CHECKMATE.

Cameron Talbot Mystery #1

by Karna Small Bodman

Dr. Cameron Talbot has invented a breakthrough technology to defend against cruise missiles. But she needs support from skeptical company officers, funding from a reluctant Congress, and help from the White House to develop her life-saving project. Lt. Col. Hunt Daniels, detailed from the Pentagon to the White House National Security Council to investigate Dr. Talbot’s work, sees the potential of the invention. The fact that he’s attracted to the brilliant scientist adds one more dimension to his interest in her work.But disaster is brewing overseas as militants in the disputed Kashmir region of India steal a series of missiles from sympathizers in the Pakistani military and launch one against India. At the same time, they send one of their agents to Washington, D.C., to steal Dr. Talbot’s technology so they can protect themselves when their enemies retaliate.The scientist and the NSC staffer find themselves enmeshed in terrorist plots and political wrangling at the highest levels. With scenes in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Capitol Hill, Georgetown restaurants, and Washington dinner parties, as well as action in Kashmir, New Delhi, and at the Taj Mahal, the tension and intrigue escalate until two nuclear-armed countries stand at the brink of war.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery Thriller

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Karna Small Bodman served in The White House for 6 years - last post: Senior Director of the National Security Council. She was also on the air for 15 years as a TV News Reporter and Anchor in S.F., L.A., and D.C. Now she's writing political thrillers based on her White House experiences. On tour, she has given over 80 speeches to groups nationwide."

Series:
* Cameron Talbot Mystery
* Samantha Reid Mystery

Reviews

[Kent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too mushy of a love story, not too technical of a military hardware story, not too dramatic of a spy story. I expected more from an author who was "in the White House."

[William Blackwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checkmate, a political thriller by Karna Small Bodman, has a little bit of everything. A breakthrough technology that can lock on to cruise missiles and redirect them away from their intended targets. White House stereotypes. White House intrigue. A romance brewing between a tough, intelligent yet vulnerable and sensitive female scientist, and a no-nonsense take-charge Lt. Colonel. And last, but not least, a terrorist plot to destroy thousands of people.

The fast-paced plot rapidly unfolds when it’s learned a terrorist is trying to steal the cruise missile defense technology and also launch cruise missiles at its enemies. The terrorist will stop at nothing to get the technology, even if it means killing scientist Doctor Cameron Talbot and anyone else who tries to stop him.

Checkmate is tightly written and informative, elucidated from an insider’s view of the inner workings of the White House. I love Bodman’s writing style. Clear and concise and she keeps the story moving, expertly skipping extraneous detail in favor of keeping the tension ratcheting up scene by titillating scene, chapter by engrossing chapter.

A fine effort for a debut novel. Recommended.

[Lisa Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the earlier edition of this book but I really like this new edition. Cammie is tough and smart, and I liked Hunt, the male lead, as well. But mostly I enjoyed the author's insights into the India-Pakistan conflict, particularly over Kashmir, which I've been following in the news.

[Military Writers Society of America (MWSA)]

MWSA Review

Checkmate is the first book in Karna Small Bodman’s White House National Security Series and introduces readers to Dr. Cameron Talbot, a young American scientist who creates a weapons technology to combat cruise missiles by intercepting them and returning to sender. The book starts off with a bang (literally) when a missile from an unknown source destroys an army base in India, impacting the tenuous relationship between India and Pakistan. America scrambles to defuse the situation, sending a special envoy and a team of experts, along with Dr. Talbot and her untried invention. The action is nonstop, as unidentified terrorists continue to wreak havoc overseas while concurrently targeting Talbot in America. Spies, stolen missiles, traitors, congressional shenanigans, and imminent danger round out the mix.

Using her insider knowledge from serving in various capacities on Ronald Reagan’s White House staff, Bodman crafts a plausible plot with dynamic characters. The entertainment value is almost overshadowed by the educational value in some places, though, as we learn more about backstories and bunny trails without advancing the plot at times. One last polish by a proofreader would have caught a number of misspellings and missing words, although these small infractions did not impede the read.

Checkmate is an enjoyable and fast-paced journey that will initiate readers into some of the ins and outs of Washington’s political scene while taking us to other countries as well. 

Review by Betsy Beard (August 2019)

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Bodman was one that I had a little trouble reading. I finished it and enjoyed it but the plot and storyline got a little sidetracked for me by the government speak and military speak. I know, I know it was a story which involved the government and military,but sometimes for me anyway, they seemed to get in the way of the plot.

Good characters, good plot, the good wins over evil in the end.

A good read.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Checkmate by Karna Small Bodman. The characters were great and the story thrilling, didn't want to put it down. It read much easier than I imagined! Given the authors actual life experience, I think that you really felt like you were there, in Washington, in the White House as it actually is. I think that is why the book read so easily. I look forward to reading other books by this author in the future.

[Gary Sedivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Female scientist protagonist - kind of a (mild) scifi mystery. Couple of good twists in the story line. Not bad.

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average.

[Deena Scintilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slow going on this and I may abandon it. I just can't get into it and the stereotypes are irritating.

Abandoned and stopped 1/2 way thru for the above reason.