by Gayle Lynds
First published 2003
On Shanghai's waterfront, a photographer dies violently after capturing images of suspicious cargo. Covert-One agent Jon Smith receives orders to investigate a Chinese vessel allegedly transporting chemical weapons components to a hostile nation. The President demands concrete evidence before the ship reaches port. Smith travels to Taiwan to meet a contact who has obtained the vessel's real manifest, but assassins strike first. His partner dies, the documents burn, and Smith barely escapes with his life. He carries only fragments of intelligence and a shocking message: the President's biological father remains alive in Chinese captivity after fifty years. As the cargo ship approaches its destination, Smith must decode the conspiracy before global conflict ignites. His investigation exposes corruption within Washington's power structure, secrets buried deep in China's ruling elite, and an international network pushing the world toward catastrophe. Time runs out as Smith fights to prevent war.
Genres: adventure, suspense, mystery, action, espionage, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation
Setting: China, Shanghai, Taiwan
410 pages · Paperback · St. Martin's Griffin