Architects of Armageddon

By: John L. Flynn

Narrated by: Kevin Chambers

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Someone is hellbent on world destruction....

Inspector Kate Dawson is called to investigate a mass murder, a call that will change her life, and possibly the whole world - forever.

Certain parents have been directed to put their children to death. They believe they are the Chosen Ones, destined by God to inherit the Earth. The charismatic leader of End Times Ministries, whose grand plan includes stoking the fires of Armageddon, has ordered parishioners to close ranks and prepare for a holy war.

Kate Dawson knows this is not God’s will, but that of a dangerous, diabolical cult leader who controls the lives of his people. "They plan to start a war!"

"Nearly a million people live in the San Francisco Bay area," Senator Santiago said. "That’s a lot of lives that would be lost, but nowhere near the hundreds of millions of lives lost in a global war and the starvation, and sickness, and disease that follows."

"So, you’re saying, the Doomsday clock is ticking?" Kate asked, already sensing the answer.

"It’s five minutes to midnight...."

Kate would have been the first one to confess that she didn’t know a whole lot about politics and religion - but she did know there was a group of fanatics out there who were determined to move the hands of the clock closer to midnight, and it was her duty to stop their plan to detonate an atomic bomb in the San Andreas Fault.

©2017 John L. Flynn (P)2019 W&B Publishers

Thanksgiving Delight! Remember to be Grateful!

I just finished listening to Architects of Armageddon. 5-Stars all around for a great story, an incredible audio performance by Kevin Chambers, and an outstanding book. I am reminded how fortunate I am, when I read a book like this, that I live the life I do. I am surrounded by great friends at work, at home, and at church. Kate Dawson put herself out there to save the people she loves and stop really bad people from doing bad things. I'm grateful for the men and women of our local police who put themselves on the line every day for us. While I realize this is a fictional tale, I also know that it reflects the lives of our police and fire and first responders. What a great message to send, particularly at Thanksgiving.

OUTSTANDING BOOK TO READ!

It may save your life! Author John Flynn has a real talent for storytelling, starting out with a simple murder-suicide and building a thrilling tale about religious fanatics and nuclear holocaust.  This new audio book has a large, grand scope and talks about the real psychology behind what turns regular, every-day people into fanatics who would seek to destroy the world in order to try to save it.  At the same time, sandwiched in between the thriller aspects of the novel is a very personal story about Kate Dawson, as a shell-shocked veteran of the SFPD, working with a police psychiatrist to overcome the effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome.  Everyone is rooting for Kate to succeed, but really, this time, things seem very much out of her grasp.  I would rate this as the top book from the author.  Very thoughtful and enjoyable listening. Narration of Kevin Chambers is outstanding.
This was a third book of Kate Dawson series I read. The first book was about arms dealers selling illegal arms to third-world countries, and the second book was about a serial killer loose in the BDSM underworld of San Francisco. I enjoyed all of them.
I have been a proud member of the United Methodist Church for over 50 years, and I also belong to the Senior Citizens Book Club at church.  Several seniors in my group and I have shared books in the Kate Dawson thrillers; they enjoy reading Kate Dawson's adventures, and each of them have their own favorites. But I submit The Architects of Armageddon is the best in the series. It seems like it was written specifically for people of faith. 

Fantastic Story, Once Past Disturbing Prologue!

Earlier this month, my reading group decided to read John Flynn's Architects of Armageddon. I had my reservations after listening to the highly detailed and disturbing murder-suicide in the first few pages. (Note: I had similar reservations about Alice Sebold's The Lonely Bones.) A friend of mine in the group encouraged me to keep listening. I'm so glad that I did. The mystery-thriller turned out to be an excellent book. The characters were really outstanding, with Kate Dawson as the Homicide Detective exploring the activities of a twisted religious cult quite inspired. Rather than make her a traditional, stalwart hero, Author Flynn introduces a broken woman who can barely function without a drink; compound her obvious character flaws with a person who is suffering with PTSD, and she appears to be on a collision course with oblivion. Dawson is actually redeemed by her actions, and emerges from her ordeal at the end of the novel as a flawed but still worthy hero. The plot is well-written and extremely well-detailed as the religious fanatics pursue their murderous actions; naturally, they think they are right, and do not hesitate to destroy anyone in their way. The best villains - I contend - are always those who think they are right and their actions are justified. I finished listening to the book the morning of our discussion in the evening, and a number of group members pointed things out I missed. Overall, I would say this is one of my favorite books now, despite my initial misgivings. The prologue to the book is disquieting, but sets in motion an excellent end-of-the-world thriller that I'm probably going to listen to again.

Kate Dawson is Awesome! Love her thrillers!

