Terminal

Commander John Hart #1

by John Leifer

In this chilling prequel to 8 Seconds to Midnight, the most devastating terrorist attack ever recorded on American soil begins and endswithout spilling a single drop of blood. Four jihadists, armed with nothing more than a briefcase and a pen, walk nonchalantly through the country's busiest airports, killing time and killing people. A deadly mist, laden with a universally lethal virus, trails close behind them. Their goal: foment a global pandemic. Their vision: Armageddon, where only the Chosen Ones - those loyal to the United Islamic State - survive. The job of stopping them falls squarely on the shoulders of one man, Commander John Hart, but will he be in time?

Genres: Fiction

376 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2018

About the author

John Leifer has a keen interest in national defense, and has written numerous articles on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. His point of view has been shaped by interaction with key governmental agencies, independent scientists, and noted observers. His interviewees have ranged from the former chief nuclear weapons designer at Los Alamos to Nobel Laureates. Leifer has served on various panels, including a presidential panel charged with investigating the level of information sharing between CIA, NSA, DIA, and other branches of the intelligence community following 9/11. When not focused on national defense, Leifer writes extensively about health care issues. He is the author of two non-fiction books: After You Hear It's Cancer and The Myths of Modern Medicine (both published by Rowman & Littlefield). John is passionate about hiking and photography, and has a number of gallery showings to his credit.

HEALTH CARE BIO:

John Leifer worked for more than 30 years with the major factions comprising healthcare delivery in the United States, including some of the nation’s leading hospitals. Most recently, he served as a senior vice president for a 10-hospital system in the Midwest.

Leifer founded and published The Leifer Report, a healthcare publication that featured contributors ranging from President Bill Clinton to Newt Gingrich.

He has written extensively on healthcare issues and has been published in newspapers and magazines, such as Modern Healthcare, Hospitals & Health Networks, Washington Monthly, and The Kansas City Star. Leifer has also been profiled in several prominent magazines, including Money and Fortune.

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The United Islamic States, led by Ibrahim Almasi Al-Bakr, is setting an attack in motion to bring death to the entire Western world and in its place erect a Caliphate ruled by a prince who would unite Muslims all across the nation. This new Islamic state would be governed by Sharia Law, the true law of every nation. Death of the infidels is forthcoming with only the Chosen Ones, loyal to the United Islamic States, surviving such devastation. Four Jihadists are about to embark on one of the deadliest terrorist attacks to ever touch American soil. With briefcases in hand, they are determined to let loose a deadly virus on the unsuspecting travelers in four of the major airports across the country. Their goal is creating a pandemic that will wreak death and destruction amongst all of the non-believers of radical Islam. Commander John Hart, a formal Navy Seal now serving a counter-terrorism team dedicated to bioterrorism threats against the United States, is tasked with preventing such an event from ever happening. Will Hart succeed in stopping the terrorists or will a global outbreak, the likes of which the world has never seen before, touch our shores and create one of the biggest pandemics the world has ever seen?

Terminal starts us off with a hint of foreshadowing during a presentation at a local university about molecularly engineered bioweapons that could cause devastating losses.. The presentation is being led by Dr. Elizabeth Wilkins, head of the CDC’s bio-safety laboratory. Those present during the presentation include Commander John Hart. He knows all too well that bioweapons are no longer just created in laboratories, but it is also in the hands of terrorists all across the globe. It is really scary when I think about the endless possibilities that could happen in our world today. I think people need to be more aware of the potential for threats to our nation. Prior to the terrorist attack on 9/11, I feel that most people lived in a bubble never thinking for once that something such as a terrorist attack would ever happen on such a grand scale. It is really scary to think of the endless possibilities and the utter path of destruction a deadly virus can cause and the unimaginable number of deaths that would be iminent if something like this were to ever happen. The United States could be completely devastated in a mere matter of months with significant losses to our people. Although, this is a fictitious story it lends an air of realism and the “what if.”

