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The Devil's Light
A nuclear warhead disappears. A chilling broadcast follows. A country waits in fear. Yet the broadcast deceives. And, with the world's eyes fixed on America, the true target is dangerously exposed. Agent Brooke Chandler senses the decoy and raises his concern. His superiors are not prepared to listen. Unless he can convince them, one cataclysmic flash of light will signal a dark new dawn of civilization.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2011
95 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
About the author
Richard North Patterson
105 books674 followersRichard North Patterson is the author of fourteen previous bestselling and critically acclaimed novels. Formerly a trial lawyer, Patterson served as the SEC’s liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor and has served on the boards of several Washington advocacy groups dealing with gun violence, political reform, and women’s rights. He lives in San Francisco and on Martha’s Vineyard.
Macmillan.com Author Profile
Awards
Edgar Award, 1980, Best First Novel for The Lasko Tangent
Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, International Award, 1995 for Degree of Guilt
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
Macmillan.com Author Profile
Awards
Edgar Award, 1980, Best First Novel for The Lasko Tangent
Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, International Award, 1995 for Degree of Guilt
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
September 23, 2017
The plot is about a missing nuclear warhead,threats by Al-Qaeda to annihilate USA on the 9/11 anniversary, chaos, mayhem and search for the bomb in the Middle-East. The plot is thin but interspersed with the political history of Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan which makes it interesting. However, at those points, the book drags a bit and the reader tends to get disinterested. The book grips when you follow the bomb on its journey to its destination.
To sum up the book, a cat and mouse game to avert human tragedy of catastrophic proportions.
To sum up the book, a cat and mouse game to avert human tragedy of catastrophic proportions.
February 7, 2013
This is my third Richard North Patterson and he is still to disappoint.
This tells the story of Brooke Chandler, a patriotic C.I.A. agent who comes to know of Al-Qaeda's plan of staging another devastating terrorist attack on the 10th anniversary of 9/11: September 11, 2011. Chandler and his mentor, retired C.I.A. agent, Carter Grey think that the nuclear missile will erase Israel from the map of the earth. However, the C.I.A. officers are paranoid as they still think that Osama Bin Laden (yes, he has a brief appearance as himself in this book) is still targeting the U.S. mainland. So, the mission of Chandler is to prove the C.I.A. officers wrong and so he has to find the whereabouts of the nuclear missiles first and try to spoil the plan of the Al-Qaeda terrorists.
The story is typical of books in this genre that I call as "guy lit." However, what makes this story quite distinct is its being more realistic. It is less exaggerated than his two earlier works that I've read. In fact, it has more talking and explaining of the relationship of Lebanon-Israel-Iraq-US-India-Pakistan on World Terrorism that sometimes it felt like a book in Middle East-Asia Foreign Affairs. However, since I've read too many "guy lit" books, I found myself liking this book for the fresher approach in storytelling.
I am always on a look out for Richard North Patterson's books wherever I visit my favorite second-hand bookstore. He always brings something new to the table for his readers.
This tells the story of Brooke Chandler, a patriotic C.I.A. agent who comes to know of Al-Qaeda's plan of staging another devastating terrorist attack on the 10th anniversary of 9/11: September 11, 2011. Chandler and his mentor, retired C.I.A. agent, Carter Grey think that the nuclear missile will erase Israel from the map of the earth. However, the C.I.A. officers are paranoid as they still think that Osama Bin Laden (yes, he has a brief appearance as himself in this book) is still targeting the U.S. mainland. So, the mission of Chandler is to prove the C.I.A. officers wrong and so he has to find the whereabouts of the nuclear missiles first and try to spoil the plan of the Al-Qaeda terrorists.
The story is typical of books in this genre that I call as "guy lit." However, what makes this story quite distinct is its being more realistic. It is less exaggerated than his two earlier works that I've read. In fact, it has more talking and explaining of the relationship of Lebanon-Israel-Iraq-US-India-Pakistan on World Terrorism that sometimes it felt like a book in Middle East-Asia Foreign Affairs. However, since I've read too many "guy lit" books, I found myself liking this book for the fresher approach in storytelling.
