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Tsunami Connection
Librarian's Note: this is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B00AW28HF6.
Ever wonder why people close to you behave the way they do? Kefira does.
Enlisted as a child and living out the vicarious dreams of her adoptive mother as a covert-ops sleeper, Kefira fights against a ticking clock. Flashbacks provide sanctuary from the political intrigue, adding depth to the real-to-life personalities of Kefira's team.
In her attempts to unravel the political intrigue behind world-threatening events, Kefira - the orphaned child of top-secret Mossad operatives killed by a bomber in Buenos Aires - confronts more than even her training can cope with...
Ever wonder why people close to you behave the way they do? Kefira does.
Enlisted as a child and living out the vicarious dreams of her adoptive mother as a covert-ops sleeper, Kefira fights against a ticking clock. Flashbacks provide sanctuary from the political intrigue, adding depth to the real-to-life personalities of Kefira's team.
In her attempts to unravel the political intrigue behind world-threatening events, Kefira - the orphaned child of top-secret Mossad operatives killed by a bomber in Buenos Aires - confronts more than even her training can cope with...
Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 2, 2016
“Tsunami Connection” by Michael James Gallagher is a well plotted and complex spy thriller that focuses on Kafira, a rare goy Mossad agent.
Beginning with a cover operation in Egypt gone wrong the story moves on to the repercussions of said mission and introduces details about the personal lives of agents Kafira and Zac and their step parents and mentors. The backgrounds are fascinating and add welcome complications and twists to the story.
The spy story itself involves terrorists, violent action, tracking down an enemy across the globe, ‘sleepers’ and political intrigue.
Gallagher is knowledgeable about politics, history and military and spy operations, the pace is fast and gripping, the writing has plenty of interesting descriptive details and the characters are deep and fascinating.
For fans of contemporary thrillers and spy action this is highly recommended.
Beginning with a cover operation in Egypt gone wrong the story moves on to the repercussions of said mission and introduces details about the personal lives of agents Kafira and Zac and their step parents and mentors. The backgrounds are fascinating and add welcome complications and twists to the story.
The spy story itself involves terrorists, violent action, tracking down an enemy across the globe, ‘sleepers’ and political intrigue.
Gallagher is knowledgeable about politics, history and military and spy operations, the pace is fast and gripping, the writing has plenty of interesting descriptive details and the characters are deep and fascinating.
For fans of contemporary thrillers and spy action this is highly recommended.
June 6, 2013
Tsunami Connection is a spy novel of many subplots delving into the world of deception and intrigue. The novel features a young woman named Kefira, a highly-skilled Mossad agent, trained since childhood in the art of espionage (The agency took her in after her parents perished in a bomb blast at the Israeli embassy in Argentina).
The novel opens with Kefira losing fourteen commandos under her command to a rocket propelled grenade in an Egyptian desert. Before the perpetrator died, Kefira is able to extract the name of the attack's mastermind: MacAuley.
Back in the Mossad headquarters, Kefira is given a mission by her controller (who happens to be her stepmother) to capture MacAuley and extract whatever information she can get from him before terminating him. The mission leads Kefira and her elite team of operatives from Tel Aviv to Scotland. When their contact in Edinburgh winds up dead in a bathtub with his kneecaps shot out, the M.O. tells them of a Fenian involvement, which leads them to an Irish bar in Boston, Massachusetts. Critical lead surfaces and the novel takes Kefira's team to San Francisco and other interesting foreign locales with the conspiracy getting bigger and much more complicated as they peel off the layers. To make matters worse, a fresh lead now implicates Kefira's stepmother Yochana, a Mossad adviser to the prime minister and the woman who mothered Kefira since childhood.
Tsunami Connection is a multi-pronged novel with subplots interwoven seamlessly together. There is a cause and effect in its trajectory where one discovery leads to another. This is the strength of the novel and I applaud the author for weaving such a complex yet tight and believable story. I love how the plot took me to foreign locales that allowed me "see" these places. And as each plot layer is revealed and more clues are uncovered, the narrative becomes fast-paced. Where the novel falters is in its narrative style which is confusing and hard to follow. Sometimes, the scenes are not described well, making it difficult to get grounded into the story. The dialogue seems wooden at times and a bit confusing. Jumping back and forth in the timeline to reveal important plot points/back story didn't help. I kept having to flip back to sections I already read. It's a shame because the plot is outstanding and the main characters such as Kefira and Zak, and even secondary ones like the Coptic Christian double agent, Shafiq are intriguing. This could have been a really good book, comparable to Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon novels, which are all bestsellers. Did I enjoy it? I guess. I'm a sucker for thrillers and the plot and pacing still had me turning the pages. With more work on the dialogue and polishing of the prose, this can be a really good book. I'd say, three stars, maybe 3.5.
The novel opens with Kefira losing fourteen commandos under her command to a rocket propelled grenade in an Egyptian desert. Before the perpetrator died, Kefira is able to extract the name of the attack's mastermind: MacAuley.
Back in the Mossad headquarters, Kefira is given a mission by her controller (who happens to be her stepmother) to capture MacAuley and extract whatever information she can get from him before terminating him. The mission leads Kefira and her elite team of operatives from Tel Aviv to Scotland. When their contact in Edinburgh winds up dead in a bathtub with his kneecaps shot out, the M.O. tells them of a Fenian involvement, which leads them to an Irish bar in Boston, Massachusetts. Critical lead surfaces and the novel takes Kefira's team to San Francisco and other interesting foreign locales with the conspiracy getting bigger and much more complicated as they peel off the layers. To make matters worse, a fresh lead now implicates Kefira's stepmother Yochana, a Mossad adviser to the prime minister and the woman who mothered Kefira since childhood.
