Review" The Hills be shaken by Michael Stewart

“The mountains fall away, and THE HILLS BE SHAKEN...”–Isaiah 54:10

Mose Haley was an engineer, but in a few short months, he will have his FBI badge... and his revenge.

Two weeks ago, Mose was designing highway curves that safely carry minivans loaded with three kids and a dog doing 70 miles per hour. Now he is standing next to hot ammunition casings holding a standard issue Glock 23 handgun with the slide locked back and the barrel smoking. Two weeks ago—before the people he loved died—was a lifetime ago.

The attack on Manhattan, Kansas, dubbed Little 9/11 was the first. Officer Sam McGuire was there when it happened, shaken like everyone else on that day. The day he witnessed the collapse of a two-mile dam. Also, the day Sam saw the blonde in the park. The fit woman, jogging with an AR-15 and a pistol. He has questioned her and questioned her again. He has gone to ground zero and rummaged through the debris. Sam is a good cop, but he cannot piece it all together. He needs help. He needs an engineer.

Mose wants to believe he has the grit for the job, but he is a rookie. He has never had to face rooftop gunfire or defuse a bomb in a playground with sweaty hands and a paperclip. Mose Haley has never been tested... until now.

Review

I received an ARC copy from the author and received no compensation. The review is my own thoughts.

Little 9/11; in real life, this would have been a catastrophic event, the likes no one would recover from. When Mose Haley, a road engineer, got a glimpse of the enormity of the devastation in Kansas, he understood that life as he knew it was over. What was thought to be a natural disaster soon became clear that it was another terrorist attack on US soil.

After the water receded and only the bedrock was left, everyone wanted answers. With so many lives lost, they had to find an eyewitness to state what they thought was the real reason the dam gave in. It was up to Mose, a newly appointed FBI agent, to find not only this witness but find the other weak points within the United States water system to avoid another disaster.

Corruption, money laundering, and self-righteousness were some topics that surfaced during the story. Its faith-based foundation is the platform from where each character acted.

“Sam continued, “I guess in special circumstances, when there is no time for individual confessions, in the face of mortal danger, a priest is allowed to do such a thing. And I’ll tell you what, Mose, I could feel the weight lift off my back. I was carrying a hundred pounds of gear, and it was like it wasn’t even there. It was probably the scariest moment in my life, while at the same time one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.” Sam took a gulp of beer before continuing.

“Then the priest said, men it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be scary, but when you need it, remember those final words of David ‘take courage’. Know God is with you, and he’ll be with you when you need him, and he’ll take you by the hand and walk you to his kingdom. ‘Take courage, be a man’.”

With no concrete evidence, Mose began the enormous task. Breadcrumbs trailing his way and a phone caller who keeps on leaving cryptic messages. When a second bomb threat is made, things speed up quickly. He-is-just-an-engineer mantra was the only thing that kept him calm enough to do what was needed.

Sometimes you get the sense that the book was more than a fictitious story. The technical details enhancing the story realistically. Like a gigantic puzzle, if one piece is removed, the disaster would be so much greater. Once we understand how everything fits together, the possibilities of another terrorist attack become a greater realiteit.

The supporting characters of Don, Sam, Mickey, and Maria were well developed and relatable. Until you realize who the villain is.

The writing itself is crisp and clear as it leads you on a definite path of the unexpected. The plot line is well thought out and the author’s knowledge or research was well grounded to bring an incredible story of life and faith, as it intertwines with this suspenseful story.

A powerful story of faith and determination as Mose Haley get to learn to trust his instinct and the breadcrumbs God has laid out for him.

The Hills Be Shaken by Michael Stewart | LibraryThing

Lynelle Clark’s review of The Hills Be Shaken | Goodreads

The Hills Be Shaken by Michael Stewart - BookBub

The Hills Be Shaken by MICHAEL STEWART - Reader reviews | Reedsy Discovery

Amazon 

About the Author

Michael Stewart is an award-winning author and #1 Best Seller. He lives in the sunflower-covered hills of Kansas with his dear wife and six lively children. Stewart worked for two decades as an engineer, designing streets and highways. Now he writes books with action and science, a little mix of MacGyver and Die Hard.

“Writing is like watching a movie, and I love movies.”

Stewart has published two novels, the latest THE HILLS BE SHAKEN reached #1 shortly after its debut and has caught the attention of Top Reviewers. This mystery has scored mostly 5-Star ratings on Amazon and 98% of readers “Liked It” on Goodreads. The crime novel is available in paperback, E-book, and audiobook.

Learn more about Michael Stewart, the John Grisham of Engineering Thrillers, including the fun stuff like his awards, TED Talk, and world record... visit michaelstewart.fun