated into fifteen foreign languages. The Perk won a spot in Books to Die For: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels, edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 25, 2021
This was the most disappointing book I have read for a long time. I like author Mark Gimenez’s writing but the two books in this series were a massive drop in the high standard I have previously found with his work. If I leant they were ghost written it would explain it, they are so far removed from his other books. The plot was hideous, the characters annoying and unbelievable and I am so glad this wasn’t my first experience of his writing.
The book follows the FBI assault on a Christian cult on a remote compound outside Waco, Texas.
A complete waste of time reading this book when there are far better reads out there by this author and others.
The book follows the FBI assault on a Christian cult on a remote compound outside Waco, Texas.
A complete waste of time reading this book when there are far better reads out there by this author and others.
May 30, 2021
Every prolog in any book must be the most attractive part. It is THE chapter that is suppose to draw you in. In this book it did the opposite. You could tell even through reading the first Chapter. throw it away after ( Trying) reading 3% of it.
January 11, 2018
This wasn't a 'law' inspired story, but I found it interesting, thought provoking, and sometimes laugh out loud funny. Can you ask more of a novel?
Whether you agree or disagree with the author premise I think that this book is more than worthy for a goodreads story. Don't be afraid to let it challenge your thoughts, or evaluate what you think.
Whether you agree or disagree with the author premise I think that this book is more than worthy for a goodreads story. Don't be afraid to let it challenge your thoughts, or evaluate what you think.
December 26, 2018
Gimenez does it again
A fast paced thriller with memorable, albeit satirical, characters from a brain damaged FBI commander to a Houston billionaire and his socialite wife’s law student daughter. When they converge in a Texas meadow at a religious compound, all hell (literally) breaks loose.
A fast paced thriller with memorable, albeit satirical, characters from a brain damaged FBI commander to a Houston billionaire and his socialite wife’s law student daughter. When they converge in a Texas meadow at a religious compound, all hell (literally) breaks loose.
May 7, 2019
Not my favorite. Too much preaching and politics.
I love the character John Bookman and I did enjoy the other book I read. But this one, because of the storyline was very political and Preachy (if that is a word). I felt like I was sitting in church half the time and started skipping through pages of long monologues. I stuck with it to get to the action. It was OK but I would not read it again.
I love the character John Bookman and I did enjoy the other book I read. But this one, because of the storyline was very political and Preachy (if that is a word). I felt like I was sitting in church half the time and started skipping through pages of long monologues. I stuck with it to get to the action. It was OK but I would not read it again.
December 27, 2017
Amazing book!!
To my knowledge, I've read all the books that Mark Gimenez has written, and enjoyed them all. This was truly one of the best books I've ever read (and I read 2-3 a week) and, in my opinion, definitely his best. It was very well written and obviously well researched. The characters were developed in a very interesting way, with great dialogue. Great read!
To my knowledge, I've read all the books that Mark Gimenez has written, and enjoyed them all. This was truly one of the best books I've ever read (and I read 2-3 a week) and, in my opinion, definitely his best. It was very well written and obviously well researched. The characters were developed in a very interesting way, with great dialogue. Great read!
June 14, 2018
The End Times
Armegeddon
End of Days
Borrowing from real life headlines, there are 50 ATF agents about to swarm a religious compound near Waco, Texas. Little do they know, they are about to be blasted with Browning Machine Guns. This is the start of a ten day standoff between the FBI and Jesus Christ and his disciples.
John Bookman is in Austin. He receives a letter from the grandmother of two little girls who live in the compound with their mother. Grandmother begs Bookman to save her two granddaughters, so he goes. Bookman also agrees to go in the compound to negotiate with JC, the leader of the group.
What he finds is a peaceful community of people who were once down and out but are now perfectly happy with life in the compound. There doesn't appear to be any abuse. There doesn't appear to be any rule saying members of the compound can't leave. Book's intern, Veronica Cross, a spoiled 3rd year law student, also enters the compound with Bookman, but her experience is much more predictable.
By the end, it all makes sense. Bookman and Cross realize there is no way to peaceably remove the children from the compound, because the FBI got there first.
