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Ashes of the Red Heifer
Book by Baker, Shannon
- GenresThriller
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Shannon Baker
33 books289 followersShannon Baker writes mysteries about strong women in dangerous situations. Her books are set in the iconic landscapes of the American West, from the Colorado Rockies to the Nebraska prairies, to the deserts of southern Arizona. Baker spent 20 years in the Nebraska Sandhills, where cattle outnumber people by more than 50:1, and too few years living on Colorado’s front range. Her dark suspense, The Desert Behind Me, is a 2019 Winner of the New Mexico/Arizona Book Award.
Seconds before quitting writing forever and taking up competitive drinking, Shannon was voted Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer’s 2014 Writer of the Year and, buoyed with that confidence, continued to write, earning another RMFW Writer of the Year nod in 2017-18. Shannon makes her home in Tucson where she enjoys cocktails by the pool, breathtaking sunsets, a crazy Weimaraner, and killing people (in the pages of her books).
A lover of the outdoors, she can be found backpacking in the Rockies, traipsing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, skiing mountains and plains, kayaking lakes, river running, hiking, cycling, and scuba diving whenever she gets the chance. Arizona sunsets notwithstanding, Baker is, and always will be, a Nebraska Husker, heartbreaking as the last two decades have been. Go Big Red.
Seconds before quitting writing forever and taking up competitive drinking, Shannon was voted Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer’s 2014 Writer of the Year and, buoyed with that confidence, continued to write, earning another RMFW Writer of the Year nod in 2017-18. Shannon makes her home in Tucson where she enjoys cocktails by the pool, breathtaking sunsets, a crazy Weimaraner, and killing people (in the pages of her books).
A lover of the outdoors, she can be found backpacking in the Rockies, traipsing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, skiing mountains and plains, kayaking lakes, river running, hiking, cycling, and scuba diving whenever she gets the chance. Arizona sunsets notwithstanding, Baker is, and always will be, a Nebraska Husker, heartbreaking as the last two decades have been. Go Big Red.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 3, 2010
When I got the chance to read this book through Book Lovers Inc. I jumped at it. Being Jewish, I thought it would be really interesting to read this religious thriller written by an "outsider" of Judaism, Muslim and Catholicism.
Annie Grant is a scientist working non-stop to discover the cure to a bovine disease and save cattle from being decimated. She is working with her assistant and best friend, who is Muslim and the representative of the company who is behind the money for the research, who is Jewish.
They are all working at a Kibbutz in Israel when they hear the siren announcing there is an air attack going on and then suddenly the barn where they are working at, gets blown off. From there on they need to move, get beaten on, threatened, kidnapped and its none stop action.
Annie is persecuted by both a Muslim and a Jewish faction and each one wants something from her. She is coerced into doing the Jewish's faction bidding and finds her self in the middle of fanatics. Fearing for her life and that of her best friend, she had to do what they ask her to until she finds a way to escape.
I really liked Annie as a character. I enjoyed that she didn't quite have an affiliation to any of the religions, but her dismissive attitude towards other people's beliefs bothered me a bit at times, but not too much. I had no problem in relating with her as a person and found it very easy to root for her throughout the novel. The action in this book was great and it keep me riveted from beginning to end.
Now, I have a bone to pick with something in the novel. I actually agree with a lot of how fanaticism was portraited in this book and I have to say that I hate Fanaticism. It is my belief that everything that is in excess, it's too much and usually does not end well. I believe in balance. However, even though I am not by any stretch an expert in Judaism and its mythology, it was very hard to believe in a Jewish suicide bomber.
One might argue that fanaticism has no limits, but these same fanatics are supposed to be faithful to their religions. In Judaism, suicide is abhorred, a person that has committed suicided cannot even be buried in a regular cemetery. In some countries they are even buried as indigents outside of a Jewish cemetery. So, to believe that a Jewish fanatic would be willing to kill himself even it was for "the good of the fight".
That aside, all in all this novel was a great read. Fast paced, compelling and extremely well written. If you are up for a great Thriller, i totally recommend this book!
Annie Grant is a scientist working non-stop to discover the cure to a bovine disease and save cattle from being decimated. She is working with her assistant and best friend, who is Muslim and the representative of the company who is behind the money for the research, who is Jewish.
They are all working at a Kibbutz in Israel when they hear the siren announcing there is an air attack going on and then suddenly the barn where they are working at, gets blown off. From there on they need to move, get beaten on, threatened, kidnapped and its none stop action.
Annie is persecuted by both a Muslim and a Jewish faction and each one wants something from her. She is coerced into doing the Jewish's faction bidding and finds her self in the middle of fanatics. Fearing for her life and that of her best friend, she had to do what they ask her to until she finds a way to escape.
I really liked Annie as a character. I enjoyed that she didn't quite have an affiliation to any of the religions, but her dismissive attitude towards other people's beliefs bothered me a bit at times, but not too much. I had no problem in relating with her as a person and found it very easy to root for her throughout the novel. The action in this book was great and it keep me riveted from beginning to end.
