My rating: 4/5
Author Joel C. Rosenberg delivers yet another successful political thriller, that is sure to keep your pulse racing throughout the progression of the story. The second installment to the Marcus Ryker series, The Persian Gamble is a fast-paced and enthralling novel that will keep you intrigued until the very last page.
The Persian Gamble has an integral setting, with a modern time-period, and a plot that contains several international locations including Russia, Iran, North Korea, and the United States. The story picks up where the first book of the series, The Kremlin Conspiracy, left off as we continue to follow the protagonist of the novel Marcus Ryker, a former Secret Service member, in his quest to save the fate of the free world amidst the increasing threat of a nuclear war of catastrophic proportions. The U.S. government commissions him to join the Central Intelligence Agency as an international operative to halt the impending onslaught of this lethal war. Previous characters in the first book reappear in this novel, some of whom further help him in his task. The complicated mission tests his vigor, faith, and self-discipline. Most importantly, the assignment uncovers what years of grief buried, a renewed hope for his future and a revitalization of his faith in the mighty Lord.
Considered within the Christian fiction genre of literature, the plot does not extensively include Christian faith content. However, that did not take away from the spiritual objective that the author superbly included within the plot of the main character. Marcus Ryker is depicted as a Christian man with flaws. He is described as a multi-metal decorated Marine veteran, who has been celebrated and honored for his bravery, saved countless lives, and served admirably as a Secret Service agent. However, he battles bouts of debilitating grief and prideful self-reliance.
I appreciated the author’s inclusion of Marcus’ imperfect faith within the storyline. It tells of what many believers experience during their walk with Christ, a struggle between self-sufficiency and complete submission to the will, wisdom, and strength of the Lord. Marcus’s struggle with his faith is best described in the book in the following passage.
“Marcus desperately wanted to be a man who kept and treasured God’s Word. He wanted not just to serve God but to please him. He longed for the favor of God, especially now. But he was frustrated with himself of late. He wasn’t spending much time in prayer and spending even less in the Word” (Rosenberg, 284).
The subsequent events in the novel revive his faith and humble his onlook on life. With some inclusion of biblical scriptures in the story, I was satisfied with the Christian faith element of the storyline. Ultimately, I highly recommend this book.
Check it out on Amazon! #CommissionsEarned
