No Christian Wimp
In these new reader reviews of Strait of Hormuz, the reviewers reflect on Marc Royce’s faith.
Tested Loyalty. Tested Courage. Tested Faith.
By Mary Kay Moody, Jottings From the Journeys blog
With an economy of words and profusion of images, Strait of Hormuz is a story seemingly ripped from today’s news.
American Marc Royce has been sent on a clandestine intelligence operation that takes him to Switzerland, then across Europe into the Middle East, without backup or even a gun. He must penetrate the veil of secrecy around art thieves, smugglers, and terrorists to determine who he can trust as he uncovers which threats to himself and peace in the Mid-East are real and how they can be thwarted.
As Royce pursues the truth, each connection he has with the US intelligence community gets ripped away, and the operation grows increasingly perilous. This suspenseful journey tests his endurance, insight, and wisdom. But it is also a personal saga of tested limits, love, and faith. Will he rely on himself or on God?
Bunn populates this tale with a few familiar characters from earlier in the series—Ambassador Walton, pilot Carter Dawes, and the smart and lovely Israeli, Kitra Korban—joining a new cast of realistic, intriguing, and flawed characters struggling to find their way and purpose in an ever more dangerous world.
As Royce pursues information and then solutions, the operation grows increasingly perilous as each link with the US intelligence community gets ripped away from him. When it seems the challenges can’t get worse—more adversaries materialize. When all appears lost—an ally emerges from an unlikely direction.
Bunn weaves an intricate story, packing danger and suspense into every mile of the journey. Strait of Hormuz captured my interest on page one and carried me away as surely as a roaring mountain river. The settings springs off the page. The characters engage. The plot intrigues.
Davis Bunn’s skill as a writer continues to astound me. In Strait of Hormuz, Marc Royce begins his quest with only vague information and nebulous goals. But as each turn of events raises the stakes, Royce’s focus compresses until he locks on his target and becomes a human laser-guided missile. Truly, a worthy hero. And though I know of no plans for making this book into a movie—there should be.
Extra — My husband Ed believes this tale is a perfect illustration of God’s sovereignty and the thirty-third verse of Matthew 6: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” He also says Strait of Hormuz is his favorite of Bunn’s Marc Royce adventures.
That makes this a 4 thumbs-up, 10 star review!
Alone and Unaided
By Gail Welborn, Examiner.com
Davis Bunn, four-time Christy Award winner releases Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, November 5th, to complete his Marc Royce Adventure trilogy. It’s a fast-paced narrative of international intrigue, clandestine action and escalating global tensions that began with Lion of Babylon continued in Rare Earth and ends in Strait of Hormuz.
In this book readers find Marc in Switzerland without his customary intelligence resources and protocols in place, not even a gun because he’s been fired. Or that’s what everyone is led to believe due to a U.S. intelligence security leak.
Kitra Korban, Marc’s former “long-distance” love interest has mixed feelings of anticipation and dread as she enters Geneva’s most exclusive art gallery to save “…the very same man she had recently told she never wanted to speak with again…” Marc Royce.
The same gallery where only moments before Marc had found the corpse of gallery owner, art connoisseur, Sylvan Gollett adjacent to the famous bronze ballerina sculpture by Rodin. When he moved to take a picture of the body he heard the “most beautiful voice in the world call out to him” from the door.
Kitra’s greeting coincided with a sound he hoped to never hear again that told the agent he’d stepped into the “laser light” trigger of a bomb… there were only seconds to decide his next move. Add money-laundering, nuclear capabilities, cultural and religious issues and readers have what Hy Smith, Sr. Vice President of United International Pictures says is a “thinking person’s Indiana Jones” adventure.
Where Marc Royce, “alone and unaided” except for a selected few, must divide truth from deception, innuendo and rumor that cause him to question those he thought he could trust. Whether Mossad agents, girlfriend or fellow U.S. intelligence agents. The realistic threat, if acted upon, would have deadly results for Israel, the United States and the world that would leave the world forever changed.
The addition of Kitra’s and Marc’s off kilter romance only adds to Bunn’s delightful tale of suspense, danger and intrigue captures readers and keeps the pages turning. Although part of a trilogy, Strait of Hormuz can be read as a standalone title.
Marc Royce: He’s no Christian Wimp
By Edward Arrington, Amazon
I read my first Davis Bunn book in 2000. I was hooked. As I read Lion of Babylon and Rare Earth, the first two books in the Marc Royce series, I found it difficult to wait for the next book to be released. Although Strait of Hormuz is billed as the final book in this series, I would welcome additional installments of exciting adventure with Marc Royce and Kitra Korban.
Davis Bunn has an awesome knack for painting word pictures. As the action unfolds in each of his books, he makes it so easy to visualize what is taking place. It is easy to see that he has spent a lot of time researching the details. Strait of Hormuz is chocked full of suspense, international intrigue, strategy, extremely high stakes, and a faith that won’t give up.
I love the way Davis Bunn brings Christian faith into the interaction of individuals of various nationalities as they come together in worship and prayer. Faith plays a very vital role for Marc and Kitra throughout the course of events. It is an integral part of who he is, not just a safety net when trouble rears its ugly head. Combined with his training, skills, knowledge, and experience, Marc’s faith helps him keep his perspective and sort out the real issues.
Christians are often displayed as wimps but that’s not who Marc is. He is very much a man of action. The book has lots of action and keeps the reader on edge just waiting to see what will happen next: explosions, car chases, attacks, fights, numerous threats, and romance. I highly recommend this book.
