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The American Crusade: A Political Thriller
On May 1, 2001, a group of radical Islamic terrorists crash a Boeing 737 jet airliner into the Mall of America—and Vice President Robert Hornsby knows his moment is coming. The attack kills three thousand American citizens and throws an entire nation into a panic, but all Hornsby sees is an opportunity, a chance to imprint his fanatical values on the soul of the country he loves and become the most powerful vice president in American history. With the aid of his affable but ineffectual president; the reluctant, conscience-stricken secretary of defense; and a preening, foppish faith leader with more than a few skeletons in his closet; Hornsby declares war on terror—and anyone who stands in his way. But as media scrutiny of the administration’s actions overseas intensifies, Hornby’s one-man campaign against evil begins to unravel—with striking parallels to the thirteenth century’s doomed Fourth Crusade—and sends the nation spiraling toward another deadly tragedy. The American Crusade paints a grim and often cynical picture of America’s recent past, reflecting the attitudes, politics, and fears that shaped our nation in the new millennium. By sampling the contemporaneous French text on the Fourth Crusade, On the Conquest of Constantinople, author Mark Spivak reminds us of that ever-vital “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Fans of The Castle by Jason Pinter, The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson, House of Cards by Michael Dobbs, The Whistler by John Grisham, and the Aaron Sorkin–penned TV drama The West Wing will love this book.
This book is for anyone who likes reading
This book is for anyone who likes reading
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2019
About the author
Mark Spivak
7 books301 followersMark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He is the former wine columnist for The Palm Beach Post, and since 2001 has been the Wine & Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group. He is the author of two non-fiction books: Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History (Lyons Press, 2012) and Moonshine Nation (Lyons Press, 2014), and two novels. His political thriller, The American Crusade, was released by TCK Publishing in April, 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 21, 2020
The American Crusade by Mark Spivak was a fast-paced thriller full of excitement!
I normally don't go for political thrillers, but I like to spice up my reading shelf once and a while. Mark Spivak's novel, the American Crusade, seemed like the perfect fit! And man, was it ever! I can honestly say this book makes the genre seem WAY cooler than I was led to believe.
In this novel, we follow Vice President Hornsby. This man is brutal and wants his time in the spotlight. VP Hornsby, President Cane and the government make some harsh and disgusting decisions in relation to a terrorist attack that crashes into the Mall of America. The worst part? The government most likely knew this attack was coming.
We follow two point of views: the American government and a young radicalist. The battle between liberty and freedom against utter control is showcased. Especially the fact that deception can be so easy...
One interesting part of this book was the take on the Fourth Crusade. This wasn't my favourite part of the book, but it was unique and made the book stand out.
I'm honestly impressed. While this book might not make me the newest fan of all political thrillers, I'm glad I picked this one up. It's fast paced, full of thrills, takes some wild risks and is just really cool. I like Mark Spivak's writing style and his different take on 9/11.
Overall, this book is an excellent read for lovers of political thrillers!
Three out of five stars.
Thank you to TCK Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I normally don't go for political thrillers, but I like to spice up my reading shelf once and a while. Mark Spivak's novel, the American Crusade, seemed like the perfect fit! And man, was it ever! I can honestly say this book makes the genre seem WAY cooler than I was led to believe.
In this novel, we follow Vice President Hornsby. This man is brutal and wants his time in the spotlight. VP Hornsby, President Cane and the government make some harsh and disgusting decisions in relation to a terrorist attack that crashes into the Mall of America. The worst part? The government most likely knew this attack was coming.
We follow two point of views: the American government and a young radicalist. The battle between liberty and freedom against utter control is showcased. Especially the fact that deception can be so easy...
One interesting part of this book was the take on the Fourth Crusade. This wasn't my favourite part of the book, but it was unique and made the book stand out.
I'm honestly impressed. While this book might not make me the newest fan of all political thrillers, I'm glad I picked this one up. It's fast paced, full of thrills, takes some wild risks and is just really cool. I like Mark Spivak's writing style and his different take on 9/11.
Overall, this book is an excellent read for lovers of political thrillers!
Three out of five stars.
Thank you to TCK Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
April 14, 2020
This novel reflects the War on Terror that America started following the attacks that took place on Tuesday September 11th 2001. The central character throughout this novel is the American Vice President who does all he can to achieve his aims. The dates, names and places have been changed from the history books to allow the author the scope to write a fictional read that reflects the attitudes and moods of the times following the 9/11 attacks.
