The End Game by Catherine
Coulter and J.T. Ellison is a great escape. Anyone frustrated
by what is going on in the world should read this book. Because
of its realistic and authentic storyline, people gain an understanding
of the dynamics between the US and Iran. Unfortunately, it
is only fiction, but the beauty of this novel is how the authors
are able to solve the world’s problems, allowing for
redemption and justice.
The irony in this book makes for a very suspenseful plot.
Returning FBI Special Agents Michaela “Mike” Caine
and her British partner, Nicholas Drummond, are on the trail
of a shadowy terrorist organization known as the “Celebrants
of Earth”. A scientist, Matthew Spenser, whose family
was killed in the 2007 terrorist bombing by the London Underground,
heads this anti-Muslim group as they attempt to stop the importing
of Middle East oil by bombing refineries. They never hurt
people until Darius, an Iranian agent plant, worms his way
into COE. His goal is to bring America to its knees through
the assassination of its leaders, and convinces Spenser to
use increasingly violent means. Drummond and Caine are on
the tail of these domestic and foreign terrorists that eventually
lead them back to Washington DC, where they must thwart the
assassinations as well as an attempt to crash the Richmond,
Virginia power grid.
Ellison commented, “We wanted to convey how both the
antagonist, Spenser, and one of the heroines, Caine, have
their lives shaped by terrorism. Both saw the devastation
and murder by the terrorists. While Spenser wants to get revenge
in the beginning, he did not want to kill and drop down to
the terrorists’ level. Eventually he is pushed to the
edge and, at that point, he lost his sense for caring. On
the other hand, Caine was shaped by 9/11, emphasized with
this quote, ‘I was sixteen when Nine-Eleven happened.
These sons-of-bitches and their bombs and attacks, it still
makes me so mad I knew if I had them in front of me, I’d
blow off their worthless heads.’”
Another reality of the novel is its use of technology. The
terrorists launch cyber-attacks against the oil companies,
draining their financial and intellectual assets. To fight
them, the FBI goes on the offensive. The authors must have
had a crystal ball considering that, in the last Republican
debate, Governor Jeb Bush talked of “offensive cyber.”
One of the characters, Adam Pearce, a computer genius, helps
the FBI uncover the plots using aggression action.
But the story is also a word of warning. Imagine the scary
scenario of a bomb that is the size of a fifty-cent piece
and can get lost in someone’s pocket. It could be dropped
in any niche or corner and can be completely overlooked. This
and a computerized trigger, allows the detonator to be thousands
of miles away from the bomb. Even though Iran has gone live
with its nuclear facilities, it sends an assassin to steal
the hand-size bomb.
The authors superbly pit the President and Vice-President
against each other regarding Iran. President Jefferson Bradley
wanted a legacy of peace in the Middle East, making it his
number one priority. He managed to have all the parties sit
down in Geneva. The glory he was seeking is based on a peace
accord where America’s enemies became its friends, believing
the Iranian President as he panders to the President.
Then there is Vice-President Callan Sloan. She is strong-willed,
decisive, intelligent, and not afraid to use America’s
might where necessary. Considered a trailblazer, Sloan was
a former CIA Agent turned Congresswoman who refused to kowtow
to anybody. Her attitude toward Iran is 180 degrees from the
President’s: “Are you content to ignore what he
says about the West? That we’re a blight, vermin, and
should be exterminated?” She understood that the peace
meetings were basically for show. Readers will yearn for a
real leader like Sloan, regretting that this VP is only fictional.
Just think if there was a leader like her in personality,
philosophy and political will, doing what was in the best
interests for America and its allies.
Ellison gave a heads up about the next book she and Coulter
will write that will bring back The Fox, aka Kitsune. Instead
of being a topical novel like The End Game, it will be an
historical quest. She explained how a series works: “The
first book introduces all the characters. The second book
has a plot that showcases them. The third book is where you
realize all the limitations you put on your characters. We
know Nicholas and Mike tend to go off book; yet, they are
FBI agents. They would be fired in the real world. Because
of this, we decided to have them transition to a new position
in the FBI, which you will read about in the next book. It
will be very international, going back to the territory of
The Lost Key.”
The End Game is a magnificent story where art imitates
life. It is a timely tale of terrorism with an added dose
of political intrigue. This third in the series has so much
intensity that it will be hard to put down. While entertaining
it is also has a very thought-provoking plot.
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