First published 2012
John Corey arrives in Sana'a with his wife Kate Mayfield, both American agents thrust into Yemen's volatile landscape. Their mission seems straightforward: locate The Panther, a senior Al Qaeda figure who helped orchestrate the USS Cole attack. This terrorist has left a trail of bombings and deaths across the region, making him a priority target for Washington. But Corey and Mayfield quickly realize they've walked into a complex operation where the established players haven't shared the full picture. The local team keeps secrets. The intelligence feels incomplete. The rules of engagement remain murky. As they pursue their quarry through one of the Middle East's most perilous cities, Corey begins to suspect their handlers have their own agenda. The Panther proves as cunning as he is dangerous, and the Americans find themselves exposed in hostile territory. What began as a manhunt transforms into a deadly chess match where Corey and Mayfield must question everyone's motives, including their own government's.
Genres: military-fiction, adventure, mystery, action, espionage, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Sana'a, Yemen
Period: 21st-century
629 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: violence