Everything seems to be going just right for Dr. David Strauss. He is a successful OB-GYN. He is married to a beautiful and wonderful wife. His brother is just about to win an Oscar for a documentary he made. That is all about to end on Oscar night. He and his Irish-American/Catholic wife join his family on their beautiful estate to watch the Oscars. They know they will face a little bit of difficulty since he married outside of the faith, but their worries in this area prove to be for naught. In fact, there is a lot of other things they should be worrying about.

As it comes time for his brother's category, David and his wife head upstairs to visit with his aging grandmother Elena. As with so many Jews left of her generation, she was a Holocaust survivor. She had spent most of her life in the service of the the global Jewish nation by helping in the hunt for Nazis while also helping her family build a communications and hotel empire.

As David's brother and sister-in-law get up on the stage to accept their award, a gunman rushes them, and they are shot died in front of both a live audience and millions of people around the globe. At the same time, the Stauss estate is also hit by a terrorist unit. They take the family hostage and lead them outside. David's wife is shot dead, and his grandmother dies of a heart attack.

And so starts the bumpy ride the reader joins Patterson on. It quickly becomes clear to David (and the reader) that the attacks were likely committed by a rising neo-Nazi movement hoping to bring about the Fourth Reich. They are building on the fact that nations across the world helped hide many Nazis after the war, leaving options open for a later return.

As the danger increases, David finds comfort in Alix Rothschild, an international star from film and modeling as well as his former first girlfriend/lover. She is also a Holocaust survivor. They find themselves drawn deeper and deeper into the international intrigues as they try to find the answers as to why some of David's family head to be killed.

As the terrorist continue their plans, the reality of their background takes on an disturbing and unique perspective. It is likely a total surprise to most readers. It also explains why they are willing to take their actions to an international level as the 1980 Moscow Olympics are quickly approaching.

I really did enjoy the book toward the beginning. It really capture the personal mission aspect that so many of Patterson's books do, and do well. As he turned it into something one would normally expect from Tom Clancy, the story gets a little outrageous and a bit harder to accept. While it is not up to Clancy standards, it would likely appeal to some of the master-spy writer's fans if they are looking for a lighter read.

It is interesting to see this type of book, particularly in light of its pre-9/11 copyright date. Things have clearly changed in the almost 30 years that have passed since the book's original publication.

This book was originally published under the title The Jericho Commandment.