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Product: Book
ISBN-10: 0-345-39506-9
ISBN-13: 9780345395061
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Country:
Year: July 29, 1998
Size: 11.18 x 17.02 x 2.79cm
Number of pages: 480
Weight: 113gr
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-10: 0-345-39506-9
ISBN-13: 9780345395061
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Country:
Year: July 29, 1998
Size: 11.18 x 17.02 x 2.79cm
Number of pages: 480
Weight: 113gr
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Product Description
William Diehl stunned readers with Primal Fear and Show of Evil, the national bestsellers featuring Chicago lawyer Martin Vail. Now, in his gripping new novel of suspense, Diehl enters uncharted territory, pushing Vail and the legal system he represents to the brink of destruction. After an ultra-right-wing militia seizes truckloads of highly volatile weapons, the president turns to Illinois attorney general Martin Vail. His job: nail the terrorists in their tracks. Vail plunges into his new, near-impossible mission, one that soon explodes into a personal nightmare as his most chilling adversary, Aaron Stampler, returns--seemingly from the dead--to exact a vengeance that could bring Vail to his knees. …
William Diehl stunned readers with Primal Fear and Show of Evil, the national bestsellers featuring Chicago lawyer Martin Vail. Now, in his gripping new novel of suspense, Diehl enters uncharted territory, pushing Vail and the legal system he represents to the brink of destruction. After an ultra-right-wing militia seizes truckloads of highly volatile weapons, the president turns to Illinois attorney general Martin Vail. His job: nail the terrorists in their tracks. Vail plunges into his new, near-impossible mission, one that soon explodes into a personal nightmare as his most chilling adversary, Aaron Stampler, returns--seemingly from the dead--to exact a vengeance that could bring Vail to his knees. …
reviews
Big players play for national security 
Though slow to start whilst setting the (complex) scene, Diehl brings us an intricate legal thriller. Whilst comparisons with Grisham could be made, this is no courtroom-based tale of »small-time lawyer takes on big bad law firm / pharmaceutical company / tobacco baron and wins«. Here the players are all big time: Vail, master prosecutor; a right wing religious fanatic leading a militia of 1000s; and the President of the United States himself. Vail, reknowned trial lawyer who has brought down massive companies and politicos before, is challenged by the Big Man himself to find a legal case against a religious-cult-leader before he starts a war of anarchy against the United States, and before the President comes up for re-election. With intimate knowledge of RICO legislation and all the backing of the FBI, Vail is set a task somewhat akin to taking the Mafia down for fraud. In the meantime, a hostile army is being trained in guerilla warfare; banks and arms shipments are being raided; anonymous assassins are tracking key informants, witnesses, and Vail and his loved ones. Apparently, the key players have featured in previous Diehl books. They bring their past with them, and for fans, Vail is the key player in this plot, but this book just as comfortably stands alone as a thriller in its own right. The race is on for Vail and his team of »Wild Ones« against the militia and against the President's agenda.
Though slow to start whilst setting the (complex) scene, Diehl brings us an intricate legal thriller. Whilst comparisons with Grisham could be made, this is no courtroom-based tale of »small-time lawyer takes on big bad law firm / pharmaceutical company / tobacco baron and wins«. Here the players are all big time: Vail, master prosecutor; a right wing religious fanatic leading a militia of 1000s; and the President of the United States himself. Vail, reknowned trial lawyer who has brought down massive companies and politicos before, is challenged by the Big Man himself to find a legal case against a religious-cult-leader before he starts a war of anarchy against the United States, and before the President comes up for re-election. With intimate knowledge of RICO legislation and all the backing of the FBI, Vail is set a task somewhat akin to taking the Mafia down for fraud. In the meantime, a hostile army is being trained in guerilla warfare; banks and arms shipments are being raided; anonymous assassins are tracking key informants, witnesses, and Vail and his loved ones. Apparently, the key players have featured in previous Diehl books. They bring their past with them, and for fans, Vail is the key player in this plot, but this book just as comfortably stands alone as a thriller in its own right. The race is on for Vail and his team of »Wild Ones« against the militia and against the President's agenda.
