The Disciple

by Stephen Coonts

First published 2009

Tommy Carmellini receives intelligence that changes everything. Iran sits closer to nuclear capability than American analysts realize, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has crafted a devastating strategy. Twelve warheads wait on twelve missiles, ready to transform Iran into a martyr nation that will ignite global holy war against nonbelievers. The intelligence flows from Iranian dissidents who risk their lives to prevent catastrophe. A brother and sister seek vengeance for their grandfather's death at the hands of religious police, but their personal mission has grown into something larger. They funnel critical information to Carmellini, desperate to stop the attack before their country's leader triggers worldwide conflict. The clock ticks as multiple forces converge. Will American officials trust the dissident intelligence? Can the United States prevent Israel from launching a preemptive strike that could make everything worse? The fate of nations hangs on whether the truth reaches the right people in time.

Genres: military-fiction, adventure, suspense, action, espionage, political-thriller

Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, race-against-time

Setting: Iran

Period: 21st-century

368 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press

Content warnings: violence

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