PATRIOT

After a terrorist cell acquires a nuclear bomb, an American intelligence operative strikes out on his own to stop them in this political thriller.

Connor Sloane, an audio surveillance operative in the CIA’s East Asia/Pacific counterintelligence department, comes across a cryptic phone call between an unknown man and Mohammad Hakimi, who has connections to Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Islamic State group. Unable to secure authorization from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to pursue the lead further, Connor decides to look into the matter on his own. Rothman, the author of The Inside Man (2019), generates a feeling of authenticity by explaining potentially unfamiliar protocols, such as the court’s role in granting sanction to “allow Connor to dig deeper through the local telephone records” and track Hakimi’s contacts. The author also effectively develops a theme of frustration with government regulations; whenever such rules come into play, Connor physically reacts: “slammed the heel of his hand against the desk,” “scoffed,” “chewed on his bottom lip,” “slammed his car door shut, then slapped the steering wheel hard with his palm.” Indeed, his barely contained rage earns him an invitation to join the Outfit, a shadow intelligence organization whose credo (“if it’s actionable, we act”) appeals to him. When Connor’s hunch proves correct and bombings begin to occur all over New York, Connor decides to work with the Outfit to stop the violence. Throughout the novel, Rothman delivers compellingly visual action scenes: “Three [men] down, and the only sounds had been the muffled pops from Connor’s silenced M4, the pinging of the bouncing brass, and the rustle of bodies falling.” Although some of these moments strain credulity, they’re entertaining, nonetheless.

A cinematic and suspenseful spy novel.