New America

The evil Jeremiah survived the cliffhanger ending of Book One (Jeremiah: Terrorist Prophet) in this series that takes the current interest in religious cults to an absurd extreme. This scenario has millions of followers moving into South Dakota, co-opting the government, banks and national guard to set up New America, a self-sufficient totalitarian community led by the violent, psychotic ""prophet."" Armed and financed by the Chinese and by druglords, Jeremiah takes U.S. bases in nearby states and occupies a Maryland nuclear plant, threatening to blow it up unless New America is accorded independence. Obsessed with newscaster Laura Delany, he abducts her, nearly killing her CIA agent husband, Steve Wallace, and rapes her to get the heir he prophesied. Aided by Attorney General Peter Thompson, Steve tries to kill Jeremiah and free Laura; his plan is foiled, and he is captured. But Katrina Dorfler, Jeremiah's cousin and lover, who wants the prophet to herself, helps Laura and Steve escape. Meanwhile, U.S. armed forces eliminate the nuclear threat and seize New America. Jeremiah escapes, forcing Steve and Laura into hiding, where they are raising the ""prophet's"" child as their own. Of course, Jeremiah isn't the kind of man who forgives and forgets; he resumes his reign of terror in an annoyingly abrupt cliffhanger ending. Smith's prose is melodramatic, with condescending asides to explain characters' thoughts and a cartoonish military crisis. For readers who want more tales of murderous neo-fascism, obscure terrorist scripture and psychotic rapists, this series seems poised to continue. (Apr.)