Con Law II falls far short of Con Law I. Same main character: John Bookman, nominee for the Supreme Court, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Texas in Austin. Add in one of his law students, Veronica Cross, who is his intern. Add in a woman, Ingrid Divine, a PI in love with Bookman, who shows up at the end of the book. And FBI SAC DuVall. Plus a dozen or more other characters who are central to the plot.
On his website, Gimenez says, "Buckle up, boys and girls, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. I think you will enjoy it. I guarantee you will not expect it." It was bumpy, and there were a few surprises, but much of it was quite predictable, and I don't feel like the book really ended. It just kind of stopped.
A few things got on my nerves. First and foremost, his overuse of the word "caliche." I have never used this word although I have lived in Texas all my life, and I would not use it over and over to describe a road. The defintion is... a mineral blend of gravel, sand, and nitrates or calcium carbonate." I wish I had counted how many times the word was in the book. I stopped at 35. I don't know anyone who describes this type of road as "caliche." They usually say sandy, gravel, unpaved, dusty, or something like that. So, there's my biggest beef! And another things that got "old" was listening to DuVall thinking about the demon in his head straining on his leash. Over and over. And one more repetitive phrase, "Drinking the Kool-Aid." And Chanel L'Eau.
Second, this book was more about spouting off his own ideology, some of which I probably agree with, but I don't need an author to preach to me. Give me drama, or history, suspense, or surprise, but not a lesson. Did you know that the Antichrist is Wall Street, according to this book?
This book was 562 pages. If we'd been spared the lectures and the repetitive words and phrases. I feel sure it would have been less than 500. Giminez didn't focus enough on why this man believed he was Jesus Christ. Much of it was unrealistic, which would be okay if it were more interesting.
Giminez... You disappointed me with this one.
Armegeddon
End of Days
Borrowing from real life headlines, there are 50 ATF agents about to swarm a religious compound near Waco, Texas. Little do they know, they are about to be blasted with Browning Machine Guns. This is the start of a ten day standoff between the FBI and Jesus Christ and his disciples.
John Bookman is in Austin. He receives a letter from the grandmother of two little girls who live in the compound with their mother. Grandmother begs Bookman to save her two granddaughters, so he goes. Bookman also agrees to go in the compound to negotiate with JC, the leader of the group.
What he finds is a peaceful community of people who were once down and out but are now perfectly happy with life in the compound. There doesn't appear to be any abuse. There doesn't appear to be any rule saying members of the compound can't leave. Book's intern, Veronica Cross, a spoiled 3rd year law student, also enters the compound with Bookman, but her experience is much more predictable.
By the end, it all makes sense. Bookman and Cross realize there is no way to peaceably remove the children from the compound, because the FBI got there first.
Con Law II falls far short of Con Law I. Same main character: John Bookman, nominee for the Supreme Court, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Texas in Austin. Add in one of his law students, Veronica Cross, who is his intern. Add in a woman, Ingrid Divine, a PI in love with Bookman, who shows up at the end of the book. And FBI SAC DuVall. Plus a dozen or more other characters who are central to the plot.
On his website, Gimenez says, "Buckle up, boys and girls, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. I think you will enjoy it. I guarantee you will not expect it." It was bumpy, and there were a few surprises, but much of it was quite predictable, and I don't feel like the book really ended. It just kind of stopped.
A few things got on my nerves. First and foremost, his overuse of the word "caliche." I have never used this word although I have lived in Texas all my life, and I would not use it over and over to describe a road. The defintion is... a mineral blend of gravel, sand, and nitrates or calcium carbonate." I wish I had counted how many times the word was in the book. I stopped at 35. I don't know anyone who describes this type of road as "caliche." They usually say sandy, gravel, unpaved, dusty, or something like that. So, there's my biggest beef! And another things that got "old" was listening to DuVall thinking about the demon in his head straining on his leash. Over and over. And one more repetitive phrase, "Drinking the Kool-Aid." And Chanel L'Eau.
Second, this book was more about spouting off his own ideology, some of which I probably agree with, but I don't need an author to preach to me. Give me drama, or history, suspense, or surprise, but not a lesson. Did you know that the Antichrist is Wall Street, according to this book?
