First published 2015
President Sally Allworth makes a fateful decision to reestablish America's embassy in Mogadishu just weeks before the election. Her political opponent accuses her of using American lives as campaign props. The criticism proves prophetic when terrorists launch a Benghazi-style assault on the new embassy, taking hostages and leaving most of the staff dead or captured. Station chief Gunter Conner and Marine captain Brooke Grant survive the initial attack and find themselves alone in hostile territory. They become the last hope for rescuing their captured colleagues while a master terrorist coordinates radical Islamic groups from the shadows. As Conner and Grant navigate the dangerous rescue mission, they uncover layers of political betrayal that reach the highest levels of government. The story explores how international terrorism intersects with domestic politics, showing how decisions made in Washington play out in blood on foreign soil.
Genres: american-fiction, suspense, action, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, political-intrigue
Setting: Mogadishu, Washington
Period: 21st-century
Audio CD · Center Street
Content warnings: violence