I found The American Crusade an interesting read as it covered events in living memory. All those news reports about the Middle East and America’s response came flooding back to me. Throughout this novel I kept thinking “Yes, I remember that bit”. The problem is that readers will remember the past, so this novel fails to give them anything new. It is an old story with dates, names and places changed.
I liked how this novel explored a conspiracy about 9/11 and the whole sorry saga of intelligence gathering and analysis. I found the tales about the behind the scenes workings of American politics enlightening. I loved the highlighting of American attitudes towards religion and sexuality. I enjoyed reading the snappy dialogue between the characters and the ability for the author to poke fun at former American politicians. The humour within The American Crusade does travel quite well across the pond and will raise many a chuckle from British readers like myself.
I did not like the short chapters that were devoted to the Fourth Crusade in the Middle East that took place in the Thirteenth Century. Okay, author Mark Spivak reminds us of that ever-vital adage: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” but I found those chapters tiresome. I accept that Mark was drawing parallels with the past but reading a memoir from the 13th century was an absolute bore. Thankfully although America followed Russia in making similar mistakes in Afghanistan, Mark did not bore the reader with a history of those times. I feel that those chapters could have been left out of this novel without taking anything away from the enjoyment or plot of this story.
I found The American Crusade to be an easy to follow read in the same way that we watch television chat shows. I feel that this novel is average in it’s entertainment value and is an okay read that gets 3 stars from me.
Thanks to the author and the TCK Publishing for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
I found The American Crusade an interesting read as it covered events in living memory. All those news reports about the Middle East and America’s response came flooding back to me. Throughout this novel I kept thinking “Yes, I remember that bit”. The problem is that readers will remember the past, so this novel fails to give them anything new. It is an old story with dates, names and places changed.
I liked how this novel explored a conspiracy about 9/11 and the whole sorry saga of intelligence gathering and analysis. I found the tales about the behind the scenes workings of American politics enlightening. I loved the highlighting of American attitudes towards religion and sexuality. I enjoyed reading the snappy dialogue between the characters and the ability for the author to poke fun at former American politicians. The humour within The American Crusade does travel quite well across the pond and will raise many a chuckle from British readers like myself.
I did not like the short chapters that were devoted to the Fourth Crusade in the Middle East that took place in the Thirteenth Century. Okay, author Mark Spivak reminds us of that ever-vital adage: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” but I found those chapters tiresome. I accept that Mark was drawing parallels with the past but reading a memoir from the 13th century was an absolute bore. Thankfully although America followed Russia in making similar mistakes in Afghanistan, Mark did not bore the reader with a history of those times. I feel that those chapters could have been left out of this novel without taking anything away from the enjoyment or plot of this story.
I found The American Crusade to be an easy to follow read in the same way that we watch television chat shows. I feel that this novel is average in it’s entertainment value and is an okay read that gets 3 stars from me.
Thanks to the author and the TCK Publishing for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
April 19, 2020
3.25 stars
Is it possible to have a fictional/non-fictional story?
That would be how I'd classify this story.
It is very closely based on the events of 9/11. Yes, the names, dates, and terror group have changed, but it was easy to connect all of the pieces.
Instead of Dick Cheney, you have an equally unlikable Robert Hornsby.
Instead of George Bush, you have an equally bumbling George Cane.
Get the picture?
The author does throw in his own conspiracy theories, some not so far of the mark, which were interesting to read. But overall, I felt the story was just to close to the reality, that I had a hard time not comparing the two. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the connection wasn't so obvious, like a Law and Order episode.
Overall, the story is well written, and the author clearly has an understanding of the political game.
*A complimentary copy was provided for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
Is it possible to have a fictional/non-fictional story?
That would be how I'd classify this story.
It is very closely based on the events of 9/11. Yes, the names, dates, and terror group have changed, but it was easy to connect all of the pieces.
Instead of Dick Cheney, you have an equally unlikable Robert Hornsby.
Instead of George Bush, you have an equally bumbling George Cane.
Get the picture?
The author does throw in his own conspiracy theories, some not so far of the mark, which were interesting to read. But overall, I felt the story was just to close to the reality, that I had a hard time not comparing the two. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the connection wasn't so obvious, like a Law and Order episode.
Overall, the story is well written, and the author clearly has an understanding of the political game.
*A complimentary copy was provided for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
March 23, 2020
The world of political thrillers is not one I have dipped my toe into too often. For the most part, my views on politicians are not a great one and as such, I normally skip over such books. But with a little downtime at the moment, when I was offered the chance to read The American Crusade I figured maybe it was worth a shot. I'm also a sucker for books by authors I have never read. It gives you a chance to exuberance a new viewpoint into the world. So for me, this book was a great deal of going into the unknown.
