DEATH FOLLOWED US HOME

In Rioux’s military thriller, a tightknit group of U.S. Army soldiers learn that one of their own has been shot dead—not on foreign soil, but in Kentucky—and they vow to retaliate.

As the story begins, a team of soldiers engage in fierce fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Emmanuel “Manny” Muñoz’s composure, bravery, and quick decisions keep the mission alive, and also show he’s ”a badass and an outstanding combat leader.” A year later, back at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Manny is promoted to first sergeant, thrilling the platoon. The day after the announcement, Manny and his young son Manuelito stop for cash at an ATM, and masked robbers from a nearby truck shoot and kill them both. Det. Jennifer Beck is put on the case. Because a child and a veteran were gunned down, the police are eager to catch those responsible—and so are members of Manny’s platoon. One of his men, Specialist DeMarcus Brown, locates the truck shown on the video feed from near the ATM. He and Staff Sgt. Thomas “Sully” Sullivan, along with four other men from the platoon, decide to avenge their friend’s death by whatever means necessary: “Considering the criminal acts that they were about to commit and the possible shitstorm that might explode…if they screwed things up, they felt surprisingly ready.” Adding to that storm is Sully and Beck’s mutual attraction for each other. Rioux packs the pages with action and myriad emotions—disbelief, sadness, fear, love, hatred, loyalty, and hope. As the narrative explores the many ways that actions have consequences, the writing is fluid, the conversations are believable, and the wartime imagery is frightening and powerful. The author served in the military, and his expertise regarding the armed forces is evident throughout the book in passages such as “This was not the 1950s; women now accounted for over 15 percent of US Army personnel and served in the combat arms.” The footnotes explaining various military terms can be distracting at times, however.

A smart, scary, and satisfying novel.