Exit Plan: A Novel

by Mike Sixsmith

Bill Sloan, a former British Army intelligence officer and Shahid Al Sheehi, the son of a Pakistani British immigrant are caught up in a breathtakingly ambitious plan for a small Middle Eastern Emirate to seize regional power by acquiring weapons of mass destruction. The destinies of Sloan and Al Sheehi are irrevocably entwined.This novel draws the reader into a realm of political intrigue, characterized by thwarted terrorist plots, international duplicity, and a host of anxious preoccupations including the threat of WMDs. Incredibly timely, as these issues still continue to feature in contemporary headlines, this work acts to set our current perceptions of such issues is context.Well-developed characters populate the pages, living very different lives but influenced by similar factors; a writer in command of his subject matter details their parallel agendas and overlapping imperatives with ease. Informed by his own personal experiences, this novel has a real feel of authenticity, offering an unrivalled insight into the Middle Eastern tensions, which have simmered over the past thirty years, and seeking to illuminate the paradoxes and oppositions of lives ensnared in such realities.

419 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jimmie Kepler · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a several chapters to get into “Exit Plan” by Mike Sixsmith. My ignorance of Arab names, customs and the geography became apparent when I started reading the book. This contributed to my original lack of understanding of what was taking place and my difficulty of initially getting into the book. I am glad I stayed the course. Reading the book enlightened me in these areas.

It is apparent author Mike Sixsmith has a strong personal back in the Middle East. His military, intelligence community, and “been there” back ground are captured on the pages of the book. He does an amazing job of painting descriptions of the various countries. The detail made me feel as if I were there.

The longer I read, the more difficult I found to put the book down. The author has you reliving and walking the pages of the last dozen year’s history. Extremism and Jihadism are explained in a way where I could see how people might get pulled into their sphere. The complexity of the issues embraced give insight into the politics and history of the region.

Mike Sixsmith was written a very detailed, creative work that adds a British element to the assault on the World Trade Center in New York City. You journey into the thoughts and learn the motivations of Shahid Al Sheehi. He is a British Muslim. You share his experience as he moves through his personal spiritual pilgrimage at a London mosque to his metamorphosis as a Jihad terrorist. You join with M16 agent whose is hot on his trail to thwart any more disaster. His name is Bill Sloan.

Whether on the streets of London, in the caves of Tora Bora in eastern Afghanistan, or the creek of Dubai, the action continues building reaching a fiery confrontation in Pakistan. The book is for anyone who loves military-political thrillers. If you read the first twenty-five pages, you will be hooked.