Soldier of God [Mass Market Paperback]

I have been a long-time MAJOR fan of David Hagberg for going on I'd say close to 10 years now, and unlike Tom Clancy who peaked several years ago and has produced mostly B-Grade thrillers since, Hagberg has most decidedly improved as he continues to write. Soldier of God is just such an example of how a techno-thriller takes a well established character, like Kirk McGarvey, and finds new and better ways to challenge that particular creation.

If I had to choose one word to describe this novel, it would definitely be: Compelling. I was afraid that Hagberg had hit his zenith a few years back with 'White House' and 'Joshua's Hammer' but then came 'By Dawn's Early Light' which remains to this day my single favorite submarine thriller. Just as Tom Clancy couldn't have predicted that when he wrote 'Hunt For Red October' that somewhere down the line, Jack Ryan would become the President, I don't believe that Mr. Hagberg figured that Kirk McGarvey would one day become the Director of Central Intelligence (or DCI as he is mostly referred to in this book). I must admit that I was wondering how Kirk could maintain his action-hero status as a Desk Jockey, but 'Soldier of God' paints yet another horrific picture of what lengths the sadistic minds of terrorists are capable of justifying -- all in the so-called name of God. Once again, let us hope and pray this scenario never has the opportunity to play itself out.

Osama is on the eve of creating his 2nd act of a play that began with that nightmarish day in September of 2001. This time, the plot includes our children. Osama knows that in order to continue his reign as the world's premiere terrorist, he must devise something that can top 9/11. With the help of Khalil, Osama sets out to assist several 'Soldiers of God' who will infiltrate the borders of America, and sacrifice themselves for Allah, and bring about every parents worst fear. Before that takes place, Khalil sets the stage by hijacking a cruise ship near Alaska in order to kidnap the former Defense Secretary and place him on public trial, and eventual execution. What Khalil does not know is that Kirk McGarvey, Director of Central Intelligence has decided to also bring his wife along and 'get away from it all' so-to-speak. So now we know, especially if this isn't our first McGarvey novel, that this mission is pretty much doomed -- and you'd be right. However it doesn't end without bloodshed, and it quickly elevates Kirk into national celebrity status, a place which he desperately does NOT want to be. At the same time this is all happening, the Swiss are beginning to connect a few disturbing dots that, on the surface, could lead any person with even half-an-ounce of reason to suspect that the terrorist known as Khalil is also Prince Salman of the Saudi Ruling Family. After the failed kidnapping aboard the cruise ship, the Swiss aren't the only one's who are making that connection...and suddenly Kirk has a personal vendetta to rid the world of the likes of Khalil/Salman. He tries to do it the proper way first by alerting the President, who immediately orders Kirk to drop any and ALL investigation of the Prince and should he even attempt to try doing it on the side, he'll be brought up on charges of treason. Kirk responds by resigning all with the plan of pursuing Khalil himself. What add's to the drama is Osama has released a videotape promising a new holy war against America unless we cave to their demands, only this time it is painfully obvious that this is anything but an idle threat. By all accounts, Osama and his evil followers already have plans IN place to carry out this latest threat, and now nobody feels safe.

How does the Swiss investigation fit into all of this? Is Khalil really an international terrorist? Can Kirk really abandon his post at such a critical moment when his expertise is so desperately needed? All I can say is this: David Hagberg has crafted one of his all-time best novels, and it was one that I genuinely hated to see come to an end. I have never thought that Mr. Hagberg would endlessly continue Kirk McGarvey through dozens of books, however as this book came to an end, I find that the thought of not going on another adventure with him is rather depressing. IF he is indeed Quit For Good, I will miss him...however I still look forward to reading anything else produced by David Hagberg -- who continues to write better novels while the rest of the techno-thriller world slowly dies of atrophy. Sad but true. Highly Recommended.

I'm glad that I have already had my Inside Passage cruising experience in Alaska before I read this book. I have read all of the Kirk McGarvey series written by this author and I have enjoyed them all. During the previous seven books McGarvey has filled a number of roles, howwever he always seems to come back to the role he likes best, i.e., that of an assassin whose mission in life is to save the good guys and kill the bad ones.

Having now risen to the post of CIA Director, one would think that his killing days should be behind them, but if you hold that thought you would be wrong.

As the story starts to unwind, McGarvey and his wife, Kate are boarding a cruise ship in Juneau, Alaska along with former Secretary of Defense, Donald Shaw and his wife. (Note: Ships cruising the Inside Passage do put in to Juneau, but the cruises almost always start at Whittier, AK or Vancouver, BC.)

This is intended to be a chance for R+R for both couples, however a terrorist who is called Kahlil has other plans. As the ship steams through the night, Kahlil and others board the ship and join up with other terrorists who have infiltratred the ships crew and set about taking over control of the vessel. That accomplished with much bloodshed, they then find the SecDef in the ships night club (Grand Salon) and are planning to kidnap him. McGarvey had left the club shortly before the terrorists entered to return to his cabin to retrive an item for his wife. His fortunate absence leads to his aborting the terrorists plan and earning himself a new enemy in the process.

Shortly after, a tape of Osama bin Laden appears warning of another terrorist attack on the United States. It is a particularly chilling message which essentially says there is no way to stop the attack, that the people who will carry it out are already in place and that no one is safe.

Some believe that the kidnapping of the former SecDef was intended to distract the US from dealing with the terrorist threat. McGarvey is also becoming convinced that the terrorist Kahlil (whose face was covered with a balaclava during the raid) is in fact Prince Salman, a Saudi, who while an international playboy, is also a friend of the President and an important member of the Saudi royal family. The evidence is entirely circumstancial, however it is also entirely compelling.

The President will hear none of this and orders McGarvey to abandon any thought of vendetta against Kahlil/Salman whereupon McGarvey resigns his position as DCI and takes on the cause as his own.

To find out "the rest of the story" you will need to let David Hagberg tell it to you. He does it very well, although I felt that a few of the actions of McGarvey were a bit over the top and were uncharacteristic of his expected behavior. I also thought the American reaction to the bin Laden tape was a bit "off." Others might disagree, however all will agree that Hagberg has woven another intricate and complicated story with several subplots that makes for page turning reading and some unsettling thoughts about the future.

[Note to the author: Early in the novel you mention that the cruise ship had set sail from Fairbanks, AK. I assure you that while there is a river that runs through Fairbanks, it is incapable of permitting passage of any cruise ship and in fact its shifting glacial silt makes for difficult navigation of very small boats.]

This is the first book by this author that I have read. The basic premise was o.k., but boy, does this guy's wife make some totally dumb actions. Example: Her husband, CIA Director, is wandering around a small cruise ship which has been hi jacked by terrorists, while she and her husband, plus ex Sec. of Defense and his wife are taking a short vacation aboard. The terrorists know the Sec. Def is aboard, but have no knowledge of the CIA Director or his wife, as they are travelling under an assumed name. However, while the terrorists are holding the passengers in the Grand Salon, and note "an empty chair" and ask who was using it, the wife later actually pipes up and tells the terrorists that she is the wife of the CIA Dir. and he is loose on the ship and has probably killed some of the terrorists. She does this, knowing that these guys have already killed many in the Grand Salon for no cause. Maybe she though if she gave them a good hostage (herself) they would not kidnap the Sec. Def., which was their goal all along. Then, she kindly points out to the terrorist, while they are talking to each other on their radios, that her husband also can hear their plans because he also has a radio, taken from one of the dead terrorists that he killed. She is really good about giving these guys more ammo for their murderous takeover. Later on, they also toss a woman and her baby over the side, so we know how merciless they are.

Later in the book, this same woman and her daughter figure out where the head terrorist is basing his operation in D.C., and actually has her daughter drive her to this location "just to park in front of the headquarters to put some fear in the terrorists". Oh sure, she knows they have video cameras trained on the street and that they will recognize her. She is also very familiar with this particular house, as it used to be a CIA place, thus she is aware that it is located on a cul de sac dead end street. Of course, they come out, drag her out of the car, but let her daugher go, as they don't know the young woman is the daugter of the CIA Director. What kind of dumb move is that?? Oh wait, turns out she is pregnant with her daughter's and husband baby, as the daughter is unable to carry a baby. Now she is being abused by the lead terrorist in this house, has seen him murder casually, not to mention throwing a mother and baby overboard from the cruise ship. So, of course, she tells him she is pregnant, sure that this info will cause him to ease up on his beating of her. Oh sure!! Oh wait, the terrorist is also not too bright, as he let the daughter who was driving the car go, so of course she could let the authorities know exactly where her mother was being help captive.

All this might seem minor, but it strike a very false note for people who are supposedly bright enough to make it through a terrorist assault. Unbelievable. It really ruined this story for me, just waiting for the next dumb move/statement by one of the main protagonosts.

It was an o.k. thriller type of story, but many of the hero's actions and statements were hard to swallow.

I might read another of his books, perhaps one of the earlier ones, just to make sure this book was just an anomoly.