Review of Behind Enemy Lines

by Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★

The Keating Files – June 8, 2020

The journalistic side of Ray Keating’s writing comes to the fore in Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left Wing New York. Boasting a traditional conservative voice that is measured, self-aware, confident, and persuasive, Keating’s arguments are original and thought-provoking, while many of the ideas explored in this book are surprisingly nuanced.

As a journalist, fiction writer, and general observer of life, Keating has written more than 8,000 columns and pieces over the past thirty years, remaining steadily in the lane of idyllic conservatism – family, God, and country matter above most else. Having read many of Keating’s Pastor Grant novels, the conservative bent to much of this book’s arguments is unsurprising. His iconic protagonist is a gun-toting, Constitution-defending, God-fearing vigilante hero, an appealing figure for a steadfast conservative operating in a bastion of liberal progressivism like New York.

Ranging from lauding praise on Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan to questioning Obama’s ultimate motives and decision-making ability, these opinion pieces are anything but impartial, but they are also well-structured and level-headed. Criticisms of taxpayers picking up the NASA tab, scathing reviews of governmental function (regardless of party leadership), and discussions of the quiet titan of Christianity within American politics are just a few of the subjects touched on in this unexpectedly riveting collection.

Keating’s journalistic style is similarly fearless to his fiction writing, unafraid to dabble in any realm and apply his firmly held beliefs into peaceful debate with those who would disagree. Unlike so much other conservative writing in recent years, especially pro-Trump partiality, Keating has a frank and honest voice that appears to be morally uncompromised. He makes it clear that while his economic, social, and geopolitical opinions may fall on the conservative spectrum, his principles are still very much in place...

Read the rest of this review here...

Thumbs Up For BEHIND ENEMY LINES

In his new book BEHIND ENEMY LINES: CONSERVATIVE COMMUNIQUES FROM LEFT-WING NEW YORK, Ray Keating serves up a wide-ranging collection of columns and essays covering politics, economics, faith, conservatism, history, trade, New York, foreign affairs, immigration, pop culture, business, sports, books, and more. 

Paperbacks and the Kindle editions are at Amazon via https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PN1NNZ

Signed books can be ordered at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/behindenemylines

“Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York” by Ray Keating Published at the Right Time

Ray Keating’s Collection of Columns and Essays Offer Insights on Politics, Economics, Pop Culture, Conservatism, and More!

Long Island, NY – BEHIND ENEMY LINES: CONSERVATIVE COMMUNIQUES FROM LEFT-WING NEW YORK serves up a wide-ranging collection of columns and essays from Ray Keating. These essays cover politics, economics, faith, history, trade, New York, foreign affairs, immigration, pop culture, business, sports, books, and more. 

Paperbacks and the Kindle edition of BEHIND ENEMY LINES are available at Amazon.com via https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PN1NNZ. And signed books can be ordered at www.RayKeatingOnline.com.

Keating is a longtime newspaper and online columnist, economist, policy analyst, and novelist. Some of his latest columns can be read at www.KeatingFiles.com. 

In these often confusing and contradictory times, Keating describes his brand of conservatism as traditional, American and Reagan-esque, firmly rooted in Judeo-Christian values, Western Civilization, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and essential ideas and institutions such as the Christian Church, the intrinsic value of each individual, the role of the family, freedom and individual responsibility, limited government, and free enterprise and free markets. 

There’s a great deal to enjoy, learn from, agree with, get annoyed by, appreciate, reflect on, roll your eyes over, and argue with in this book that offers perspectives on where we are today, where we’ve been, and where we might be headed.

Keating said, “After writing weekly or regular columns and essays for more than thirty years (my rough estimate is that I’ve written more than 8,000 columns, essays and analyses over this period – yikes!), I thought it would be difficult to sort through what makes sense, and what doesn’t, to include in a collection of these musings. But it turned out not to be all that difficult. The simple, primary question was: Does this article, in some way, pass the relevance test today no matter when it happened to be written?”