This book was 562 pages. If we'd been spared the lectures and the repetitive words and phrases. I feel sure it would have been less than 500. Giminez didn't focus enough on why this man believed he was Jesus Christ. Much of it was unrealistic, which would be okay if it were more interesting.
Giminez... You disappointed me with this one.
January 13, 2019
I can always find a reason to not give 5 stars. Well, almost always, because certainly not this time. This is absolutely the best book I have read in a long, long time in the sense of providing so much fodder for thought and so much consternation in trying to determine if my analysis of it as an immensely entertaining witty satire is correct --and after much thought I believe it is. He has given Jonathan Swift's satire a run for its money. I note the problems some readers have had and I suspect it may be because they fail to see the satire or they don't want to question beliefs and, believe me, this author provides nothing that doesn't question a belief. Nothing is spared: Nascar, Christians, Atheists, environmentalists, the wealthy, conspicuous consumption aided by Amazon Prime, the poor, the capitalists, Wall Street (and, sorry, Gimenez, but no matter how it might help your story you really can't separate Wall Street and Capitalism so isn't this really a scathing commentary on the Antichrist of Capitalism? No? Well , how I would love to debate you!) I see some readers complain that Gimenez seems to change his "position" in this book. But isn't this a work of fiction as are the ones in the past? How do we know his position? I think the deepest delving into satire has to take place in the polemic against climate change, but don't dig deeply enough and you may be very upset. Only a couple of things bothered me. First, the aforementioned effort to separate Wall Street's gree from the greed and lack of ethics of capitalism
and, second, the thing that always bothers me most in books -- a real failure of a copy editor. How could someone let it slide that the compound is described as vegan and organic and we quickly find chickens and ultimately cattle and swine utilized for the pleasure of the compound? Certainly NOT vegan! How could you let that pass?
If you have read other works by Gimenez (I'm trying to read them all since discovering him last year) do not expect this to be very similar to others. This is a real creative veering from others although we do still get honest and educational insight into our constitution. And, like others, his development of an honorable primary character is successful. "Book" is a delight.
and, second, the thing that always bothers me most in books -- a real failure of a copy editor. How could someone let it slide that the compound is described as vegan and organic and we quickly find chickens and ultimately cattle and swine utilized for the pleasure of the compound? Certainly NOT vegan! How could you let that pass?
If you have read other works by Gimenez (I'm trying to read them all since discovering him last year) do not expect this to be very similar to others. This is a real creative veering from others although we do still get honest and educational insight into our constitution. And, like others, his development of an honorable primary character is successful. "Book" is a delight.
January 10, 2020
I read this for the Popsugar Challenge 2020 in the category of "the first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed". (Since I do all my reading on my Kindle, I went to my Goodreads shelf labeled Want to Read and scrolled randomly through and then closed my eyes and touched the screen and came up with this title.) I have mixed feelings about this book. I have liked a lot of other books by this Texas author, and at the beginning, like this one too. It features a standoff between the FBI and a man in a compound outside Waco, reminiscent of a previous true event. Gimenez's character Professor John Bookman goes to the standoff at the request of a dying grandmother to try to retrieve her two granddaughters who were in the compound with their mother, and ends up trying to mediate between the FBI, and the leader of the group in the compound, Jesus Christ (aka J.C.) At first I liked J.C. because of how he took care of his followers, but towards the end he goes off the rails and the logic of his pronouncements began to fail me. Like other reviewers, I'm still not sure if Gimenez is expressing his own opinion through the character (Wall Street is the Antichrist, climate change is a hoax) or is just creating a satirical answer to current events. The end of the book was probably inevitable, but still made me sad. I can't say I hated this book, but I didn't love it either.
September 4, 2020
I have loved all Mark Gimenez' books to date, but sadly this one just falls flat.
There's something about the central character, and the entire premise of the plot, that simply makes no sense. It goes beyond the mere quirkiness of a Law Professor getting involved in extracurricular adventures, and ventures into truly absurd territory.
A sprinkling of wry humour can enliven any drama, but at times this reads like a parody, and a ghoulishly distasteful one at that. Setting the story, of an extreme religious cult, in Waco, is clearly no coincidence, and is frankly insensitive and ill-considered.
