The Valley of Shadows: A Novel by Mark Terry (Oceanview, $25.95, 291 pages)
Mark Terry, author of the novels The Fallen and The Devil’s Pitchfork, has produced a “ripped from the headlines” novel about terrorists acting in the U. S. In The Valley of Shadows, members of Al-Qaeda plan to simultaneously attack five American cities: Washington, D. C., New York City, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. So it’s up to five-person teams assigned to each of the targets to find the terrorists hiding in plain sight, and interfere with their plans to use dirty bombs and maybe nuclear weapons.
Our protagonist, Derek Stillwater, a wild, wooly and instinct-based troubleshooter for the Department of Homeland Security, is assigned to the L. A. team. Derek and his four team members (who will be under the leadership of Cassandra O’ Reilly, Ph.D., of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; a one-time flame of Stillwater’s who has little love or use for him now) have just 48 hours to complete their impossible mission. Oh, and if this isn’t enough to heap on their plates, it seems that the terrorists plan to destabilize the U. S. national election by assassinating one of the two major party candidates for president. The candidate plans to arrive at LAX for a previously scheduled southern California campaign stop.
Start reading this unique thriller and you’re likely to put almost everything else aside for the next 48 hours, or less, in real-time. It’s an e-ticket, fast pass, wild ride from start to finish – from Islamabad, Pakistan to Santa Monica – that never takes a wrong turn. Author Terry has done his homework, having been briefed by members of the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration (an air traffic controller has a key role in the story), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It’s clear that he – like his alter ego Derek Stillwater – has friends in high places, and he makes full use of inside information in the crafting of this all-too-realistic tale.
If you’re a fan of authors like Michael Connelly, Joseph Finder and David Baldacci, you may be ready to join the Mark Terry fan club… And unless you plan to purchase a new Porsche Cayman S, you’re not likely going to experience a better ride. Trust me on this.
Highly recommended.
Joseph Arellano
A review copy was provided by the publisher. The Valley of Shadows was released on June 7, 2011. “Terry mashes the action pedal to the floor in this solid Derek Stillwater novel.” Publishers Weekly
Joseph's Reviews 