Allegiance: a Border War Thriller (Book #3) (The Cruz Marquez Thrillers) [Kindle Edition]

Settling in for a long plane flight, I woke up my Kindle and clicked Allegiance, a Thriller. Five hours later, the pilot's announcement that we had reached our destination annoyed me to no end. This book is that good.

The opening of Allegiance has attorney Cruz Marquez, outfitted in fatigues, lying on his stomach on the Arizona desert floor observing a group of Mexican citizens preparing to illegally cross the border into the United States through binoculars. When the exhausted, dehydrated group of people near Cruz, he and his partner get up onto their feet, grab jugs of water, and approach them. When they are "within yelling distance," a "shooting gallery" erupts. It is at this point the reader is clued into the fact that they have been launched at top speed into a riveting, shocking roller coaster ride that exposes the very ugliest parts of our society and unfathomable evil. Though Blass notes that the incidents in his story are drawn from his imagination, we all know from the news that border and drug cartel issues are quite real.

Aside from being a well-written, pulse-pounding thriller, I view Allegiance as an exposé into human corruption and how the human mind can be corrupted through the evil acts of others. It's safe to presume that Blass's legal experience and understanding of criminal profiles gave him the tools to carve out meaty, compelling villains who evoke sympathy at times, not because we condone their heinous acts, but because Blass expertly shows what created the miscreant. He doesn't remove their responsibility for their actions, but does give food for thought of how we as individuals can make a difference by opening our eyes to what is going on around us (every year 3....3 million reports of child abuse are made in the US involving 6 million children) and taking action. There is a powerful scene where hired killer Tyler gives a heart-wrenching account of the extreme abuse he experienced as a child and asks Cruz, "Where were you?" The question of course is "Where are we?"

Blass brings back characters from Book One, Enemy in Blue, deepens their development, and also introduces new well-crafted heroes and villains. There is one hero in particular I would like to mention: Octavio, a noble nineteen-year-old who impulsively decides to search for Cruz who is missing. Octavio does find Cruz and also finds himself smack dab in the middle of horrific violence. After pondering this brave, moral young character-- the sort of boy I would want my daughters to date-- I couldn't think of another fictional teenage boy in literature I liked better. Octavio won me over completely. My only spoiler: he survives.

Last element I'll bring up is mechanics. Blass is a master at creating a vivid picture. He focuses on details that matter, but does not bog the story down with too many. He is also extremely skilled at creating "real" and smart dialogue. Both these elements make reading Allegiance similar to watching an action-flick on the big screen, which I hope to see one day.

Needless to say, I highly recommend Allegiance, a Thriller, as well as Enemy In Blue, though I do caution if you have a huge objection to foul language and extreme violence, prepare yourself for both, and if you're not allowed to watch movies rated above PG-13 yet, you'll have to wait on the Cruz Marquez series. Read more ›

From the very first chapter this book caught my attention. Just couldn't put it down!. Wonderfully written. Can't wait to read more from Mr Blass, infact I'm off to do a search now :-)

Derek Blass came to my notice with the excellent Enemy in Blue. Allegiance, in my opinion, is even better.
The action in this book begins about four and a half years after the events of Enemy in Blue and straight away you know that the events of that book have affected the characters and continue to do so.
Cruz Marquez, the lawyer, is now providing aid to mexicans attempting to cross the border and it is while he is doing this that he is captured by an "army" trying to stop the flow of immigrants.
I could go on but spoilers would ruin your reading experience!

Allegiance is, among other things, a story of consequences and that, for me, is where this author really excells. The events of Enemy in Blue hang heavy over the characters and the spectre of Sgt Shaver too. Some authors don't do this realistically but Mr Blass does it well.
This book is gritty, violent and, at times unbearably tense. The action starts early on and doesn't really let up much all through.

I compared his last book to the books of John Grisham. With Allegiance I feel Grisham will be looking on with envy.

This author gets better by the book and I'm looking forward to reading more.

The story line moves quickly but there is too much violence too much violence for me. OK if you like super heroes.

There is only one way to describe Allegiance; Addictive. As soon as I started reading I couldn't put it down. And when they say it's a thriller, they mean it. I followed Cruz through so many twists and turns I didnt know what to expect on the next page. Definately a must read, perfect for when you need to kill travel time or something!!

Allegiance is raw and to the point. After reading Mr. Blass's first novel "Enemy in Blue" I had no doubt that his next book was going to be just as good. He did not disappoint. This storyline will be a topic you will either love or hate. Since illegal immigration is such a touchy subject these days this book will be certainly get new conversations started. I liked seeing how the characters from "Enemy in Blue" were doing, since their battle with a corrupt police force. You will have to read "Allegiance" to see for yourself. This is a great story and like, "Enemy in Blue" would make an interesting movie. There's certainly plenty of action and gun play to keep any moviegoer glued to their seats.

In his second novel, Derek Blass proves he knows how to write a thriller. Allegiance is an action filled read. Focusing on the issue of immigration, and the militias who try to stop them, Allegiance grabs the reader from the first chapter to the last. The reader also gets to know the characters from Derek's first book on a deeper, more intimate level as the story progresses.

Allegiance is a page-turner, which made it hard to put down. A highly recommended read for not only thriller readers, but for anyone who loves to become engrossed in a story. Thrillers are known for the level of suspense the display, and Allegiance is no exception. Chapter after chapter will have you guessing, and that's what makes Allegiance an excellent thriller. Well done again, Derek Blass.

Allegiance was the first book I've read by Mr. Blass and I must say, it took my completely by surprise with both the intensity and the strong prose. From the very beginning where we are introduced to an eclectic and sometimes creepy cast of characters, , "Allegiance" takes off like a formula one race car, barely breaking for the curves in the road.

With writing reminiscent of John Grisham, Blass takes the reader through the world of illegal border crossing, torture, and fast paced action that will make you sit up and take notice. I found the development of Cruz's character particularly well done as he went from (trying not to give away the spoilers here) his life as he knew it, through extreme torture and then the person he came out the other side as, and where that brought him by the end of the book. Realistic, gritty, well done.

To the very end, "Allegiance" pulls you under, Blass' talent is obvious and I have no doubt that he'll be around a very, very long time.

For readers of John Grisham, this is SO your next fix!