Alfred Dunkel looked down on the assembled concertgoers with contempt. As men and women, young and old, gathered to see the show, Alfred fired off a fusillade that left eight dead and more injured. Lives were cut short, while the lives of survivors were forever affected. Jimmy lost Alice, the love of his life, and Ariel's sister Patty was left paralyzed from her wounds. Barratt managed to save his daughter, Gabby, but suffered near-fatal wounds. In the fallout of the massacre, Ariel begins to stage rallies to speak out against gun violence, while Jimmy begins a downward spiral that nearly leads him to murder. Barratt undertakes a political campaign that will take him all the way to the White House. However, the continual mass shootings lead Barratt to contemplate extreme measures with lasting implications.

A senseless mass shooting and its after effects form the crux of this dramatic and gripping narrative. The story revolves around the lives left in the wake of a random gunman's actions and how the survivors choose to move forward. While the heart of the story is told from the perspectives of the protagonists Jimmy, Ariel, and Barratt, the most chilling perspective is that of Alfred Dunkel and other violent actors. Interspersed between chapters are headlines noting the various acts of gun violence that have plagued the United States over recent years, which function as a poignant social commentary on the endless cycle of gun-related violence. This book evokes a range of emotions over its 400+ pages, from sadness and anger to determination. It is a powerful read from start to finish.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

Return to USR Home