Keating added, “Trust me, far too many columns and essays that I’ve written wound up holding little relevance beyond the week or month in which they were penned and published. The pieces that I’ve included in this book – ranging from pieces published in the 1990s to March 2020 – hopefully possess staying power. My ultimate hope is that readers will find this book informative and engaging, no matter where they might be coming from on the philosophical and political spectrums.”

What are the major sections in BEHIND ENEMY LINES?

I. What is Conservatism?                         

II. Politics: Unsavory and Not-So-Unsavory

III. Economics Isn’t Dismal ... Unless Left to Politicians, the Media and Professors

IV. Lessons from the 2008 Mess and Its Aftermath

V. Faith Matters

VI. Why Does Anyone Live in New York?

VII. The Not-So-Ugly American

VIII. Trying to Learn from History

IX. Business Isn’t Evil

X. Trade: Opportunity and Stupidity

XI. Immigration: Hope and Opportunity

XII. Pop Culture Ponderings

XIII. Sports: The Great Diversion ... Mostly

XIV. Thoughts on Assorted Books

Review copies, and author interviews and appearances are available upon request. 

Contact: Ray Keating

E-mail: raykeating@keatingreports.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/freeenterpriseeconomics

Twitter: @FreeEnterprise7

KeatingFiles.com

RayKeatingOnline.com

Another 5 Stars for REAGAN COUNTRY

Amazon reviews for Reagan Country keep coming up 5 stars...

Summer reading with Ray Keating and Pastor Stephen Grant.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1979463514/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Special Thumbs Up on REAGAN COUNTRY

A special thumbs up from Ambassador Fred J. Eckert on REAGAN COUNTRY. Enjoy summer reading with Ray Keating and Pastor Stephen Grant.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1979463514/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

First Thumbs Up for REAGAN COUNTRY

The first Facebook review of REAGAN COUNTRY is in! 

Pre-order signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com.

And pre-order for the Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/Reagan-Country-Pastor-Stephen-Grant-ebook/dp/B07C6J8RB6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525197122&sr=8-1&keywords=reagan+country+by+ray+keating&dpID=61gvkE-3YFL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Christmas Gift of Reading for Your Favorite Conservative

The Pastor Stephen Grant novels should be loved by all who enjoy an exciting, thoughtful story - and that includes the conservative on your Christmas list!

Conservative Luminary Loves Pastor Stephen Grant

“In this, Ray Keating's sixth novel featuring Pastor Stephen Grant, we discover that the always intriguing former Navy Seal and CIA operative is also a world class wine aficionado. This comes in handy as the pastor is once again forced to divide his time between his understanding wife, the needs of his church and congregation, and what some describe as his ‘hobby’ of joining the fray to assist colleagues from his past life when called upon. Grant is a wonderful character and ‘Wine Into Water’ is a great read.” 

- David Keene, opinion editor at The Washington Times, and former president of the National Rifle Association and chairman of the American Conservative Union. He also is the co-author of “Shall Not Be Infringed: The New Assaults on Your Second Amendment” (2016)

December Booknado and Wine Into Water

WINE INTO WATER is part of the Conservative-Libertarian Fiction Alliance's December Booknado!

Check it out at

https://conservativelibertarianfictionalliance.com/2016/12/11/the-clfa-december-booknado/

Conservative Novelist Follows in Steps of William F. Buckley, Jr.

William F. Buckley, Jr. formed and popularized the modern-day conservative movement. Oh yes, and by the way, he was a great thriller writer. Award-winning novelist Ray Keating has followed in the footsteps of Buckley, who is a personal hero of Keating’s. While a longtime conservative columnist and economist, Keating also has written six Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers – MURDERER’S ROW, THE RIVER, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, ROOT OF ALL EVIL? and WARRIOR MONK.

