Although there is a ton of action in this book, it’s the personal interactions of the characters that fill these pages.  Following the lives of two different men from two very different worlds, the uniqueness of each life and the similarities of their passions are beautifully painted for the reader to “see.”  The author, Joel C. Rosenberg, has a brilliant way with words which makes the reader feel as if they are standing in the Situation Room at the White House or being patted down by security before entering the Kremlin.  Containing intrigue in multiple dimensions, this book will keep the reader guessing the entire time.  With an uncanny insight into politics, the depth of this story is like the layers of an onion but taken to an extreme.  Nail-biting would be a fitting description for the suspense this book creates.

Even though this is a first-class spy novel, the author is a Christian writing for a Christian publishing house so don’t be put off by several references by a few of the main characters as they share their Christian beliefs.  The author has not written in a way that is offensive or “in your face” but without a doubt, from a Christian perspective. 

The pacing is addictive and thoroughly entertaining; however, it ends in the worst way!  In order to get the conclusion to the story, it will be necessary to read The Persian Gamble which will be published in March 2019.  This would be a stellar read for anybody enjoying a well-written spy novel.  Joel C. Rosenberg has written at least thirteen fictional books and several have won awards.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None 

Violence/Gore:  An apartment building is blown up, several people & children dead, no physical description of the dead; man dreams of his beloved burning in a fire; report of 2 previous bombings, some gory descriptions, blood, dismembered limb; a massive bomb is found; 2 men murdered, some details of murder; a chapter about a crazy car ride and an abusive 2nd husband who ends up dead, blood mentioned, description of wife who was beaten up; September 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks on the New York Twin Towers and the Pentagon, some description; a chapter about 3 helicopters shot up and shot down, severely wounding people, several dead and dying; man shoots and kills several Taliban terrorists, takes several bullets himself, some gory descriptions; some slightly gross descriptions of an emergency C section; man slaps his wife’s face hard enough that she falls to the ground; a reporter’s husband is murdered, no grisly details; a woman remembers a building that was bombed and people hurt, mention of blood, the smell of burnt flesh, and several body parts; a woman is murdered in a car bombing; an attack on a building with several people, people dead & executed, bloody; a long section about an attack on a house, lots of gunfire, several men killed, mention of blood and dead bodies; a gun battle between people, explosion, death; 2 men executed, blood; another gun battle, people shot & bleeding; airplane shot out of the sky, all believed dead.

Sex/Nudity:  Rumors that 2 men are each having an affair (with different women); several mentions of a live-in mistress.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of family members/children, lies, divorce, mistresses, miscarriage, terrorism, fraudulent & deceptive government officials, government secrets, guns, war, assassination.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Mention of a few men who drink alcohol on multiple occasions.