In the America of 2031, the country has changed, politics has changed, and murder has changed. The politicians in Washington reached a grand bargain that transformed society and demanded a new kind of homicide detective. That detective is Mark August. His latest case will lead him to more than just a murderer. It will take him straight to the core of the new world he calls Solomon’s Eagle - a bold new piece of political fiction and murder mystery from author Andrew Stanek.
Deserves 3-stars Because of Its Politics; Deserves 5-stars for The Author’s Effort
This is a difficult book to read, since the initial couple dozen of pages will scramble your brain cells! Why? Politics!!! And not just “our” (USA’s) jumbled mess, but a soon-to-be-future’s even MORE jumbled mess. Honestly, trying to understand The Author’s segregation of Republicans and Democrats AND Independents, was a complete jumbling of my brain’s reading power.
But, out of stubbornness (and liking another of The Author’s stories), I continued with this book — and while The Author continued to describe a jumbled political situation that will make your head hurt — he also (finally) made this a real who-done-it tale. All of the clues fall together into a way that even feeble Readers like me can understand (“Thank you!!!”). But, now, I’ll warn you — the latter statement is not to say that the plots are totally believable NOR make sense! Nor do I think that the timeline presented by The Author adequately fits into the story line!!! (For instance, there are too many Independent kids who had to grow up in a time frame that works for the story, but not enough to squeeze into the book’s near-future timing.)
So! If you can get past the dizzying change in politics, and try to keep all of that straight — you owe it to yourself to finish reading this book to the end. (Then, go find other/better books by The Author!)
The author weaves an intelligent murder mystery into a thought provoking and timely political thriller that incorporates and is in some ways predictive of the increasing unyielding and violent partisan infighting dividing our nation. The premise of two major parties controlling two separate Americas where citizens get the legal, moral, financial, political, and value based social contract of their choice to settle our differences and designed to tamp down civil war, is intriguing and unnerving. The consequences of the extreme right or left worlds become evident along with those of those of minor parties struggling on their own caused me to rethink my own rhetoric and views and the value of bipartisan compromise toward "a more perfect union" as the author reminds his audience was intended. Eerily written several years ago while elements of his book have since occurred. The murders woven into this story and law enforcement difficulties of partisan laws that have to be navigated in this New World were intriguing, surprising, and had many unpredictable twists and turns. Slow start becomes a fascinating and complicated build to a satisfying end.
‘Solomon’s Eagle’ by Andrew Stanek is a murder mystery set in the near future USA which will please some and dismay others. I found the premise interesting enough to read to the end, but thought of giving up on several occasions. The book contains long passages of various characters preaching about why they have done things, and these can get very monotonous.
Even at the end, when the murderer is finally apprehended, the murderer has to provide a long monologue of several pages to explain how and why he committed the crime. In most thrillers clues are detected which gradually lead to the culprit. In this ‘thriller’ little is detected along the way, so the murderer has to rant about who he is, what he’s done, and why he did it, and the rant goes on, and on, and on.
Some will love it and others will hate it, and there will probably only be a few like me who remain undecided even though reading to the long and rambling ending.
To say this was thought provoking is understating. With today’s political climate and division, it all seems plausible. Is this where we’re headed if we don’t smarten up and learn to compromise toward the greater good? Kudos to the author who seems to be closely in tune with the political world. His writing is intelligent and he left us with a couple zingers at the end.
With everything happening in politics right now this is not too far out there to become reality. Wasnt sure if I liked it or not until half way through and the BAM it hit me, this could be for real in not to distant future unless all the mud slinging stops and we start standing up as Americans and get our act together
Is this a predictable future for the USA? Each passing day this scenario seems more likely. This book is an exploration into whether the US is reaching a critical point where it can no longer survive as a unified Democratic/Republic.
I found it interesting that I picked up this book about 2 weeks before the election. It really has a ring of truth in many of it's sub stories. My thought was what does this author know that I don't!
Very clever and pretty scary description of life in the USA in the 2030's. Politics is everything and controls everything. The detective is an Independent and his investigation blocked on every side by Democrats and Republicans. Couldn't put it down!
This book was interesting. In today’s political climate, it makes you think it all could really happen. Scary to think it could come true. The twist at the end to tie the plot up was not what I thought would happen. Good book.
The idea of creating a country with two separate law concepts with independents having no law is unique. Much scarier Thani could imagine, but I had to keep reading to see what happened.
More twists than Chubby Checkers. Go into our dystopian future. After the last few years this novel doesn't seem so far out there. Pray that it isn't a map of our future.
Fast paced about the future which might even be today with a touch of humor. Liked the coffee scenario, paying with Republican or Democrat money. Good and enjoyable.