David Keene was president of the American Conservative Union, president of the NRA, and is now the opinion editor at The Washington Times. It doesn’t get more conservative. So, what does Keene say about Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant series? “Thriller and mystery writers have concocted all manner of main characters, from fly fishing lawyers to orchid aficionados and former ballplayers, but none has come up with anyone like Stephen Grant, the former Navy Seal and CIA assassin, and current Lutheran pastor. Grant mixes battling America's enemies and sparring with enemies of traditional Christian values, while ministering to his Long Island flock. The amazing thing is that the character works. The Stephen Grant novels are great reads beginning with WARRIOR MONK, which aptly describes Ray Keating's engaging hero.”

CNBC’s Larry Kudlow said, “Ray Keating has created a fascinating and unique character in Pastor Grant.”

Lutheran Book review declares, “I miss Tom Clancy. Keating fills that void for me.”

A Touchstone magazine review of MURDERER’S ROW says: “This is a fun read, though the embedded theology is real and salutary. There is death and life, adultery and commitment, friendship and betrayal, violence and victory over violence… Perhaps the best part of the book for the reviewer is that the clergy are good at helping people bring Christ into their vocations.”

In a Washington Times review of THE RIVER, Kenneth Blanchard writes, “Mr. Keating's storytelling is so lifelike that I almost thought I had worked with him when I was at Langley. Like the fictitious pastor, I actually spent 20 years working for the U.S. intelligence community, and once I started reading "The River," I had to keep reading because it was so well-crafted and easy to follow and because it depicted a personal struggle that I knew all too well. I simply could not put it down. What Ian Fleming's 007 series has probably done for ex-MI-6 agents and Tom Clancy has done for retired CIA officers, Mr. Keating has done for the minority of former CIA agents who have served their country by working in the intelligence community, but now wish to serve God.”

Finally, Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of WORLD magazine, lists Ray Keating among his top 10 Christian novelists.

Leading Conservative Loves Pastor Stephen Grant Novels

About the Pastor Stephen Grant novels by Ray Keating, David Keene, former president of the American Conservative Union, past president of the NRA, and current opinion editor at The Washington Times, says:

“Thriller and mystery writers have concocted all manner of main characters, from fly fishing lawyers to orchid aficionados and former ballplayers, but none has come up with anyone like Stephen Grant, the former Navy Seal and CIA assassin, and current Lutheran pastor. Grant mixes battling America's enemies and sparring with enemies of traditional Christian values, while ministering to his Long Island flock. The amazing thing is that the character works. The Stephen Grant novels are great reads beginning with ‘Warrior Monk,’ which aptly describes Ray Keating's engaging hero.”

Serious Reading Interview with Ray Keating

Check out the Serious Reading interview with Ray Keating, the award-winning author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels.

Here's one question:

Do your novels carry a message?
Every writer has a message, whether penning a news story, a commentary piece, a history text, or a novel. A writer simply should be honest about it. I’m a Christian and a conservative. That comes through in my novels. At the same time, however, I don’t want to hit people over the head with some kind of polemic. I don’t like that in the novels I read, nor in the movies I see. The most important goals for me as a novelist are to tell a good story, offer compelling characters with depth, make the dialogue work naturally, present interesting conflict, and work in humor, action, love, adventure, and friendship, for example. Along the way, yes, I touch on issues in areas like faith, politics, war, and good and evil, but hopefully in a natural, non-preachy way.

Read the entire interview at

http://seriousreading.com/author-interviews/1583-interview-with-ray-keating-author-of-murderers-row.html

Conservative, Christians, and the Culture: Pastor Stephen Grant Novels Pitching In

Conservatives and Christians can’t leave the Left to control the culture. We need quality alternatives in literature, art, movies, television, and more. In his Pastor Stephen Grant Novels, Ray Keating not only offers action, multi-layered characters, romance, intrigue, mystery, and edge-of-your-seat stories, but also a conservative protagonist, an unabashed embrace of Christianity, respect for the military and clandestine services, and some wrestling with big ideas, such as terrorism, politics and money, religious liberty, militant secularism, and moral relativism.

Ray Keating’s MURDERER’S ROW, THE RIVER, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, ROOT OF ALL EVIL? and WARRIOR MONK focus on a character who was a Navy SEAL, served as a CIA operative, and is now a pastor who serves both God and country.