Tsunami Connection is a multi-pronged novel with subplots interwoven seamlessly together. There is a cause and effect in its trajectory where one discovery leads to another. This is the strength of the novel and I applaud the author for weaving such a complex yet tight and believable story. I love how the plot took me to foreign locales that allowed me "see" these places. And as each plot layer is revealed and more clues are uncovered, the narrative becomes fast-paced. Where the novel falters is in its narrative style which is confusing and hard to follow. Sometimes, the scenes are not described well, making it difficult to get grounded into the story. The dialogue seems wooden at times and a bit confusing. Jumping back and forth in the timeline to reveal important plot points/back story didn't help. I kept having to flip back to sections I already read. It's a shame because the plot is outstanding and the main characters such as Kefira and Zak, and even secondary ones like the Coptic Christian double agent, Shafiq are intriguing. This could have been a really good book, comparable to Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon novels, which are all bestsellers. Did I enjoy it? I guess. I'm a sucker for thrillers and the plot and pacing still had me turning the pages. With more work on the dialogue and polishing of the prose, this can be a really good book. I'd say, three stars, maybe 3.5.
February 4, 2015
Gallagher's debut novel is very ambitious and must have required a lot of thought, planning, and research. I'm not a proper judge of political, espionage thrillers as I don't read them often enough to comment on this novel in context of genre, but the action and plot rolled the story forward at a lively pace.
I was reminded of the TV series, Alias, as the woman protagonist, Kefira, is kick-butt competent, was groomed to be a tool for clandestine government activities since childhood, yet remains feminine and emotionally vulnerable. The scenes in the novel are more sexually explicit and brutal than Alias, the TV show, but the plots are similarly intricate. In contrast to Alias, Tsunami Connection involves existing national organizations and current political topics. I believe this is the first of a series. If so, the bar is set high for each installment to continue to flesh out characters and stretch the reader's imagination with sparkling prose and mind boggling plots.
I was reminded of the TV series, Alias, as the woman protagonist, Kefira, is kick-butt competent, was groomed to be a tool for clandestine government activities since childhood, yet remains feminine and emotionally vulnerable. The scenes in the novel are more sexually explicit and brutal than Alias, the TV show, but the plots are similarly intricate. In contrast to Alias, Tsunami Connection involves existing national organizations and current political topics. I believe this is the first of a series. If so, the bar is set high for each installment to continue to flesh out characters and stretch the reader's imagination with sparkling prose and mind boggling plots.
February 15, 2013
Tsunami Connection is the first novel of trilogy by Michael James Gallagher and it is worth the cost- well, I got it for free but it is still a great book and I can’t wait to read the other two books.
It is a fast paced thriller about terrorists, set in the Middle East, Russia and North Korea. It shows that the author did extensive research because he gave knowledgeable details and made it quite easy for the reader to picture it, even the characters.
What I liked most about it, is that it wasn’t predictable and the story was something that actually happens in the contemporary world.
It is a fast paced thriller about terrorists, set in the Middle East, Russia and North Korea. It shows that the author did extensive research because he gave knowledgeable details and made it quite easy for the reader to picture it, even the characters.
What I liked most about it, is that it wasn’t predictable and the story was something that actually happens in the contemporary world.
April 13, 2013
Tsunami Connection is an action packed, political thriller.
Kefira, a sleeper agent in Mossad, loses half of her team when an RPG hits their helicopter and explodes into a fiery mess. Determined to find those responsible for the bomber, she tracks down the likely suspects with the assistance of a charismatic team of agents. But, what she learns may be more than she can handle.
What I like most about this book are the richly described locations. The author has obviously drawn from extensive research and possibly personal experience to bring them to life. The people, the culture, the details, all work perfectly. The locations I enjoy from the book the most are Canada, Argentina, and Egypt.
I learned a lot from this book: terminology, exotic animals, and cultural information. The author defined some of them in the narration, sometimes a few times, but others I had to Google (a lot). Perhaps I'm just not all that well traveled, but in the first several chapters I had to Google every few pages to look up terms like "Weaver Stance," which was used to describe how a character was holding a gun. Having to drop out of the book to figure out what the author was talking about, distracted for the story at times, which is probably one of the reasons it seemed choppy and hard to follow in places.
The temporal jumps also distracted from the story at times. Sometimes you would flash back to Kefira or Zak's youth or childhood; sometimes, you'd flash back a year, a week, etc. True, the author indicates the date for each chapter as part of the chapter heading, but as I typically disregard chapter headings I'd usually get a few pages in before realizing something was up. Then, I'd have to flip back to see what I missed. It got easier near the end of the story because I learned to pay attention to the cues.
The story features several erotic scenes, most of which are way more mechanically detailed than I feel they need to be. I prefer romantic scenes to be just that, romantic. These weren't. It was all about what was going on, very little emotion or feeling. However, that isn't to say there isn't romance. I love the interactions between Kefira and the older Argentinian dancer, very sexy and heartfelt even though the two don't actually get together. I also felt a deep connection between Kefira and Michael. Strangely, the romance between Kefira and Zak felt flat to me. I just didn't emotionally connect with the two of them as a couple, though I liked each as an individual.
As for the link to the title, Tsunami Connection, there is mention of a submarine with the capability to produce tsunami's, but I felt the story failed to make a connection between Kefira's activities and the rogue submarine. I believe, and this is a pure guess, that this first book introduces the idea of the submarine, but focuses mostly on background and character development. I expect the next installment in the series to focus on the submarine and stopping it from wreaking havoc in the world.
Overall, Tsunami Connection is a meticulously researched political thriller. People who enjoy exotic locations, spy thrillers, or political intrigue might also enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
Kefira, a sleeper agent in Mossad, loses half of her team when an RPG hits their helicopter and explodes into a fiery mess. Determined to find those responsible for the bomber, she tracks down the likely suspects with the assistance of a charismatic team of agents. But, what she learns may be more than she can handle.
