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Damien Meets The Da Vinci Code

The Last Reunion, according to the authors, was inspired by The Exorcist movie of 1973, but the final version of the manuscript was not published until 2006. The story has more in common with The Omen than it does with The Exorcist, and this is not a bad thing. The storyline is basically The Omen in reverse, with a central character playing the good guy instead of the villain as he moves up the chain of command in the U.S. government. The first hundred pages of The Last Reunion are a joy to read! The author had my undivided attention from the moment that sad little newborn is discovered nearly frozen to death on Christmas morning outside the orphanage. The Nusbaums do gut-wrenching poignancy quite well, and the hospital scenes have obviously been composed by someone who has spent many hours on his feet in the operating room. The Last Reunion offers a fulfilling storyline, tight editing, and lovable characters. Even the devil himself is aptly developed into a modern caricature in a plot that could remind one of George Bush’s America. Most of the story is set in the heartland of Indiana, the powerbase of Washington, and the polished sin of New Orleans. Let the morality play begin.

The ridiculous level of success of books such as The Da Vinci Code and others has tainted The Last Reunion, I’m afraid. The most unfortunate element for the reader is that the authors have pandered to modern book sales trends by preaching to the choir of religious fervor instead of developing a really sharp storyline. The opening chapters stretch your heartstrings like a harp, but by the end of the story, the religious harping and increasing use of quoted scripture begins to take the reader down an all too well worn path. The book lacks the careful plot development displayed in The Da Vinci Code, although it matches the best seller in overall writing quality. As it nears its prophesied conclusion, Reunion’s credibility details begin to crumble, and I am not referring to the obvious Faith issues. There are far too many loose ends unquestioned by many characters, both central and ancillary. Once the reader figures out that this is just another End of Days book, unquestioning of the official prophecy, the excitement of mystery wanes. The Last Reunion is an enjoyable read, in spite of its religious brow beating, but it could have been so much more. Preaching to the choir, anyone?

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