I will admit that when I first opened this book and saw a list of characters, I felt a bit overwhelmed wondering if I was going to remember the names of all the key characters especially since a few of them are cultural names which can be quite daunting being as I am American. I needn’t have worried though because John Leifer crafted highly detailed characters each with their own thoughts and feelings relevant to the character they portrayed in the story. Of course my favorite is Commander John Hart. He is a badass, but yet he has a human side with feelings and desires that are shown through here and there that really made me feel like a can connect with him and root for him as a hero. Ahmed Al Hameed, protege of Almasi Bakr, is just pure evil with so much hatred in his soul. However, Leifer does show a small sampling of his human side when he was bullied as a child for being different. So, in a way, I can see how he turned out to be a bad seed as he grew older.

The plot is super heavy and definitely does not make for light reading material. Leifer really hits home the atrocities committed by terrorists adamant on destroying the world for their idealistic beliefs. Radical Islamists have a skewed sense of what the Quran is and what it means to be Islamic. I really felt as if I learned a lot while reading this story as it really is extremely detailed, which I absolutely loved. I love the slow build up at the start of this book and as the story progresses so did my heart rate. The deeper you get into the story the more intense it becomes and I found myself thoroughly engrossed and heavily invested in the outcome. I also must drive home a point on Leifer really putting it all out there such as the fear, chaos, and utterly heartbreaking moments that defined the story. In many scenes, I felt as if I was actually there feeling the same desperation, horror and uncertainty caused by an act of terrorism.

Terminal by John Leifer is a pulse pounding edge of your seat terroristic thriller set against the backdrop of America and the Middle East. Leifer’s writing is so rich you will get lost between the pages, hoping for the story to never end. I was completely drawn in from the first page and I can truly say this is an outstanding and thought provoking story. I have a feeling each new book in the series will be all five star reads for me. Yes, it is that good!

Terminal is the first book in the Commander John Hart series and it is actually a prequel to 8 Seconds to Midnight., which I will quickly be adding to my TBR. I am highly looking forward to more books in this series. I am well and truly hooked now.

[Willow Moon Greymoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terminal is one of the best works of fiction I have read in years. Well-written plot that will keep readers turning pages and ready for the next book in the series.

The story follows Commander John Hart and his experiences in attempting to stop terrorists from completing their mission to commit a catastrophic bio-terrorism attack on American soil. The story shifts from the perspectives and experiences of several characters from around the globe and they’re efforts to stop the attacks from jihadists working for the United Islamic State. The terrorists prime goal is to stop America in its tracks via a smallpox virus being released into American airports. The jihadists believe that carrying out a terrorist attack of epic proportions will create Caliphate and end the suffering of their people and religion.

While reading this book often I forgot it was a work of fiction considering how easily the acts of terrorism could be carried out in this world is quite sobering and frightening. I truly appreciate the effort John Leifer put into constructing this story with impeccable detail and displaying the global nature of attacks and how simply this horror could become reality in America.

[Rachel Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terminal is an action-packed thriller with a truly scary premise. It follows Commander John Hart in his attempts to prevent terrorists succeeding in their mission to cause a catastrophic pandemic on American soil. The use of point of view shifts throughout the book between characters including Hart, his love interest/senior CDC scientist Dr Elizabeth Wilkins, a variety of terrorist characters and former radical Sayed, who is now working with the US government to help stop the attack (although some characters doubt his trustworthiness). I was not surprised to find when reading the author’s bio that he has a background involving both healthcare and dealing with key government agencies as in the book he convincingly depicts the extreme difficulty government agencies would experience trying to combat such an attack. I was particularly drawn to the character of Sayed and enjoyed following his journey as an inexperienced operative. One thing I would have really enjoyed in the novel would have been an emphasis on a seasoned intelligence professional character who was also a non-radical Muslim. To me, this would have felt like a realistic touch. As this is the first book in a series, however, the author may very well be planning to depict more non-radical Muslim characters in future books.

[Mike Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always suspicious of a book that needs a full list of characters at the beginning of the story, but I needn’t have been with John Leifer’s fabulous novel, Terminal. The story is genuinely exciting as it slowly percolates the threats from fundamentalist and extremist Islamists, to the fatal day in which that threat is realised in four major US airports. It is packed with memorable characters, from a strong SEAL, Commander John Hart to Sayed, an inexperienced operative; from an unflinching and determined US President to a jihadist group of terrorists, with their malignant reading of the Quran bent on destroying not only America but the western world. John Leifer’s story-telling is intelligent, measured, detailed and flawless. With regard to its style and what you can visualise, I’d liken it to a good cross between Hollywood’s Eye in the Sky and TV’s Homeland. You feel you’re really there watching and listening. I highly recommend it. This is the first in a series of John Hart novels, and it whets the appetite for reading whatever else comes from his pen.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am not usually a fan of espionage novels, I found Terminal by John Leifer an amazingly good read, even a downright frightening one. Told primarily from the viewpoint of Islamic terrorists, it explains in horrific detail how easily a devastating biochemical attack on the West could be done, with overwhelming consequences.

One man recruits an elite team of chemists, doctors and financiers from all walks of life to bring about his dream of a united Islam caliphate ruling the world, and easily destroying its enemies. The ease with which he draws such allies is chilling, especially from countries that are allies and opponents. Without giving away too many spoilers, it is frightening because the methodology and potential reality can be easily envisioned taking place today. A real page turner that inspired only a couple of nightmares along the way.

[Caitlynn Akin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this gripping tale, radical jihadists working for the United Islamic State work to create a bio-weapon to help them create their Caliphate. With the help of an ex-soviet viral specialist, they are able to create an extremely fatal, hemorrhagic smallpox that they plan to distribute among busy American airports. John Hart, a rigid American Commander, and a Dr. Liz Wilkens, an intelligent biochemical scientist, must work together to prevent and prepare against this genetically modified virus attack on the United States. The fact that this devastating tale, could easily become a shattering reality in the not too far future, made it that much more dramatic. Terminal was a fascinating story that had me on the edge of my seat. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

[Jennifer Wrage · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very detailed and encouraged me to do more research on what I really do know about ISIS and terrorism in general. I admit that I will not look at people quite the same in airport terminals! Having Muslim family, I felt that this book did nothing to educate about Islam, but to the contrary, fed into many stereotypes. Islamophobia is a real thing - dangerous.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good story. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this new to me author. The story is a grim reminder of what is going on in our world and of the men and women trying to stop it

[Vivek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book if you like Secret operations and even if not this is wonderful writing, moves fast yet captures all the details.
Was recommended to me by a co-worker who finished all 3 book for John Hart.

Starting “8 seconds to midnight” soon

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting writing. Have not read this author before, but will look for future pieces by him. Fast-paced thriller.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smallpox virus attacks 4 airports just like the Corona virus know

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrifying – suspenseful – chilling – The story drew me in and before I knew it I couldn’t put it down. The plan for achieving Armageddon is far too plausible for comfort. It kept me on the edge of my seat. A real page-turner.

The writing is smooth, flowing easily between narrative and dialogue. This is more a plot-driven story versus character-driven. I didn’t feel like I really got to know the characters but it didn’t matter. They were believable and, I am sure, several of the characters will show up in forthcoming books in this series. I did like Sayed even though he left me holding my breath in most of his scenes. No-nonsense Commander John Hart and calm, intelligent Dr. Elizabeth Wilkins, a biochemical scientist, are the ones you want in charge in an emergency.

This book will make you think twice about flying for that next holiday reunion.

[Veronica Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Leifer's "Terminal" is a must read thriller, that reminds me of a Robert Langdon-esque adventure. Although instead of dealing with clues and the Illuminati, the protagonist, Commander John Hart, must deal with trying to thwart an impending terrorist attack by the United Islamic State.
Leifer gives great detail to the characters and setting in his novel. It was almost hard to read at times, because the descriptions and explanation of what a global pandemic would look like along with how the plan would set out was overwhelming and real. Especially when he discussed the outcome of the outbreak, describing in detail the families day to day lives and how it came to an end. I found myself crying at times and on the edge of my seat at others.
This is a must read for all those who enjoy reading thrillers about espionage and bioterrorism. Although it's not usually my go to, I was not disappointed and am looking forward to reading more in the John Hart trilogy.