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John Decker
THE WAVE: A John Decker Thriller
When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses. Some call it aesthetic destruction. Following the theft of eight kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb. While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker – assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson – believes the bomb's true destination is La Palma, in the Canary Island chain. Now, Decker and Swenson only have six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard. Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . (THE WAVE) races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2007
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
J.G. Sandom
14 books23 followersJ. G. Sandom, often referred to as the "Father of Interactive (Internet) Advertising," co-founded the world's first interactive advertising agency, Einstein and Sandom Interactive (EASI), in 1984, before launching an award-winning writing career. He is the author of nine works of fiction, including THE GOD MACHINE; GOSPEL TRUTHS; THE WALL STREET MURDER CLUB; THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER; KISS ME, I'M DEAD; and CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.
Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery...captivating and engrossing."
Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent, called THE WALL STREET MURDER CLUB, "A gripping story, well-told...not only a tale of murder and betrayal, but an intelligent exploration of issues of male identity." Kirkus termed it, "A Big Apple Deliverance, endowing New York culture with all the corrosively dehumanizing power of Dickey's wild nature." And Booklist said, "(Sandom) writes with stunning elegance and nearly poetic beauty...A sure hit with any suspense reader."
While known mostly as a writer of thrillers and mysteries, Sandom is also the author of several award-winning Young Adult (YA) novels.
Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, "A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, "Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats."
Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I'M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association, and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.
The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the novel, "a subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "KISS ME, I'M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." And Horn Book called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story...(and) a tightly wound novel."
THE GOD MACHINE was released in May, 2009. Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) called THE GOD MACHINE, "a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage." Bookpage.com called the novel "a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end." And the Historical Novels Review said, "THE GOD MACHINE is a very impressive historical thriller!"
Sandom’s most recent novel, THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER, was reissued in June 2010. Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle...(and) brains...Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."
Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller...(and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery...captivating and engrossing."
Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent, called THE WALL STREET MURDER CLUB, "A gripping story, well-told...not only a tale of murder and betrayal, but an intelligent exploration of issues of male identity." Kirkus termed it, "A Big Apple Deliverance, endowing New York culture with all the corrosively dehumanizing power of Dickey's wild nature." And Booklist said, "(Sandom) writes with stunning elegance and nearly poetic beauty...A sure hit with any suspense reader."
While known mostly as a writer of thrillers and mysteries, Sandom is also the author of several award-winning Young Adult (YA) novels.
Publishers Weekly called CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER, "A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s...Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, "Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England...Readers will be on the edge of their seats."
Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, KISS ME, I'M DEAD was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association, and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.
The Washington Post said, "(Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the novel, "a subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "KISS ME, I'M DEAD tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." And Horn Book called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story...(and) a tightly wound novel."
THE GOD MACHINE was released in May, 2009. Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) called THE GOD MACHINE, "a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage." Bookpage.com called the novel "a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end." And the Historical Novels Review said, "THE GOD MACHINE is a very impressive historical thriller!"
Sandom’s most recent novel, THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER, was reissued in June 2010. Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle...(and) brains...Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead...A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 27, 2011
The Wave by J.G. Sandom is a relentless and breathless thriller about FBI code breaker John Decker trying to prevent a Jihadist eco-terrorist named El Aqrab from setting off a mega-tsunami aimed at destroying the Eastern Seaboard. Couldn't be more timely given what's been happening in Japan. Except this book deals with a mega-tsunami, more than ten times taller and more powerful than the tsunamis we've been watching on the news from Tōhoku, Japan. Incredible. Great characters and relentless action. I don't understand some of these other reviewers. What's with the two stars? Maybe they just didn't get it. I loved this book.
September 23, 2011
From the moment I joined this exciting adventure I was swept away by the fast moving power of the tsunami. It drew me in and brought me from the cosmopolitan glamour that is the heart beat of NYC, to the forgotten out posts that are the dwelling places of those left to survive at fringes of society. I learned many, much needed lessons about our world, our global community as well as my own inner strengths and fragility. The monsters that steal power and take our existence into captivity are brought to light, as well as the balance between the delicate nature and strength of the human mind. I knew that this was a great book when I decided that my world would forever be a different place...and I was only half way through the story.
September 21, 2011
A fast paced thriller.
