The Sword and the Star, by Daymon Andrews

Review by W. J. Rayment / ConservativeBookstore -- What would happen if Iran got nuclear weapons? There is little doubt in the minds of reasonable people that the weapon would likely be used against Israel. "The Sword and the Star: Temple Mount", a thriller of a novel, deals with this hypothesis in an engaging and realistic manner.

In the grand tradition of Tom Clancy, Daymon Andrews gives us a scenario that is not merely possible, but probable. Events are set in motion when the Iranians develop a nuclear weapon with the capability and the will to deliver it to Israel. In a pre-emptive strike, Israel destroys the enemy's nuclear facility using stealth jets. Meanwhile the European Union takes sides with Islamic Fundamental forces in the region and soon the stage is set for military conflict on a massive scale.

The writing style of Mr. Andrews is crisp, clean, and envigorating. We get to see all sides of the conflict, from the plainly evil president of the E.U. to the men in the carrier battle groups, to the Islamic Jihadists bent on destroying Israel, to the command and control facilities of the Israeli military. A lot goes on in this novel, but Mr. Andrews is equal to the task of keeping a myriad of events clear and understandable. While the combatants are blinded by the fog of war, we know exactly what is happening.

"The Sword and the Star" has some interesting undertones. Some of the characters express religious conviction, as would assuredly happen in such a conflict. Mr. Andrews is not shy about having some of his major characters actually wondering about an end of the world, Armageddon, in line with Bible prophesy. At one point in the book, I actually thought that this was where things were headed. But the book did not venture over into the realm of metaphysics and remained technically grounded. I liked that fact that the thoughts were wandering unashamedly in the lead character's mind even as he dealt with situations in a practical fashion. In the end there were no second comings, although I felt the possibility lingered there.

Daymon Andrews does a good job of building the drama and creating a realistic plot-line. Although the pacing of the narrative does not allow for too many in-depth characterizations, I feel the characters are sharply drawn, and always act in believable ways. "The Sword and the Star: Temple Mount" is a fun read, and provokes contemplation about geopolitical events. The author also leaves room for a sequel which will, no doubt, be as exciting, well-paced, and thought-provoking this book.

An enjoyable read.

The Sword and the Star: Temple Mount, by Daymon Andrews is available at Amazon.