And seriously, why is it that every writer and author, during this period, thinks they are the only one, to think of making childish jokes about Trump? So yeah, the first 50 times I read somebody making fun of Trump, it was vaguely humorous, but I'm nolonger laughing.
I get the feeling that the author is belabouring some point, vainly struggling to be deep, meaningful, and metaphorical. But in the end I just can't be bothered wading through any more literary gloop to discern what that point might be.
There's something about the central character, and the entire premise of the plot, that simply makes no sense. It goes beyond the mere quirkiness of a Law Professor getting involved in extracurricular adventures, and ventures into truly absurd territory.
A sprinkling of wry humour can enliven any drama, but at times this reads like a parody, and a ghoulishly distasteful one at that. Setting the story, of an extreme religious cult, in Waco, is clearly no coincidence, and is frankly insensitive and ill-considered.
And seriously, why is it that every writer and author, during this period, thinks they are the only one, to think of making childish jokes about Trump? So yeah, the first 50 times I read somebody making fun of Trump, it was vaguely humorous, but I'm nolonger laughing.
I get the feeling that the author is belabouring some point, vainly struggling to be deep, meaningful, and metaphorical. But in the end I just can't be bothered wading through any more literary gloop to discern what that point might be.
October 17, 2025
Loved the premise of this storyline. John Bookman drives his Harley to nearby Waco, TX because a grandmother wrote him a letter asking if he will save her two young granddaughters who are living in a religious compound with their mother because the “End of Days” is coming. John takes his assistant, Veronica Cross. He and Veronica are invited into the compound where they meet “Jesus Christ,” aka J.C. and learn that no one is being abused or being held unwillingly. In fact, they are living a utopia life and all the adults want to be there and are willing to die because they know they will follow J.C. to heaven. But, on the same day John arrives, the Feds try to attack the compound, and 15 agents are killed. So, Agent Duvall, in charge, has a hard-on to kill J.C. This was the most interesting story and was near believable as a real-life event. Where the author lost me was in the epilogue and so the 9 stars instead of 10. I felt like, after 685 pages, everyone’s outcome was neatly tied up in a bow. This book could have been edited down to 500 pages for some places that seemed repetitive and not necessary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2019
If this is the first book you have read by Gimenez, don't give up on him!
I am a huge Mark Gimenez fan and have enjoyed every one of his other books. I didn't read the reviews because I always enjoy his books and didn't want any spoilers, BUT...
As a couple of other reviews have suggested, it's really hard to believe that the Gimenez who wrote The Perk and The Accused and all his other books, wrote this one. This was a huge disappointment.
Most of his characters were not well-developed and ridiculously cliche and it was extremely repetitive. It took a long time to say not much - or it was so "preachy" that it was simply overkill (and literally overkill too!).
I stuck with it hoping it would "come good" but it came apart. I don't know if he was trying to be comical, or edgy, but it didn't work. I had to wonder if someone else actually wrote the book.
Anyway, I HATE to give a one-star rating to a Gimenez book, but this one simply isn't worth reading. I would highly recommend his other books however.
I am a huge Mark Gimenez fan and have enjoyed every one of his other books. I didn't read the reviews because I always enjoy his books and didn't want any spoilers, BUT...
As a couple of other reviews have suggested, it's really hard to believe that the Gimenez who wrote The Perk and The Accused and all his other books, wrote this one. This was a huge disappointment.
Most of his characters were not well-developed and ridiculously cliche and it was extremely repetitive. It took a long time to say not much - or it was so "preachy" that it was simply overkill (and literally overkill too!).
I stuck with it hoping it would "come good" but it came apart. I don't know if he was trying to be comical, or edgy, but it didn't work. I had to wonder if someone else actually wrote the book.
Anyway, I HATE to give a one-star rating to a Gimenez book, but this one simply isn't worth reading. I would highly recommend his other books however.