What I like most about this book are the richly described locations. The author has obviously drawn from extensive research and possibly personal experience to bring them to life. The people, the culture, the details, all work perfectly. The locations I enjoy from the book the most are Canada, Argentina, and Egypt.
I learned a lot from this book: terminology, exotic animals, and cultural information. The author defined some of them in the narration, sometimes a few times, but others I had to Google (a lot). Perhaps I'm just not all that well traveled, but in the first several chapters I had to Google every few pages to look up terms like "Weaver Stance," which was used to describe how a character was holding a gun. Having to drop out of the book to figure out what the author was talking about, distracted for the story at times, which is probably one of the reasons it seemed choppy and hard to follow in places.
The temporal jumps also distracted from the story at times. Sometimes you would flash back to Kefira or Zak's youth or childhood; sometimes, you'd flash back a year, a week, etc. True, the author indicates the date for each chapter as part of the chapter heading, but as I typically disregard chapter headings I'd usually get a few pages in before realizing something was up. Then, I'd have to flip back to see what I missed. It got easier near the end of the story because I learned to pay attention to the cues.
The story features several erotic scenes, most of which are way more mechanically detailed than I feel they need to be. I prefer romantic scenes to be just that, romantic. These weren't. It was all about what was going on, very little emotion or feeling. However, that isn't to say there isn't romance. I love the interactions between Kefira and the older Argentinian dancer, very sexy and heartfelt even though the two don't actually get together. I also felt a deep connection between Kefira and Michael. Strangely, the romance between Kefira and Zak felt flat to me. I just didn't emotionally connect with the two of them as a couple, though I liked each as an individual.
As for the link to the title, Tsunami Connection, there is mention of a submarine with the capability to produce tsunami's, but I felt the story failed to make a connection between Kefira's activities and the rogue submarine. I believe, and this is a pure guess, that this first book introduces the idea of the submarine, but focuses mostly on background and character development. I expect the next installment in the series to focus on the submarine and stopping it from wreaking havoc in the world.
Overall, Tsunami Connection is a meticulously researched political thriller. People who enjoy exotic locations, spy thrillers, or political intrigue might also enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
July 22, 2013
Tsunami Connection is a fast-paced political thriller, intense, gripping, and action-packed.
The plot of this international espionage tale focuses on Kefira, a highly-skilled Mossad operative. The book starts with a dangerous and deadly military operation in the Sinai Desert. Kefira is in the center of the action and comes across as rational, logical, and highly trained. Kefira’s strong intuition, probably also a result of her training and experience, helps her make the right decisions in very difficult circumstances.
A few chapters later, the author takes us back in time to a younger Kefira. The scene in her high school headmaster’s office is tense, emotional, and provides the readers with an understanding of traumatic events that brought Kefira to her life in the Mossad and hints at the reasons for the strength of her character.
One of the aspects of this book that I especially enjoyed is the change of pace that kept me involved in this story from start to finish. The narrative varied from tension-filled action scenes to quieter, slower (but still tense) scenes that allowed for a more in-depth character development. One of my favorite scenes is Kefira’s interaction with Fripo, an older man she meets in Buenos Aires. Their interaction is not only important to the plot, but it also gives the readers an opportunity to see a different side of Kefira: she puts her guard down and shares her feelings on a traumatic event in her childhood that has shaped her life. That interaction is one of the many scenes that make Kefira a much more realistic character, a person to relate to and root for.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest non-reciprocal review.
The plot of this international espionage tale focuses on Kefira, a highly-skilled Mossad operative. The book starts with a dangerous and deadly military operation in the Sinai Desert. Kefira is in the center of the action and comes across as rational, logical, and highly trained. Kefira’s strong intuition, probably also a result of her training and experience, helps her make the right decisions in very difficult circumstances.
A few chapters later, the author takes us back in time to a younger Kefira. The scene in her high school headmaster’s office is tense, emotional, and provides the readers with an understanding of traumatic events that brought Kefira to her life in the Mossad and hints at the reasons for the strength of her character.
One of the aspects of this book that I especially enjoyed is the change of pace that kept me involved in this story from start to finish. The narrative varied from tension-filled action scenes to quieter, slower (but still tense) scenes that allowed for a more in-depth character development. One of my favorite scenes is Kefira’s interaction with Fripo, an older man she meets in Buenos Aires. Their interaction is not only important to the plot, but it also gives the readers an opportunity to see a different side of Kefira: she puts her guard down and shares her feelings on a traumatic event in her childhood that has shaped her life. That interaction is one of the many scenes that make Kefira a much more realistic character, a person to relate to and root for.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest non-reciprocal review.
March 25, 2013
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the author. Thank you Mr. Gallagher!
I think some other reviewers have mentioned this too, but I absolutely adored the various locations that the author takes the reader to in this story. I am an avid traveler and I've always had a fascination with Russia ever since I started studying the language several years ago. I thought the scenes set in Russia were done very convincingly (I wouldn't know about North Korea and the Middle East, as I've never been there myself, but that was vividly described as well!) and the story was fast-paced and featured some interesting characters. I usually don't really read spy novels, so I can't boast great knowledge about other books in this genre, but it was definitely interesting. It felt very realistic.
I did feel that the sentence structure was a bit stilted here and there (I think it was a punctuation issue) so that could have been edited a little bit better. I'd also recommend getting a more appealing cover, because I wouldn't pick out this book in an Amazon 'line-up', so to speak - this book deserves a cool spy & terrorist cover that conveys the message better!
Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of action-packed spy novels, so if that's you, don't pass this one up!