As I started to pass through the first few chapters I was starting to get the sinking feeling of what have I got my self into. This all seemed to be very ferociously patriotic. Don't get me wrong I love my country but there is a line. And while this book is about America I have spent a great deal of time there I realize just how much they love theirs, it can at times be a lot to take in from an outside point of view. But this is where things took a turn in my mind for the better. This is an author who can see that it can all become at times very absurd. That for some in politics, it is all about what they can get for themselves. In doing so we get to see Hornsby for the maniacal, ego-driven man he is. He is a man who will use any opportunity no matter how deplorable to further himself and in doing so drag along anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in his slipstream. While it is fairly obvious who he is supposed to be, with the political landscape the way it is now you could easily swap him out for a good many real-life political figures. The same can be said for those other people I came into contact within this book. familiar to all but just taken to that little bit more of an extreme. All of this is done with a very considerate touch by the author. Push them too far and it all becomes one giant joke. But here we get to experience it as both satirical humor and a nervous worry as you find yourself wondering how far any of them will really go to.
For many, the base story will be all too familiar, after all the events of 9/11 and the war that was to follow are seared into our minds whether we want them to be or not. What I would say is that Spivak uses it as a starting off point rather than a hard and fast set of rules he could not divert from. He has created something very original out a series of events that took place in the real world. It is very easy to get lost in this dark and foreboding world he has created. out minds are sent any here there and everywhere as Hornsby sets out his game of chess, not only with the enemies of American but also those that are supposed to all be on his side. This is a game of puppet masters, these men care little for anything other than power and control. I suppose what makes this book all the more terrifying is that we have all seen it play out time and again in the real world. It's is only through that lens of humor we get to step back and see it all for what it really is. It was also interesting for me to delve into the accounts of crusades of the Holly lands from a much more distant history. They work as this parallel showing the reader that unfortunately all to often history is repeated time and time again. That men seeking power will spill the blood of a great many others in the hope of building themselves a mountain to stand out a proclaim their greatness.
I have to confess this book gave me a much more enjoyable experience than I had at first expected. It is one of those reads that you find your self tumbling aloud, but he can do that or for god sake is everyone too stupid to see what he is up to. And for me, that added so much to this book. Not only do we get this brilliant satire of American politics but also a great thriller which makes the reader not only question all but also want to see how it will all end. It is within this hybrid that the author pulls off what I hope he was aiming for. For me, it works brilliantly and is a book that I would happily recommend.
As I started to pass through the first few chapters I was starting to get the sinking feeling of what have I got my self into. This all seemed to be very ferociously patriotic. Don't get me wrong I love my country but there is a line. And while this book is about America I have spent a great deal of time there I realize just how much they love theirs, it can at times be a lot to take in from an outside point of view. But this is where things took a turn in my mind for the better. This is an author who can see that it can all become at times very absurd. That for some in politics, it is all about what they can get for themselves. In doing so we get to see Hornsby for the maniacal, ego-driven man he is. He is a man who will use any opportunity no matter how deplorable to further himself and in doing so drag along anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in his slipstream. While it is fairly obvious who he is supposed to be, with the political landscape the way it is now you could easily swap him out for a good many real-life political figures. The same can be said for those other people I came into contact within this book. familiar to all but just taken to that little bit more of an extreme. All of this is done with a very considerate touch by the author. Push them too far and it all becomes one giant joke. But here we get to experience it as both satirical humor and a nervous worry as you find yourself wondering how far any of them will really go to.
For many, the base story will be all too familiar, after all the events of 9/11 and the war that was to follow are seared into our minds whether we want them to be or not. What I would say is that Spivak uses it as a starting off point rather than a hard and fast set of rules he could not divert from. He has created something very original out a series of events that took place in the real world. It is very easy to get lost in this dark and foreboding world he has created. out minds are sent any here there and everywhere as Hornsby sets out his game of chess, not only with the enemies of American but also those that are supposed to all be on his side. This is a game of puppet masters, these men care little for anything other than power and control. I suppose what makes this book all the more terrifying is that we have all seen it play out time and again in the real world. It's is only through that lens of humor we get to step back and see it all for what it really is. It was also interesting for me to delve into the accounts of crusades of the Holly lands from a much more distant history. They work as this parallel showing the reader that unfortunately all to often history is repeated time and time again. That men seeking power will spill the blood of a great many others in the hope of building themselves a mountain to stand out a proclaim their greatness.
I have to confess this book gave me a much more enjoyable experience than I had at first expected. It is one of those reads that you find your self tumbling aloud, but he can do that or for god sake is everyone too stupid to see what he is up to. And for me, that added so much to this book. Not only do we get this brilliant satire of American politics but also a great thriller which makes the reader not only question all but also want to see how it will all end. It is within this hybrid that the author pulls off what I hope he was aiming for. For me, it works brilliantly and is a book that I would happily recommend.
March 4, 2020
Edge of the seat political thriller. Written well and entertaining. Kept me engaged in the pages and story. A definite page turner. Interesting facts that may or may not be true? It was an intense read to say the least.
November 30, 2020
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DISCLAIMER : Thank you, TCK Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The American Crusade is a political thriller based on real-life events. When I saw the synopsis for this book, I wanted to see how the author will approach the story. Knowing the topic and the events make it extremely hard, impossible to separate them while I was reading it. The story is about America's war on terror on a Muslim majority country after a horrendous terror attack on a Mall in America. As you can see, the parallels to the horrific 9/11 attacks are uncanny when it comes to the situation and characters. It also helps you in navigating the story connecting the people and places mentioned in the book to the real-life versions. Yes, the book is a recounting or retelling of 9/11 with the places, people, and events named differently but at the crux of it is the closer look at history repeating itself when people make poor choices based on greed and power. The mirroring of history with the Fourth Crusade is also jarring to see.
Overall, this was an engaging read. I enjoyed the author's take on the real-life characters. If you love political thrillers, do check this one out. The book is not going to bring you a new concept. Instead, it takes an older and unforgettable event that changed Americans and foreign policy forever and delves deeper into the psyche of power-hungry evil-minded brain powers guiding the influential people. I gave the book 4 stars and would recommend reading this book if you love politics, fiction/non- fiction books, and deep dive into the behind-the-scenes happenings of a corrupt system and lives of politicians.
July 16, 2020
May 2001. Islamic terrorists crash a Boeing 737 into the Mall of America, killing three thousand people. With the nation in fear for their lives, Vice President Robert Hornsby has the opportunity to stamp his fervent beliefs on his country and become the most powerful vice president in American history. But can Hornsby succeed in his war on terror, under the glare of the media, or will his plan collapse around him?
With its stark similarities to 9/11, Mark Spivak takes a grim look at America’s recent past, revealing the thoughts, opinions and fears around a terrifying attack on the American people. Given the premise, I expected this book to be a fascinating and thrilling read, but after an interesting start, I found the constant inclusion of long, boring speeches (mainly by the President) totally ruined my enjoyment.
Spivak is certainly a talented writer, but any book that produces a desire in the reader to skip over long passages, cannot hope to hold that reader’s attention for long. And while the message of the book is a thought-provoking and serious one, reaching the end left me feeling nothing but relief.
No doubt some folk with find this a fascinating read, but any book, even one with a serious and vital topic at its heart, still has to draw the reader in. And this one didn’t.
With its stark similarities to 9/11, Mark Spivak takes a grim look at America’s recent past, revealing the thoughts, opinions and fears around a terrifying attack on the American people. Given the premise, I expected this book to be a fascinating and thrilling read, but after an interesting start, I found the constant inclusion of long, boring speeches (mainly by the President) totally ruined my enjoyment.
Spivak is certainly a talented writer, but any book that produces a desire in the reader to skip over long passages, cannot hope to hold that reader’s attention for long. And while the message of the book is a thought-provoking and serious one, reaching the end left me feeling nothing but relief.
No doubt some folk with find this a fascinating read, but any book, even one with a serious and vital topic at its heart, still has to draw the reader in. And this one didn’t.
August 7, 2020
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Thank you TCK Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review
We all know that I loveee me a thriller and it’s been a while since I have found an exciting thriller from an unknown author that was really exciting and fast paced!
Now while I usually am not political based and try and stay away from the craziness, I have been diving into politics a lot lately which seemed to help with this book.
You get introduced to Vice President Hornsby, who is brutal man and selfish man that that wants the presidency for himself. So after a terrorist attack that devastated a popular Mall, the VP and President discuss next strategies and how they possibly knew about it all along.
In the American Crusade you get two different point of views, one from the government and the other from a radical party. Both sides were convincing in their ideas and propaganda. They make you question not only the political but the radical points of view as the story goes along.
This was a well written and fast paced book that leaves you questioning every point twist along the way.
Bookstagram
Website
Thank you TCK Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review
We all know that I loveee me a thriller and it’s been a while since I have found an exciting thriller from an unknown author that was really exciting and fast paced!
Now while I usually am not political based and try and stay away from the craziness, I have been diving into politics a lot lately which seemed to help with this book.
You get introduced to Vice President Hornsby, who is brutal man and selfish man that that wants the presidency for himself. So after a terrorist attack that devastated a popular Mall, the VP and President discuss next strategies and how they possibly knew about it all along.
In the American Crusade you get two different point of views, one from the government and the other from a radical party. Both sides were convincing in their ideas and propaganda. They make you question not only the political but the radical points of view as the story goes along.
This was a well written and fast paced book that leaves you questioning every point twist along the way.
April 5, 2020
In terms of political thrillers, The American Crusade is a pretty good one. Mark Spivak does quite the job of crafting a what will come next thriller with terrific characters and a steady pacing to keep those pages turning. I think I enjoyed figuring out who the characters represented almost as much as the thrill of the story. Admittedly, I don't read many political thrillers, but every once in awhile one grabs my attention. This is one such book, and I have to say that I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys the genre. The book is well-written, the story is gritty and gripping, and it is most certainly well worth the read.
July 9, 2019
Neither politics nor thrillers are necessarily my favorite genre and when I began to read my first thought was “oh no, not another 9/11”. But I didn’t have the same thoughts by the time I’d finished the book. Being extremely cynical myself, I loved the spoofs, the obvious fun-making of politicians in this book. I spent time trying to figure out who was “whom” because while all of the names are fictitious, most mimic a prominent figure in our past or previous government. The same is true of events. While somewhat masked, most could be likened to some well-known trauma in our past. While I have said I was cynical there were also hidden plots that I so hoped were not based on anything true. I don’t want to be fooled too much and Spivak’s book did leave you wondering what might be fiction and what might not. An enjoyable read.
May 21, 2019
This book was so frighteningly real, almost like I was there (while reading). The story was excellent and paralleled what we remember as 9/11 and everything related to it...the political figures, places, situations...only the names were changed however the characters are easily identifiable for who they really are (were?). The historical accuracy was uncanny being read from the standpoint of someone that was actually there in the Gulf during this time of crisis; Osama Bin Laden, the Clintons and the entire cast of shady characters as well as those trying to do the right thing based on inaccurate intelligence. All in all, a page-turner. This is a political thriller at its best. I received a complimentary copy of this book and this review is my unsolicited, honest opinion.
April 11, 2019
The American Crusade is my first experience with a Mark Spivak novel. I thought it was a pretty good thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen next on the following page. I had no problem being engaged throughout the book.
I highly recommend The American Crusade. I am giving it a well deserved five plus stars. I look forward to more by this author in the future.
Great read!
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I highly recommend The American Crusade. I am giving it a well deserved five plus stars. I look forward to more by this author in the future.
Great read!
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
December 28, 2020
The American Crusade is a political narrative with a plot set in early 21st century. A terrorist attack in the American Midwest has led to the loss of over 3,000 civilian lives. A terror outfit based out of Kabulistan assumed responsibility leading to a sentiment of anger among the American public and a demand for reaction with politicians across party lines identifying opportunities to further their own cause.
The incumbent president is George Cane, from the GOP and a powerful political family which has had a president in the recent past. He was facing the biggest crisis his country had faced in the recent times, with a potential military invasion in the middle east yet again, within a span of ten years. In the meantime, the vice-president – Richard Hornsby, is the man running the show from behind the scenes, an astute and pragmatic politician who ensures to send the right message to Cane’s core base – and dubbing the invasion as the final crusade. The opposition had its own issues to deal with – that an opposition to the war could be perceived as lack of patriotism, making their chances of winning back the White House remote.
The plot also has various other issues touched upon – the underlying opposition to homosexuality back in the day and how an exposé could be a political suicide for any politician. Both Cane and Hornsby were not shown to have a particular opinion on the issue but were not hesitant to use it to undermine their opponents or appealing to their core voters. From a reader’s perspective, it is quite strange to look back and realise as to how these were highly contentious less than two decades ago and from there, it is comforting today that an openly gay politician could carry two states in the 2020 Presidential Primaries – but there is still a long way to go and I would not digress further in the review.
The multiple issues covered in the book could make the readers lose track unless they are politically aware, as there are multiple characters and if we do not understand the context, we would find the plot to be going nowhere. This meant that there was little scope for character building – with the exception of Hornsby and George Cane himself – neither of whom were particularly likeable (owing to my own political leanings which is no secret).
There was also an interesting sub plot involving a boy named Abdul in Baghdad, who was appealed by radical Islamist ideas and was listening to radio from the neighbouring Persepostan (fictionalised version of Iran). His parents’ struggle to take him away from the path and Abdul’s skulduggery in continuing with it were my favourite parts of the novel.
