From Library Journal" 'So Pennington trades his war years for a ticket to the White House and Engstrom plans the second American Revolution,' Vail said." This is the premise behind Diehl's (Show of Evil, LJ 4/15/95) new Martin Vail novel. Illinois state attorney general Vail is called upon by President Lawrence Pennington to seek a trial case against one of the largest militia outfits in the country. The leader of this outfit, Gen. Joshua Engstrom, just happens to be an old adversary of the president, putting Vail in the middle of a dangerous situation. Vail must also relive the past when unwillingly faced with his nemesis from years ago, serial killer Aaron Stampler, who has now become blind Brother Transgression. The meshing of these storylines is intricate yet easily followed as the tension mounts. Diehl's exciting mystery teaches the reader never to think that it is over?until it is really over. Recommended for all public libraries.-?Stacey Reasor, ITT Technical Inst. Lib.,Tampa, Fla.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.From Kirkus sVeteran thriller writer Diehl pits scrappy Chicago lawyer Martin Vail against Bible-thumping militia maniacs and Vail's old adversary, psychokiller Aaron Stampler, in a mindless plotboiler that never fails to please. Having succeeded fabulously as a defense attorney (Primal Fear, 1993) and then as a district attorney (Show of Evil, 1995), crusading, street-smart Vail is now promoted to the lofty, politically turbulent office of Illinois State Attorney General. Between passionate trysts with his previous courtroom opponent, Jane Venable, Vail can't keep his paws (speaking of same) off corrupt politicians. Having committed his too-good-to-be-billable talents to the public weal, he effortlessly sends a pack of scalawags to jail using the RICO statute. He then finds himself tapped by US Attorney General Margaret Castaigne to draw up a RICO indictment against General Joshua Engstrom, a right-wing militia commander whose wacko religious order, the Sanctuary, may have been behind a terrorist attack on an Army convoy in Montana. Vail rapidly learns of Engstrom's hatred for his former Army buddy Lawrence Pennington, now President of the United States. Before you can say Ruby Ridge all over again, Diehl tosses in Arnold Stampler, Vail's homicidal former client and nemesis, as a fundamentalist preacher who feigns blindness and spouts marginally comprehensible hate sermons on Engstrom's radio station. From here on, Diehl's forced and foolish story hurtles on at full throttle, never stopping to question itself or the preposterousness of its plot. Vail staggers from one contrived cliffhanger to another until almost everyone is blown up except Stampler and Vail himself, who takes a bullet through his heart but has enough chutzpa to insult the President and thumb his nose at a federal judgeship. What a guy! Fizzy male wish-fulfillment that bulges with Clancyesque histrionics, frothing fundamentalist foment, and more than you want to know about hate groups and RICO indictments. (Literary Guild main selection/Mystery Guild selection; author tour) -- Copyright 1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. "Primal Fear was a brilliant thriller that most readers considered to be William Diehl's best novel and impossible to top. Reign in Hell, shockingly, is even better". -- BookPage what is the #1 best selling book of all time Reign in Hell
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not as good as the others, BUT....By AshesI just couldn't get into this one, with all the Government conspiracies, Christian Militias, and Adam Stampler back from the fall that would have killed anyone else! I guess I didn't give it enough credit, or am not smart enough to get the true meaning (if there is one). But I did like the fact that Val and Venable were still an item and enjoy the other books so I couldn't give it too bad of a rating....0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Amazing Author Super Fast ShippingBy CustomerLoved it so much I ended up buying the other books in the series. Wish there were more.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy judeGREAT BOOK SUPER WRITER.