Author: Anne Montgomery

Publisher: Amphorae Publishing Group

ISBN: 9781732139121 

Within the world there are many people who struggle with their own identities, have fought many wars both on the field and within themselves as  Jason Ramm did. A former Vietnam Vet who is haunted by nightmares of his time there and on missions that lost lives, Jason relives many of them as the author shares his visions, his thoughts and his hopes to become someone other than the man he is right now. He moved to this small town and is trying to live drug free. Accepted by the people living there he is one of four characters that we meet in different settings and for different reasons as all four want more but how they get it and their goals differ. Ramm’s mental issues are front and center and he remembers a mission in Jerusalem that haunts his every nightmare. Yet, his kind heart is shown when he finds a mutilated dog and takes him in and gives him hope of a life. Dog is a central character in this novel.

Parents are supposed to protect and nurture their children except Kelly Garcia did not luck out in the parent department. Her father died and her mother destroy and got rid of his things as if he never existed and made sure to replace him in no time. Kelly has a rare deformity and her stepfather, Edwardo at first when he comes to live with her and her mother, Matilda seems okay until he is not. Taking advantage of an innocent and naïve teenager, she becomes pregnant and what follows is tragic. Needing a place to live and shunned by her own mother, Kelly begins living with the Children of the Light as group of Pentecostal zealots who try to adhere and live the way of the Bible. Growing their own food, taking care of the helpless like Kelly she finds her way there when her jealous and abuse mother no longer wants her around. Kelly’s face is deformed yet this man found her beautiful.

Next, we meet Billy a deranged young man who is out to destroy his father in any way possible as he is a gas station owner who is verbally and physically abuse to his own son. He could care less, and the man’s problem will be what happens moving forward as his son is ruthless and revengeful.

Gossip comes easily in this town, but things take on a deadly turn when Billy succeeds with his plans to take down the railroad and 248 people are on the train and 100 are injured and one man is dead. What happens next is like a movie in slow motion as Ramm realizes who is on the train and what he does will change it all for someone and place him in a tenuous position trying to do the right thing.

Kate Butler is a reporter that has won awards and is sent to the scene of the carnage because the other reporters are not available. Good at her role she is thought to be over the hill and does not present the image they want. As Ramm recounts the reasons why he has these PTSD attacks and we hear and see what happened in Jerusalem causing his episodes and his downfall.

Each character is seriously flawed and each one has his/her own reasons for their actions whether in the best interest of someone else or their own selfish ones. Miranda is abusive and when Kelly seems to have gone missing, she plays the sad and bereaved mother whose daughter might have been kidnapped but Deputy Cooper in charge of the investigation and having work along with the FBI enlists Kate to find out more and hopefully the truth behind Miranda’s motive will come to light.
The Amtrak Sunset Limited is at the center of the action as it was the train that was derailed. The local and state police nave set aside differences a work to find the answers. Will they learn the truth behind the derailment? What will the final fate of each character be as author Anne Montgomery sets the bar high as she intertwines so many intricate plots until we learn the enlightening and illuminating conclusion.

There are some who cannot cope with reality and there are those that have lost sight of it. Jason Ramm believed in his own brand of justice and suffered from Jerusalem Syndrome. Life dealt him an unusual hand yet within his heart he believed in helping others and doing what he thought was right. Billy James believed in retribution and yet when hearing about his father and his life you might feel some empathy for him until you get to really know him. Kate Butler and Cooper searched all over for Kelly and wanted to bring her to safety, yet circumstances will shock you and the final ending will restore your faith in people and yet unlock the secrets hidden behind someone’s life. Some endings are conclusions and yet others might be considered beginnings as author Anne Montgomery ties it all up in different directions as Jason Ramm, Kelly Garcia, Kate, Cooper, the Children of the Light all learn the true meaning of forgiveness, hope and kindness. Enter the world of these people and get to know that all and understand the love behind the people who created A LIGHT IN THE DESERT and learn that love, hope and faith does exist.