Nobody’s perfect. That’s how Jim Gilliam developed his protagonist Tim Kelly, as he
equivocated him between sound moral judgments and anti-social behavior;
revealing a depth in complexity associated with real people instead of stereo-typical
fictional characters. So too is
Gilliam’s style of writing; using precise vernacular of military terms and
procedures known commonly to those who served in the armed forces and law
enforcement, adding realism and credibility to the fictional plot. Interestingly, Jim Gilliam also toys with the
timeline of his book in a way of starting with a torture scene gripping the
reader’s attention, then carrying him back into the life of Tim Kelly
explaining the personal characteristics that comprise the ending, which is set
in the beginning. These techniques,
along with a high level of respect for the reader’s intelligence, result in Point Deception achieving the many
accolades from much of the reading community, which it rightfully deserves.
The pivoting point in the novel is when the U.S. Coast Guard
Cutter Point Deception was attacked
by “friendly fire,” off the coast of Vietnam in August of 1966. This excerpt exemplifies the terse, concise
technical writing Gilliam throws into each page of his gripping novel:
“Many mistakes occur in war; it is the nature of the beast. This morning, the Point Deception had been mistakenly identified as a hostile target
thought to be steaming south form the northern side of the Seventeenth Parallel
-- DMZ. Identified as a hostile craft,
the Point Deception was fair game for
the B-57 commencing the first of three gun runs – seemingly just moments after
the flares lit up the Point Deception. The B-57 swooped in for the kill, its four
20mm M39 cannons spewing death and destruction. Built for a maximum speed of 16-17 knots, the Point Deception’s light steel hull and aluminum superstructure offer
no protection for the personnel on board.”
This event, along with the military’s CYA method of shedding responsibility
and saying, “These things happen in combat” have a perfuse effect on Tim Kelly,
short-circuiting his already volatile mind and bringing him into an orbit of
anti-social behavior. As many Vietnam
Vets have to deal with PTSD and haunting memories, the reader gets a rise in
blood pressure from the weaving of emotions as Gilliam writes about honor being
shed by those holding high military positions. This was one of the feelings portrayed in Point Deception that I personally took to heart.
Having Tim Kelly dismissed from the Coast Guard with less than an
honorable discharge, he sought a career in drug related law enforcement. It is here he re-encounters his past, having
to bust Rodolfo Guzman, a powerful drug lord and a person he befriended in his youth. This series of events plays out like a Mission Impossible movie, with a
daunting task of bravery, violence and adrenaline rich moments of suspense and
terror.
Jim Gilliam has created a “must read” book for those who enjoy action
packed military and law enforcement novels. He has a unique style that will set him apart as a refreshing written
voice in the myriad of similar genre works. Point Deception would play out
perfectly as a block-buster movie given the public’s insatiable appetite for
heroes with character flaws, going against all odds to achieve a socially
beneficial outcome. In fact, I can’t
wait for the sequel!
