Found this paperback at Sam's, a Follet novel I'd not read, a saga in one volume, 802 pages, published originally in 2022 this edition in 2023 . A great mystery, action intrigue featuring three dynamic females and a couple stalwart males.
Pauline Green President of the US faces personal domestic challenges with her teenage daughter and with her husband while she faces decisions that can lead the US into nuclear war after tense military operations against North Korea and China. Tamara Levit is a CIA operative assigned to gather intelligence about jihadist terrorists for the French CIA, Direction General de la Securitei Exteriuere (DGSE) in Chad Africa where "everything is the same shade of tan, bleak as a moonscape." Tamara meets a young widow, Kiah, in a village; Kiah dreams of leaving destitution and starvation of her village for France and a better life for herself and young son. Ultimately Kiah's tumultuous, twisted, treacherous brave journey despite the backing out of her brother in law will intertwine her with CIA operations and a new life. Colonel Susan Marcus is page 106, "part of what the US military called a Tier 2 Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force or for short, Special Forces." Abdul is a Lebanese/ US undercover CIA agent in Chad working to find jihadi hideouts and the contact for Tamara and the French. Abdul is operating as a cigarette vendor. Tabdar (Tab) Sadoulis an Algerian French operative with the French CIA, DGSE . Chan Kai in Beijing China is Chinese intelligence, vice minister of international intelligence. Tamara's insufferable boss in the CIA office is Dexter. James Moore is a political opponent of President Paulines and constantly trying to stir public opinion against her until his interpersonal relationships bring him down.
A multitude and more of fascinating characters who keep this novel moving along.
Tab discovers jihadis have weapons made by Norinco a Chinese Industrial group in Niger and lays the intrigue from China to Africa.
Page322 " A lie goes halfway round the world while the truth is getting its boots on."
As with every Follett novel this is outstanding reading. 5*****
BCK COVER
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