I am always on a look out for Richard North Patterson's books wherever I visit my favorite second-hand bookstore. He always brings something new to the table for his readers.
March 31, 2021
I just can't read any more of this book. The premise is that Al Qaeda has stolen a nuclear bomb from Pakistan and no one knows where they will drop it. It is assumed that they will strike on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
Great idea but so much of the book is blah blah blah about the geo-political history of the region, including the Middle East. After over 125 pages, the book is mostly talk and very little action.
I generally like this author's books but this was a big disappointment. He did a lot a research and he crammed it all in, to the detriment of the plot. The characters are almost an afterthought to his political narrative. I didn't care at all about them, and at that point in the book, I should have begun to.
I was so bored I didn't care if they dropped the bomb on my head. Just make it stop.
Great idea but so much of the book is blah blah blah about the geo-political history of the region, including the Middle East. After over 125 pages, the book is mostly talk and very little action.
I generally like this author's books but this was a big disappointment. He did a lot a research and he crammed it all in, to the detriment of the plot. The characters are almost an afterthought to his political narrative. I didn't care at all about them, and at that point in the book, I should have begun to.
I was so bored I didn't care if they dropped the bomb on my head. Just make it stop.
July 30, 2011
This squeaked out 3 stars for me because of the intersting history involved. This novel is taking place as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches. What do you think old AlQeda is up to? More plans for terrorist attacks. So the hero has to figure out what is going on and save the day. But in the meantime, we learn about Middle Eastern History. This is very interesting, and complicated. There are clans and groups and countries that are mixed and mingled and intertwined. Some have had a bad history with each other for forever, and such. Unfortunatley, we learn this history in a very unrealistic way. The characters of the book who are in the know about history, and the groups involved, etc, sit around discussing the history (for our benefit) as if that is what they would really do if they were together. It really bothered me. It seems fake and hard for me to swallow when served in this way. Another issue that bothered me a lot (maybe I was in a bad mood the whole time I listened to the book) was that the author used the same term over and over and over. Sardonically means mocking for anyone who didn't know (like me). Dude needed a thesaurus or something.
September 27, 2021
Helped understand middle east factions.
April 18, 2014
Richard North Patterson demonstrates his research prowess in “The Devil’s Light.” The novel is a clear look at the massive complexities of international relations, terrorism, religious passion, and clandestine espionage. To create the book, Patterson explains that he relied on a massive network of prominent experts in counter terrorism, intelligence, espionage, and nuclear issues, along with the intricate relationships between Middle East countries and the character of al Qaeda and Hezbollah. The result of his diligence is the realistic and mesmerizing tale he weaves of a stolen nuclear device and the race to both use it and to prevent its deployment.
A nuclear bomb is stolen in Pakistan by a clever al Qaeda terrorist who intends to drop it on a major city with massive consequences of death and destruction. His intent is to avenge past injustices against his people, make a religious statement, and to further advance terrorist ambitions. Word of the theft and the uncertainty of the intended target prompt a massive international search for the weapon and its caretaker. Two stories are really the foundation of Patterson’s novel. The first involves the theft and subsequent movement of the bomb from Pakistan to a launch point in Lebanon. It’s a rugged and clandestine journey involving many modes of transportation over daunting landscapes while maintaining the secrecy of movement, and involving the death of many involved in the scheme to ensure the efficacy of the final act.
The second story concerns an American secret agent of many faces who, along with a female Israeli Mossad agent, are the primary pursuers who don’t have a lot of information to guide their efforts. In fact the decision they make on where to concentrate their efforts raises a lot of doubt in the minds of high level government officials who are desperate to terminate the plot. The two agents must fight this opposition, clouded by their own uncertainties, and, of course, manage the inevitable love affair that seems to be doomed by their cultural differences.
Patterson is a terrific writer, another of the attorneys who gave up lucrative practices to concentrate on writing. His storyline is mostly credible, his skills are awesome, and the suspense is built by his master craftsmanship. His main characters are realistically portrayed, although the bit players strike me as being too numerous with names that are difficult to remember. But to Westerners, that’s the way of the Middle East; confusing in both name and philosophy.
