Mortal Shield

by Thomas A. Taylor

In the backwoods of a state park, a group of religious extremists train to murder the governor, using state highway policemen for practice. In the State Capitol, security agents practice their formidable protection skills to guard the life of a governor and his family who try to outmaneuver their bodyguards at every turn. When the governor hosts a nationwide governors’ summit, security is taxed to the limit while the extremists infiltrate the gathering to massacre government officials and anyone else in their way. In the real world, public figures are faced with hazardous situations every day. Stalkers, inappropriate or threatening communications, and unwelcome approaches are all part of public life. The fiction thriller Mortal Shield, by protection-expert Thomas Taylor, delves into the hearts and minds of bodyguards, the dignitaries they protect, and the opponents they attempt to foil. Mortal Shield is a realistic and spellbinding portrayal of protection work, which captures the everyday challenge of guarding high-level VIPs. Most “assassin” novels are the Lone assassin stalks VIP; hero stalks assassin; hero is discredited and becomes outcast; hero figures out assassination plot; against all odds, hero lunges in at last moment and foils assassination in front of incompetent bodyguards. You seldom bodyguard orchestrates flawless travel procedures; bodyguard figures out assassination plot among hundreds of false alarms; bodyguard lunges in and saves VIP. Every situation, every person, and each piece of equipment described in this book are truthful depictions of the real world, down to the gritty details of training for everything, planning for anything, and protocol from everywhere—all elements which the protector has to weigh and measure. Readers will never look at public figures or their bodyguards the same way again.

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had the pleasure of meeting the author for lunch, along with my friend Van Riehl. I really enjoyed the book, all the more so because I was familiar with some of the characters.

Taylor isn't Nelson Demille, but he is a pretty good story teller. His time in the Missouri Highway Patrol lends an aura of authenticity to the book his detailed description of the books events were a real pleasure to read.

Looking forward to his next one, due out any time.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put thus book down. I started reading it on Friday night, and finished it on Saturday. I can't wait to read the sequel.