Alexandria, VA – Review: Patriots Circle
Publisher: Alendron Publishing
Author: John Wasowicz
Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor
Zebra Rating–5 Stripes
“I have no idea! It’s more like: Where does Mo take me?” Wasowicz responded when I asked him about further Mo Katz character development. “Sometimes I feel I’m a scribe memorializing his exploits, sort of like James Boswell chronicling the life of Samuel Johnson. All kidding aside, it’s hard to say where Mo is headed in the next book.” Katz is the main protagonist in each of the author’s eight Old Town Alexandria-centric novels.
As Fourth of July celebrations loom, an angry, malicious mob of malcontents assembles along the George Washington Parkway, running adjacent to the Potomac River from Old Town Alexandria to the circle at Mount Vernon. Reports circulate that the mob plans to assassinate a sitting left-wing U.S. Senator set to deliver the July 4 speech during the semi-quincentennial celebration. As reports of the attempted assassination grow, patriots take strategic points to stop the mob. Meanwhile, Katz is investigating the mysterious death of John “Jack” Smith (alias The Jack of Hearts) at River Pointe, a historic mansion along the parkway. Smith, a former CIA deep agent, was just released from prison after serving time for the murder of his ex-wife. Katz helped put Smith behind bars, but now must determine if Smith’s death was murder or suicide. Mo and his entourage discover a connection between Smith’s death and the parkway assaults.
Wasowicz’s narration excels throughout Patriot’s Circle, making understanding the storyline and characters easily digestible; whether it’s during Mo’s and Mai’s philosophical arguments or with general topics like the political trajectory of the U.S. The author’s careful and well-calculated use of Mo and Abbey Snow’s adopted daughter Katie Fortune is brilliant on many levels. “It was a salute to the fearlessness of youth as little Katie played a Superwoman-like character. Once her courage manifested itself, she was a natural to confront the villain at River Pointe and to save the life of Felicity Princely,” the author added.
There are moral issues in the body of this work. Beware of false prophets: people who appear as the most fervent and altruistic but may be quite dangerous. Teamwork wins, and sometimes it is due to the ingenuity of a disparate group that somehow coalesces. Violence is never an option. Yes, differences are natural, but their resolution must be peaceful. Watch out for master manipulators. People are basically good and sometimes too trusting; in other words, custom-made victims. Build bridges rather than tearing them down; find ways to come together.
John Adam Wasowicz has practiced law for over 35 years. And although his books have detailed scenes, he has not been inside a courtroom in over two decades. John and his bride enjoy vacationing with his adult sons and their significant others in North Carolina and California. His other personal enjoyment is a quiet stroll with his wife along the Mount Vernon Trail, where many of the scenes in Patriots Circle take place. John enjoys evenings reading and writing, and on weekends he generally signs books at stores and performs home lawn care in the summer.
Patriots Circle is a smart, engaging thriller that pulls readers into the plot quickly and keeps them guessing. The story has a great pace, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. An extremely fun read that’s hard to put down! Zebra rating: 5 Stripes.
