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By A Thread
Air Force One is down. The President is dead. The VP's motorcade speeds him to the White House, but a rogue delivery truck slams his limo and leaves him in a coma. The work of terrorists is evident, but the sophistication and planning suggest the involvement of a foreign government.
The Speaker of the House prepares to assume command, but the Supreme Court rules to overturn the Presidential Succession Act and limit succession to members of the Cabinet only. The Secretary of Defense becomes Acting President and quickly declares martial law. A constitutional crisis looms, as the Pentagon asserts control and armed military contractors police the land.
The CIA pursues the one loose end the attack's perpetrators left hanging: at the very moment the President's plane was shot down, one of the terrorists placed a call to a mysterious Kuwaiti in Vienna.
They find the perfect asset in Kevin "Red" Davis. Through his Mormon missionary work in Vienna, Davis is already on a first-name basis with the Kuwaiti.
But Davis finds the Kuwaiti to be an enigma and is ultimately taken in by his charm. A bond between the two results. When the moment comes to act, Davis is torn by his many loyalties. Whom does he betray? His friend? His country? His church? Or does he sacrifice all and betray himself?
The Speaker of the House prepares to assume command, but the Supreme Court rules to overturn the Presidential Succession Act and limit succession to members of the Cabinet only. The Secretary of Defense becomes Acting President and quickly declares martial law. A constitutional crisis looms, as the Pentagon asserts control and armed military contractors police the land.
The CIA pursues the one loose end the attack's perpetrators left hanging: at the very moment the President's plane was shot down, one of the terrorists placed a call to a mysterious Kuwaiti in Vienna.
They find the perfect asset in Kevin "Red" Davis. Through his Mormon missionary work in Vienna, Davis is already on a first-name basis with the Kuwaiti.
But Davis finds the Kuwaiti to be an enigma and is ultimately taken in by his charm. A bond between the two results. When the moment comes to act, Davis is torn by his many loyalties. Whom does he betray? His friend? His country? His church? Or does he sacrifice all and betray himself?
- GenresRomanceGayM M Romance
290 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2010
141 people want to read
About the author
Marty Beaudet
5 books43 followersMarty Beaudet has worked in the communications field for 29 years, as an actor, writer, photographer, graphic designer, content creator, editor, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker. His current focus is on narrative fiction, in print and on film.
He is the author of three books, "By A Thread," "Losing Addison," and "Senseless Confidential" (writing as Martin Bannon), and he is the founder of FauxMeme Productions, a film, video, and audio production company in Portland, Oregon.
He is the author of three books, "By A Thread," "Losing Addison," and "Senseless Confidential" (writing as Martin Bannon), and he is the founder of FauxMeme Productions, a film, video, and audio production company in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 8, 2014
I won this book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway on 12/17/2010!
I have really mixed feelings about this book. Some parts were amazing and some were completely unbelievable. Okay, I'll go through my thought process on this whole book. Hopefully I can straighten things out in my mind to convey them to you. The whole synopsis of this book intrigued me - what would happen if the president was killed, then the vice president was unable to serve, and what would happen when you found out that someone close to home was involved and maybe responsible? - this is what made me want to read the book (I love CIA/spy/government thrillers). I start reading and I can barely keep track of all of the characters and locations within the first 50 pages. The story is starting to unfold, so I keep reading. It read really easily - then every 10-15 pages, this huge long word would be thrown in and it didn't keep with the pace of the book. Thank goodness I knew what they meant, otherwise, I would have been consulting a dictionary every 5 minutes.
I think what may have really thrown me off initially is that in other books I have read, the paragraphs are together, in this book there is a double space between each paragraph/statement - my mind automatically assumes that the book is going to another location or will be focusing on other characters. This is not the case. It took me a while to get used to that.
Anyway, there is one thing in the book that is so far fetched (in my mind) - and it is the Muslim and Mormon's relationship. It felt forced in the book because it is so far from the realm of possibility. I thought the book was about a govermental coverup and then I'm in the middle of a man realizing he is gay and overcoming all of what he thinks are insurmountable barriers in front of him. To me, it didn't feel like it flowed with the story at all, but took a right hook somewhere in the plot.
All in all, it was an okay book. I really wanted to like it - especially since I was so excited to read it. I give it a 2.5 - not horrible, but not earth shattering story making either.
***Update***
Please read the comments attached to this review. It is the reason that I'm giving the book a 4 star rating ...
I have really mixed feelings about this book. Some parts were amazing and some were completely unbelievable. Okay, I'll go through my thought process on this whole book. Hopefully I can straighten things out in my mind to convey them to you. The whole synopsis of this book intrigued me - what would happen if the president was killed, then the vice president was unable to serve, and what would happen when you found out that someone close to home was involved and maybe responsible? - this is what made me want to read the book (I love CIA/spy/government thrillers). I start reading and I can barely keep track of all of the characters and locations within the first 50 pages. The story is starting to unfold, so I keep reading. It read really easily - then every 10-15 pages, this huge long word would be thrown in and it didn't keep with the pace of the book. Thank goodness I knew what they meant, otherwise, I would have been consulting a dictionary every 5 minutes.
I think what may have really thrown me off initially is that in other books I have read, the paragraphs are together, in this book there is a double space between each paragraph/statement - my mind automatically assumes that the book is going to another location or will be focusing on other characters. This is not the case. It took me a while to get used to that.
Anyway, there is one thing in the book that is so far fetched (in my mind) - and it is the Muslim and Mormon's relationship. It felt forced in the book because it is so far from the realm of possibility. I thought the book was about a govermental coverup and then I'm in the middle of a man realizing he is gay and overcoming all of what he thinks are insurmountable barriers in front of him. To me, it didn't feel like it flowed with the story at all, but took a right hook somewhere in the plot.