I think some other reviewers have mentioned this too, but I absolutely adored the various locations that the author takes the reader to in this story. I am an avid traveler and I've always had a fascination with Russia ever since I started studying the language several years ago. I thought the scenes set in Russia were done very convincingly (I wouldn't know about North Korea and the Middle East, as I've never been there myself, but that was vividly described as well!) and the story was fast-paced and featured some interesting characters. I usually don't really read spy novels, so I can't boast great knowledge about other books in this genre, but it was definitely interesting. It felt very realistic.
I did feel that the sentence structure was a bit stilted here and there (I think it was a punctuation issue) so that could have been edited a little bit better. I'd also recommend getting a more appealing cover, because I wouldn't pick out this book in an Amazon 'line-up', so to speak - this book deserves a cool spy & terrorist cover that conveys the message better!
Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of action-packed spy novels, so if that's you, don't pass this one up!
April 3, 2013
This is one of those books that introduces someone to a writer who is probably going to go far in his career (as a writer). The story was solid, the characters believable, and the locations well done. It felt a lot like an earlier James Bond story, if the hero was female, Israeli and had actual feelings.
The only thing that held me back during the reading was the dialogue. Mostly, it was done well, but there were times where I found myself wondering if people would actually speak that way. The trick to dialogue is to write as people talk, not just to get the grammar and English right. There were a few times where the back and forth of the dialogue caused me to stop and think, would people in this relationship actually talk like this on a constant basis, and there were a couple of times where I had to say no. If this was fixed, there's no reason in the world I wouldn't give this book 5 stars.
But I don't want to detract from the story itself, which I found to be well worth reading. There are a lot of books that get released these days that just go through the motions, and this one definitely didn't do that.
The only thing that held me back during the reading was the dialogue. Mostly, it was done well, but there were times where I found myself wondering if people would actually speak that way. The trick to dialogue is to write as people talk, not just to get the grammar and English right. There were a few times where the back and forth of the dialogue caused me to stop and think, would people in this relationship actually talk like this on a constant basis, and there were a couple of times where I had to say no. If this was fixed, there's no reason in the world I wouldn't give this book 5 stars.
But I don't want to detract from the story itself, which I found to be well worth reading. There are a lot of books that get released these days that just go through the motions, and this one definitely didn't do that.
April 17, 2014
This was a well thought out book. It read quite smoothly. The end came upon me before I was ready for it. I enjoyed the book very much. Having gotten this book as a first -reads. Exciting and memorable characters, keeps the reader waiting for more.
April 8, 2013
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I have mixed feelings about ‘Tsunami Connection’, however part of that stems from my political sensitivities. This book is essentially an action-packed spy novel mostly centered around a Mossad agent named Kefira. I commend the author for weaving so many very recent current events like the coup in Egypt and the civil war in Syria into the narrative. However, being as I’m part Egyptian, I spent the early chapters of the book too emotionally worked up about the references to the Israeli – Palestinian conflict and the overthrow of the Egyptian government to really get into the story. However, I don’t think the author intended to take a political stance one way or the other, and when I spoke to the author I was reassured that he had already intended to bring in a character to represent the Palestinian perspective into the next book of the series.
Fortunately, this book was not about Israel and Palestine or anything like that and the book quickly moved us from country to country and allowed us to visit with people from a multitude of cultures: Indonesia, Argentina, Israel, Egypt, and Russia just to name a few. This must have taken a huge amount of research to accomplish (and possibly even experiences from personal travels). The research was very evident and the author did put a lot of effort into capturing the different traits and habits of various cultures. As someone who really knows Egypt, there were a couple very minor details that struck me as imperfect, but they were so minor even a foreigner visiting Egypt would not notice the discrepancies between the book’s descriptions and reality.
I did enjoy the second half of the book better than the first as that’s when the action picked up (and when I’d gotten somewhat over my initial response to the early references to politics). Kefira seemed to bounce from one Romance to the next at first, but she settled down into one relationship by the end which I appreciated. I also liked that the book was being led by a strong woman. I do wish that she was portrayed to be just a touch more competent though. It seemed at times that she was driven more by ‘instinct’ then by skill and she let her emotions get the better of her training more than once in the book. With that said, she was portrayed as being a good agent and I did come to like Kefira. I also liked the mentions of futuristic technology and the use of spy tech throughout. A lot of this technology will probably become reality in the near future (cloaking devices for example) and some of it, such as shape charges, is already a reality (although as far as I know, shape charges are not currently used in the way that the book suggested they could be).
I personally would not read the next book in the series as I don’t care to get myself worked up over Middle East politics and cultural stereotypes again, but I imagine that someone who enjoys spy novels and books that take place on a global setting would find this an enjoyable read. Potential readers should note that there are a few adult sexual scenes as well as a bit of violence in places.
I am grateful to the author for providing me with a free copy of ‘Tsunami Connection’ in exchange for my honest review.
I have mixed feelings about ‘Tsunami Connection’, however part of that stems from my political sensitivities. This book is essentially an action-packed spy novel mostly centered around a Mossad agent named Kefira. I commend the author for weaving so many very recent current events like the coup in Egypt and the civil war in Syria into the narrative. However, being as I’m part Egyptian, I spent the early chapters of the book too emotionally worked up about the references to the Israeli – Palestinian conflict and the overthrow of the Egyptian government to really get into the story. However, I don’t think the author intended to take a political stance one way or the other, and when I spoke to the author I was reassured that he had already intended to bring in a character to represent the Palestinian perspective into the next book of the series.
Fortunately, this book was not about Israel and Palestine or anything like that and the book quickly moved us from country to country and allowed us to visit with people from a multitude of cultures: Indonesia, Argentina, Israel, Egypt, and Russia just to name a few. This must have taken a huge amount of research to accomplish (and possibly even experiences from personal travels). The research was very evident and the author did put a lot of effort into capturing the different traits and habits of various cultures. As someone who really knows Egypt, there were a couple very minor details that struck me as imperfect, but they were so minor even a foreigner visiting Egypt would not notice the discrepancies between the book’s descriptions and reality.
