Deadlock – Robert Liparulo

Deadlock Robert Liparulo
Deadlock by Robert Liparulo
Series: John Hutchinson #2
Published by Thomas Nelson on March 1, 2009
Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Christian
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four-stars

Special Forces veteran-turned-billionaire Brendan Page has some dirty not-so-little secrets. He's built an empire on supplying futuristic weapons and highly trained soldiers to the world's most powerful armies.
But he's saved his most destructive weapons for himself.

John Hutchinson, a Denver newspaper columnist and avid bow-hunter, has figured out the truth about Brendan Page and is determined to bring him down. But he's up against a warmonger linked to assasinations, kidnappings, and terrorist activities.

Hutch quickly uncovers a plan that seems unfathomable in its recklessness and loss of life. Yet he's just one man up against impossible odds--with no Plan B. Thankfully, it's just the kind of environment Hutch thrives best in . . . "if "he can survive the next three days.

A year after the events of Deadfall, life is never going to be normal for Hutch. It was kill or be killed out there in Fiddler Falls and now that he’s back to civilization, he’s tirelessly at work hunting down Brendan Page, the billionaire responsible for so much death. But one does not seek to bring down an ex-Special Forces vet turned warmongering billionaire with just words, meaning that Hutch is going to have to once again exchange his pen for his bow. Page is out for blood this time and things are going to get personal.

Outis Enterprises is the premier provider of private military services. Using video game tech to throw soldiers into simulations designed to desensitize them to violence and bloodshed, Page breaks his soldiers’ minds and convinces them that war is a game and that no one is really getting hurt. And then he sets them loose upon his enemies.

With Outis soldiers and Page himself after him and his family, as well as Laura and Dillion—the mother and son that helped rescue him in Deadfall—Hutch is in the fight for his life…again. And this time the lives of his children hang in the balance.

Robert Liparulo keeps readers turning the pages once again with this fast-pasted, high-thrills novel that again plumbs the depths of what it would mean if man had no conscience. With his trademark use of futuristic tech, Liparulo plays a “what-if” game with readers to consider whether or not violent video games really could have an effect on the human psyche. What if humanity lost all sight of reality? What if it couldn’t discern between right and wrong? Perhaps one of the most disturbing things about Deadlock is how flippant the Outis soldiers are about evil. Reality has become just another war game simulation to them and they honestly don’t know the difference between the two. They’re too focused on racking up points in their game to consider that they just murdered someone.

From beginning to end, Deadlock is a race that only lets up to give the reader (and the characters) some much-needed time to breathe. An adventure from beginning to end, Deadlock kept me glued to the story.

four-stars

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