I enjoyed this book and feel somewhat more informed about the complexities of Islam culture, nuclear terrorism, and the intricate network of the espionage community. The realism created by Patterson’s research efforts is palpable and educational.
A nuclear bomb is stolen in Pakistan by a clever al Qaeda terrorist who intends to drop it on a major city with massive consequences of death and destruction. His intent is to avenge past injustices against his people, make a religious statement, and to further advance terrorist ambitions. Word of the theft and the uncertainty of the intended target prompt a massive international search for the weapon and its caretaker. Two stories are really the foundation of Patterson’s novel. The first involves the theft and subsequent movement of the bomb from Pakistan to a launch point in Lebanon. It’s a rugged and clandestine journey involving many modes of transportation over daunting landscapes while maintaining the secrecy of movement, and involving the death of many involved in the scheme to ensure the efficacy of the final act.
The second story concerns an American secret agent of many faces who, along with a female Israeli Mossad agent, are the primary pursuers who don’t have a lot of information to guide their efforts. In fact the decision they make on where to concentrate their efforts raises a lot of doubt in the minds of high level government officials who are desperate to terminate the plot. The two agents must fight this opposition, clouded by their own uncertainties, and, of course, manage the inevitable love affair that seems to be doomed by their cultural differences.
Patterson is a terrific writer, another of the attorneys who gave up lucrative practices to concentrate on writing. His storyline is mostly credible, his skills are awesome, and the suspense is built by his master craftsmanship. His main characters are realistically portrayed, although the bit players strike me as being too numerous with names that are difficult to remember. But to Westerners, that’s the way of the Middle East; confusing in both name and philosophy.
I enjoyed this book and feel somewhat more informed about the complexities of Islam culture, nuclear terrorism, and the intricate network of the espionage community. The realism created by Patterson’s research efforts is palpable and educational.
June 4, 2011
Better as a on a primer on how nuclear weapons could be deployed from Lebanon, The Devil's Light is only a so-so novel. I hate saying this, because I normally enjoy Richard North Patterson's work. This one kept me going because it was jam-packed with interesting information, maps, and theories of things that could happen in the real world. His novel Exile, centered around Israel and Palestine was a much more moving work, while still imparting much about the area and people.
The story moves along at a good clip, but the action overwhelms the characters. There are times when they are making speeches solely to impart information to the reader: a vehicle I understand the necessity for, but, at the same time, find diminishing to the people in the story.
I know that atomic weaponry is and will continue to be a real and present danger. Maybe I am a little burned out on the story line, though. I would like to give this book 3.5 stars: 3 as a novel, but a 4 or maybe even a 5 for information. I recommend this book on the basis that it makes the reader consider how easily we could all go up in a mushroom cloud of nuclear annihilation.
The story moves along at a good clip, but the action overwhelms the characters. There are times when they are making speeches solely to impart information to the reader: a vehicle I understand the necessity for, but, at the same time, find diminishing to the people in the story.
I know that atomic weaponry is and will continue to be a real and present danger. Maybe I am a little burned out on the story line, though. I would like to give this book 3.5 stars: 3 as a novel, but a 4 or maybe even a 5 for information. I recommend this book on the basis that it makes the reader consider how easily we could all go up in a mushroom cloud of nuclear annihilation.
August 27, 2011
This is by far the least interesting story that I’ve ever read on the topic of a possible nuclear strike. The plot could have been quite gripping, a credible threat by terrorists to destroy a city on the 10th anniversary of 9-11. Instead, Patterson tells a story that makes the reader feel they are in a never ending boring conference meeting. There are meetings at CIA, with agents and with terrorists, but most of the time seems to be spent on the minutia of dealing with office politics. What is worse, Patterson spends way too much time preaching his political thoughts regarding how bad Israel is to the Palestinians and how counterproductive this behavior is. This opinion is conveyed by multiple characters in the story just so we don’t miss the lecture. While there may be some truth to the preaching, I don’t want it in the fiction that I read. It’s too bad as parts of the storyline were OK. I give The Devil’s Light only two stars, with one caveat: If you read this book before 9-11-2011 then it may be more interesting as the stories timeline would track with the actual time as this review is written two weeks before September 11, 2011.
