Summary (Amazon)
When top CIA operative Sam Baker rescues a kidnapped CNN reporter and her cameraman from the hands of Palestinian terrorists, he uncovers a plan to devastate Israel. Unable to stop the attack in time, Israel is rocked to the core as over 4,000 of its youngest and most vulnerable citizens are slaughtered.
Four years later, retired and enjoying a new life, his own family is slaughtered in a bungled attempt on his life. Dealing with his would-be killers, Sam sends a warning to his brother, Senator Charles Baker, a presidential front-runner, that he too is about to be assassinated. Sam's hunch is right and thanks to the quick actions of a Secret Service agent, the Senator is saved. Sam is left with no choice but to leave his new life and revisit a life he had left far behind.
After the devastating attack on its children, Israel's leaders unleash an old and top secret plan in retaliation - 'Project Ararat'. Rebecca Cohen, mother of one of the slaughtered six-year-olds and ex-Mossad assassin begs to be allowed to help in whatever way she can. With vengeance driving her on, Rebecca uncovers an even greater risk to her country and to America. The terrorists have managed to secure five nuclear weapons and plan to strike Israel and America.
Review.
This page-turner of a book revolves around two people, Sam Baker and Rebecca Cohen, who have both suffered appalling losses in their lives. Sam has taken himself away to lead a new life, whilst Rebecca has committed herself to avenging her son. Sam’s loss, much more recent, drives him to take action against those who would try to eliminate him.
The book is quite complex in the beginning, but once I had the many characters sorted out in my mind, it became compulsive reading. There is very little let up in the action of the book, nor in the connivance of different parties involved who are all playing for very high stakes. At times it is very difficult to tell who can be trusted or who means what they actually say. The greed for power shown by a number of US politicians is quite amazing, vying for the Vice Presidency and subsequently the Presidency is quite amazing. The most amazing part to me, however, is the development of the New Israel – the solution is stunning in its simplicity, but very complex in its achievement, and is so unlikely – but, it works in dealing with the situation, and the author is to be congratulated in coming up with it!
It is a high octane novel that means that I will be returning to this author in the future.