Gauntlet

📘 About This Book

After stopping a robbery in progress, Elliott Cronholm is approached by someone wishing help him become a costumed vigilante crime-fighter. After refusing, his fiancee is attacked in their home by a stalker. In the wake of the attack, Elliott accepts the role he had been asked to play. While still learning the use of the costume and weapons he has been given, Elliott must track down and stop the first man put on the streets of the city by the same woman - a man with his own warped moral code who relishes killing the criminals he fights, a man who wishes to kill Elliott Cronholm as well, upon learning of Elliott's new role.

📖 Summary

Scott Harper's 2007 novel Gauntlet plunges readers into a dark and gritty exploration of vigilantism, morality, and the heavy personal cost of fighting crime outside the boundaries of the law. Spanning 184 pages of brisk fiction, the narrative centers on Elliott Cronholm, an ordinary man whose life is forever altered by a sudden, heroic act. The story begins when Elliott manages to stop a robbery in progress, showcasing a hidden courage and capability that immediately draws the attention of mysterious outside forces. Following this incident, a shadowy figure approaches Elliott with an unusual and provocative proposition: they wish to help him transform into a fully costumed vigilante crime-fighter, equipped with specialized gear and a mission to clean up the city. Initially, Elliott resists the temptation, choosing to decline the offer and stick to his normal, peaceful life with his fiancée. However, reality violently shatters that peace soon after his refusal. A relentless stalker targets Elliott's fiancée, launching a terrifying attack right inside their own home. The trauma and vulnerability of this harrowing event act as a catastrophic turning point for Elliott. Overwhelmed by a desire for protection, justice, and retribution, he reconsiders the earlier offer. He ultimately accepts the role he had previously rejected, stepping into the world of costumed vigilantism with the support of his unseen benefactors. Now suited up and armed with advanced weapons, Elliott is thrust into a steep learning curve, struggling not only to master his new equipment and tactical skills but also to reconcile his conscience with the violent reality of the path he has chosen. As Elliott navigates his fledgling career as a crime-fighter, a much larger and deadlier threat emerges, forcing him into a high-stakes confrontation. The same woman who recruited Elliott had previously unleashed another man onto the city streets. This rogue predecessor operates under his own deeply warped moral code, reveling in the thrill of killing the criminals he encounters rather than merely stopping them. Upon learning of Elliott's existence and his newly minted role as a vigilante, this lethal adversary sets his sights on a singular goal: hunting down and eliminating Elliott Cronholm. This sets the stage for a tense narrative clash between two differing approaches to vigilante justice. Elliott must race against time to track down this psychotic killer before the killer reaches him, testing every ounce of his new training, his resilience, and his fundamental humanity in a battle for survival.

🎯 Key Lessons

⚖️ Pros & Cons

❓ FAQ

💬 💬 Reader Comments (0)