Bullet in the Chamber

Before you sit down to read BULLET IN THE CHAMBER: A NOVEL by John DeDakis, clear your schedule because once you start, you won’t put it down—regardless!This hard-won story was born from the author’s personal experience. Strap in tight because this book doesn’t have brakes. Each plot twist serves as a gearshift moving this captivating story forward. With smooth clutch work and without skipping a beat DeDakis takes us from tense, to gripping, to riveting, and finally to an exhilarating crescendo.There’s enough g-force in the pages of this book to smooth the wrinkles out of anyone’s face!

Less than a day. That's how long it took me too get through John DeDakis' latest edge-of-your-seat, nail biting thriller, Bullet In The Chamber. I can't believe how astoundingly riveted I was from the first page! John, do not EVER stop writing about Lark Chadwick! Her story this time took such an unexpected turn at the end, I missed my stop on the subway on the way home and had to back track.

There can be no doubt that the story line and content are conveyed from the author's life experience, enhanced by his considerable narrative skill. As in his previous books, I continue to be impressed by his ability to express in the first person as a young woman. The message of the plot is enhanced by factual details, such as the DC street descriptions (I actually opened Google Maps more than once to help absorb it all) and the WH press corp environment. I highly recommend this book, and not just for its fast-paced and realistic plot, but also for the impactful insights provided regarding the heroin/opioid epidemic we face in all social strata of this country.

Insight, understanding and experience all contribute to excellent writing and this book shares all. The reader is drawn into the world of the Washington Press Corps and the horrible issue of heroin addiction. And yes, we, the readers, feel the emotions of the author as he wrote this novel. Highly recommended!

Escape will not be possible until the epilog. Set aside time and, possibly, a full box of Kleenex. For this reader, Lark Chadwick appears again (see Fast Track, Troubled Waters, Bluff) through a long lens of life-time friendship with the author. John artfully expresses his powerful emotions reacting to his life experience through Lark's stories. Thankfully, the catharsis is available for each reader too.