Way too convoluted for interesting reading ( )

A follow up to Whitcomb's Black, this novel follows the further adentures of an ultra secret black-ops group. The United States is facing new terror attacks staged to look like they were committed by the islamic jihadists. Behind the attacks is a domestic, Christian fundamentalist group bent on ridding the world of Islam. A Manchurian Candidate subplot also lays just under the surface.

Not much new territory is covered here for the characters, which is the biggest weakness for the novel. What made the first story interesting was getting to know the characters. But in this installment, the story takes over completely and that is not Whitcomb's forte. The plot seems forced, always trying to surpise and shock with the next twist, while the characters get lost in the shuffle, just plodding through.

Both of these books were fun diversions. I hope Whitcomb's next book focuses more on prose and character development and less on trying to 'wow' the reader with his plot. Or maybe he returns to non-fiction, a move that would serve him, since his memoirs of a life in the FBI were well written and enjoyable. ( )