December 9, 2019
Disappointing is all I can say. I have read previous Mark Giminez books - and although not my favourite ones they are passable. This one was really confusing. Maybe because I read the kindle edition and the paragraphs sometimes blend, I don;'t know. I did not like the constant ranting from the media - it was confusing who was saying what sometimes, along with the very lengthy dialogue later in the book by JC which had me skimming the pages. Although we found out the true identity of JC at the end - this wasn't challenged and no one found out why he was doing what he was doing. The story seemed more of a comedy/satire rather than the crime/thriller/suspense of previous books. I couldn't really identify with any of the characters - so ultimately I did not really care whether they lived or died. More in depth characters would have made the book more interesting and a more defined story line maybe.
January 6, 2019
Tough one to review. I really really liked the first John Bookman book. This one ... had its moments. Wasn't at all what I was expecting and I got to feeling a little annoyed when the cult leader went off on his riffs against climate change, Wall Street and the anti-Christ because I couldn't tell if Gimenez was voicing his opinions or making a satire of JCs. In retrospect, however, I saw this was a good thing because it was enough to help me understand how and why the characters might be feeling. Overall, however, I feel like it was overdone - more of a dark fantasy with white horses and violence-loving FBI agents. Solidly on the fence with this one. I would not recommend it as anyone's first book by this author.
January 10, 2019
There are moments of excellent writing in this story, but the story itself is less than perfectly developed. Juxtapositioning in writing is difficult. This author pulled it off sometimes, and not sometimes through most of the book but when the last fifty pages came he left his method and began a political tirade in the guise of one of his main characters, Jesus Christ. He lost my five star award there. The change was too dramatic, too distracting. The book was otherwise well written, the characters a little lean in some ways, the editing well done but for a few errors. One I picked up on right away was that Abrams tanks do not run on diesel, they run on aircraft fuel since their engines are turbines. All in all the ending was predictable but acceptable.
December 2, 2020
John Bookman, a tenured professor teaching constitutional law at the University of Texas Law School receives a letter from a grandmother asking for help to rescue her grand daughters from a cult compound in Waco Texas. When Bookman arrives with his student intern. The compound is surrounded by the FBI after an unsuccessful serving of a warrant by the ATF.
The intern is a pampered daughter on a Texas multi billionaire and refers to the common people as lessors. When Bookman and the intern enter the compound, she is assigned to chicken duty.
Once again Gimenez creates an interesting plot with fascinating and often humorous characters. My only complaint is I have now read all his books and I want More!
The intern is a pampered daughter on a Texas multi billionaire and refers to the common people as lessors. When Bookman and the intern enter the compound, she is assigned to chicken duty.
Once again Gimenez creates an interesting plot with fascinating and often humorous characters. My only complaint is I have now read all his books and I want More!
March 5, 2021
This is not a normal Mark Gimenez book. This is complete satire. The rest of his books are excellent and this one may or may not be your cup of tea. It is a satire on the state of politics, the media and everything going on in the world today.
That being said it was funny at points. And I got what the book was trying to do but it was really SLOW. This book could have been cut in half and still have the same story and impact. Without giving anything away the FBI tired x on one day and did y the next. In the real world it would have all been happening at once. But maybe that was to emphasize the satire. I just thought it drug the story along too slowly.
I’ll read other Gimenez books if they are back to his normal mystery/thriller style.
That being said it was funny at points. And I got what the book was trying to do but it was really SLOW. This book could have been cut in half and still have the same story and impact. Without giving anything away the FBI tired x on one day and did y the next. In the real world it would have all been happening at once. But maybe that was to emphasize the satire. I just thought it drug the story along too slowly.
I’ll read other Gimenez books if they are back to his normal mystery/thriller style.
December 31, 2017
I felt it was a perfect satire on the country today.
On our unfortunate and ridiculous politics, the outrageous media more concerned about ratings instead informing us, religious communities, the extreme law enforcement response at times, and the legal community that needs some serious overhaul. Hoping we get some judges that at least know how to read, much less know the law - not looking good right now.
This book is a perfect metaphor that can be mapped over to our world today. You don't have to read very closely to see that. He made it darn easy to see. Thank you, Mark - right on a usual.
On our unfortunate and ridiculous politics, the outrageous media more concerned about ratings instead informing us, religious communities, the extreme law enforcement response at times, and the legal community that needs some serious overhaul. Hoping we get some judges that at least know how to read, much less know the law - not looking good right now.
