Current day: The world is coming out from under both the covid pandemic and a presidency that fanned the flames of division. The new president it a young and self-made business success. One of those natural leaders. Alec Christensen.
(You’d need to read Jack Carr’s earlier books to see what simmers insider a man like James Reece. Is he an amoral executioner or a skilled operative whose spur of the moment decisions, which are sometimes flirting with being illegal, always seem to favor US interests?)
After the preamble about the new President's history, we witness Reece undergoing a lie detector test for reinstatement into the CIA (That Q/A sort of summarizes Carr's first 3 books). Practically every answer is labeled ‘deceitful’. The guy Reece will be reporting to ignores the test results and hires him.
While Reece is at The Farm getting reacquainted with Company guidelines, he is called out for a meeting where he is transported to Camp David at the specific request of President Christensen. They meet in the President’s private cabin; probably the only place on the planet where what the President does and says is not recorded. The President wants to sell Reece on an operation that will be known only to the two people in that cabin. After taking office, the President reviewed all the materials related to 9/11 including highly classified documents where he finds out that the Towers came down not because of the actions of 18 hijackers, but also the names of those behind the scenes who help make it happen. Some are sleeper cells still in the US, but the important people, those that made the go/no go decision, are still n the Iranian hierarchy. Christensen wants his vengeance for Jen’s death and after learning about how Reece works, he gives Reece a list of names and the freedom to do what has to be done.
Remember, 'current day' is 20yrs after 9/11 and terrorists see the symbolism of returning to their ways on anniversaries. The Iranians have watched how the Great Satan operates on all levels. And the US response to covid has shown them that the best weapon to bring down the US is biological. And what they have managed to acquire is a virus called Marberg Variant U. A hemorrhagic virus with a fatality rate of 90%, far more vicious than Ebola. A plan has been developed to weaponize the virus, activate sleeper cells, grow the virus and stealthily smuggle it into the US to be released in Richardson, TX and Denver.
As Reece tracks down the first couple names on his list, the virus is released. His work has now increased a 1000-fold as his first task for the President intersects the developments with the virus. Part of the problem is that there is a deeply hidden set of procedures to deal with containment and eradication of such a biological weapon on US soil. And the time is running out for the President to make a decision that’ll effect millions.
This is a big story with multiple layers, dozens of good and bad primary characters, complex decisions, political manipulations, and heroes across the board. Yep. It's a big story (and book as it clocks in at 524 pages). And Carr pulls it off like a seasoned pro and not an author with just 3 books to his credit. Not to mention that his 20-yr career as a SEAL means he has the chops to assemble such a complex story.
Set aside some time because this races ahead like a runaway train. ‘Can’t put it down’ is too trite a phrase. Intense? Oh yeah. Insanely intense. The plot (and body count) keeps building as Reece races against the clock to save the President from having to make a nightmare decision. This is a real winner for those who like thrillers that cross medical, intelligence, and political lines.
And I’m not sure how many people read an author’s acknowledgement, but I do. And it’s a doozy – 13 pages worth.
And as I was sitting down to write this, I noticed that it is an Emily Bestler Books title. Why am I not surprised?
East Coast Don
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