The Consultant by TJ O'Connor

Businesses are outsourcing all kinds of tasks these days. So why not the CIA? They’ve had Jonathan Hunter (or is it Jonathon Mallory?) under contract for maybe 15 years. He and his older brother Kevin had to make do as high schoolers when their parents died in a car wreck. But after a year in college, Jonathon dropped out and joined the Marines, much to Kevin’s objections. After a few tours in the middle east, Jonathon got recruited to join the Agency, but after one assignment went bad and the press was all over it, he was let go. But almost as soon as he was dumped, he was hauled back to consult for the Agency.

For those 15 years, he and Kevin had no contact. A letter from Kevin arrives from out of the blue asking him to come home so he abandons his current assignment, grabs a half dozen passports and money on his way home.

Home is the hunt country of western Virginia. Winchester to be specific. He gets a text from Kevin with a location to meet. He arrives only to be in the middle of a shootout. Kevin gets shot just as Jonathon arrives and dies in his arms. In his police uniform.

A whole bunch of surprises await Jonathon. After 15 years on no contact, even to the point that most of Winchester had no idea of his existence, Jonathon has a lot to catch up on. Like Kevin’s Iranian wife. An adopted Iranian boy. A decrepit outlying town nicknamed Sand Town. A growing population of middle east immigrants. Some wanting to fit in. Others? Not so much. And they are being helped by a Russian and their own Consultant. All Jonathon wants to know is why Kevin was killed. But circumstances swirl around Jonathon forcing multiple stumbles.

The day after Kevin's death, a shopping mall is attacked. Next day, a school. Next day, Union Station in Washington, DC. Jonathon latches on to a clue each day and ends up in the middle of a slaughter. The cops are curious about Jonathon’s motives. Those attacks are just a distraction for the big assault coming. An attack so heinous that the American public will rise up to take out their vengeance on anyone who appears to be from the Middle East.

Hop on O’Connor’s back and enjoy this ride. Helluva fun tale full of action, layers, deceptions, twists, and surprises. Well worth finding this one, folks. Put the publication date on your calendar. It rocks.

Available 15 May 2018.

ECD