This book is a perfect metaphor that can be mapped over to our world today. You don't have to read very closely to see that. He made it darn easy to see. Thank you, Mark - right on a usual.
January 10, 2018
O enjoy this book until I say I was 75 gr80 % into it and then it seems to go on and on. I felt like Mark was getting a lot of his personal mind .
I found as I said above that the story was dragging along and the epilogue was a little confusing for me . Strange i enjoy the story line, some very interesting characters, give it a try as you may think differently then me. When you see the place Wacco, Texas it his story about a stand off not like what happen in real life. Once again I repeat myself I did find it interesting but struggle and hoping it would end quicker toward the end. Give it a try!!!
I found as I said above that the story was dragging along and the epilogue was a little confusing for me . Strange i enjoy the story line, some very interesting characters, give it a try as you may think differently then me. When you see the place Wacco, Texas it his story about a stand off not like what happen in real life. Once again I repeat myself I did find it interesting but struggle and hoping it would end quicker toward the end. Give it a try!!!
September 18, 2018
End of Days
I enjoyed the quotes from the Bible and particularly when he chose to share with us his opinion of the end of time. I do agree we are in those times. It is very hard for me to read scripture and then immediately hear cursing. I know that is how it would be with military people around but it really disturbed me that we have sunk that low that we cannot do anything without hearing or reading f_ _ _ in everything. I almost put the book down because of that but, I have thoroughly enjoyed several others books Mr. Giminez has written so I did complete the book. I could not recommend this book to anyone I know with the language interspersed with the Biblical story.
I enjoyed the quotes from the Bible and particularly when he chose to share with us his opinion of the end of time. I do agree we are in those times. It is very hard for me to read scripture and then immediately hear cursing. I know that is how it would be with military people around but it really disturbed me that we have sunk that low that we cannot do anything without hearing or reading f_ _ _ in everything. I almost put the book down because of that but, I have thoroughly enjoyed several others books Mr. Giminez has written so I did complete the book. I could not recommend this book to anyone I know with the language interspersed with the Biblical story.
February 19, 2020
Love this Author. Always keeps you guessing what will come next, as well as makes you laugh in every book I have read by him. Quote from the book"He created us.
He did. But humans have a way of thinking for themselves. And their thoughts are often aggressive-the human desire for more, perhaps. If channeled positively, it makes humans work harder and achieve more, which is a good thing. If channeled negatively, it makes humans hate more and kill more, which is a bad thing.
He gazed upon the peach orchard a long moment then spoke as if to himself. Might be time for another flood.
Very insightful, also.
He did. But humans have a way of thinking for themselves. And their thoughts are often aggressive-the human desire for more, perhaps. If channeled positively, it makes humans work harder and achieve more, which is a good thing. If channeled negatively, it makes humans hate more and kill more, which is a bad thing.
He gazed upon the peach orchard a long moment then spoke as if to himself. Might be time for another flood.
Very insightful, also.
January 17, 2018
I am a FAN of Mark Gimenez, but this 2nd featuring John Bookman was not my favorite. I like Bookman. The woman who accompanied him on this journey simple drove me nuts. She bitches and moans through half the book, then "miraculously" transforms into some sort of "superwoman," and out accomplishes Bookman. The story didn't "grab" me much either. I found myself skipping a lot.
I have truly enjoyed every book prior to this one written by Mr. Gimenez. I will buy his next one hoping it is more like his earlier work.
I have truly enjoyed every book prior to this one written by Mr. Gimenez. I will buy his next one hoping it is more like his earlier work.
March 19, 2018
What was that Mark Gimenez. When I look to purchase a piece of well researched story telling and instead I get a story about Jesus Christ and the Satanic Wall Street, with a very slim story line, I am disappointed. I was taught the bible many years ago and didn't need a refresher. And as far as the rhetoric about Wall Street goes, please, this is all over the place, you don't need to lower yourself. For the very first time in my 57 years I did not read every word in a book.
This is so disappointing as I really have enjoyed Mark's writing until now.
This is so disappointing as I really have enjoyed Mark's writing until now.