I did enjoy the second half of the book better than the first as that’s when the action picked up (and when I’d gotten somewhat over my initial response to the early references to politics). Kefira seemed to bounce from one Romance to the next at first, but she settled down into one relationship by the end which I appreciated. I also liked that the book was being led by a strong woman. I do wish that she was portrayed to be just a touch more competent though. It seemed at times that she was driven more by ‘instinct’ then by skill and she let her emotions get the better of her training more than once in the book. With that said, she was portrayed as being a good agent and I did come to like Kefira. I also liked the mentions of futuristic technology and the use of spy tech throughout. A lot of this technology will probably become reality in the near future (cloaking devices for example) and some of it, such as shape charges, is already a reality (although as far as I know, shape charges are not currently used in the way that the book suggested they could be).
I personally would not read the next book in the series as I don’t care to get myself worked up over Middle East politics and cultural stereotypes again, but I imagine that someone who enjoys spy novels and books that take place on a global setting would find this an enjoyable read. Potential readers should note that there are a few adult sexual scenes as well as a bit of violence in places.
I am grateful to the author for providing me with a free copy of ‘Tsunami Connection’ in exchange for my honest review.
February 16, 2014
Master Wordsmith Constructs Remarkable Vivid Descriptions
Tsunami Connection by Michael James Gallagher
Gallagher is a master wordsmith. The story of Mossad operatives Kafira, Zak, Yochana, Sam and others is complicated as most spy tales are. I found I was as interested in the rich detailed descriptions of places,peoples,and objects as the story line.
In the middle of the novel Kafira, a beauty trained by Mossad from an early age, makes a trip to Buenos Aires. Descriptions of the city and Kafira in a Tango club are remarkable and show the writer's highly developed descriptive skill set. As the scenes unfold you can almost hear Tango music playing and feel the dancers passion.
The current edited and reformatted version removes explicit sex scenes. Those who like hints of sexual encounters will not be disappointed.Vivid descriptions remain throughout the novel.The editing makes the novel more suitable for those more interested in an exciting well written spy story rather than erotic content.
Gallagher shows a deep understanding of Mid-eastern, Irish, Mediterranean, and Argentine life and customs as the story progresses and discloses his knowledge throughout the novel.
In the original version as seen with a Paperwhite Kindle the formatting could be improved. Some paragraphs are quite long and to me detracted from the story line. To my eyes more frequent paragraph breaks would make the flow easier to follow. New chapter headings and spacing took up too much room. These minor issues have been corrected in the newly edited version.
For a first Indie novel I found Tsunami Connection to be a well executed ambitious undertaking and look forward to the next novel by an outstanding wordsmith.
Tsunami Connection by Michael James Gallagher
Gallagher is a master wordsmith. The story of Mossad operatives Kafira, Zak, Yochana, Sam and others is complicated as most spy tales are. I found I was as interested in the rich detailed descriptions of places,peoples,and objects as the story line.
In the middle of the novel Kafira, a beauty trained by Mossad from an early age, makes a trip to Buenos Aires. Descriptions of the city and Kafira in a Tango club are remarkable and show the writer's highly developed descriptive skill set. As the scenes unfold you can almost hear Tango music playing and feel the dancers passion.
The current edited and reformatted version removes explicit sex scenes. Those who like hints of sexual encounters will not be disappointed.Vivid descriptions remain throughout the novel.The editing makes the novel more suitable for those more interested in an exciting well written spy story rather than erotic content.
Gallagher shows a deep understanding of Mid-eastern, Irish, Mediterranean, and Argentine life and customs as the story progresses and discloses his knowledge throughout the novel.
In the original version as seen with a Paperwhite Kindle the formatting could be improved. Some paragraphs are quite long and to me detracted from the story line. To my eyes more frequent paragraph breaks would make the flow easier to follow. New chapter headings and spacing took up too much room. These minor issues have been corrected in the newly edited version.
For a first Indie novel I found Tsunami Connection to be a well executed ambitious undertaking and look forward to the next novel by an outstanding wordsmith.
May 30, 2014
Michael Gallagher has done a fantastic job in taking you on a wild ride through various countries, in the Middle East, to Canada, Argentina, Russia, and North Korea. The reader is glued to the pages as the heroin Kefira who grew up in a world of espionage, fights against terrorist who are responsible for blowing up her operatives in Buenos Aires.
Kefira was trained from a very young age for special forces work in the Mossad. She now holds the tools to be able to investigate and disentangle threats and uncovers espionage plots before they become deadly.
The plot is intriguing the story fascinating. The author did an amazing job in making sure that the reader is hooked to the plot. It is very obvious that The author has done extensive research in order to present such and extraordinary detail of the locations and the various cultures.
The exchanges between Kefira and the Argentinian dancer are quite sexy. I liked them both and I wanted for their interaction to go deeper but it didn’t happen. There was romance but it never became the main point of the story.
This is a wonderful book and I would recommend it to all my friends. If you love action, thrill and suspense, this is the book for you. Michael Gallagher Great Job with this book!!!!
Gallagher provided a lot of wild twists and turns that keeps you on your toes through the pages up to the last word. It is a great compelling story that I will be happy to recommend to my friends and everyone who is up for a wild thrilling ride across the globe.
Kefira was trained from a very young age for special forces work in the Mossad. She now holds the tools to be able to investigate and disentangle threats and uncovers espionage plots before they become deadly.
The plot is intriguing the story fascinating. The author did an amazing job in making sure that the reader is hooked to the plot. It is very obvious that The author has done extensive research in order to present such and extraordinary detail of the locations and the various cultures.
The exchanges between Kefira and the Argentinian dancer are quite sexy. I liked them both and I wanted for their interaction to go deeper but it didn’t happen. There was romance but it never became the main point of the story.
