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Azrieli’s haunting narrative conjures an alternate reality highlighting the ramifications of the Stop the Steal rally that culminated in bloodshed on January 6, 2021. After separating the Republicans and Democrats, the Democrats are suffocated in the tunnels in the Capitol Fire, while prominent figures are hanged. The story is centered upon Death Penalty Investigator #1645, who fittingly remains anonymous to represent the obliviousness of a population convinced that Biden and Black Lives Matter were responsible for the insurrection.
1645’s latest mission is to gather evidence from the convicted party, former chief inspector of ICE and renowned patriot Stuart Tenison. Whereas the death penalty could take nearly twenty years or longer for states that even allow it, this rendition of the United States instituted the Death Penalty Review Board, which will review the investigator’s report and quickly exact justice. While the masses revere Trump, the Proud Boys, and the Oath Keepers, the rumblings beneath the surface paint a different reality, one that only a select few are aware of. As the story progresses, Investigator #1645 finds himself crumbling under the burden of mounting evidence and a wild goose chase for papers that could bring the entire regime crashing down and wreak havoc on one’s morality and ethics.
Azrieli breaks down the novel into a comprehensive deconstruction of a case study, using each chapter as an interview with anyone even remotely involved. The author has crafted a thought-provoking what-if scenario based on a recent crisis. The universality of everyone having lived through the event renders the novel jarring, giving readers a chance to fathom how close this reality was to coming to fruition. Overall, the incredibly engaging journalistic structure combined with a fearless approach to what reality could have looked like makes this text a compelling read.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review