Book Description: Marc Royce works for the State Department on special assignments, most of them rather routine, until two CIA operatives go missing in Iraq--kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region. Two others also drop out of sight--a high-placed Iraqi civilian and an American woman providing humanitarian aid. Are the disappearances linked? Rumors circulate in a whirl of misinformation. Marc must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy--from both the Americans and the insurgents. But even more secret than the undercover operation is the underground dialogue taking place between sworn enemies. Will the ultimate Reconciler between ancient enemies, current foes, and fanatical religious factions be heard?
My Review: Davis Bunn writes an intriguing thriller that could be ripped from today's news headlines.
First, we meet Sameh who is working on a missing child case in Bagdad. Then we meet Marc who hails from the U.S. Marc and Sameh then meet in Bagdad as Marc is called into duty to find a fellow CIA operative.
Two cases intertwined in the closets of the grand underworld. Two very different men with one common goal-free the captives!
Then we meet Leyla a young widow and mother of precocious, Bisan. Leyla drives Marc around Bagdad. "Leyla's driving was as bad as the traffic. She scooted around a corner, almost taking a cluster of pedestrians off at the knees." Leyla is the kind of woman who isn't afraid to get.it.done!
Unraveling clues to find the missing is hard to do in a land filled with danger at every turn. But Marc feels that he has come back to life for the first time since his beloved wife has passed away. He also feels an obligation to help Sameh. Sameh feels an obligation to
find the missing child(ren). Integrity is not a by-word in this novel. It is the essence of true men and women.
The history of Muslims in this fiction read is phenomenal. Learning that the word Imam means the head of the Muslim community; the title is used in the Qurʾān several times to refer to leaders and to Abraham. Since 911 I've heard some of these terms but never, really, caught their true meaning. Reading this novel gave me a better "picture" of the Muslim world and of the Christians who live amongst the Muslims. Courage to face the impossible, prayer to see the mission through.
This is a great read filled with danger, intrigue and most of all Christ centered people in a land that seems Godless.
Click HERE to view trailer to Lion of Babylon!
*This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers*
Going on my Amazon wish list!
ReplyDelete