Book Review: "Crimson Phoenix" By John Gilstrap

Shocking! Riveting! Disturbing! Powerful! Deeply Emotional & Completely Engaging! Armageddon style Apocalyptic Thriller!

As a fan of John Gilstrap's I've come to expect a certain level of engagement and precision but this went above and beyond even my own expectations for this man who never quit his day job.

As a writer, he's worn the hat of many trades, yet writing is where he belongs as this work will clearly make a topic for discussion all around the world.

The topic is brutal. Wars, riots, looting, mobs, gangs, and lynchings. Flogging, slapping, beatings, and more.

Those who are sensitive may want to be cautious in proceeding but my intention is not to alarm but inform. It's a rough and tumble situation with shoot-outs, rabbit hunting (for the animal lovers), and thievery. Stealing wasn't uncommon nor was murder.

The U.S. is on the verge of war. No worries, we have Victoria on our side (West Virginia -House of Representatives). Just one thing, she's a mother of three boys, and when you mention Crimson Phoenix, she knows that means WAR! She gathers her belongings, preps her family, and gets moving to the nearest bunker.

It's in these travels that this novel really takes hold and refuses to sit down. The inner fighting, the outward social acceptances, the grilling of the characters morals and values, the fragile state of the world and the traps and pitballs become evident as we witness with out own eyes the value of a life.

"The world went to war last night." It never was the same...

"The forest had fallen silent" so too did those defending their land, their opportunities, their threats to their own salvation.

Kyle and Caine Foster were two identical twin boys that were crafted with care and built with tough love. They are only 16 years old when they experience the Life of Hard Knocks.
It's the sentencing of one man - Brandon Lee- for the death of a trucker named Ryan Hamilton that was totally debilitating and chillingly destructive. The sentencing was one of Not Guilty but with Not Innocent as a tag line. While the evidence may not have proved his guilt it did showcase that he's responsible and should be held accountable.

That accountability came with a huge price to pay and it was the father of the boy Mr. Jeff Grubson who seems to want to take matters a bit further.

It was difficult to process, harder to comprehend, but history sadly has been written, and it's unfortunate that not only have many endured such horrific acts but that sadly it continues to this day.

When I first began this ARC I wasn't fully prepared for all it entailed as it left me gasping in horror, and wondering how and why this could be the end result, yet, it was so vividly clear that this is America.

In the end, the jobs weren't what to me was the most important nor was the acceptance of peers or even family.

The way in which others were inhumanely treated is something that's a take-away that resides in memory long after the last page was read.

Thank you to John Gilstrap, Kensington Books (Pre-Approval NetGalley), NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This is one I won't surely forget.

I hope you find this review well and I hope it entices you to pick this one up as it was a keeper!