It began with the kidnapping of a college professor during a lecture attended by Lt. Col. Rene Garcia and her father. Twenty-four hours later, the professor’s mutilated body is discovered hanging from a cross.
Meanwhile, one hundred miles to the South, Homicide Lieutenant Pamela Scott investigates the suspicious deaths of four ministers.
Garcia discovers her computers and phones are being hacked by people threatening to kill her father. These events appear to be related and a product of domestic terrorism.
Can Garcia’s team infiltrate the shadowy group in time to avoid a possible mass casualty event?
Could Atlantis be real? Scientists have discovered deposits of nanodiamonds, microspheres, and high-temperature glass. These findings point toward a comet exploding in Canada around 12,800 years ago, bringing a golden period on our planet to an end. Have recent discoveries by scientists inflamed Christian zealots by shifting popular focus from traditional creation beliefs such as humankind’s origin in the Garden of Eden? Read the story within the story of Toxic Pulpit.
Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers’ Favorite –
Lieutenant Colonel Rene Garcia was in Austin, Texas, attending a lecture by archaeology professor Jeremy Kelce at the University of Texas when all hell broke loose. It started with the sudden disappearance of the professor after a short break. Soon, Garcia learns Kelce has been abducted and frantically works with local authorities to trace him. However, twenty-four hours later, his mutilated body is found hanging from a cross. In Arlington, Virginia, Homicide Detective Pamela Scott of the Fairfax County Police Department is investigating the mysterious deaths of four church ministers. In both cases, the leads point to the Community Church, an extremist organization of Christian identity. As her investigation gets entangled with the church, Garcia finds herself treading a dangerous path that puts her life and those of her loved ones on the line. The Community Church is planning an upcoming big event that may end with mass casualties. Can Garcia and her team stop the looming disaster? Find out in Don Helin’s Toxic Pulpit.
Running the storyline on a multi-perspective timeline, Helin weaves an intriguing plot anchored on a tale of murder, espionage, politics, conspiracies, religion, cults, extremists, and more. The vivid depictions brought the scenes to life. It felt like I was in the middle of all the action and drama, closely following as it unfolded in Austin and Arlington. Helin hooked me and kept me turning page after page, eager to discover more. The sharp conversations, charged with tension and urgency, gave insight into the cast’s conflicts. The use of introspection allowed me to experience the cast’s emotions. Juxtaposing their complex traits made it easy to connect with them. Lovers of conspiracy and terrorist thrillers will find Don Helin’s Toxic Pulpit an enthralling read.