Eight stars
Christopher Reich is back with another great thriller that has strong espionage undertones. When a former CIA agent emerges to investigate his son's death in Switzerland, many begin to panic. Mac Dekker is not only an agent with a past, he has a great deal to prove, especially those who thought they rid themselves of a problem. In a strong story that has all the elements for success, Reich delivers a series debut well worth the wait.
Switzerland is a bucolic place for Robbie Steinhardt, who's found a way to live the small-town alpine life. He has a few acquaintances and tends to milking the cows, as well as keeping some sheep, all while staying away from drama. He holds onto a big secret that absolutely no one knows. At one time, he had a family, a lover, and even a great job working within the CIA. After being charged with treason, he orchestrated his death and fell off the grid. Now, that is all a distant memory and Steinhardt is happy to keep it there. Time as Mac Dekker is firmly stored away, never to emerge once more.
All that changes when Steinhardt learns of the death of his son, Will. After a freak accent while trying to climb a Swiss mountaintop, Will's body is recovered. Steinhardt learns the news and resumes his life as Mac Dekker, all so that he can get answers. Thought deceased by the Agency, Dekker will have to slink his way out of hiding, as he discovers the truth behind Will's death, which sounds less like an accident the more that is revealed.
When Dekker discovers that his old friend, Ilya Ivashka, could be involved, things take a significant turn. Ilya was once the closest thing that Mac had to a brother, but after he was framed for a murder while working for the Agency, he was a wanted man and Ilya was nowhere to be found to tell the truth., hence the faked death and going into hiding. Knowing that Ilya is behind this newly-discovered terrorist plot to kill thousands, Mac will have to scramble to get the truth, while avenging Will's death at the same time. Reich does a great job portraying the truth in this piece and keeping the reader fully engaged.
Never one to shy away from tackling a difficult subject, Christopher Reich delivers with a solid narrative and clear path for this series debut. Pulling on a number of elements that have long been in his arsenal, Reich provides the reader with a story that has momentum and action at every turn. A story that pulls on espionage elements and with a few flashbacks to solidify the character development. Reich introduces some great new faces for the reader to meet and keep track of as they learn more about the life Mac Dekker had and how he feels the need for revenge.
Plot points keep the story moving and leaves the reader hungering for more. Reich knows how to deliver a story that has intensity and a number of unpredictable elements. The story is full of these moments, which adds to the intensity of the plot and leaves much left unanswered for future novels. I cannot wait to see how things will progress with this series, a fresh look at his strong style.
Kudos, Mr. Reich, for a chilling series debut.
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