Danny Blaine’s return to Tegucigalpa in Chuck Fair’s Power is a gripping odyssey. Twenty-five years ago, Blaine was in Tegucigalpa as a young ex-marine roped into the CIA’s covert games. Now, his mission is more personal and noble: rescuing Violate Chavera, a dauntless freedom fighter, echoing a debt of life saved years ago. Chavera’s imprisonment by the tyrannical Daniel Ortiz, who rules Nicaragua with ruthless control, sets the stage for a thrilling narrative. Despite the violent history of Nicaragua, a place Blain once vowed never to return to, he finds himself compelled to face his past and answer a call of duty and honor.

Power is more than a contemporary thriller; it’s a journey into the shadows of history. Author Chuck Fair intertwines Nicaragua’s turbulent political past with a narrative of personal redemption. It’s a part of history often neglected in American discourse, yet Fair addresses it with more depth and finesse.

Told through Blaine’s perspective, Power feels like a revelation and a reckoning. Blaine, a character shaped by warfare, confronts his past actions in a country scarred by conflict. I was captivated by his internal struggle – a soldier trained for destruction but seeking to forge a different path as he nears sixty. Fair doesn’t shy away from the harsh truths of war and the lasting impact of a soldier’s life. His storytelling is raw and unflinching, revealing the unending cycle of conflict and the dichotomy of creation and destruction inherent in a soldier’s skills. This narrative choice, while challenging, makes Power a profoundly impactful read. It’s a book that doesn’t just tell a story; it imparts lessons about war, duty, and the complexities of human nature.

Power is a riveting story that combines historical insight with personal introspection. It’s a book that should be on the reading list of anyone interested in understanding the lingering ghosts of war and the possibility of personal redemption amidst geopolitical turmoil.

Pages: 295