From Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews:
5 Stars!
“…Levine’s prose is solid as ever, and his narrative substantially developed from his first book. The continuation of the plot is flawless and maintains the superb multi layered aspect of the first one.
All in all, Beyond Redemption is a commendable sequel from Levine. This is an intelligent, challenging, sophisticated drama thriller backed by realistic political games being played in our time today. I thoroughly enjoyed it and my respect for Levine’s writing definitely has gone up a notch. A rewarding read indeed.” ~Lit Amri, Reviewer
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/beyond-redemption
Following on the heels of Levine’s first suspense-thriller novel, Eye of the Redeemer, comes the sequel Beyond Redemption
In Eye of the Redeemer, self-described “average joe” Ray Silver is in the middle of a midlife crisis and a personal quest to justify his life when he finds himself on a sixty-year-old naval relic sailing for the Philippines—an accidental key player in a covert CIA operation. After he is suddenly thrust into the spotlight as a national hero, he tries to balance a budding relationship with finding out what really happened to his long-lost brother, Frank, who may or may not have been with him in the Philippine jungles of Luzon.
In Beyond Redemption, Ray's search for Frank continues, even as his new wife encourages him to surrender to the simplicity of their Hawaiian family life. But his innocent search proves deadly and he's not the only one interested in the outcome—especially when he enlists the help of a young investigative reporter. The more they dig, the more red flags arise—at the CIA, NSA, and with powerful San Francisco Congresswoman Francine Manetti, who’s already preoccupied with Frank and a package of documents he supposedly had. Ray soon learns that Manetti, in her quest to become the first female Speaker of the House, is a force to be reckoned with—a painful lesson learned through congressional hearings and underhanded dealings alike. Can Ray keep his family from becoming collateral damage? Is Frank Silver alive? Is Manetti willing to do anything to keep those documents from stalling her drive to become the most powerful woman in America?
5 STARS! “ In this sequel to Eye of the Redeemer, author Richard I Levine offers seamless continuity in both the plot and writing…a dynamic and multifaceted plot…Levine’s narrative is solid and effective on numerous fronts…characters are well developed and engaging. As the plot untangles through swift but smooth chapter transitions, the layers of the characters’ complex personalities and motivations reveal themselves and leaves the reader guessing just who is conspiring against whom.”
~Indie Reader Reviews
EXCERPT:
Washington, D.C. June 2004
Ray Silver sat with his attorney at the rectangular table strategically placed in the center of the room. He poured himself a glass of water from the clear glass pitcher that sat to the side of the microphone that lay before him. His attorney leaned over and uttered a few words meant to ease the tension but Ray was lost in a mixture of emotions. After his official debriefing in February 2003 he was certain that that chapter of his life was closed. He had been assured by Brigadier General Griffin Kelley—retired U.S. Army and former high-ranking member of the NSA—that it was highly unlikely a congressional sub-committee would ever be formed to look into the events that unfolded in the Philippine Sea that previous month. If there was going to be any kind of investigation it would probably take a few years to get off the ground, still he was confident it would never happen. But that was when the Republicans held the house and the chairman of the newly formed House Committee on Homeland Security was Republican Representative David Leslie Reynolds from Washington State.
Eastridge Heights, Washington—Ray’s former home—sat smack in the middle of a somewhat conservative district and he was assured that Reynolds had been a supporter.
He had difficulty forgetting the incident but the last thing he expected—almost 18 months later—was a phone call from the General giving him the heads up that with a new majority in the house he would be officially summoned within a few weeks.
There were nine congressional representatives milling around the semi-circular mahogany dais; five Democrats and four Republicans. The way Ray saw it, friend and foe would be split along party lines. But he also knew that in Washington, D.C., “friends” could easily become foes and vice versa. “It all depended upon your value-add,” he would be told.
Staffers and interns rushed about placing fresh note pads, the latest memos, and transcribed stenographers’ notes—from earlier testimonies—at the assigned seat of the representative they worked for. Earlier in the morning he had been a little nervous and too intimidated by the entire process to take note, but with his butterflies now gone, Ray looked around the room extremely impressed. In spite of his disappointment that he wouldn’t be testifying in some imaginary grand room in the Capitol building, the Homeland Security Committee Room in the Cannon Office Building had just as much grandeur. Hand-carved into the panels of the mahogany rostrum were intricate bold eagles with talons gripping bundles of sharpened spears. Above him, three ornate chandeliers were evenly spaced along the coffered vaulted ceilings that somehow reminded him of ancient Greece or Rome. The two-toned pastel painted yellow on the walls were made all the more luxurious by the thick gold-colored draperies.
“Pretty impressive place” he said to Paul Swanson—his attorney.
“You should see the stuff that the public never sees,” Swanson responded just under his breath.
