(4.00)323 pages. Acknowledgements.
A British Airways passenger jet suffers engine trouble and makes an emergency landing at a remote Iranian airfield. The passengers are removed from the plane, placed under guard, then transported to another airfield to continue their flight on to Singapore.
But what has become of passenger Zac Miller, who was taking snapshots of Iran when they landed?
Did he disembark in Singapore, or was that an imposter? Did he murder a prostitute there? And did he murder another prostitute in France, before the flight?
Did someone tip off Iranian intelligence that Zac Miller is working for the CIA? Is he in their custody?
What does the CIA think, and will Zac Miller be a pawn to advance someone's career?
That's the set up for this action-packed novel, from an author who has used his real-world experience to pack the novel with authenticity – from hiking through the wilderness to sailing the Atlantic.
Zac Miller is the kind of nice young man who makes good impressions on both young women and older women, but underneath there is a determined survivor tough enough to overcome any obstacles.
Note that the story takes a skeptical approach to the CIA.
Despite the fast pace of the novel, I didn't find Zac Miller terribly interesting as a character. I was bored and almost stopped reading halfway, but then the pace picked up. There is an interesting, somewhat unsatisfying, twist ending that seems to set up a sequel.
I found it difficult to believe Iranian intelligence was so capable. The author does create a memorable villain as an hate-motivated ex-armor officer with half his face scarred.
Realistically, the novel shows Zac forced to become a thief to survive. Not quite your typical hero.
Can you wargame it? The novel has several action scenes that could inspire wargaming scenarios, ranging from one-on-one to squad level.
I'm not sure why I didn't like this novel more. It seems like something I would like, but it didn't connect with me.
Note that this novel was self-published in 2014, then published in this edition by Berkley in 2018.
Reviewed by 
Editor in Chief Bill 
.