July 2, 2018
Whenever there is a book about a cult I'm in! This one was by Mark Gimenez, an author who has made it very difficult to follow, I have had to search for him. His first book was The Color of Law, then he kind of fell off the edge of the world, he started publishing only in England and Australia, thank goodness for Amazon.uk. Now he is regularly on Amazon with kindle books. I have to remember to look him up every once in awhile. This one was really quite good, it kind of went off and twisted around several stories and made cult living look quite perfect. There were several surprises.
July 7, 2018
Interesting...Confusing
An interesting story, pretty far-fetched at times...and the confusion comes in the political\religious rhetoric which at times seems pejorative and other times just too literalistic. The portrayal of Wall Street as the greedy modern-day Babylon is interesting...and the not-so-veiled references to the current occupant c the White House (tweets, etc.), while amusing, painted the CHI and the Justice Department as cowboys only interested in violence...not justice. The fundamental approach to Christianity as portrayed is too over-the-top.
An interesting story, pretty far-fetched at times...and the confusion comes in the political\religious rhetoric which at times seems pejorative and other times just too literalistic. The portrayal of Wall Street as the greedy modern-day Babylon is interesting...and the not-so-veiled references to the current occupant c the White House (tweets, etc.), while amusing, painted the CHI and the Justice Department as cowboys only interested in violence...not justice. The fundamental approach to Christianity as portrayed is too over-the-top.
February 11, 2019
Really, what was he thinking of when he wrote this?
I have enjoyed Mark Gimenez’s books before, and opened this with hope for a similar experience. Even reading it all the way to the end, hoping it would get at least a little bit better, didn’t give me any pleasure. Heavy handed, clumsily satirical, politically niave, just plain ridiculous. If his aim was to satirize, he missed his mark. I would have given zero stars if that was an option. I guess I should have read reviews before purchasing.
I have enjoyed Mark Gimenez’s books before, and opened this with hope for a similar experience. Even reading it all the way to the end, hoping it would get at least a little bit better, didn’t give me any pleasure. Heavy handed, clumsily satirical, politically niave, just plain ridiculous. If his aim was to satirize, he missed his mark. I would have given zero stars if that was an option. I guess I should have read reviews before purchasing.
September 20, 2020
2.5 Not my favorite of Gimenez's books. I felt some the characters were more like caricatures... single personality traits dialed up to 10 instead of having some depth and nuance. And it got rather "preachy" - which is understandable in a book about someone claiming to be Jesus Christ, except the preaching is political not religious. I would have given it 2 stars, if it weren't for the classic Gimenez ending which glues you to your seat and makes it impossible to do anything except keep reading to the end.
January 15, 2019
Excellent book content and writing
I very very seldom write reviews which is why I had to do this one-- although somewhat "tongue in cheek", the content is extremely pertinent, especially 2 years after publication. This book does what I believe the author intended... for the reader to be "individuals", not part of the masses. Unfortunately, it's probably too late for that in the USA.
I very very seldom write reviews which is why I had to do this one-- although somewhat "tongue in cheek", the content is extremely pertinent, especially 2 years after publication. This book does what I believe the author intended... for the reader to be "individuals", not part of the masses. Unfortunately, it's probably too late for that in the USA.
February 12, 2019
A fast paced book filled with satire about 45 and his brood and fake new networks as the backdrop for Bookman driving the resolution of the mystery of a Christian cult waiting for the End of Days - presented as a standoff with the incompetent ATF and FBI. Throw in a billionaire's spoiled daughter, you have all the makings of a modern-day farce. The religious rants in the middle are way over the top, so just skim over that drivel to make it to the literally unbelievable ending...
December 26, 2017
This book is outstanding.
It is thought provoking and funny at the same time. I adored Gimenez's treatment of the First Twerp. Jimenez was over the top with his characters repartee. He may have gotten a little preachy with his treatment of J.C. but as a whole the book is Gimenez at his best.
It is thought provoking and funny at the same time. I adored Gimenez's treatment of the First Twerp. Jimenez was over the top with his characters repartee. He may have gotten a little preachy with his treatment of J.C. but as a whole the book is Gimenez at his best.
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