Kasey Sheridan has her hands full. She is a CIA officer tasked with spiriting a Chinese scientist out of Hong Kong and delivering him and his research to the USA. Dr Chen is a prized recruit and Kasey and her partner Walter relax when they board Hemisphere Airlines flight 777 to New York.
And so begins an electrifying read. There is a superb opening chapter featuring a driverless taxi, the cityscape of Hong Kong and a cinematic chase worthy of screen time.
The Chinese government, represented by Director Zhang will spare no expense in getting Dr Chen and his research back. His options are limited until one of Dr Chen’s old colleagues makes a diabolical suggestion.
Flight 777 is brought down in the Arctic and no one even knows it is missing because of Chinese technological expertise. Kasey is one of the survivors and together with First Officer Sharpe, who’s previous job was flying F22 Raptors for the Air Force; comes up with solutions to the problems of being stranded in a desolate, freezing cold inhospitable environment.
As if the situation wasn’t dire already, a high tech state of the art Russian submarine arrives. Their presence lends menace as their intentions are unknown. Kasey frantically tries to contact CIA HQ for assistance but in the meantime, a Chines icebreaker appears.
Who will arrive first? the Americans, Chinese or Russians? Who will secure the technology that Dr Chen has invented? This is a thrilling read from two master practitioners of the genre. It doesn’t seem appropriate to reveal more details — you’ll have to read the novel.
Barking Books 