ROLLING THUNDER is the first book in a series of 3 (so far) by Christian author Mark Mynheir. John Russell is a top detective in the statewide Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He and his partner have been assigned a case that is getting statewide attention and demanding action by the governor. A 10-year old boy named Dylan Jacobs went into the custody of the state when he was four and hasn't been heard from since. There are no records tracking him through the system. The governor is outraged that something like this could happen. Also, Frank Moore is an old man and dying. He is also a convicted murder and being released from prison. He has just on thing left to do before he dies, and that is to see John Russell.

Of the two story lines, the search for Dylan Jacobs is definitely more interesting. John and Tim follow a few clues and interview criminals. They seem to have an idea on who might be behind Dylan's disappearance, but can't come up with the evidence. In the second story line, Frank Moore shows up at John Russell's house, and John almost kills him. It seems Frank is his real father and John watched him murder his mother when he was seven. John has never forgiven Frank and never wants to.

For a suspense novel, this book had little suspense. I blame that on Mynheir revealing John's horrible childhood so early in the novel. There is never a question of what happened. Every time the novel switches to Frank's request to get John's forgiveness, the story comes to a halt. The novel felt too preachy and covered too much of the character's spiritual and prayer lives. This might not seem like a fair criticism for a Christian suspense novel, so let phrase it another way. The story line with Frank Moore had no supense to it, and it needed to in a suspense novel.

I haven't read the other two books in the series, but I hope Mynheir focuses a little more on the twists and turns of police work. He obiously knows a lot about the subject. His bio tells you that. He's also seen first hand the suffering and abuse that kids face everyday. I know he wanted to convey that in this novel. I also hope Mynheir changes his writing style in future novels. In scene after scene, the point of view shifted from character to character, making it hard to follow the action.

This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time and for some odd reason I hadn't picked it up. I was very surprised that a real-life police officer could write such a good book (not that cops are dopes or anything. I was arrested by some real smart ones in my younger days). It's very refreshing to have a Christian Fiction book actually contain Christian characters that live their lives after Christ. I'm getting a bit tired of secular books being sold under the disguise of biblical novels.
The storyline and writing get a 3 star rating but the message gets 5 stars (which I rarely give). The power of forgiveness and the importance of following Christ are very strong and even though I found some of the characters to be a bit weaker then I thought they should be they came out with great maturity in the end. Jesus was glorified. To actually say what the book is about is tough because there isn't really a main plot but two intersecting stories going on at once. Neither are subplots.
Although there's no bad language and Christ is lifted up the story does contain some uncomfortable scenes that if this book was made into a movie you would not want to see. For me (and the main character, John) crimes against children are the worst. You may want to know that before reading this book. But don't let it stop you, this book is what Christian fiction is all about. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

1 Star = I've been robbed!
2 Stars = Why'd I finish it?
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

FDLE agent John Russell is assigned the case of a 10 year old boy missing from state care. All the while a murderer is on the agent's trail, Russell's own father. Can they face off without killing each other? Can John come to terms with a broken childhood that haunts him in adulthood every time thunder clouds cover the sky?

I had the opportunity to exchange emails with author Mark Mynheir last year as the members of a blog alliance I'm part of toured his book, The Void. What I found was a genuine, caring guy who loves to write. It was hard to believe he's also an officer of the law. Something tells me though, if he says, 'Assume the position', you'll find the nearest wall and do so. One way or another. :-)

Mynheir writes an intriguing story that kept me turning pages late until the end. His prose is tight and gripping, left only to the bare essentials of the story. I cared about the fractured soul named John Russell. One of the things that has never left me is Russell's vulnerability. Here's this tough, rugged cop who does what it takes to get the bad guys and yet he coaches his son's sports team and has a fear of thunderstorms that he can't shake, not since childhood. This last thing was such a unique character trait to me. We authors are always looking for that little something that will make our characters and stories unforgettable. Mark, you did it here, buddy.

I can't wait to read more from this badge wearing novelist. I pray there are many more stories where this one came from.

"Rolling Thunder" is a great novel about a policeman and his past, family, and associates. I found the characters to be very authentic and genuine. I found the story engaging. The descriptions are excellent, and the conclusion was very satisfying. This is a great novel.

It's been awhile since I've read a book that hooked me as much as this one did. I honestly couldn't put it down. All the more amazing is the realization that it's a debut novel! Well done, Mr. Mynheir! Such a heart-felt story on so many different levels, this compelling story grabs the reader for a fast-paced ride that ultimately hits a homerun. I can't wait for the next book in the series. And now I hear there's a movie deal in the works?! That's makes it a homerun on Mynheir's first time at bat! Impressive!