Blue Ink Review

Stephen L. Bruneau’s new thriller, the fourth to feature protagonist Dimase Augustin, revolves around a potentially explosive government coverup.

Dimase – who over the course of the series has transitioned from homicide detective to top-secret government security contractor – finds an outing with his girlfriend interrupted by a call to action from the Federal Witness Protection Program. Two years ago (in a previous series entry),President Jonathan Peters and his wife were ostensibly killed when their helicopter exploded.In fact, their deaths were faked to save the country from scandal, and they have been living under new identities ever since. But now they have disappeared.

It doesn’t take Dimase long to realize that Chen Pi, the head of Chinese intelligence, is behind the kidnapping. As Dimase and his team race to rescue the former first couple, Pi and his henchmen work to brainwash Peters and force him to reveal his true identity, thus destroying the credibility of the United States.

Operation Resurrection is an undeniable page-turner. The action and intrigue are unrelenting,and readers will be eager to see just how Dimase foils Pi’s plot. While some elements feel a bit improbable (particularly the notion that the first couple’s deaths could have been so thoroughly covered up), this is hardly unusual for popular thrillers and unlikely to be a dealbreaker for the novel’s target audience.

On the other hand, more character development could enrich the book. Readers learn some facts about Dimase’s and other characters’ backgrounds, but not much about their emotional landscapes. As the novel’s page count is fairly slim, there’s room for character-building without major slowing of the story’s momentum.

Nonetheless, Operation Resurrection is a solid thriller. Although readers should probably begin with the first book in the series, this installment will likely delight fans of the genre.

Kirkus Review

This fourth installment of a thriller series tells a story full of political intrigue and tactical maneuvering.

Former United States President Jonathan Peters and his wife, Laura, presumed dead but living in witness protection, vanish from their Wyoming homestead. Dimase Augustin, a private security contractor, is called in to investigate. Dimase discovers signs of abduction, including tire tracks and a cryptic symbol that Jonathan left behind (“Looks like a cave drawing”). Simultaneously, hikers report two mutilated bodies in the nearby woods, which mysteriously disappear before authorities arrive. Dimase suspects foul play, possibly involving foreign actors. The narrative then shifts to Jonathan, held captive by Chinese agents—led by the manipulative Hua Sun—who aim to coerce him into a public confession denouncing the U.S. government. Sun isolates and tortures Jonathan, threatening Laura to break his resolve. Dimase and his team plan a covert operation to abduct Chen Pi, a senior Chinese intelligence officer, at a memorial service in New York City, in an attempt to exchange the spy for Jonathan. While in custody, Pi is interrogated and reveals valuable intelligence about Sun; the handler in charge of Jonathan’s psychological manipulation; and China’s broader strategy involving the ex-president, which aims to exploit his abduction for propaganda and political leverage. After inspecting encrypted communications provided by Pi, the team deduces that Jonathan may have been moved to a facility in Iowa. Dimase’s team orchestrates a daring rescue, infiltrating the facility and neutralizing the guards. In the climactic showdown,Dimase confronts Sun to determine the geopolitical fate of America. Overall, Bruneau succeeds in creating scenes with great tension, as when Dimase’s romantic partner, Police Chief Katie Fallon, interacts with Sun as he and his team pose as employees of a film production company. This fast-paced story offers plenty of action scenes that will keep readers engaged. But the novel relies on stereotypes. Specifically, Sun and the other Chinese operatives lack nuance and fit the predictable mold of evil foreign villains. Their motivations, while plausible, could have been more complex. In addition, the thriller sometimes awkwardly invokes SF concepts, such as “3D-printed skin.” Nonetheless, this compact story delivers riveting moments that readers will enjoy.

A concise, action-packed tale with high stakes, a captivating premise, and stock villains.