The El Paso Books

The very best thing about El Paso Sunset (as well as its predecessor, El Paso Sunrise) is that it’s fiction. The concept of this story shows a very dark side of humanity, where the thirst for money and power is insatiable. But do not let that intimidate you. That is only one side of the story. There is another side filled with unlikely heroes, as well as a fair amount of Christian prose.

Although not specifically categorized as such, I consider El Paso Sunset a political thriller. However, instead of politicians, there are lawyers, a judge, and the military. But the politics are plentiful.

This is the second book of two. It continues the story of Steven Vandorol, and El Paso attorney and special prosecutor. It is Steven’s responsibility to rework an indictment by an El Paso County chief district judge. Originally, the indictment went against the drug-running Alvarado family – father Alberto and his son, Ricardo, as well as the local power company and a few other defendants. The new indictment, however, includes some federal politicians at the highest levels.

Because of this new indictment, a contract is taken out for Steven to be killed, as well as other members of the prosecution team. In a concerted effort to accomplish this, an unusual band of Russians, Chinese military, and Muslim extremists is dispatched to finish the job.

“The Good Guys” also includes attorney Vanessa Carson – Steven’s love interest, the El Paso police chief, and a few others, including Rommel, Steven’s Great Dane. I used the term The Good Guys because at the very beginning of the novel, the author includes a Cast of Character, subdivided into The Good Guys and (any guesses?) The Bad Guys. I especially appreciate when an author does this in a story that contains more than a handful of important characters.

“He was serene and peaceful as he thought of one of his favorite sayings: the farther backward you may look … the farther forward you are likely to see.”

I can not make any observations about the first book, El Paso Sunrise, because I didn’t read it. I can say about the second book, however, that it is very well written. The author goes into ample detail with the characters to give the reader a good understanding of what’s going on inside the minds and hearts of the key players. Further, the editing is also very good.

The story contains a fair amount of violence, but I think the author handled it very nicely. There was nothing gratuitous about the description.

I thought the pacing was a bit uneven at times, but when the author hit the right groove, it was hard to put the book down. There did not seem to be a deliberate climb into the climax. Rather, the climax occurred suddenly. I suspect the author did that for a shock-and-awe effect.

The author did well with description. He hit all the senses. Further, he managed to set the scene without using superfluous description. I think a good example of this is the description the author used when two main characters walked into a restaurant:

“The couple took in marvelous palm trees, marble columns, and thick carpets—all plush pink. Sparkling white linens were on the tables, all altars to crystal glasses, sterling silver settings, and gold vases, with live, luscious flowers of every color of the spectrum. Tuxedoed waiters and bus boys in starched shirts, black bow ties, skin-tight black slacks, and black cummerbunds scurried about. The aromas, especially of chile peppers and garlic, flooded the senses.”

The story takes place between 2016 and 2020. One of the things I did not really care for was how the author used the actual names of politicians in office at that time, saying that this specific politician did or said this, and that specific politician did or said that. Two examples of these politicians include Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Barack Obama. I enjoy when authors use historical figures to add realism to a story, but that was not the case here.

I also found it interesting that the author included the actual (fictional) indictment at the end of the book, as well as the Order Issuing Warrants to Arrest Defendants. The author is an attorney, and besides these legal documents at the end of the book, the story is dotted with legalese. However, any reasonable reader would have no trouble understanding everything.

If you’re in the mood for a political thriller with a fair amount of action, this would be a story that you’d definitely enjoy.