Consider the following from a Washington Times review of THE RIVER by a current pastor and former CIA officer: “How do you handle being a former CIA adrenaline junkie turned pastor? Ray Keating's latest novel, ‘The River,’ takes you on an intriguing summer ride… What Ian Fleming's 007 series has probably done for ex-MI-6 agents and Tom Clancy has done for retired CIA officers, Mr. Keating has done for the minority of former CIA agents who have served their country by working in the intelligence community, but now wish to serve God.”

Regarding MURDERER’S ROW, Kirkus Review says, “Action fans will find plenty to love here, from gunfights and murder sprees to moral dilemmas.”

Pastor Rod Zwonitzer, host of KFUO radio’s “BookTalk,” calls Ray Keating "a great novelist." In a recent "BookTalk" show on MURDERER’S ROW, Zwonitzer declared: “The listeners have to understand that they’re going to get some good theology, they’re going to get some good mysteries, some very well done thriller writing…”

Get all five thrillers at Amazon.

Ray Keating on Par with Tom Clancy

A new 5-star Amazon review of MURDERER'S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL by Ray Keating:

"My review of Keating's previous book noted he was a good author and almost to the level of Clancy. [Murderer's] Row puts him there. The plot is complex and multilayered. The tension is strong. The pace moves well, enough to keep me reading all day in order to finish. As an added plus, the plot involves crooked politicians, conservative philosophy, Lutheran LCMS theology, spies, guns, and -- best of all -- baseball. How could you ask for more?"

Next U.S. President a Stephen Grant Fan?

Could the next U.S. president be a fan of Ray Keating’s PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVELS? U.S. Rep. Peter King seems to be testing the waters as a voice for national security and fighting terrorists.

Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that King likes Stephen Grant. King said, “CIA intrigue, the Vatican, international terrorism and brutal assassinations make WARRIOR MONK a fast-moving, riveting read right out of today’s – and tomorrow’s – headlines. Add challenging religious issues, which the author makes us confront, and you have a brilliant novel. Ray Keating knows what he is writing about and writes it extraordinarily well.”

Get all four PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVELS – THE RIVER, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, ROOT OF ALL EVIL? and WARRIOR MONK at Amazon.com.

Conservatives Love Stephen Grant

Are you a conservative looking for engaging and exciting storytelling, but tired of having your views and values bashed in popular culture? Then Ray Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant novels – WARRIOR MONK, ROOT OF ALL EVIL?, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, and THE RIVER – are for you. 

Take it from David Keene, who is the editorial page editor at The Washington Times, and the former president of the American Conservative Union and the NRA: “Thriller and mystery writers have concocted all manner of main characters … but none has come up with anyone like Stephen Grant, the former Navy Seal and CIA assassin, and current Lutheran pastor. Grant mixes battling America's enemies and sparring with enemies of traditional Christian values, while ministering to his Long Island flock. The amazing thing is that the character works. The Stephen Grant novels are great reads beginning with ‘Warrior Monk,’ which aptly describes Ray Keating's engaging hero.”

Conservative Fiction Counterculture and Pastor Stephen Grant Novels

Is conservative fiction part of a new counterculture? The debate goes on at National Review.

If so, count Ray Keating’s PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVELS as part of the movement.

Former American Conservative Union and NRA President David Keene says, “The Stephen Grant novels are great reads beginning with ‘Warrior Monk,’ which aptly describes Ray Keating's engaging hero.”

In a Washington Times review, Pastor and former CIA analyst Kenn Blanchard writes: “Ray Keating's latest novel, ‘The River,’ takes you on an intriguing summer ride… Mr. Keating also allows you to discover how each of his characters tick in a style and tone reminiscent of some of the best-loved books of all time.”

Keating has been called “a great novelist” by the host of KFUO’S “BookTalk” radio, with other Amazon.com reviewers comparing his thrillers to the works of Clancy, Ludlum, Grisham, Cussler, and Morrell.

Join the new counterculture, read all four thrillers – WARRIOR MONK, ROOT OF ALL EVIL?, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, and THE RIVER.