Several months ago, I listened to my first Kate Dawson thriller, Merchants of Death. The book was incredibly intense, well-written, masterful in its plot, and introduced me to the character of Kate Dawson for the first time. She was a strong, independent-minded homicide detective who didn't put up with a lot of bull from her male boss or predominantly male coworkers. She wasn't always right, and made plenty of mistakes along the way; she was at times vain, arrogant, haughty, but always her own woman. I liked that because I enjoy stories about strong women and female empowerment. Architects of Armageddon takes place right after her ordeal with a serial killer (as set forth in her debut novel, Intimate Bondage). She survived the ordeal, but came away from it, suffering with psychological wounds. (The wounds go so far deep that she has to drink herself to sleep every night and carry a hangover into the next day's work.) Her boss is ready to fire her, and with the insistence of Internal Affairs, she is forced into therapy with the flamboyant departmental shrink. She keeps her badge, and at the same time must investigate a murder-suicide of members from a strange religious cult. The "architects" of the title refer to the cult leaders who plan to start a jihad that will engulf the world with a nuclear holocaust. All the while she is fighting her inner demons, she is fighting real-world demons who will stop at nothing to set their unholy plan in motion. While I loved the work as a whole, each struggle she overcomes in the course of her investigation reveals a different layer of her character...revealing a strong work ethic and as well as a weakness for men who are out of reach. I do find it curious that each man she has met - in each of the different books - is named "John" or a derivation of John, like Jay or Jack. The author's name is John, too. I have raised questions in each of my reviews as to whether "John" (the author) is actually a woman using a man's name. S/he seems to have an incredibly deep understanding of what makes a woman tick, and offers up specific scenes in each of the different books that show Kate's vulnerability. Here, she is tempted by a Jesus-lookalike named John, and even invites him home to her bed, but he turns her advances down because of a vow of celibacy. His rejection makes him even more desirable to Kate. A male writer would not necessarily know that, but a woman would. Regardless of whether he is a she, II absolutely adore these books, and I can't wait for the next one. I love these thrillers.

A Worthy Successor!The "one" Audio Book this Year!

I've never been so scared by an audio book than in the first few minutes of Architects of Armageddon. The murder-suicide was shocking, to say the least. Then author Flynn plunges his readers on a one-way rollercoaster ride to hell as Inspector Kate Dawson struggles to wake up her booze-addled brain from the nightmare of all nightmares. And I thought Halloween was last week! The second book in the Kate Dawson thrillers finds our favorite homicide detective suffering PTSD after her encounter with a serial killer. She can't seem to sleep or eat her favorite donuts or even do her job as she confronts demons from a previous murder case, and she is forced by Internal Affairs to see a wacky shrink who wears wild Tommy Bahama shirts and listens to Opera. Dawson feels like she has hit rock bottom. Then clues to a murder-suicide lead her to religious cult leader who is planning to start World War 3 with a stolen nuke in this end-of-the-world chiller. I loved Intimate Bondage when I read it in print form in 2014, and as a 30-something, single woman, I identified with Kate Dawson! This is a worthy successor to that story. Kate must now summon every ounce of courage she has to pull herself together to stop the megalomaniac at the heart of the story from destroying her beloved San Francisco. The plot is both gripping and frightening at the same time, and Flynn pulls out all of the stops to make it truly thrilling. Cudos also go out to narrator Kevin Chambers for his excellent narration. If you're only going to listen to one audio book this year, make it this one!

Below Surface, a Study in Redemption & Salvation!

I remember reading Architects of Armageddon a couple of years ago when it first came out in paperback. The book really impressed me, and I always wanted to come back to it because it's just one of those books that I don't think reading it once will suffice. There's obviously a lot more going on there than what initially meets the eye. When Audible released it as an audio book, I decided to "read" it again. I will say that Kevin Chambers' sensitive narrative voice hits all of the right notes, from the somewhat disturbing murder-suicide in the beginning to the triumphant victory at the end. I cried when he cried and I cheered when Chambers raised his voice in glee. I don't think any other narrator would have done half as good a job as he did with Flynn's outstanding narrative. So, let's talk about the book. There's the obvious story, which is about Kate Dawson, a veteran homicide detective who is seemingly suffering from some sort of mental illness like PTSD from her recent ordeal at the hands of a serial killer. She is clearly not in her right mind, and despite her work with the departmental shrink, she has to come face to face with the fact she is struggling with real-world demons of her own. These demons compound her present reality and murder investigation which involves members of a religious cult putting their children to death. Only when she confronts the "architects" who are orchestrating these murders for their own sinister purpose does she realize how ill-equipped she is to stop them. That doesn't stop her from trying, and only when she makes peace with herself and confront the guilt she feels about killing an innocent woman in a previous murder investigation does she begin to heal and get stronger to take on the bad guys. But then there is also the author's underlying message about salvation and redemption which are fundamentally Christian virtues. While Kate Dawson appears to be a secular civil servant who doesn't believe in God, Flynn challenges his protagonist at various stages in the narrative about the utter senselessness of embracing a culture built on atheistic beliefs. Author Flynn reminds Kate - and the rest of us - that while we may not believe in God, He clearly still believes in us. Kate Dawson eventually overcomes her demons - both inside her and those who plot to destroy the world - and emerges as a victorious sinner. She's still got a long way to go, but allied with her "better angels" she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to do. I love this message.

