The Far Side Of The Desert

Sisters Samantha & Monte Waters are vacationing in Santiago de Compostela Spain enjoying a Catholic festival & they plan on meeting their brother Cal. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a fun adventure, ends up being short lived. Terrorist attacks disrupt the festivities around them. What makes it worse is Samantha an international television correspondent & Monte a US foreign service officer is separated. Monte is the one taken hostage. The family comes together to try to find Monte and find out what her hostages want. The story moves from Spain to Washington DC to Morocco to Gibraltar to the Sahara Desert.

Writing, Characters & Twists

The Far Side Of The Desert by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman is the first time I’ve read anything from her. Her writing is so descriptive you feel as though you are immersed in the story especially Spain, Morocco & Gibraltar. I love the characters of Samantha, Monte & Cal. When you think the story is over, there are a lot of answers to be solved and twists to be revealed. Just a warning there is a rape scene, so it is up to you if you want to read the novel or not.  I also like that while this is a story about terrorism, journalism & current (current ish since the story begins in July 2007) I also love that this story is about sisterhood and family. There really isn’t anything I disliked about the story. I also love that the beginning of the novel is set at a Catholic festival in Spain.

Overall

Overall if you enjoy action packed stories that have adventure, terrorism, journalism, current (ish) events and stories that have to do with sisterhood & family I would recommend The Far Side Of The Desert By Joanne Leedom-Ackerman. I am so excited to be doing the Behind The Book Q&A with her discussing this novel.