Title: The Bootstrap Ultimatum: A Novel
Author: Avraham Azrieli
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 1499717482
Pages: 259, Paperback & Kindle
Genre: Thriller
Reviewed by: Krista Schnee, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Ben Teller, a journalist, intended to enjoy Memorial Day weekend with his girlfriend, Keera, a doctor. After paying their respects at his father’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery, they had planned to go camping, hoping to find a bit of quiet time away from their busy careers. A message from his employer requesting coverage for a possible event, however, sends them on what they believe will be a quick detour. Arriving at the location mentioned in the message, Teller finds a store overrun with shoppers who hold coupons that designate everything $1.00. The store’s systems had evidently sent out the coupons after being hacked; this unknown person, whom Teller names “Bootstrap,” would soon propose in a manifesto that either the commercialization of Memorial Day is halted or the entire economy be disabled.
Realizing the seriousness of the threat—and always ready to pursue a story—Teller begins to chase down Bootstrap, hoping to stop them before they are able to follow through on their claims. Teller leaves Keera to care for people at the local hospital while he travels to local stores and businesses, searching for clues as to the identity of the hacker. Following the story, Teller finds more danger than he ever expected for this holiday weekend. In the process of identifying this person intent on ruining the Memorial Day fun, he must ultimately confront his own issues with his father’s death in battle and the meaning of the holiday for his family.
In The Bootstrap Ultimatum: A Novel, Avraham Azrieli provides readers with a fast-paced, intelligent thriller. In a genre that is overwhelmed with various offerings, it is rare to find a book that surprises even the most experienced reader. Indeed, Azrieli has written a novel that draws in the reader no matter their background or past reading preference. With its realistic setting and characters, The Bootstrap Ultimatum is intriguing in that Teller and Keera are not superheroes, but rather ordinary people faced with the decision to sacrifice their own comfortable lives in order to understand the motives of Bootstrap and prevent them from harming others. Too, unlike some books in the thriller genre that often get bogged down in technical and military jargon, Azrieli avoids this in his novel, giving this book a much wider appeal and making it a faster read than other similar novels.
More than a simple thriller, Azrieli’s novel is thought provoking. Even as Teller must confront his own feelings toward his father, the reader too is asked to evaluate the American commercialization of Memorial Day, a day that should be solely for sober reflection. Although this is a major aspect of the novel, Azrieli deftly weaves this thread into the plot line, never once interrupting the action for this call to change. Undeniably it is present in the story, and yet it is also questioned. The author leaves the debate in the reader’s hands, allowing them to make the decision for themselves. This central question regarding Memorial Day certainly serves to set Azrieli’s book apart in the thriller genre, giving the reader much more than a fun read. Whether the reader is seeking an exciting diversion or an exploration of society’s ills, they will surely find something to enjoy in Avraham Azrieli’s The Bootstrap Ultimatum: A Novel. Azrieli’s latest work will certainly appeal to a wide range of readers in its accessibility, fast-paced action, and intelligent storyline.