This Would Make a Great Miniseries or Movie!

Once upon a time, great books like Architects of Armageddon used to warrant great miniseries on television. The Winds of War, QBVII, Roots, Centennial, Shogun, Rich Man Poor Man, War and Remembrance, Lonesome Dove, just to name a few. The networks would cancel regular programming, and show an episode each night. Well, after listening to the audio book for Architects of Armageddon, I know that I've got a winner here. Lead character here is Kate Dawson, a broken detective who is struggling with alcohol abuse and trauma from PTSD. Following a grisly murder-suicide, she tracks the crime scene clues to an evil religious cult who want to start world war 3. No one believes her, so it's up to Kate to stop them herself. Plenty of suspense, romance, action, adventure, and a plot to reshape the balance of power. I loved every minute of the audio book, and want to see it made into a miniseries or movie. It's really that good!

It's Real! The War of the God with Satan!

Architects of Armageddon is an incredible work of faith, masquerading as an end-of-the-world thriller. There are several instances in this new audio book when people talk about the Bible and reveal a secret war that is happening right now between God and the forces of evil. Kate Dawson, the story's protagonist, seeks out a woman who has escaped from this religious cult and discovers the religious war has been going on for centuries since the time of Christ. We don't see it because it is an invisible war, but it does exist nonetheless. Outside of Christian books sold by Christian publishers, this is the first time I have ever seen this storyline articulated in a mainstream book. I loved it. Flynn's research skills are excellent. How he manages to create and weave real tale, like it, are a matter for God. Praise the Almighty!

Packs a Punch! Highly Original!

I'm more of a Sci-Fi buff, and prefer speculative fiction. But one of the members in my Book Club suggested that I might enjoy Architects of Armageddon because it's an end-of-the-world thriller like The Andromeda Strain or The Satan Bug. He was absolutely right! I loved this book, almost as much as Flynn's The Jovian Dilemma. The world hangs in the balance as a radical sect of religious fanatics attempt to launch a global Jihad, and only the intrepid Kate Dawson, a homicide detective with the SFPD, stands in their way. From the very first page, this highly original story really packs a punch! I never thought I'd have so much fun with a mystery-thriller as much as I did. I especially enjoyed Kevin Chambers' sensitive narration. Great job, guys! And much thanks to Audible for continuing to have the best in audio books.

Great Writing! Edge of the Seat Suspense!

Mystery novels come in many shapes and sizes. Agatha Christie once said, “I specialize in murders of quiet, domestic interest...” what we consider today to be the "cozy" mystery in which a local sleuth undertakes a murder investigation in the local neighborhood, like so many Ms. Marple mysteries. Sherlock Holmes mysteries, thanks to Arthur Conan Doyle, usually feature a main character (like Holmes) who is occupied in tracking down the truth about an event, usually a murder. If the protagonist is in any danger, it is usually moderate, and becomes a problem only as the detective approaches the truth. A thriller, like most James Bond novels from Ian Fleming, finds the protagonist in danger from the very beginning, and he or she only gradually becomes aware of that danger as the story unfolds. This third book in John Flynn's Kate Dawson thrillers is very clearly a thriller in the traditional sense of the term. Homicide Inspector Dawson awakens from a nightmare, left over from her previous case, and discovers from the opening murder-suicide that she has stepped right into another kind of nightmare. With deft precision, Author Flynn builds a level of suspense as his main character gradually becomes aware of real danger that she faces; the clues seem to suggest something more is going on, but Kate does not immediately discover (nor do we as readers) the much larger plan. This is no simple crime, but the blueprints as designed by the "architects" of the title to bring about the end-of-the-world. When she finally goes undercover as "Miss Lonelihearts," an aging dowager, she puts together the final puzzle piece, and realizes how truly deep she is in. I liked this latest Kate Dawson thriller, probably more so than the other books, because it is so well-written and plotted. (Note: the other books are also well-written and plotted, but now I know just how clever and effective the author is with telling such a complex tale!) In great suspense thrillers, like this one, the reader is aware of things unknown to the protagonist. For instance, the reader sees the bad guy plant the bomb, and then suffers the suspense of wondering when or if it will explode. Similarly, we know they intend to destroy San Francisco and most of the West Coast, but we suffer wondering when the atomic bomb will be detonated and if Kate Dawson has figured out enough of the mystery to stop it. I was very literally on the edge of my seat in suspense as the material in the final chapter unfolded. Suspense thrillers are ideally suited to audio books. I'll be looking for more Kate Dawson thrillers to keep me entertained.