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Critic's Corner
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Jackie Nida is a pseudonym for a well-known author. Nida spent a year researching the real-life experiences of bomb squad technicians, and even went through training exercises. Her research is notable. Each gritty detail gives a greater appreciation for members of the courageous Bomb Squads across America. Nida's protagonist is Sergeant Jamie Stone a bomb technician with the Kansas State Patrol Hazardous Device Unit. Jamie is a 38-year-old single mother with a 14-year-old son, Matthew. Stone is the only woman on the bomb squad, but her physical strength and mental toughness have proven she can do the job. Lieutenant Nick Terrell is Jamie's partner and best friend. Together the two have worked an escalating string of terrorist attacks on the Kansas City area the "Vest Bomber" harnesses his victims into vests packed with explosives. Each bomb is trickier than the last, each trigger less predictable, and each job more and more heated for Stone and Terrell. ". . . Nick very softly announced, 'We're cycling down at five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one.' The instant the timer hit one, the clock in the back of the vest began to rhythmically squeal. Delores (the victim) tensed, and her eyes went wide. "Can you make it stop?" I yelled. "He nodded, slipping the battery out with a grin that quickly faded. 'What the hell?' he muttered, tugging out a tiny piece of paper that had been hidden behind the battery. "Together, Nick and I read the simple, block printing on the slip of paper. BOOM! "Our trance was shattered by an unmistakable sound echoing through the empty store. Beep! Beep! Beep! was the last thing we heard before all hell broke loose." After this third vest bomb has been defused, and hidden bombs in the store exploded, it became apparent that the bomber was targeting Stone and Terrell. Each call to duty came on their shift, why? There are six members on the squad, why would anyone target these two officers? Simon Stanley and Frank Nichols, ATF agents work each case with the bomb squad often being more trouble than help. Then there is Carl Layman, a trooper who shows up on the crime scenes even when he's not on duty. As the suspense builds, these three men plus Lt. Colonel Jones, the big boss, become a suspect along with squad member Jeff Jenkins. Nida keeps the suspense building as the bomber comes closer and closer to Stone and Terrell and their loved ones. Questions about the "vest bomber" having a partner arise, the rumor mill says that there are leaks from inside the department. Someone knows too much about Stone and Terrell, personal information that no one else should know. Then, Jamie's house is broken into and booby-trapped. Finally, her worst fear is realized--her son is kidnapped. The last 92 pages of this story make you feel as if you've just gone over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Nida brings the resolution of her story down to the last moment just before disaster destroys her world. The upshot of this psychological suspense story is that in spite of the horror experienced, you feel uplifted knowing that in real life we have people like Jamie Stone and Nick Terrell and their fellow bomb squad officers out in the field working to keep us safe. Nida in her author's note says, "Although the characters and story in "Render Safe" are fictional, the danger faced on a daily basis by hazardous device technicians around the world is all too real. The technology, science, and procedures I have described in this book are based on fact. Like all works of fiction, my goal is to entertain, fascinate, and hopefully inspire the imagination of the reader. For the safety of those who routinely risk their lives to protect the innocent, I have slightly altered certain forensic elements to prevent the technology I've described from ever being used to endanger the life of a bomb technician." I'll join my voice with Jackie Nida in saying, at the next opportunity, we should all shake the hands of our local police officers and let them know that their work is appreciated, and that their dedication and sacrifice really does make a difference. "Render Safe" is as hypnotizing as the ticking of a bomb. The style and voice of the author are confident as she shows us the harrowing real-life work of a group of American heroes in the 21st Century. Click Here to Order Render Safe (Jones is a published writer & literary critic) |
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