November 21, 2012
A bomb is stolen by terrorists intending to use it to attack a city, and this book is the story of the agent setting out to foil them. A fairly engaging, if unoriginal, plot and the hero, Brooke, is much in the same vein as others produced by this author. There is another familiar path when no sooner have we been introduced to Brooke than we are transported back 10 years for the back story. I thought that story of the transporting of the bomb through various countries was more interesting than that of Brooke, the main reason being the conversations/monologues between Brooke and his acquaintances. Luckily there were no donkeys about when these happened or they would be minus their hind legs. The story mixes factual events with the plot, not particularly well - in fact there is an attack on one of the most famous sites in history and the reaction is, to say the least, fairly muted. The tale comes to an end pretty satisfactorily but no more. All in all a reasonably good read but, in the words of the king, it could have done with ' a little less conversation, a lot more action'
August 7, 2011
It took me a while to get into this novel dealing with Osame Ben Laden and how he puts fear in the USA talking about retailiation on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. As the story developed, I started to see that it was more that a book about retailiation but a book dealing with spies and how they operate in different countries and with different identifies. It made me think about what we are being told in the news and the pressure the intelligent gathering people are under as they try to protect us from terrorists.
October 11, 2011
I know this book didn't get very good reviews, maybe because it is so different from his other books. More of a thriller about terrorism and the troubled times of today. It was just so informative about the problems and the people of the Middle East. Loved the plot, loved the action and loved the characters. Got this book from the giveaways.
May 23, 2015
I'm not satisfied
January 1, 2021
This is my first Patterson novel (since completing it yesterday I have embarked on my second). I don't yet have a sense of his novels, whether he composes series, reuses characters, whatever. Upon opening this novel, you get a sense of lived-in-ness with his protagonist, as if he's appeared several times in print already, but the attention given to his backstory provides the competing sense that he's a brand-new character, one the Patterson public has never encountered. Whatever the case, he's compelling.
The story is a different take on the kind of nuclear crisis written about by Tom Clancy in The Sum of All Fears. As in the Clancy novel, espionage takes center stage. Patterson demonstrates a thorough knowledge of foreign policy, religious politics, spycraft and ground combat. He is probably pushing a political philosophy regarding Zionism, but the complexities of the Middle Eastern geopolitical situation are such that conventional good guy / bad guy distinctions are often lost, and even he makes that clear here. (One thing that is true, and which he doesn't state, is that even if the US completely withdrew support from Israel and left it to its surrounding enemies, we would still have enemies ourselves in the region. Our presence on "holy" Saudi soil, in service to commerce, is enough to engender long-lasting resentment on the part of the Wahabbists.)
Politics aside, this is a cracking good yarn, and has that ever-effective "ticking clock" element driving the action.
The story is a different take on the kind of nuclear crisis written about by Tom Clancy in The Sum of All Fears. As in the Clancy novel, espionage takes center stage. Patterson demonstrates a thorough knowledge of foreign policy, religious politics, spycraft and ground combat. He is probably pushing a political philosophy regarding Zionism, but the complexities of the Middle Eastern geopolitical situation are such that conventional good guy / bad guy distinctions are often lost, and even he makes that clear here. (One thing that is true, and which he doesn't state, is that even if the US completely withdrew support from Israel and left it to its surrounding enemies, we would still have enemies ourselves in the region. Our presence on "holy" Saudi soil, in service to commerce, is enough to engender long-lasting resentment on the part of the Wahabbists.)
Politics aside, this is a cracking good yarn, and has that ever-effective "ticking clock" element driving the action.
