Reprisal

Zehra Henning

by Colin Nelson, Colin T. Nelson

What if terrorists used American children as weapons of mass destruction? It's already started with the disappearance of the Somali boys from Minnesota. Small pox was eradicated from the planet in 1979. For future research, two repositories of the deadly virus were set up in Atlanta, Georgia and Vector, Russia. When an Islamic terrorist group steals samples of the virus from Russia, they need human hosts to carry the disease and infect defenseless Americans. Release of the virus is about to explode until a criminal defense lawyer gets involved. She becomes entangled in a race against time and the terrorists to save hundreds of children and the community.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Terrorism

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

When Colin was 10 years old, he spent Christmas with his grandma who gave him a copy of "The Hound of the Baskervilles." As he read in on a cold night listening to distant trains passing, he became addicted to mysteries. His dream to write a suspense novel himself came true with the publication of his first book, "Reprisal" in 2010, followed by two more: "Fallout" and "Flashover." In over 30 years of work as a prosecutor and Public Defender, he has gathered stories of both humor and tragedy about the criminal world. He includes many of these stories in his books.

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good concept, poor execution.
Luckily it was a rather quick read, but it's still 6 hours of my life I'll never get back.

The author spends a great deal of time proving that he knows the Minneapolis metro, and introducing characters. The part of the story that actually moves his plot of an attempted smallpox pandemic is given cursory treatment.

Although he thanks two editors, neither did a thorough job. The book is full of comma errors and misplaced modifiers. No one seems to have noticed that the disease is correctly called "Smallpox." One word. "Small pox" is a descriptive term.

I'd give it zero stars if I could, but that registers as no review.

[Desiree · Rating 1 out of 5]

doesn't even deserve any star. I did not like the writing at all. I didn't like anything about this book.

[Chris Norbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

A local topic (Somali teens being recruited in MN to travel to the Mideast and fight with El Shabab) combined with another timely topic--spreading a pandemic--makes for lots of twists, turns, and sublots in this fast-paced thriller.

[G!oria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feel a bit like I've been through this again and again.

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first page of the prologue, this is a scary novel. It is also provocative, intriguing and it raises questions that remain in the mind after the final chapter closes. The other stand-out aspect of REPRISAL is that it presents people as multi-dimensional. Not all heathens are enemies. The novel calls on readers to consider and reconsider one of the founding principles of the United States, that we judge people individually, not by dress, or skin color or religious affiliation, or by country of origin, but by demonstrated actions and words. Makes it difficult for Law Enforcement, doesn’t it?
That’s part of the premise of the novel. The author doesn’t preach, doesn’t pontificate, rather he reminds us of our heritage through the thoughts and deeds of an American-born Muslim woman, a public defendant attorney for Hennepin County in Minnesota. She’s tasked with defending a Muslim man, accused of murder, who rejects out of hand the idea of a woman attorney.
Throughout the sometimes overly-detailed work of preparing the case, Zehra Hassan must defend not only the murder charge, but the man’s anger and hatred toward her and what he views as a corruption of the teachings of the Qur’an. But as the case progresses, Zehra begins to discover the outlines of a far darker, far more dangerous terrorist plot.
The novel is generally well-written, although a more precise editorial eye would have fixed a few awkward phrases and improved clarity. The book evokes well the widely varying attitudes of people toward those with whom they have few contacts and little understanding. A fine cast of characters with differing attitudes and roles contribute to the pace and the rhythm. The plots are well-organized and satisfactorily concluded. An enjoyable thought-provoking novel of crime fiction I am pleased to recommend. I also note that the author and this writer are acquainted.

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book, it wasn't laden with criminology, medical or scientific terms but rather focused on the interactions of the characters in the story.

Reasonably realistic and well researched the plot is on par with Richard Preston's The Hot Zone & The Cobra Event for fear - if the potential for human induced viral epidemic terrifies you these books are probably just going to keep you awake at night, but they do nonetheless make for a good story.

The writing could have used a bit more pizazz in parts, but overall it conveyed the message well enough and wasn't overly flowery or blunt.

I also give points to the writer for not forcing his own views, whatever they may be, on to the reader; a few books I've read lately have been like this and I find it unappealing. Thankfully here the writer simply provides the information on the characters and plays out their interactions it is up to the reader to judge.

[Kal Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I found Reprisal to be intriguing, compelling and really quite eye opening.
Before reading Reprisal, my understanding of the Somali community and Muslim practices were limited -- this book shed a light and an expanse of understanding that left me with a hunger to know more.
The characters were richly woven and very well developed, I began to care about them- particularly the key protagonist 'Zehra Hassan.' I wanted to meet her, befriend her, warn her.
The suspense in this book is intense. I can't wait to see what this gifted writer will come up with next!

Kal Sanders, glass artist, voracious reader, closet writer

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting and exciting book to read because it could have been taken from the headlines of modern day America. The plot revolves around terrorists involved in a biological attack against the USA using a smallpox virus. The plot is believable, the characters well defined, the interactions between competing law enforcement agencies, the police procedures/investigative techniques adequate, and the action in the book is all worth your time to read.

[Linda Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book exploring the possibility of a bioterrist attack on the US. The story takes place in MN, using the real life situation of missing Somali boys.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not until after book club!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story line. Got a little preachy about the Islamic faith.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent thriller read - very interesting to the end!