Indeed, the book is a work of fiction but at the same time, it is hard to classify it as such considering it is written in a manner that makes it feel real; mainly as most of the events in the story are inspired by events fresh in most of readers’ memories. The anecdotes linking it with the previous crusade was also interesting; but that is entirely upto the reader as skipping them would cause no impact on the flow of the plot.
However, the contemporary nature of the book was also its weakness; for instance – there is a Republican president whose family member was also a president less than a decade ago, a powerful vice president, a terror attack leading to a war in the middle east, a senator who is worried about damaging her presidential aspirations – who also happens to have been the first lady in the past, a budding senator who is gaining a lot of attention and has familial connections to Indonesia, and the list goes on. By now, have you been able to identify the real-world equivalents of these characters? If not, you have an amazing political book coming your way.
To me, I felt that I was going through the news of the past with names of the people changed. One could ask what’s in a name but when you could use ‘United States’, ‘France’, ‘UK’, ‘Republicans’, ‘Democrats’, etc. I do not understand the reason behind fictionalising Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran with Sumeristan, Kabulistan and Persepostan respectively. In fact, Sumeristan even has Baghdad and the Anbar province within its boundaries. I do not understand the reason behind replacing the names of the sovereign states.
This is a fast-paced political narrative – and is enjoyable for those who wish to have a glimpse into the conversations and power struggles among the politicians in power. I understand that there is going to be a sequel to the book and I shall be looking forward to it. On that note, I would award the book a rating of four on five.
The incumbent president is George Cane, from the GOP and a powerful political family which has had a president in the recent past. He was facing the biggest crisis his country had faced in the recent times, with a potential military invasion in the middle east yet again, within a span of ten years. In the meantime, the vice-president – Richard Hornsby, is the man running the show from behind the scenes, an astute and pragmatic politician who ensures to send the right message to Cane’s core base – and dubbing the invasion as the final crusade. The opposition had its own issues to deal with – that an opposition to the war could be perceived as lack of patriotism, making their chances of winning back the White House remote.
The plot also has various other issues touched upon – the underlying opposition to homosexuality back in the day and how an exposé could be a political suicide for any politician. Both Cane and Hornsby were not shown to have a particular opinion on the issue but were not hesitant to use it to undermine their opponents or appealing to their core voters. From a reader’s perspective, it is quite strange to look back and realise as to how these were highly contentious less than two decades ago and from there, it is comforting today that an openly gay politician could carry two states in the 2020 Presidential Primaries – but there is still a long way to go and I would not digress further in the review.
The multiple issues covered in the book could make the readers lose track unless they are politically aware, as there are multiple characters and if we do not understand the context, we would find the plot to be going nowhere. This meant that there was little scope for character building – with the exception of Hornsby and George Cane himself – neither of whom were particularly likeable (owing to my own political leanings which is no secret).
There was also an interesting sub plot involving a boy named Abdul in Baghdad, who was appealed by radical Islamist ideas and was listening to radio from the neighbouring Persepostan (fictionalised version of Iran). His parents’ struggle to take him away from the path and Abdul’s skulduggery in continuing with it were my favourite parts of the novel.
Indeed, the book is a work of fiction but at the same time, it is hard to classify it as such considering it is written in a manner that makes it feel real; mainly as most of the events in the story are inspired by events fresh in most of readers’ memories. The anecdotes linking it with the previous crusade was also interesting; but that is entirely upto the reader as skipping them would cause no impact on the flow of the plot.
However, the contemporary nature of the book was also its weakness; for instance – there is a Republican president whose family member was also a president less than a decade ago, a powerful vice president, a terror attack leading to a war in the middle east, a senator who is worried about damaging her presidential aspirations – who also happens to have been the first lady in the past, a budding senator who is gaining a lot of attention and has familial connections to Indonesia, and the list goes on. By now, have you been able to identify the real-world equivalents of these characters? If not, you have an amazing political book coming your way.
To me, I felt that I was going through the news of the past with names of the people changed. One could ask what’s in a name but when you could use ‘United States’, ‘France’, ‘UK’, ‘Republicans’, ‘Democrats’, etc. I do not understand the reason behind fictionalising Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran with Sumeristan, Kabulistan and Persepostan respectively. In fact, Sumeristan even has Baghdad and the Anbar province within its boundaries. I do not understand the reason behind replacing the names of the sovereign states.