Very creepy … 
Does he ever die? Great book. Not for you if you have a weak stomach.
Does he ever die? Great book. Not for you if you have a weak stomach.
Poor sequel but a solid political thriller!
No doubt in my mind at all! »Primal Fear« and »Show of Evil« hold down two places in the pantheon of the finest, most frightening thrillers ever written. William Diehl should be proud that, as a starring villain, Aaron Stampler can hold his evil head high in a terrifying literary rogue's gallery that would include the likes of Hannibal Lecter, Voldemort, Lord Sauron, Count Fosco, Bill Sikes and Moriarty. But, as a sequel trying to stand up to that kind of advance billing, »Reign in Hell« falls flat on its face. »Reign in Hell« is actually a very competently written political thriller but, for some reason, presumably some added suspense and chills, Diehl felt compelled to shoehorn a resurrected Aaron Stampler into the plot. And, sadly, it just doesn't fly! Stampler's appearance is artificial, clumsy, forced, predictable and entirely lacking in the kind of knee-knocking, teeth-chattering, bone-deep shivers that readers of the first two novels will have been looking for. So if we set this rather pitiful effort around Aaron Stampler aside, what are we left with? Martin Vail, former Chicago prosecuting attorney, has been appointed by the president to a pro tem posting as Assistant Attorney General. His near impossible mission under an unbelievably tight deadline is to put together a racketeering case under the RICO statutes against a number of ultra-right wing militia groups. Far from your run-of-the-mill collection of loudmouth skinheads, these groups with adherents now numbering well into the thousands, have recently stolen several truckloads of high-powered weapons, robbed banks to finance their efforts and clearly ratcheted their mobilization efforts into high gear towards an ultimate declaration of war against the US government. President Pennington is determined to bring these militia groups to heel through the courts and, at all costs, wants to avoid a face to face encounter such as the one that embarrassed the government in Waco, Texas, with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. »Reign in Hell« has got a lot to say for itself – plenty of great political discussion; some fairly heavy characterization and criticism of the US political and religious right-wing agendas; some truly exciting slam-bam military action in the final confrontation as the army and marines confront the militia group, completely boxed in inside their Montana mountain enclave; and, a satisfying climax that leaves a hint of suspense to come together with a predictably sour taste about the overall politics of the event. Too bad, Diehl decided to clutter it up with Aaron Stampler. At least, Stampler lives on … so perhaps his next appearance will be back up to the standard of terror that we didn't get here! Paul Weiss
No doubt in my mind at all! »Primal Fear« and »Show of Evil« hold down two places in the pantheon of the finest, most frightening thrillers ever written. William Diehl should be proud that, as a starring villain, Aaron Stampler can hold his evil head high in a terrifying literary rogue's gallery that would include the likes of Hannibal Lecter, Voldemort, Lord Sauron, Count Fosco, Bill Sikes and Moriarty. But, as a sequel trying to stand up to that kind of advance billing, »Reign in Hell« falls flat on its face. »Reign in Hell« is actually a very competently written political thriller but, for some reason, presumably some added suspense and chills, Diehl felt compelled to shoehorn a resurrected Aaron Stampler into the plot. And, sadly, it just doesn't fly! Stampler's appearance is artificial, clumsy, forced, predictable and entirely lacking in the kind of knee-knocking, teeth-chattering, bone-deep shivers that readers of the first two novels will have been looking for. So if we set this rather pitiful effort around Aaron Stampler aside, what are we left with? Martin Vail, former Chicago prosecuting attorney, has been appointed by the president to a pro tem posting as Assistant Attorney General. His near impossible mission under an unbelievably tight deadline is to put together a racketeering case under the RICO statutes against a number of ultra-right wing militia groups. Far from your run-of-the-mill collection of loudmouth skinheads, these groups with adherents now numbering well into the thousands, have recently stolen several truckloads of high-powered weapons, robbed banks to finance their efforts and clearly ratcheted their mobilization efforts into high gear towards an ultimate declaration of war against the US government. President Pennington is determined to bring these militia groups to heel through the courts and, at all costs, wants to avoid a face to face encounter such as the one that embarrassed the government in Waco, Texas, with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. »Reign in Hell« has got a lot to say for itself – plenty of great political discussion; some fairly heavy characterization and criticism of the US political and religious right-wing agendas; some truly exciting slam-bam military action in the final confrontation as the army and marines confront the militia group, completely boxed in inside their Montana mountain enclave; and, a satisfying climax that leaves a hint of suspense to come together with a predictably sour taste about the overall politics of the event. Too bad, Diehl decided to clutter it up with Aaron Stampler. At least, Stampler lives on … so perhaps his next appearance will be back up to the standard of terror that we didn't get here! Paul Weiss
REIGN IN HECK
Apparently, Aaron Stampler is a big deal serial killer who escaped from Martin Vail (the greatest prosecutor on earth) in another Diehl novel. Well, I didn't know that when I picked this novel up. Unfortunately, this novel suffers from lack of in depth characterization. Many characters are colorful, but few have much to do. For those that were wondering, Stampler is masquerading as a hate-spitting, blind preacher, and killed in the final pages of this mess. The rest of the book is about Martin Vail's pursuit of the Sanctuary, a God and country loving, Montana militia group, who have killed, robbed, and stolen military weaponry. Vail is approached by the US Attorney General and begged to take on a RICO case against the Sanctuary, as a favor to the President himself. Unfortunately, presidential politics get in the way and the army is called out to kill them all. It's unclear if Diehl is making an antigovernment statement to protest Ruby Ridge and Waco, or manifest a call to arms against dangerous militias. In a way, he backs himself into a corner and seems to do a bit of both, but neither well. When Vail gets warrants to search Sanctuary properties, Diehl gives a taste of how tough it is to be in the government's position sometimes. Interesting characters built up but never utilized to their potential are General Engstrom, President Pennington, and AG Marge Castaigne. None are essential to the plot as it is written. But we are sure reminded how great Vail is.
Apparently, Aaron Stampler is a big deal serial killer who escaped from Martin Vail (the greatest prosecutor on earth) in another Diehl novel. Well, I didn't know that when I picked this novel up. Unfortunately, this novel suffers from lack of in depth characterization. Many characters are colorful, but few have much to do. For those that were wondering, Stampler is masquerading as a hate-spitting, blind preacher, and killed in the final pages of this mess. The rest of the book is about Martin Vail's pursuit of the Sanctuary, a God and country loving, Montana militia group, who have killed, robbed, and stolen military weaponry. Vail is approached by the US Attorney General and begged to take on a RICO case against the Sanctuary, as a favor to the President himself. Unfortunately, presidential politics get in the way and the army is called out to kill them all. It's unclear if Diehl is making an antigovernment statement to protest Ruby Ridge and Waco, or manifest a call to arms against dangerous militias. In a way, he backs himself into a corner and seems to do a bit of both, but neither well. When Vail gets warrants to search Sanctuary properties, Diehl gives a taste of how tough it is to be in the government's position sometimes. Interesting characters built up but never utilized to their potential are General Engstrom, President Pennington, and AG Marge Castaigne. None are essential to the plot as it is written. But we are sure reminded how great Vail is.
What happened to suspence? 
Was very excited to finally get to read the third book in the Martin Vail series and was very disapoited in the long story, which seemed to go nowhere (Except exaclty where you thought it would) and surprisingly enough did. Glad I got it used.
Was very excited to finally get to read the third book in the Martin Vail series and was very disapoited in the long story, which seemed to go nowhere (Except exaclty where you thought it would) and surprisingly enough did. Glad I got it used.
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