A thought provoking thriller revolving around a series of terrorist attacks on Christmas morning.
"No one was on the street, and the lights were off on all the houses we walked by. When we got to the car, Abdul popped the trunk and told me to throw her in there."
The events of September 11, 2001, forever altered how Americans viewed terrorism. New organizations such as the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration quickly emerged to deal with any future threats, and over the following years stories would occasionally pop up about plots that had been expertly foiled by the nation's enhanced security measures. But are the steps taken to protect the populace really good enough? Are there some holes in the country's defenses that can still be exploited? Hearne's novel offers a thought-provoking and chilling look at how a group of terrorists could make 9/11 seem like simply a warm-up act for a deadly concert of attacks.
16-year-old Sheeva is a young woman in love. She dreams of one day marrying her boyfriend, Jason, and enjoying their children together. However, after her brother Abdul and his friends savagely beat and almost kill Jason, she finds herself fleeing Chicago to escape not only her sadistic brother's clutches but also her father's. Reunited with her boyfriend in Texas, she works hard to make a home for them there. But when Jason discovers from some stolen papers that her father is behind a plot to attack nuclear power plants as well as other targets, and that going to the authorities with them could risk Jason being tried as a sex offender since she is a minor, she can only watch as her dreams of a peaceful life begin to turn into a nightmare.
Written as a series of interviews with various participants after the events take place, the book propels the reader into an emotionally gripping and suspenseful tale that feels almost terrifyingly real. Poignant, disturbing, and superbly written, Hearne's tale deserves shelf space beside some of the best thrillers on the market.
Reviewed by John E. Roper
Recommended by The US Review of Books
Excerpt
The baseball bat struck him hard across the left shoulder, knocking him to the sidewalk. The second blow rendered him unconscious and matted his hair with blood. Then there was a shuffle of feet as three young men circled the prostrate figure to finish the attack. Moments later, a flurry of thuds and cracks sounded as the three attackers released their anger on the boy on the ground. Paralyzed in fear, Sheeva watched her boyfriend’s body bounce with each blow. A piercing shriek erupted from her throat, replacing the sickening sounds of the beating. It lasted only seconds before it was stifled by her brother’s backhand across her face. The blow alleviated her paralysis, and she found herself running madly away from the attack. She heard her brother yell, “You whore, you’ll get yours when you get home.”
Professional Reviews
Intensely spellbinding read
To say this was a chilling read is a huge understatement. I was immediately immersed in the story from page one. The beginning of the story was set in Chicago which is a short drive from my home making it all the more real for me.
The characters are very well crafted- some in a chilling manner. For example, in the beginning as Sheeva tells us the story from her viewpoint, I was trying hard to swallow the alarm that was rising in my throat as I read her recollection of the events, told in first person.
The story picks up speed and like a runaway freight train you know disaster is right around the corner.
There is no doubt that the author spent a considerable amount of time researching various incidents, people and history. After 9/11 our nation went from a quiet relaxed state to a heightened awareness. The author paints a very realistic portrait of terror attacks on a US nuclear facility.
This was one of the most intensely spellbinding books that I’ve read in a long time.
5 Stars - Beverly Clark
A very smart thriller!
The Christmas Special is that rarest of thrillers: it's not only a great read, full of action, but it's also a very smart, unsparing book. The story covers a Christmas terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant and the long-term ramifications of the attack. It's told from rotating points of view, alternating between the terrorists themselves, a 16-year-old Muslim girl who is connected to the attack, the families affected by the attack, the lawyer representing the terrorists and more. Rather than distracting, the narrative structure gives the author the chance to fully explore the attacks in every dimension. It's perfectly suited for the age we live in, when events aren't confined to one narrative on one channel, when everything is immediately fractured and fed through the opinion mill. And the attack itself? It's absolutely chilling! It's clear Hearn has done extensive research on the possibility of a terrorist attack on U.S. nuclear power facilities and it's totally accurate to say this book changed my opinion on nuclear safety--the ease with which these terrorists bring down a nuclear plant is terrifying. I highly recommend The Christmas Special to anyone who likes fast-paced, smart thrillers. You guaranteed will not be disappointed.
5 Stars - Jon
Epic and downright scary!
The Christmas Special is unlike any book I’ve ever read before. It’s an epic story filled with heart-pounding details that would make any Tom Clancy novel jealous on every level. The cover is deceiving, but that is not what drew me to the book it was of course the story. However when I saw the cover is deceptive, it is reflective of the events that come from within the story.
I purposely refrain from giving you a retrospective of the plot as this book is too good to have any of them spoiled in advance. I’d like to focus on the brilliant style in which David Hearne writes. Quite often I had to remind myself this book is a fictional story, because it’s written in such a style you can’t help but feel everything before is factual.
I personally experienced many emotions while reading this book, because as an American, I can at the heart identify with the events that transpire. I give this book 5 stars because, I felt the author never held back and allowed the story to be told in the cold-blooded fashion for which I believe it was meant to be. I hope this book remains fiction and never becomes a reality, for what lies inside these pages, are too terrifying to contemplate.
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