This is a fast-paced political narrative – and is enjoyable for those who wish to have a glimpse into the conversations and power struggles among the politicians in power. I understand that there is going to be a sequel to the book and I shall be looking forward to it. On that note, I would award the book a rating of four on five.
May 7, 2020
I love discovering new authors. I am pretty good at staying in my comfort zone with authors. Wow! Mark Spivak has created a novel that weaves an intriguing political thriller that will have you hanging on to your seat. This story is pretty fast paced and an interesting read late into the night.
At first I thought the plot was going to have a 9/11 parallel feel to it with an airplane crashing into the Mall of America as a radical Islamic terrorists. It surprised me and was different enough to make it unique. If you lost someone or lived through 9/11 this might be a hard read for you.
Having a political thriller can sometimes drag on with the characters and all the political background in a novel. The story read easily going back and forth between the American government and the radical Islamic terrorists. The characters I felt where very engaging and had a lot of depth to them. I personally like realistic characters in this type of genre. Mr. Spivak did that very well in the story and it didn’t drag with a bunch of political drama. The characters you get a feel of who they are in real life even though the names are changed. That part made me chuckle a bit a few times as you can’t help but have that persons image in your mind with a character.
I’m a huge fan of history and I enjoyed how the book mirrored the Fourth Crusade. It made an interesting twist to the book and something to ponder.
The only thing that I really didn't like about the book was the font size. It was small and I would rather have a thicker book with a tad larger font.
A good read that left me up way past my bedtime.
I received a free copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.
At first I thought the plot was going to have a 9/11 parallel feel to it with an airplane crashing into the Mall of America as a radical Islamic terrorists. It surprised me and was different enough to make it unique. If you lost someone or lived through 9/11 this might be a hard read for you.
Having a political thriller can sometimes drag on with the characters and all the political background in a novel. The story read easily going back and forth between the American government and the radical Islamic terrorists. The characters I felt where very engaging and had a lot of depth to them. I personally like realistic characters in this type of genre. Mr. Spivak did that very well in the story and it didn’t drag with a bunch of political drama. The characters you get a feel of who they are in real life even though the names are changed. That part made me chuckle a bit a few times as you can’t help but have that persons image in your mind with a character.
I’m a huge fan of history and I enjoyed how the book mirrored the Fourth Crusade. It made an interesting twist to the book and something to ponder.
The only thing that I really didn't like about the book was the font size. It was small and I would rather have a thicker book with a tad larger font.
A good read that left me up way past my bedtime.
I received a free copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.
May 13, 2020
If you have even the slightest interest in politics, you will readily recognize the characters in The American Crusade. Thinly veiled, this is the story of the President George W. Bush administration and the power behind the office, namely VP Dick Cheney. Of course in this book they go by the names Robert Hornsby and George Cane respectively. The usual cast of Washington characters is present: former president Bill Hampton, his wife the politically ambitious Bethany Hampton, and a host of others. Even Madeline Albright and Barack Obama have alter-egos.
The story is full of intrigue and scandal as only Washington D.C. could provide. It is an inside look at what we call The Swamp. The names of the terrorist countries have been changed as have the names of Osama bin Laden and Sadam Hussein.
In this book the tragedy that occurs happens on May 1, 2001 when two hijacked airplanes are flown directly into the Mall of America. What happens after that pretty much parallels history.
While I recognize the need to change the names and locations of the guilty and not-so-guilty, I found this book difficult to follow. This reader lived through the period in question so I didn’t have a problem following the story. And while I, like so many other Americans, were shocked and saddened by the events of 2001, I always felt that those who died should be honored.
Unfortunately I found that The American Crusade seems to be a parody of the actual events. I did not find the book entertaining in the least. It is a poor attempt at writing a story for the sake of making money. Perhaps someone else will enjoy it more especially as it seems slanted against one political party when both have dirt on their hands.
The story is full of intrigue and scandal as only Washington D.C. could provide. It is an inside look at what we call The Swamp. The names of the terrorist countries have been changed as have the names of Osama bin Laden and Sadam Hussein.
In this book the tragedy that occurs happens on May 1, 2001 when two hijacked airplanes are flown directly into the Mall of America. What happens after that pretty much parallels history.
While I recognize the need to change the names and locations of the guilty and not-so-guilty, I found this book difficult to follow. This reader lived through the period in question so I didn’t have a problem following the story. And while I, like so many other Americans, were shocked and saddened by the events of 2001, I always felt that those who died should be honored.
Unfortunately I found that The American Crusade seems to be a parody of the actual events. I did not find the book entertaining in the least. It is a poor attempt at writing a story for the sake of making money. Perhaps someone else will enjoy it more especially as it seems slanted against one political party when both have dirt on their hands.
