The Breakthrough by Jerry B. Jenkins - BOOK REVIEW

Title:  The Breakthrough
Author:  Jerry B. Jenkins
Publisher:   Tyndale House
Release Date:  September 1,  2012
Hardcover, 350 pages
ISBN 10:    1414309090
ISBN 13:  9781414309095
The Book Depository / Amazon

Goodreads description:

As the youngest bureau chief and head of the Chicago Police Department's Major Case Squad, Boone Drake seems to have it all under control. Only those closest to him know that just a few short years ago, he lost everything that mattered to him in a tragic accident. After years of healing, his life is back on track. He recently married a wonderful woman named Haeley, adopted her son, bought a beautiful home, and rediscovered his faith. But Boone can't fight the feeling that something is about to go terribly wrong . . . again.

When an all-too-personal case takes Boone to Beijing at a time when Haeley can least afford to let him go, Boone is forced to make a difficult choice. There he becomes enmeshed in a dangerous human-trafficking ring that takes him through the famed Hutong District's narrow streets, alleys, and hovels. Teamed with a former Liberation Army officer, Boone has one chance to pull off an elaborate sting and rescue a young boy before he disappears forever.

My Take: 

Synopsis:  Boone Drake is the youngest bureau chief in the history of the Chicago PD.

Boone now has a new wife (Haeley) and a stepson named Max.  Boone's life is finally settled, and his faith is steadfast, but he seems to continually peer around the corner, waiting for something bad to happen.  He has already experienced more tragedy than most, and, with his faith sorely tested, I can almost understand how and why he finds himself unable to simply accept the good turn his life has taken.

Trouble once again strikes close to home, and Boone is drawn to China in the hopes of untangling one small boy from a band of human traffickers.

Opinion:  "The Breakthrough" is the last in the Precinct 11 trilogy.  I somehow missed "The Betrayal" (the second in the series), but DID read and review "The Brotherhood", the opening book of the series.   I wish I HAD read the second book, because I definitely felt its lack while I was reading this novel.  It would have been nice to have more background written into this one, especially since many of us find ourselves picking up a title out-of-sequence, and knowing what happened before is always helpful.  In my case, knowing what happened before usually makes me want to go out and buy the previous title(s).

I enjoyed the action in this one once Boone was in China, but felt that the China adventure was ended rather abruptly.

I was slightly disappointed in this one - other than the action scenes, it felt rather flat and one-dimensional.  For a reader new to the series, the characters would also likely fall flat, as we don't get a rounded look at them in this novel.  I can't be certain, but I think that my experience with "The Brotherhood" is likely the only thing that kept me reading "The Breakthrough".

Writing:  3 out of 5 stars

Plot:  3 out of 5 stars

Characters:  3 out of 5 stars

Reading Immersion:   3.5 out 5 stars

BOOK RATING:  3.25 out of 5 stars

Sensitive Reader:  No problems with this one

Book Clubs:  Iffy; I always think that the best books for book clubs are ones that provide lines of discussion not just about the book itself, but about themes within the book as well.  Some of the themes that I think this book might open up:  How does a Christian maintain a relationship with a non-Christian without stepping away from the tenets of  their faith?  The age-old: Why DOES God allow bad things to happen to good people?  Maybe even a discussion about human trafficking.

BLOGGERS:  Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review. 

Read an excerpt

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository, through the publisher's website,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

Disclosure:  I  received a  complimentary ARC of this title from the author to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.