This is a wonderful book and I would recommend it to all my friends. If you love action, thrill and suspense, this is the book for you. Michael Gallagher Great Job with this book!!!!
Gallagher provided a lot of wild twists and turns that keeps you on your toes through the pages up to the last word. It is a great compelling story that I will be happy to recommend to my friends and everyone who is up for a wild thrilling ride across the globe.
December 8, 2014
Tsunami Connection is my first foray into the political thriller genre in quite a while. After finishing it, I think I’ll be picking up a few more along those lines.
This book has many strong points working in its favor: it’s imaginative and action-packed, and the plot has a number of twists and turns I never saw coming (This part is very important to me - if I see it coming I simply put down the book and leave it there).
The description of the many locations is also a major thumbs up. I unfortunately have never had the privilege of traveling to these places, but I suspect the author has. Moreover, he has skillfully captured the local scenery and customs of each of these and put them on paper. This is one repertoire I believe many authors lack.
For these reason I actually give it 4.5 stars!
Why don’t I give it five stars?
I have only one reason: the dialogue between characters lags a little behind the book’s other strengths, and this is too important an issue to set aside. Dialogue matters! It gives insight into each character and is worth ten times its weight in narrative description in fleshing them out.
The important elements are there. There’s a story to be told, and an engaging one at that, and this is what matters the most. If the quality of dialogue can be polished up to the book’s remaining standards, it’ll deserve five stars.
This book has many strong points working in its favor: it’s imaginative and action-packed, and the plot has a number of twists and turns I never saw coming (This part is very important to me - if I see it coming I simply put down the book and leave it there).
The description of the many locations is also a major thumbs up. I unfortunately have never had the privilege of traveling to these places, but I suspect the author has. Moreover, he has skillfully captured the local scenery and customs of each of these and put them on paper. This is one repertoire I believe many authors lack.
For these reason I actually give it 4.5 stars!
Why don’t I give it five stars?
I have only one reason: the dialogue between characters lags a little behind the book’s other strengths, and this is too important an issue to set aside. Dialogue matters! It gives insight into each character and is worth ten times its weight in narrative description in fleshing them out.
The important elements are there. There’s a story to be told, and an engaging one at that, and this is what matters the most. If the quality of dialogue can be polished up to the book’s remaining standards, it’ll deserve five stars.
June 8, 2013
I am not a fan of political books but I did enjoy reading this book. The pace of the book is quick and the chapters relatively short so it is an easy book to be able to read, even if you are busy.
Kafira and Zack are top agents required to work deep under cover. The plot centres on their relationship both professional and personal; as is the case with Kafira's handler and step mother.
If you are a fan of political plots the this one will not disappoint.
The plot is twisty and intriguing. But I do not want to give the book away by telling the end!
My criticism would be the 'personal' dialog is a bit stilted at times. Some of the scenes described confused me a little as I couldn't see where, some things as a reader that I was been told, fitted in. The book does jump about a bit, but I could cope with that to a certain extent.
The story ended a bit abruptly but I do hope that is because the story continues.
So all in all this book is worth a read. It is enjoyable to read and the main characters are deep and interesting. They have the capacity to be explored more deeply as their story infolds in other books.
Kafira and Zack are top agents required to work deep under cover. The plot centres on their relationship both professional and personal; as is the case with Kafira's handler and step mother.
If you are a fan of political plots the this one will not disappoint.
The plot is twisty and intriguing. But I do not want to give the book away by telling the end!
My criticism would be the 'personal' dialog is a bit stilted at times. Some of the scenes described confused me a little as I couldn't see where, some things as a reader that I was been told, fitted in. The book does jump about a bit, but I could cope with that to a certain extent.
The story ended a bit abruptly but I do hope that is because the story continues.
So all in all this book is worth a read. It is enjoyable to read and the main characters are deep and interesting. They have the capacity to be explored more deeply as their story infolds in other books.
April 17, 2013
A Good International Thriller
Authors who write credible, interesting and insightful books on counter-espionage and terrorism are a rare find. This 'Black Ops' tale has a spontaneity and sense of realism that makes for a very interesting read. The world of spies and covert operators operations is a dark and often sinister one, where friendships are defined in terms of human assets and liabilities, and fixed relationships are elusive. Characters are not empathic or romanticized, just plain dangerous people in a very dangerous world. M.J. Gallagher captures this feeling with admirable deftness. You find yourself asking: "Did this really happen?" and "Who is this guy?". The answer to the latter is a talented, insightful author who knows his stuff and did his homework. I would not be a bit surprised if Gallagher becomes one of those authors whose name is synonymous with taught espionage stories and hard hitting plots. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good international spy story with plenty of intrigue and action. I'm looking forward to the next two books in the series.
Authors who write credible, interesting and insightful books on counter-espionage and terrorism are a rare find. This 'Black Ops' tale has a spontaneity and sense of realism that makes for a very interesting read. The world of spies and covert operators operations is a dark and often sinister one, where friendships are defined in terms of human assets and liabilities, and fixed relationships are elusive. Characters are not empathic or romanticized, just plain dangerous people in a very dangerous world. M.J. Gallagher captures this feeling with admirable deftness. You find yourself asking: "Did this really happen?" and "Who is this guy?". The answer to the latter is a talented, insightful author who knows his stuff and did his homework. I would not be a bit surprised if Gallagher becomes one of those authors whose name is synonymous with taught espionage stories and hard hitting plots. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good international spy story with plenty of intrigue and action. I'm looking forward to the next two books in the series.