May 5, 2020
Politics is definitely a performance career. What happens, and how the story ends up being told, can vary depending on agendas and who is telling the tale.
The characters in this book come off as quite believable. This is surely in part because they share many characteristics with recognizable politicians in real life. It added another level of engagement to a repeating of the high points from the Fourth Crusades (excerpted in part from 13th century French texts) and the terror attacks of 9/11.
The story is told in turn by the politicians in Washington (as the vice president attempted to manipulate them like puppets) and a young revolutionary growing up in war-torn Sumeristan. It was interesting to read history happening on both sides of the ocean, and how each action taken had so many unintended consequences. The voice of the mother of the young revolutionary was perhaps the most gut-wrenching, as she tried to keep her family safe and out of harm’s way.
Overall, I’d give this book 3 out of 5 stars. Political thrillers definitely have a specific audience, especially when politics becomes such an avoided topic in some circles. This was well-written, and while a broader knowledge of politics would have made this book more relatable and entertaining, it was still understandable for a reader without a strong political background.
https://booksithinkyoushouldread.blog...
The characters in this book come off as quite believable. This is surely in part because they share many characteristics with recognizable politicians in real life. It added another level of engagement to a repeating of the high points from the Fourth Crusades (excerpted in part from 13th century French texts) and the terror attacks of 9/11.
The story is told in turn by the politicians in Washington (as the vice president attempted to manipulate them like puppets) and a young revolutionary growing up in war-torn Sumeristan. It was interesting to read history happening on both sides of the ocean, and how each action taken had so many unintended consequences. The voice of the mother of the young revolutionary was perhaps the most gut-wrenching, as she tried to keep her family safe and out of harm’s way.
Overall, I’d give this book 3 out of 5 stars. Political thrillers definitely have a specific audience, especially when politics becomes such an avoided topic in some circles. This was well-written, and while a broader knowledge of politics would have made this book more relatable and entertaining, it was still understandable for a reader without a strong political background.
https://booksithinkyoushouldread.blog...
August 20, 2020
I want to start off by saying I normally don't read political thrillers but I gave this one a chance because it seemed interesting among had some decent reviews at the time.
This review is over DUE but without further halting this book is a giver. Fast paces entertainment to distract from the world around us. I mean it GAVE and the page turner that is The American Crusade by Mark Spivak was to die for.
I'm honestly impressed. While this book might not make me the newest fan of all political thrillers, I'm glad I picked this one up. It's fast paced, full of thrills, takes some wild risks and is just really cool. I like Spivak's writing style and will probably pick up more of his novels in the future or for gifts to this genre lovers. Also, Spivak's different take on 9/11 was refreshing as I remember that day as if it was yesterday but this happening in the book was interesting.
Chalked full of conspiracy thoughts and ideas but how things are given to you is quite nice. But anyhow this is a lovely book I would enjoy recommending!
Lastly, Thank you TKC publishing for the chance to review! You are wonderful publishing company to work alongside.
This review is over DUE but without further halting this book is a giver. Fast paces entertainment to distract from the world around us. I mean it GAVE and the page turner that is The American Crusade by Mark Spivak was to die for.
I'm honestly impressed. While this book might not make me the newest fan of all political thrillers, I'm glad I picked this one up. It's fast paced, full of thrills, takes some wild risks and is just really cool. I like Spivak's writing style and will probably pick up more of his novels in the future or for gifts to this genre lovers. Also, Spivak's different take on 9/11 was refreshing as I remember that day as if it was yesterday but this happening in the book was interesting.
Chalked full of conspiracy thoughts and ideas but how things are given to you is quite nice. But anyhow this is a lovely book I would enjoy recommending!
Lastly, Thank you TKC publishing for the chance to review! You are wonderful publishing company to work alongside.
November 16, 2020
A "Generic" Dunya Rehash
Even though this was a "free" book, had I known it was a generic rehash of George Bush's 43rd Presidency I would have gladly said, "No!" The characters were renamed as were most of the Middle Eastern countries but the same old left leaning politics were here as in the news 2001-2009. I've never had to force myself to finish book, until now. I didn't even check if there was a sequel because I don't care!
Even though this was a "free" book, had I known it was a generic rehash of George Bush's 43rd Presidency I would have gladly said, "No!" The characters were renamed as were most of the Middle Eastern countries but the same old left leaning politics were here as in the news 2001-2009. I've never had to force myself to finish book, until now. I didn't even check if there was a sequel because I don't care!
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