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The prologue
of Deadline takes listeners to Golden Branch, Oregon, 1976.
It's The Rangers of Righteousness against the US Marshalls,
Sherriff's deputies, FBI and ATF agents. Carl Wingert and
his wife are the only Rangers to escape the shootout. FBI
agent Gary Headly is the character who stands out in this
gun battle and with reason. In present day, Headly gets news
about Wingert. An aged Headly is going through the official
process of retiring when he asks his godson, Scott Dawson,
for a favor.
Scott Dawson is a journalist in his thirties. He's just returned
from Afghanistan. He carries the effects of war in his mind
and on his sleeve. Dawson has a new boss at the news magazine.
She wants his "vacation" cut short to cover a hot
air balloon piece. Dawson almost agrees until he visits his
godparents.
Dawson's
godfather, Agent Headly, wants him to fly to Georgia and cover
the trial involving Wingert's son. Wingert had a son named
Jeremy Wesson who was raised by someone else, grew up to become
a Marine and war vet and is now dead. His widow is testifying
at the murder trial. When Dawson meets Jeremy's widow, Amelia
Nolan, everything changes and now everyone -past and present-
is at risk.
Deadline is a story of heroes and villains. The main
characters, as well as the listeners, are transported from
the present to the past to uncover the truth and set free
the victims of a coldhearted maniac.
Dawson and Amelia are the main characters and it was nice
to see their characters develop throughout the storyline.
But for me, the secondary characters, Wingrent and his wife,
Flora Stimel, stole the show. I felt like I was listening
to the story of Wingert, Jeremey, and Flora. Flora's diary
is heartbreaking. And the final showdown involving Dawson
just blew me away.
Stephen Lang narrates Deadline. Lang is a TV, stage
and film actor. He's known for Avatar and Fox's adventure
drama series Terra Nova. He also narrates titles by Stephen
King, Joe Hill, Vince Flynn, Scott Turow, Tim Green, Dean
Koontz and others.
Lang delivers both a broken and a healing Dawson. Readers
will hear the narration change as Dawson gradually comes to
grips with his future. But it's Flora's meek and regretful
voice that resonates throughout the storyline.
Fair
warning: Graphic violence and sex.
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