July 29, 2014
What a fantastic read! There was so much to love about Tsunami Connection that I felt compelled to review. First was the author's choice to make his military protagonist a WOMAN! Kudos to Gallagher for allowing a woman to take center stage in his story. Second, it was clear that he has either visited many of the locals within the novel or did some spectacular research because throughout the book, I felt as if I was actually there with the characters thanks to the delicious setting descriptions. The plot wove back and forth in time, giving us glimpses of Kefira's history without info dumping it all at one time as some authors are prone to doing. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested in what would happen next, but the best part was how emotionally invested I became in the outcome for Kefira. I felt her anxiety, pain and excitement right along with her. My only disappointment is having to wait to find out what comes next! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good spy thriller!!
March 28, 2015
Exciting!
I haven’t read a spy novel is ages. I like the genre but have been reading other types of books for the last few months. I’m happy my re-entry into the genre was via this novel.
The main character is Kefira, a female Mossad operative. It’s rare to feature a female as the lead in a spy novel. I was thrilled the author chose to do this. This book is full of action, plot twists, and excellent character development. For instance, instead of just focusing on Kefira as an adult, we are taken back to her youth to learn more about what made her the woman she is today.
Another feature I enjoyed about this book is the use of beautiful imagery tucked in with the action. Here’s an example, “The younger woman turned her head and brushed her hair with her fingers, unbalancing the kea, which fluttered its wings and crackled jungle sounds into the soft night air.”
I haven’t read a spy novel is ages. I like the genre but have been reading other types of books for the last few months. I’m happy my re-entry into the genre was via this novel.
The main character is Kefira, a female Mossad operative. It’s rare to feature a female as the lead in a spy novel. I was thrilled the author chose to do this. This book is full of action, plot twists, and excellent character development. For instance, instead of just focusing on Kefira as an adult, we are taken back to her youth to learn more about what made her the woman she is today.
Another feature I enjoyed about this book is the use of beautiful imagery tucked in with the action. Here’s an example, “The younger woman turned her head and brushed her hair with her fingers, unbalancing the kea, which fluttered its wings and crackled jungle sounds into the soft night air.”
March 19, 2013
An interesting spy thriller cum sci-fi novel with many interesting story lines. The book would benefit from good editing to make it an even more compelling read.
Well done Michael!
Well done Michael!
November 16, 2013
Tsunami Connection is a political thriller with numerous plot lines running in parallel to each other. The stories are set in various locales throughout the world with Kefira, a Colonel in the Mossad and her cohorts as the connecting thread. Galagher provides some unique concepts such as “cloaking,” the ability for personnel and equipment to be present, but unseen, albeit with some interesting glitches.
Kefira is one of a group of orphans who were picked up and trained for special forces work in the Mossad; destined to be placed, imperceptibly, anywhere the Mossad needed clandestine operatives.
The Russians have created a weapon that, from a submarine resting on the sea bed, causes tsunami’s to rush to chosen areas, causing death and destruction. It could be used for the purposes of genocide. Kefira, and the other Mossad operatives, including her love interest, Zak are sent on a mission to defuse the situation.
Add into the mix that Kefira’s “control”, a General in the Mossad and and Zak’s mentor, who holds a similar position, are at odds ends and embroiled in a completion to see who’s protégé gets to lead the Mossad, and you have an opportunity for a compelling story with plenty of action.
The story contains some wonderful ideas, plot twists and surprises; unfortunately, they are not well executed.
The character development is lacking and confusing. I found that, even by the end of the book, I was not invested in any of them. The plot was difficult to follow and there are numerous spots where the explanation for an event or the appearance of necessary equipment seemed to be added in as an afterthought.
There are paragraphs that are numerous pages long and places where following the dialogue was trying. Movement of the plot was interrupted more than once by the inclusion such things as the history and evolution of the Tango--while interesting, it stopped the flow of the story.
The ideas are good, the imagination rampant and the willingness to put words on the page are present, but regrettably the book doesn’t reach its potential. It could use a serious structural editing, followed by a strong copy-editing and proofreading. This would improve the flow, authenticity and consistency as well as correcting the grammar, spelling and punctuation errors.
To be fair, at the time of writing this review the book is priced at only $1.01 at Amazon.com so the monetary investment is not great. While it does have some interesting features, I don’t think I’d recommend the time investment to read it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Norm Hamilton
Author of The Digital Eye and the soon to be released From Thine Own Well
Indie Writer Book Reviews
Services for Writers
Website
email: Norm Hamilton
Kefira is one of a group of orphans who were picked up and trained for special forces work in the Mossad; destined to be placed, imperceptibly, anywhere the Mossad needed clandestine operatives.
The Russians have created a weapon that, from a submarine resting on the sea bed, causes tsunami’s to rush to chosen areas, causing death and destruction. It could be used for the purposes of genocide. Kefira, and the other Mossad operatives, including her love interest, Zak are sent on a mission to defuse the situation.
Add into the mix that Kefira’s “control”, a General in the Mossad and and Zak’s mentor, who holds a similar position, are at odds ends and embroiled in a completion to see who’s protégé gets to lead the Mossad, and you have an opportunity for a compelling story with plenty of action.
The story contains some wonderful ideas, plot twists and surprises; unfortunately, they are not well executed.
The character development is lacking and confusing. I found that, even by the end of the book, I was not invested in any of them. The plot was difficult to follow and there are numerous spots where the explanation for an event or the appearance of necessary equipment seemed to be added in as an afterthought.
There are paragraphs that are numerous pages long and places where following the dialogue was trying. Movement of the plot was interrupted more than once by the inclusion such things as the history and evolution of the Tango--while interesting, it stopped the flow of the story.
The ideas are good, the imagination rampant and the willingness to put words on the page are present, but regrettably the book doesn’t reach its potential. It could use a serious structural editing, followed by a strong copy-editing and proofreading. This would improve the flow, authenticity and consistency as well as correcting the grammar, spelling and punctuation errors.
