Reviewed by Carol McDermott

Ever been intimidated by authoritarians in uniform, or maybe even in plain clothes? Wonder where “public servants” got the right to be bullies? Were you righteously indignant or mad enough to spit nails? What could you do?

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and deputies from two counties raided Jake Grummond’s dairy, wrecked the homes of his “meskin” workers, and set in motion the destruction of his life. “Informers” fingered the dairy as a drug highway, and Jake wanted to know why.

“The Raid” is set in the Montrose area, with many of the names changed, but still identifiable. The incident which triggered the novel really occurred in 1994 in Olathe. Author Robert Rosenbaum created his characters from people he knew, spinning the stories of several to their inevitable collisions.

Written in the rough language of working men, “The Raid” takes readers through the operation of a dairy, into the lives of people surviving on the ragged edge of economic sufficiency. Jake’s anger, and his physical expression of it, dominates the action. Sheriff C.W. Blakenship serves the law, but rails against the DEA’s abuses.

Rosenbaum, who currently teaches history at Mesa State College, Montrose campus, has written extensively, mostly non-fiction research-based histories. 

“The Raid” is the first of a series of novels he plans on the people of “Mountain View” (Montrose) and environs and their county sheriff. Rosenbaum’s background includes an undergraduate degree from Yale, and PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. He has owned a bar, played rugby and coordinated a congressional campaign. 

“The Raid” runs the reader’s emotions from boiling mad, to sad, to glad the bad guys don’t win, not totally, anyway. And Rosenbaum’s twist at the end catches the reader delightfully by surprise. “The Raid” is available through downtown bookstores in Montrose. 

455 Pages. Publish on demand, although available to order at bookstores.

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