Now, I have a bone to pick with something in the novel. I actually agree with a lot of how fanaticism was portraited in this book and I have to say that I hate Fanaticism. It is my belief that everything that is in excess, it's too much and usually does not end well. I believe in balance. However, even though I am not by any stretch an expert in Judaism and its mythology, it was very hard to believe in a Jewish suicide bomber.
One might argue that fanaticism has no limits, but these same fanatics are supposed to be faithful to their religions. In Judaism, suicide is abhorred, a person that has committed suicided cannot even be buried in a regular cemetery. In some countries they are even buried as indigents outside of a Jewish cemetery. So, to believe that a Jewish fanatic would be willing to kill himself even it was for "the good of the fight".
That aside, all in all this novel was a great read. Fast paced, compelling and extremely well written. If you are up for a great Thriller, i totally recommend this book!
April 4, 2010
Veterinarian Annie Grant grew up on a cattle ranch in Nebraska, working closely with her father, whose religiosity eventually caused a break in their relationship. Because of this, Annie shuns all forms of religion and has not spoken to her family for years. Working for a pharmaceutical company in Israel, she thinks she’s found the cure for a deadly bovine disease which has crossed over to humans. But before she can verify this, her lab is bombed and Annie, her best friend and lab partner Hassan, and her boss David (whom she is attracted to) are forced to flee to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, Annie and Hassan are kidnapped by a Jewish corporation threatening Hassan’s life if she doesn’t find the cure for the virus and subsequently fulfill a Jewish prophecy by producing a perfect red heifer. Annie is caught between fanatics on all sides: the Jewish corporation willing to murder for the red heifer, the Muslim Silim who are intent on finding Annie before she can produce the red heifer, and her father, unwilling to help her or forgive her. She faces danger at every turn as she tries to find a way to save bovine and human populations without giving in to the wishes of the fanatics.
From the bombing at the beginning of the book to the last page, this action-packed thriller moves at a fast pace with suspense around every corner. Annie is an appealing character: a compassionate woman loyal to her friends who loves deeply yet is torn about her own beliefs. The grief she feels over the rift with her father is nicely and realistically portrayed. The author’s exceptional visuals draw the reader into a world of warring religions set in the desert sands of the Middle East. Action scenes, characterization, and plot excel in this debut thriller.
From the bombing at the beginning of the book to the last page, this action-packed thriller moves at a fast pace with suspense around every corner. Annie is an appealing character: a compassionate woman loyal to her friends who loves deeply yet is torn about her own beliefs. The grief she feels over the rift with her father is nicely and realistically portrayed. The author’s exceptional visuals draw the reader into a world of warring religions set in the desert sands of the Middle East. Action scenes, characterization, and plot excel in this debut thriller.
January 30, 2010
In this vivid religious thriller Shannon Baker took me from Israel to Nebraska’s cattle-country and back again, and I relished every step of the journey. Her main character, Annie Grant, a research veterinarian, is exactly the type of woman I enjoy getting to know. Loyal. Strong. Smart. Willing to act.
My favorite kind of book entertains me, draws me into the emotions of the characters, and makes me think. Ashes of the Red Heifer did all of that. From fascinating history lessons to characters that leap off the page, I only wish it could have lasted longer!
My favorite kind of book entertains me, draws me into the emotions of the characters, and makes me think. Ashes of the Red Heifer did all of that. From fascinating history lessons to characters that leap off the page, I only wish it could have lasted longer!
February 24, 2010
What a fast-moving, timely thriller! The scheme is unique and intriguing. Non-stop action and precarious situations in each chapter left me eager to find out what happened next. The excellent use of description and creative verbs made me believe I was right there in the story whether it was Israel or a ranch in the sand hills of Nebraska.
Shannon's seeming knowledge of religious fanaticism, experience with the cattle and the battles among the combative Muslims, radical Zionists and blissful Christians makes me wonder – fantastic research or real-life experience?
Shannon's seeming knowledge of religious fanaticism, experience with the cattle and the battles among the combative Muslims, radical Zionists and blissful Christians makes me wonder – fantastic research or real-life experience?
March 9, 2015
One of my resolutions this year was to try to read more work by local authors ... after an unfavorable false start with another title, I found Baker's book. While it was easy to read with short chapters and simple narration, I found myself skimming the story rather than really engaging in Dr. Grant's unfathomable series of events as they unfolded in Israel and Nebraska. Maybe I have a short attention span for conspiracy or am jaded by religious strife of late; for me, this book never found its desired color and its ashy residue is all that will remain in my recollection.
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January 20, 2011The author of this title is an RMFW member. For that reason, we do not rate these selections. We’re kind of biased. However, it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t have them on our shelves. And you’ll see this message on any other titles that come from our members. We do hope that you’ll consider reading it, though. ;)
Gusto Dave, Publicity Chair for RMFW
Gusto Dave, Publicity Chair for RMFW
April 1, 2010
Really enjoyed this -- learned a lot and still was on the, as they say, edge of my seat.
August 3, 2010
Couldn't finish it...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews