The
Hunters
by Tom Young is a mystery novel for airplane enthusiasts.
It takes readers back to the days when pilots had to use many
of their own skills and instincts to fly. Because he served
in the Air National Guard he incorporates this knowledge into
the stories.
Young noted to blackfive.net, “ I have had a life long
interest in the DC-3. I got the idea for this story when I
was personally approached in the 1990s to fly a relief mission.
It did not involve a DC-3, but rather my favorite plane, a
C-130 Hercules. Unfortunately, this project never got off
the ground. I wondered if this group had settled for a less
expensive plane, the DC-3, maybe it could have been realized.”
This is more of a Colombo type mystery where readers know
almost from the very beginning the outcome of the struggle.
What makes the pages turn is trying to figure out how the
protagonists will escape. The story begins with Colonel Michael
Parson, convinced by his good friend Sophia Gold, into using
his leave from the Air Force to fly relief supplies into Somalia
in an antique DC-3 cargo plane. They come up against an al-Shabaab
leader, The Sheikh, who recruits young boys to become Jihadists
for food and violently kills anyone working with the aid group.
Young noted to blackfive.net, “Parsons has grown over
the years. In rank he has been promoted from Major to Colonel
and has become a commander. He sees himself as wanting to
use his skills to make the world a better place.”
The theme of the book is something people have struggled with
throughout history; does one good deed overcome all the other
horrific acts? Although Young attempted to draw sympathy for
the teenage Jihadist Hussein it fell short. His actions were
not just violent but horrifying be-headings. How could someone
become redeemable, and should they, after committing these
acts?
The Hunters has a very violent plot so anyone squeamish
might have trouble with the storyline. Others will find it
a fast-paced, action packed plot.
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