Absolutely fantastic character development, even more impressive action sequences, and an overall solid plot. I really enjoyed this book.

When Danya Biton, a former Mossad assassin, and her new friend Toby Riddle attend a peaceful protest on Alcatraz Island in support of Native American rights, they have no idea what is headed their way. An extremist Native American militia group captures the island and takes the two hundred-plus visitors, including the peaceful protestors, hostage. And they don’t plan for a happy ending. They’re demanding the return of all indigenous people’s land taken when treaties were broken or they will lay waste to San Francisco Bay area.

It falls to Danya to work out how to prevent disaster, but at what cost? She’s in a pretty tough spot, hunted by adversaries but also by her own former agency. But she can’t abandon her friend or the other hostages to what could be a tragic fate.

Mr. Edlund takes the opportunity in Judgment at Alcatraz to both educate and entertain the reader. In this thriller, not everyone is willing to peacefully educate those who may not know what has happened in the past and what they want done to remedy the situation in the present. Some are willing to sacrifice whomever they need to – innocent or not – to get to their end goal.

The plight and poverty of Native American’s is well documented. When the United States leaves a property that is taken from the natives, the land is to revert to them. The island of Alcatraz is one such example.

Danya is an ex-Mossad operative who now works for the highest bidder. She is well trained, very physically fit, and an expert marksman. A gun store owner and his nephew are way out of their league. The delivery goes sideways and Danya saves their lives.

Leonard White Cloud and Sacheen Crow Dog are Native Americans who have lived in poverty their whole lives. All of their ancestral lands have been taken by the whites and promises of reparations have never been fulfilled. De-commissioned military bases and other abandoned U.S. Government properties lie idle.

It is time for the indigenous people to be compensated. Occupying Alcatraz might be a good start to that recompense. However, the U.S. Park service has turned the property into a tourist destination. No longer being used as a prison it should by rights go back to the natives that it was stolen from, but getting the property returned by peaceful means seems out of the question.

Dave Edlund has developed a very engaging tale of broken promises and reasons for the poverty indigenous people live in. This entire book is a good example of governmental promises broken and population suppression. 5 stars - CE Williams

In Judgment at Alcatraz, Dave Edlund skillfully crafts a compelling and scary realistic story, mixing plot setup with ruthless action sequences and pulling it all together via excellent character development…all as a vehicle for social commentary on the reprehensible treatment of indigenous people in this country for hundreds of years. Which makes this not only a strong thriller, but the perfect time for this book with the heightened awareness and public discourse on social issues for underrepresented populations. Readers can expect to be entertained, educated, and forced to reckon with the reality of what indigenous communities face every day.

Sound too heavy for you? Trust me, it’s not. This book has strong Michael Bay’s The Rock vibes due to utilizing Alcatraz and poisonous materials as central components to the plot. Though instead of renowned chemical weapons specialist Nicholas Cage fighting terrorists to save the day, we have Mossad-trained mercenary Danya Biton. And I think I can speak for everyone when I say thank God for that! I’ll take a badass Israeli female merc any day over Nick Cage. Especially one with such a lethal skillset and a high moral standard/ethical code who won’t stop bringing the fight to the enemy.

Judgment at Alcatraz is suspenseful, brutal and enlightening. A book you need to read with an open heart and open mind. If you do, I promise you’ll be better off for the experience. Plus, it’s flat out a good thriller! Read it now and thank me later.