Wild Fire
by Nelson DeMille; Read by Scott Brick
Published by Hachette Audiobook
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Reviewed by Diane Kasperski
(Available in book and abridged CD--review is of audio book)
SUSPENSE/THRILLER
A plan is in place in the very most secret parts of the government to handle a specific crisis. This plan is called Wild Fire. It was created to take the decision- making away from the presidential office in the event that a weapon of mass destruction was dropped on an American City by a Middle Eastern country. The plan--to annihilate most of "sand land"--with no worry about a president who couldn't make a critical decision. It is all automated. This plan was created after the tragedy of 9/11.
Custer Hill Club, a well-to-do hunting club, is not what it seems. The Executive Board has a hidden agenda and they guard it very well.
On the weekend that the Executive Board is meeting at the Club, a member of the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force is found dead not far away. Enter Detective John Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, fellow members of the Task Force.
John is very much a New York detective with a very wry sense of humor and dry outlook on life. He has very strong views on life: B&B's suck but not nearly as bad as facing a pissed-off wife if he didn't go when she planned a weekend away.
Why on earth celebrate Columbus Day? A "dead man stumbled on a chunk of land on his way somewhere else." Once he was told he was trying to prove that he was "smarter than the whole FBI." He replied, "I don't have to do that. It's already established." Mr. Brick does a great job of portraying John Corey's personality.
As the puzzle unwinds it becomes evident that there is an immediate threat of a possible nuclear weapon strike against one or more unknown cities in the United States. John and Kate's job is to figure out what cities and who is the real enemy?
The clock is ticking.
This was a good story although Lion's Game had a lot more action in it. Wild Fire is more of a cerebral effort. John and Kate have to work through all the false leads and clues to find out who really is at the heart of the conspiracy and then be in the right place at the right time to prevent disaster.
Armchair Interviews says: Book was made more interesting by being well-read.