Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Shulkin's plot is complex, with multiple story lines that will keep readers on their toes as the book progresses. The circumstances surrounding military pathologist Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Englehart are incredibly high-risk and fraught with danger, but Shulkin builds tension organically, immediately digging into the central conflict: soldiers' bodies are miraculously healing themselves from mortal wounds, bodies are turning up for autopsies with strange implants in their brains, and the powers-that-be are cryptic about what's going on. Shulkin keeps the story moving with an even, welcome pace, scattering in plenty of shocks to keep readers engaged.
Prose: Shulkin crafts viscerally raw action scenes, rife with the gore and violence expected for the novel's premise, but the prose is just as smooth and convincing as the action.
Originality: The well-connected plot in Heroic Measures makes it stand out, as does Shulkin's skill at setting a chilling, suspenseful scene.
Character/Execution: Every character in Shulkin's book plays an important role, and each is developed with care and attention to detail. Stephen, tormented by flashbacks and past regret, stands out as a conflicted man desperate to make the right step, even when that means great personal sacrifice. Major Sharon Englehart is also distinctive, a quick-thinking Special Forces Green Beret who holds her own throughout the story.
Date Submitted: July 11, 2024
f you love a good thriller, Heroic Measures is a must-read. With plot twists around every corner, this novel will have you hooked from the very first page, making it a great choice for just about any reader.
There are lots of okay books in the Military Thriller and Superhero genres, but for the majority, they are stories lacking coherent plots which you can read in pieces but they’re a puzzle that never gets solved. But in Heroic Measures, Joel Shulkin brings together the best of both genres to give us much more than this with plot threads that weave together to deliver a high-octane blend of action and intrigue where the momentum rarely lets up.
A superb novel from Shulkin that’s a delight to read from beginning to end Heroic Measures is an unreservedly recommended Golden Quill read!
Heroic Measures is an action-packed thriller by Joel Shulkin. During an autopsy by Armed Forces Medical Examiner Stephen Englehart, a dead soldier awakes. The soldier mysteriously heals and attacks Stephen’s friend before escaping. This brings back memories of Stephen’s father’s death thirty years before. Stephen recognizes certain features that remind him of his father before he died. A group of dead soldiers is sent to Stephen for safekeeping, but he is prevented from performing autopsies on them. One of the bodies was wrongly identified, deepening the mystery surrounding their deaths. Stephen and his friend ask permission from their boss to carry out autopsies. What they find relates to the events of thirty years ago. Stephen’s search for answers leads him to a military experiment that dates back to the time of his father’s death.
Joel Shulkin planned and executed an interesting and complex plot with skill. Heroic Measures is a rollercoaster ride filled with thrills and intrigue. It was fast-paced with no downtime. All the suspense, action, and plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. I could not put it down and had to keep reading. The action starts on the first page and never stops. The events were descriptive and dramatic, and I easily became part of them. The characters were well-developed and strong throughout the narration. The chemistry between Stephen and Melinda made for an interesting subplot. The story is exceptionally well-written and magnificent. The ending had major twists that I did not see coming. This is an excellent read that will stay with you for quite a while.