September 6, 2025
Richard North Patterson has written an exciting, tense, and frightening novel of AlQaeda's plan to release a nuclear bomb over Israel and the efforts of CIA agent Brooke Chandler to prevent this from happening. How the nuclear weapon got into the hands of AlQaeda and the search for those involved by Chandler makes for a terrific story that introduces the determination of the anti-Israeli forces and the efforts taken by them to celebrate the anniversary of 9/11 by bombing Jerusalem and the equal determination of Brooke Chandler to prevent this. His love affair with an Israeli woman adds warmth and realism to thi9s terrific novel.
Written in 2011, THE DEVIL'S LIGHT is a fascinating, frightening novel that could be written today.
Written in 2011, THE DEVIL'S LIGHT is a fascinating, frightening novel that could be written today.
November 14, 2018
The mediocre three stars I awarded The Devil’s Light with, are mainly due to a lack of originality. Anyone who has read the earlier novel Exile by the same author will have a strong sense of déjà vu, especially with the flashbacks. The story itself is pretty good, but gets slowed down significantly with political relations and explanations. Even with all these explanations it is sometimes still hard to follow who’s who and why. Good twist at the end.
September 24, 2018
Three and a half stars. Brooke Chandler was traumatized by the 9/11 attack and consequently joined the CIA. A nuclear weapon is stolen from Pakistan and Osama bin Laden boosts an American city will be destroyed. Brooke believes this a decoy and has a hard time convincing his superiors. However, off he goes to the middle east as time is running out. This novel contains the usual interesting characters but it isn't his usual five star story. Still very much worth reading.
March 18, 2022
Great concept for what should have been a great story but toooo much waffle to fill the pages. I wanted a good story not the complete history of every terrorist organization in the middle East. A short precis would have been sufficient, I was going to give this book 2 stars however the ending did lift it up even though it was predictable. If I had to read this book again I would search out the readers digest condensed version if one has been done.
September 3, 2020
Patterson was one of my favorite authors back when he wrote legal fiction, but his Tom Clancy lite geopolitical thrillers are not worth it to me. I kept reading him out of habit, but I think it's time I broke that habit. This Middle East political intrigue was neither thrilling nor particularly enlightening to me.
August 26, 2023
Chris has been wanting me to read this forever because I like the political thrillers from Joel Rosenberg. This was so cliche, plot armor for the MC, "exotic" female love interest for blonde-haired, blue-eyed MC. Ending was rushed and in a pretty bow... at the expense of the female lead's principles.
November 14, 2023
There are probably better spy stories but the historical antecedents Patterson provides gave me a clearer picture of the complexity of the continual strife amongst the key groups and factions in the Mideast. Even though this book was written years ago it was/is a timely read as the conflict between Hamas and Israel rages today.
April 21, 2024
Very important riviting book. Richard North patterson a this best. First part of book was slow reading explaining history and varied groups in the middle east. As the book proceeds to the events the previous history is needed. The last half of the book is written as a high speed thriller. The lessons learned about the middle east will stay with me. Excellent book
March 17, 2023
This is the least enjoyable book I have read from RNP. That may be due to the fact that I generally don’t enjoy spy type stories. The book did pick up in the last quarter or so. I do however confess that the research that went into this book was phenomenal.
March 18, 2024
I read this a number years ago and was drawn to it again
It’s like this was written yesterday and a learning experience as well as a tale of love. Love of all people. Great read and a great thought provoking travelogue
It’s like this was written yesterday and a learning experience as well as a tale of love. Love of all people. Great read and a great thought provoking travelogue
October 12, 2017
I enjoyed this plot and the characters, after I had made 3 pages of notes of the various people, their agencies, countries and divisions and their alliances so I could follow the plot!
July 9, 2019
Glad it had a love story in it. I was worried at first!
November 5, 2019
A really good read, very topical which made the plot seem totally possible.
February 7, 2021
Patterson is a writer. He’s not a great one, but he’s a good one. His novels are invariably interesting and filled with suspense jThis one is no exception
Read
August 13, 2021DNF
August 31, 2022
It’s an awesome story about the Al Qaeda trying to drop a nuclear bomb and an agent trying to stop them. It was thrilling and fairly accurate historically.
January 16, 2023
Read in 2011. Details an act of nuclear terrorism.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews