This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Lion of Babylon
Bethany House (July 1, 2011)
by Davis Bunn
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born and raised in North Carolina, Davis left for Europe at age twenty. There he first completed graduate studies in economics and finance, then began a business career that took him to over forty countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Davis came to faith at age 28, while living in Germany and running an international business advisory group. He started writing two weeks later. Since that moment, writing has remained both a passion and a calling.
Davis wrote for nine years and completed seven books before his first was accepted for publication. During that time, he continued to work full-time in his business career, traveling to two and sometimes three countries every week. His first published book, The Presence, was released in 1990 and became a national bestseller.
Honored with three Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Warning, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt.
A sought-after speaker in the art of writing, Davis serves as Writer In Residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Marc Royce works for the State Department on special assignments, most of them rather routine, until two CIA operatives go missing in Iraq–kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region. Two others also drop out of sight–a high-placed Iraqi civilian and an American woman providing humanitarian aid. Are the disappearances linked? Rumors circulate in a whirl of misinformation.
Marc must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy–from both the Americans and the insurgents. But even more secret than the undercover operation is the underground dialogue taking place between sworn enemies. Will the ultimate Reconciler between ancient enemies, current foes, and fanatical religious factions be heard?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Lion of Babylon, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
I have always enjoyed books by Davis Bunn but once I saw the setting for Lion of Babylon, I wasn’t sure I was really interested in a story about Iraq. But being the mostly dedicated reviewer that I am, I decided to give it a try. I am so glad that I did. As in his previous books, I was quickly drawn into the story and found it difficult to put down. I finally turned the last page at 1:00 a.m. and then could not sleep because I kept thinking about what I had read.
Lion of Babylon is a riveting suspense featuring a covert search for four missing people, both American and Iraqi. Neither government seems to be interested in finding them. In fact they seem to be doing everything they can to hinder the mission. But Marc Royce, Iraqi lawer Sameh, several select American military, and a team of former Iraqi police do not intend for anything to stand in their way.
Not only is Lion of Babylon a page turner but I felt that my understanding of the Iraqi people and their situation was greatly enhanced by reading it. If certain facts illustrated in this story are more than just good fiction, then we have been sold a bill of goods by our government. I am aware that Lion of Babylon is a novel but most good novels have an element of truth and my intuition tells me that this one was well researched and is filled with truth.
There was nothing I didn’t like about this book. I really liked the way Marc and Sameh were portrayed and loved the way the people of Iraq responded to their integrity. Details about the underground church and about references to Jesus in the Koran were of particular interest. My only complaint is that the book ended much too soon. I hope that Mr. Bunn is planning a sequel and that it will be available soon.
