Silenced by Jerry Jenkins

This is Book 2 in the Zealot Underground trilogy. This book reminded me more of the Left Behind series (than the first book). It was faster paced and there was more "cloak and dagger" events. It's difficult to know who to trust since Paul is certainly not the only "double agent" within the National Peace Organization (NPO) or the Zealot Underground. Paul is definitely good at his job, and he has the advantage of being able to take down people whom the NPO thinks are actually religious group leaders (but are not), but his father-in-law, Ranold, is suspicious of him.

The main enemy is this book is Styr Magnor. Magnor is a terrorist who has planted bombs in some European cities (like London & Paris). He claims to be religious, so the NPO want to get rid of him because they see him as a threat to their "no religion" law. Obviously, Magnor is a threat to everyone because he is a terrorist, but he is certainly not affiliated with the Zealot Underground. Paul takes advantage of the NPO's beliefs and flies to Europe to track down who Styr Magnor actually is and to put a stop to him.

Since Ranold and Chief Bia Balaam are incredibly suspicious of Paul's true alliance, they do everything possible to prove it. The place bugs on him so they can hear what he talks about; they try to entrap him to commit adultery; they tail him. Paul tries his very best to avoid being followed, but he doesn't know the extent of their distrust in him. Meanwhile, Jae (Paul's wife) has started listening to his New Testament tapes and tried to talk to Straight about it, but Straight (who doesn't trust her of course) pretty much stonewalls her. He doesn't want to fall into a trap set by Ranold - and he doesn't want to expose Paul. (I was disappointed that Straight really wasn't in this book too much, other than talking to Paul on the phone.) Jae is then told by her father (Ranold) that Paul continues to cheat on her and is a traitor. He encourages her to work for him so that she can prove Paul's treason against the NPO.

Things come to a head when the day arrives that each citizen, worldwide, is required by the Supreme Council of the International Government of Peace to pledge their support to the global ban on the practice of religion. The people that refuse to sign this pledge will suffer life imprisonment or death. Again, this book is a lot more "action packed" than the first in the series. I have already started reading the third book.

Wendy's Rating: ****