All in all, it was an okay book. I really wanted to like it - especially since I was so excited to read it. I give it a 2.5 - not horrible, but not earth shattering story making either.
***Update***
Please read the comments attached to this review. It is the reason that I'm giving the book a 4 star rating ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2011
By A Thread by Marty Beaudet is a tour de force thriller of gripping action. This writer really knows how to research a story and give it accuracy.
It begins with the seeds of terrorism. We start with a prisoner of Gitmo being released but blackmailed to work for the CIA with threats to his family. We see his wife who doesn’t have a clue where he has been; struggling to feed her children and translating for her country to feed her children and fight terrorism. Both are being manipulated by the very government they are so loyal to simply because of their native land. As we delve into the novel we get to know the main character Kevin a missionary of the Mormon Church posted in Germany. Kevin an innocent raised in the Mormon faith he has never been allowed to think of his own sexuality. He is confused and hiding from himself as who he really is goes against church doctrine. Kevin is approached by the CIA to spy on a terrorist suspect Jasim Shammari whom Kevin has met in his missionary duties. Kevin finds himself falling for the suspect and must choose either the suspect his country and religion. The story really take off from there as we find out the president has been killed and the vice president is dead. Who is really behind those acts of terrorism it seems in the novel that the seeds of terrorism are insidiously beginning to germinate in the youth and in desperate people’s lives that are blackmailed by unscrupulous people. However is the real culprit Al Quaida or is something more sinister at play? Does someone want to seize the power of the presidency of the United States for themselves? Could they have engineered all to size that power? Really nail biting suspense and heart-pounding chases as you turn the pages wondering what will happen next. I truly enjoyed this well-crafted story of intrigue. This author is a new favourite of mine and I look forward to anything else he might write.
5 out of five
It begins with the seeds of terrorism. We start with a prisoner of Gitmo being released but blackmailed to work for the CIA with threats to his family. We see his wife who doesn’t have a clue where he has been; struggling to feed her children and translating for her country to feed her children and fight terrorism. Both are being manipulated by the very government they are so loyal to simply because of their native land. As we delve into the novel we get to know the main character Kevin a missionary of the Mormon Church posted in Germany. Kevin an innocent raised in the Mormon faith he has never been allowed to think of his own sexuality. He is confused and hiding from himself as who he really is goes against church doctrine. Kevin is approached by the CIA to spy on a terrorist suspect Jasim Shammari whom Kevin has met in his missionary duties. Kevin finds himself falling for the suspect and must choose either the suspect his country and religion. The story really take off from there as we find out the president has been killed and the vice president is dead. Who is really behind those acts of terrorism it seems in the novel that the seeds of terrorism are insidiously beginning to germinate in the youth and in desperate people’s lives that are blackmailed by unscrupulous people. However is the real culprit Al Quaida or is something more sinister at play? Does someone want to seize the power of the presidency of the United States for themselves? Could they have engineered all to size that power? Really nail biting suspense and heart-pounding chases as you turn the pages wondering what will happen next. I truly enjoyed this well-crafted story of intrigue. This author is a new favourite of mine and I look forward to anything else he might write.
5 out of five
April 6, 2012
Marty Beaudet's espionage thriller is quite an entertaining and fast-paced read. We start with Mormon missionary, Elder Kevin "Red" Davis, proselytizing on the streets of Vienna with his partner, Elder Craig Pearson. They are approached by a young Muslim man named Jassim ... an unusual occurrence, to say the least.
At the same time, the President of the United States is killed, the Vice President rendered comatose, and a conservative Supreme Court throws out the Act of Succession in order to keep a woman from being Acting President.
The remainder of the book deals with how these incidents are related (and they are).
Beaudet brings us directly into two unusual and seldom-discussed worlds: the restrictive life of the Mormon missionary and the equally proscriptive life of intelligence agents. Intertwining the two would seem an unlikely plot, but it does indeed work and keeps the reader right on the edge of the chair.
This book was a real "page-turner" (despite being on my e-reader) for me. I originally purchased my copy at Smashwords, but understand that the work is temporarily only available via Amazon. Highly recommended.
At the same time, the President of the United States is killed, the Vice President rendered comatose, and a conservative Supreme Court throws out the Act of Succession in order to keep a woman from being Acting President.
The remainder of the book deals with how these incidents are related (and they are).
Beaudet brings us directly into two unusual and seldom-discussed worlds: the restrictive life of the Mormon missionary and the equally proscriptive life of intelligence agents. Intertwining the two would seem an unlikely plot, but it does indeed work and keeps the reader right on the edge of the chair.
This book was a real "page-turner" (despite being on my e-reader) for me. I originally purchased my copy at Smashwords, but understand that the work is temporarily only available via Amazon. Highly recommended.
April 1, 2011
Excellent read! As a rule I don't choose political thrillers and admit that I probably wouldn't have read this one if the author had not been a twitter friend. However, I'm glad I did read it even though it scares me to think that something like this story could happen. The book is very fast paced and holds your interest from the very first page, I highly recommend.
January 18, 2011
This book was quite different from the normal conspiracy book. Found it very interesting with enough political and Mormon religion intertwined. How Kevin and Jassim wound up at the end was a surprise.
Would recommend this book to those of you who are interested in a conspiracy book with a twist.
Would recommend this book to those of you who are interested in a conspiracy book with a twist.
January 30, 2011
Enjoyed story but had a hard time following the action at times.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews