Whirlwind: A Novel by Joseph Garber

Whew! A rollercoaster read., November 2, 2004*****


A taut, fast-paced, action-packed spy novel that takes us back to the atmosphere of cold war spy novels, Whirlwind is set in the present. Charlie McKenzie,former CIA agent, has been double-crossed by a supposed friend, National Security Advisor Sam, a nasty piece of work. Fresh out of prison, Charlie is nursing his wounds and the death of his wife when Sam comes calling for Charlie's help again, this time to recover top secret technology codenamed Whirlwind which has fallen into the hands of beautiful Russian spy Irina. Charlie exacts a price for his cooperation, money and a promise of a Presidential pardon. Charlie finds Irina but soon realizes that Sam has hired mercenaries prepared to kill them both. Charlie has taped an admission of guilt for a previous assassination from Sam and hidden it in an Internet "vault" that will be tripped if he is killed.

Nonetheless, Sam sets the mercenaries in pursuit and we are treated to a wild chase across America by car and plane. Charlie and Irina each try to best the other as they race to outwit their pursuers.

This is a very satisfying read, one of the best in a while. Joseph, give us more!