This fast paced thriller is extremely topical, with its backdrop of eco-terrorism and tsunamis (potentially caused by a nuclear explosion). I agree with some of the other reviews saying that this story seems to be very cinematic, and would make one heck of a movie, a great adventure that would keep any audience poised on the edge of their seats, waiting to see what happens next.
At the same time, the author does not make the mistake of neglecting character development for mere plot development. If you don’t grow to love or at least care for some of the characters in a story, then who cares if they succeed in their quests or get blown to bits. The author takes some initially improbable premises and then makes them believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
This fast paced thriller is extremely topical, with its backdrop of eco-terrorism and tsunamis (potentially caused by a nuclear explosion). I agree with some of the other reviews saying that this story seems to be very cinematic, and would make one heck of a movie, a great adventure that would keep any audience poised on the edge of their seats, waiting to see what happens next.
At the same time, the author does not make the mistake of neglecting character development for mere plot development. If you don’t grow to love or at least care for some of the characters in a story, then who cares if they succeed in their quests or get blown to bits. The author takes some initially improbable premises and then makes them believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
September 23, 2011
Wow! What an intense book...there is so much information and yet the characters are so developed they almost seem like real people. The author did a great job researching and incorporating events into the story while keeping it alive and fast pace. I especially liked the main characters. John Decker was exceptional (as a good lead character should be) and yet the author didn't shy away from showing his weaknesses and human nature which was what I found most refreshing. Ben Seiden was also a great character casting a real, human light on the kind of agent that tends to get an almost superhuman reputation. Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it as a thrilling read.
September 14, 2011
I bought “The Wave” because I am a huge fan of action packed spy thrillers. This is the first time that I have read Sandom's work, and I was impressed. The plot is exciting, intriguing, mysterious and dangerous. I loved this book, it is a real page turner.
“The Wave” is a roller coaster ride of twists and turns, through Bermuda, Cairo, Beersheba, Damscus, Kazakhstan, New York City, Atlantic City, La Palma and Tel Aviv. A love story evolves between FBI code breaker John Decker and Oceanographer Emily Swenson – who are fighting a real terrorist plot of a mega-tsunami that is being executed by El Aqrab.
“The Wave” is a roller coaster ride of twists and turns, through Bermuda, Cairo, Beersheba, Damscus, Kazakhstan, New York City, Atlantic City, La Palma and Tel Aviv. A love story evolves between FBI code breaker John Decker and Oceanographer Emily Swenson – who are fighting a real terrorist plot of a mega-tsunami that is being executed by El Aqrab.
February 12, 2012
This non-stop thriller centers on terrorism, a real life concern in today's world. But the story is told unlike any other I have ever read. It is a strange, creative, and definitely entertaining book. The author demonstrates his knowledge and experience in many facets throughout the book. While it is fiction, I learned a few things. There are some scientific details which makes The Wave a combination of plausible events and fantastic surrealism. I like that the characters did not get loss in this amazing plot. Readers will see that these characters are not robots but flawed relatable human beings. If you like thrillers, you will not be disappointed.
March 13, 2012
The Wave is a thrilling tale of several lives converging under a terrorist plot. I found the book to be highly entertaining, I could not put it down. The characters are relatable and complex and I found myself thinking of them even after I had finished the book. The plot drives the reader through the novel at a fast pace. There is tons of scientific detail woven into the plot which creates an eerie sense of reality. I often times found myself thinking, "This sounds like what I just read in the paper." It's a great read and I recommend it to those who enjoy thrillers.
September 15, 2011
The Wave is a great adventure/thriller that keeps you at the edge of your seat. A bit segmented in the beginning, but the plot quickly comes together and thickens keeping you wanting to know more and more. Very realistic and well researched details make you feel as if you are in the story seeing and experiencing what the characters are. A bit gruesome at times, but it all comes together to make one great story!!
September 7, 2016
Whew!! After finishing this book, I felt as though I'd run a race! Once again, JG Sandom has taken us on a thrilling ride across the globe. Filled with suspense - and character that you can really believe in - this one will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very first page. Download, sit back and enjoy!!
September 14, 2011
The wave is an action packed thriller that will have your attention from the first page. I typically wouldn't buy this type of book and I finished it in two days!! The plot is great it takes you on a journey of crime, romance and murder. it's an easy read that anyone will enjoy. Get it now!
January 2, 2025
Character names were too hard to follow. Rough story line
September 13, 2010
It was just okay.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews