Silkworm

Twelvers #3

by Kevin Land Patrick

Manipulation for altruistic gain masks greed. Terrorists have committed the unthinkable, nuclear and conventional attacks on the world’s vulnerable infrastructure. A group so powerful that many of the events of the last half-century may be tied to them. Elle Hardwick isn’t the standard CIA operative and her means and methods aren’t conventional. She won’t stop in her hunt for them across the globe and ultimately into the White House. 

1987, the “Tanker War” escalates in the Gulf as the Iran-Iraq War moves into its 7th year. Tankers and their escorts are attacked, crashing the world’s markets. Black Monday. 2010, the unexplained Flash Crisis nearly triggers a global recession. And two years ago, nuclear terrorism against America’s vulnerable water and electrical infrastructure triggers recession and massive loss of life. Now, an attack by a rogue North Korean artillery base decimates Seoul. All the attacks are traced to one organization, led by men who hide in plain sight.

As the attacks escalate, the world’s intelligence agencies are infiltrated, compromised. For Elle Hardwick, an CIA officer unconventional in every way, the solution is simple, assemble trusted team members and go dark from Langley before the group launches an attack that will push the world into economic ruin. Hours are all that Elle has as she hunts them across the globe and ultimately into the White House.

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2018

About the author

Kevin Land Patrick is a prominent water attorney, highly requested international speaker on water law and water infrastructure, and an acclaimed author of several non-fiction works and three action-packed thrillers. As lead counsel on more than forty appellate cases, he has appeared before many state supreme courts, federal courts, and the US Supreme Court.

When Kevin isn’t reading or writing novels, he enjoys life as an avid outdoorsman, Divemaster, fly-fisherman, chef, and wine connoisseur with a penchant for travel. He does his best writing in the Arizona desert and at home on his horse ranch outside of Aspen, Colorado, which he shares with his wife – an accomplished furniture designer and creator, his college-aged son, and a dog named Jack Bowrrr.

KevinLandPatrick.com
waterlaw.com
facebook.com/KevinLandPatrick
twitter: @KLandPatrick

Reviews

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a first-class conspiracy thriller with the highest possible stakes. Fans of Brad Meltzer and Mark Greaney will fall hard for Kevin Land Patrick.

SILKWORM finds America still recovering from debilitating attacks on its water and electricity infrastructure, which resulted in thousands of deaths and a lingering radioactive zone in the southwest. Nearly two years later, CIA operative Elle Hardwick continues to pursue a group known as the Twelvers. The group, believed to have been led by a global syndicate of twelve wealthy industrialists, hardly fits the standard profile of a terrorist organization.

According to Hardwick’s theory, the group had been in existence for at least 70 years. Before its most recent attack, the group is thought to have caused attacks against US ships in the Persian Gulf during 1987 in the Iraq-Iran war, two stock market crashes and innumerable other world events. Four of the 12 members were dead thanks to a CIA operation, and among the survivors are an unknown American, a Russian and a Swiss national. With eight members in total still on the loose, a new array of threats are in the group’s crosshairs, including the nation’s capital.

Hang on to your hat!

[Alexander Lightstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Silkworm” is a deceptive title for this blockbuster!


The author effectively describes a clever, patient and vicious organization which can challenge any nation on earth. The combat scenes are realistic as are many of the high tech weapons, and many “good guys” are killed. Not surprising in this scenario. Personally I think that there were instances where the FBI/CIA teams did not attack soon enough, and where captured terrorists were treated too leniently given the circumstances, but the author called it based on his knowledge.
The plot involved criminals at many places in the world so it was certainly remarkable that the author Kevin Patrick was able to keep the reader informed and engaged throughout the novel. I enjoyed the story, but it is disturbing given the reality that many Leaders of terrorist organizations are immensely wealthy just as described here.

[DH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good!

Couldn’t put it down. One of the best books I have read all year.
Can’t wait for Patrick’s next book.