Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
Release date: 2006 / 6 1/2 hours (audio CDs)
Synopsis (from back cover): Welcome to the Custer Hill Club — a men’s club set in a luxurious Adirondack hunting lodge whose members include some of America’s most powerful business leaders, military men, and government officials. Ostensibly, the club is a place to relax with old friends. But one fall weekend, the club’s Executive Board gathers to talk about the tragedy of 9/11 — and finalize a retaliation plan, known only by its code name. The same weekend, a member of the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force is found dead. Soon it’s up to Detective John Corey and his wife, FBI Agent Kate Mayfield, to unravel a terrifying plot that starts with the Custer Hill Club and ends with American cities locked in the crosshairs of a nuclear device. Corey and Mayfield are the only ones who can stop the button from being pushed, and global chaos from being unleashed.
Review: I mentioned this novel a few weeks ago in my Booking Through Thursday post about villiany. It was the last CD my husband and I listened to during our recent road trip to Colorado and I enjoyed it much more than I expected to. I had never read any DeMille, but my husband, father and father-in-law all enjoy his novels — and now I can see why.
The premise stated in the summary didn’t really interest me, honestly, until I started listening. DeMille has a talent for characterization and a gift for fast-paced plot generation that made the miles fly by.
However, I did enjoy the first half a bit more than the second half. I think this is true because the premise and set-up — of the characters and the plot — was very interesting. The Custer Hill Club are basically trying to force the U.S. into a retaliatory attack on the middle East by attacking a few U.S. cities under the guise of Islam extremists (obviously this is set before the Bush Doctrine… which, unbeknowst to our possible VP, allows the U.S. to preemptively attack).
I learned a LOT about ELF transmitters (like what one was, for starters) and did find the premise and the characters of Corey and Mayfield fascinating. I also liked the fact that the “bad guys” were extremist Americans — rather than Islamic extremists. This raised the themes above jingoistic patriotism to the danger of any extremist, polarizing, uncritical thought.
My attention wandered eventually because the ending was… well… predictable. The bad guys die. The good guys kill them. Peace reigns throughout the country. Sorry if I ruined the ending 
But, if you don’t mind a predictable, black-and-white ending, then please give it a try. It is a great vacation read and I would love to pass along our copy to an interested reader — Simply leave me a comment and I’ll put you in the running!
By the way, after learning about how DeMille’s publisher adds the f-word to his novels, I did notice its liberal use! But that tends to happen during shoot-outs anyway, doesn’t it… 
I ususally love his books so I hope this one is as good. Unfortunately, most of his books have a pretty predictable ending, I still enjoy them for a change of pace.
Nothing like a page-turning DeMille book when one needs a good read! I’d love a copy of this book to read and then share with my husband and my dad, who are also DeMille lovers!
Linda and Ruby, You’re in the running!
Hi Kristen,
It’s always good to be “in the running!”
Linda
A give-away on my birthday – how nice! I love all of DeMille’s books and I’m sure I will love this one. Just wish I had a beach vacation in my future so I could read it with sand between my toes….
Happy Birthday, Julie!! Hope it was a great one!!
And the winner is… Linda!
Congrats!
Wow, Kristen…! How do I get my free DeMille book? Thanksabunch for the freebie; we’ll all appreciate it! Linda
Hi Linda! I sent you an email requesting your address… Please let me know if you didn’t get it (or you can just email me: kgalles@msn.com)