Jackson, Lee 1955–

[A pseudonym]

PERSONAL:

Born November 15, 1955.

ADDRESSES:

Home—New Zealand.

CAREER:

Writer.

WRITINGS:

Redemption (novel), St. Martin's Minotaur (New York, NY), 2007.

Also author of the blog Mouse Musings.

SIDELIGHTS:

Lee Jackson is the pseudonym of the female author of Redemption. Called "compulsive reading" by Keir Graff in a review in Booklist, Jackson's novel is a thriller set in the near future. In the novel, the fear of terrorism has led to a loss of nearly all civil liberties in the United States. The novel revolves around Ben Trinity, who is tortured after being accused of funding a terrorist group. Trinity, who never has a trial, is eventually released as part of a government program that conducts ongoing surveillance of suspected terrorists. Setting out to start a new life, Trinity hitchhikes to the west coast to take a job that is part of his parole. On the way, he stays in Redemption, Montana. A snowstorm, however, causes him to miss his job interview, so he decides to work at the local diner in Redemption instead. Trinity is likable and soon makes friends among the townspeople; however, when people learn of his past, they begin to fear him, even though Homeland Security is monitoring his every movement. Eventually, Trinity learns who his real friends are once it becomes apparent that the government may be setting him up.

"Although confined to laws and technologies that limit the freedom of citizens in the name of government protection, the futuristic elements are well done," wrote Matthew L. Moffett in the School Library Journal. A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that the novel's "embattled characters are … well-drawn and appealing."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August, 2007, Keir Graff, review of Redemption, p. 48.

Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2007, review of Redemption.

Publishers Weekly, August 27, 2007, review of Redemption, p. 61.

School Library Journal, December, 2007, Matthew L. Moffett, review of Redemption, p. 160.

ONLINE

Bookcrossing.com,http://lincolnbookfest.bookcrossing.com/ (May 2, 2008), review of Redemption.

Hebdomeros,http://hebdomeros.blogspot.com/ (May 2, 2008), review of Redemption.

Pop Goes Fiction,http://popgoesfiction.blogspot.com/ (May 2, 2008), review of Redemption.