To be fair, at the time of writing this review the book is priced at only $1.01 at Amazon.com so the monetary investment is not great. While it does have some interesting features, I don’t think I’d recommend the time investment to read it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Norm Hamilton
Author of The Digital Eye and the soon to be released From Thine Own Well
Indie Writer Book Reviews
Services for Writers
Website
email: Norm Hamilton
June 1, 2016
I received this book from the independent writer’s review initiative.
The book’s content has been somewhat fleshed out in other reviews so I won’t delve into too much of that as to not give away any more spoilers but will just give my impressions of the novel.
The book is a modern day spy novel in which the characters live in a world where everything is either secret, super-secret, ultra-secret, or specially designed and pre-ordered for a spy and the characters jet all over the globe in order to catch terrorists. Cool!
Some things are done very well and some others were not to my liking and these are sometimes right next to each other which makes the difference all the more evident. For example the author’s description of the events surrounding one agent’s escape from Egypt during the Tahir Square uprising was exciting and compelling yet immediately after that the book falls into a section which feels very tired in the way that it merely explains what happens (instead of showing). Another reviewer had commented that the writing style feels journalistic and this is exactly what I saw. It sometimes felt like I was reading a newspaper recounting of events. If the author could have stuck with the former style for the entire book then I think this could have easily been a 5 star rating from me.
Perhaps the author’s strongest suite lies in the way he can describe locations, specific mannerisms, items, cars and places that would be specific to those locations. This felt very real and very authentic to me. I do not know if the author has been to all these different places as there are so many but if not he has done his research well.
Perhaps his weakest suite, to me, is in his dialog. Many conversations throughout the book felt contrived or jumpy, not fully fleshed out or inauthentic. Maybe I don’t know how spys speak but many of the conversations just didn’t feel ‘right’ to me.
There are an abundance of small errors, such as spelling or grammatical that could use a good scrubbing (even stuff like a comma in the middle of a word –clearly a mistyping or “massage” being spelled “message”, etc., etc., etc.). Also other mix ups are present such as in chapter 12 where the author describe something Sarah and Aden is doing but calls them Aden and Zak which make things very confusing. Normally I overlook spelling and grammatical errors with independent authors because they are on their own and don’t have an army of editors helping them but this book had so many that it was really starting to become a distraction. It almost felt like it was a first draft.
On a final note, this book is not for children as it has some depictions of sexual acts that are a bit graphic (unnecessarily in my opinion) and it is a spy novel so obviously there is some violence also.
The book’s content has been somewhat fleshed out in other reviews so I won’t delve into too much of that as to not give away any more spoilers but will just give my impressions of the novel.
The book is a modern day spy novel in which the characters live in a world where everything is either secret, super-secret, ultra-secret, or specially designed and pre-ordered for a spy and the characters jet all over the globe in order to catch terrorists. Cool!
Some things are done very well and some others were not to my liking and these are sometimes right next to each other which makes the difference all the more evident. For example the author’s description of the events surrounding one agent’s escape from Egypt during the Tahir Square uprising was exciting and compelling yet immediately after that the book falls into a section which feels very tired in the way that it merely explains what happens (instead of showing). Another reviewer had commented that the writing style feels journalistic and this is exactly what I saw. It sometimes felt like I was reading a newspaper recounting of events. If the author could have stuck with the former style for the entire book then I think this could have easily been a 5 star rating from me.
Perhaps the author’s strongest suite lies in the way he can describe locations, specific mannerisms, items, cars and places that would be specific to those locations. This felt very real and very authentic to me. I do not know if the author has been to all these different places as there are so many but if not he has done his research well.
Perhaps his weakest suite, to me, is in his dialog. Many conversations throughout the book felt contrived or jumpy, not fully fleshed out or inauthentic. Maybe I don’t know how spys speak but many of the conversations just didn’t feel ‘right’ to me.
There are an abundance of small errors, such as spelling or grammatical that could use a good scrubbing (even stuff like a comma in the middle of a word –clearly a mistyping or “massage” being spelled “message”, etc., etc., etc.). Also other mix ups are present such as in chapter 12 where the author describe something Sarah and Aden is doing but calls them Aden and Zak which make things very confusing. Normally I overlook spelling and grammatical errors with independent authors because they are on their own and don’t have an army of editors helping them but this book had so many that it was really starting to become a distraction. It almost felt like it was a first draft.
On a final note, this book is not for children as it has some depictions of sexual acts that are a bit graphic (unnecessarily in my opinion) and it is a spy novel so obviously there is some violence also.
May 1, 2013
I was gifted Tsunami Connection for a non-reciprocal review.
The Positives:
Tsunami Connection is a multi-layered, three-dimensional work that has clearly been well-researched, thoroughly planned and executed with precision. I have had the fortune of visiting some of the exotic locations mentioned in the book, and the details are spot on. Detail extends beyond the geographical; any and every subject matter that features in Tsunami Connection is thoroughly and convincingly researched.
The plot follows a fairly conventional political thriller theme, yet the twists and turns are unpredictable and the pace bounces along at a comfortable rate, introducing characters, relationships and events with good rhythm. The depth of the plot adds a reassuringly richness to the book, giving the reader confidence that it won't unravel in a disappointing manner - which it doesn't.
The Negatives:
I found the style of writing difficult to get along with, which is a shame, because the rest of the book was so complete. Description, although detailed and well-informed, came across in an almost journalistic way, laying out the picture with a matter-of-fact starkness that wasn't to my taste. This isn't to say that my feelings are to be mirrored by everyone - this is purely preference.
The writing style extended to dialogue, which had a very unnatural, stilted quality to it that was almost robotic, lacking in a certain humanity that makes people feel like people. As an extension of the characters, I also felt that the sex scenes seemed out of place within the book. It's not to do with prudishness on my part - sex has its place - but the graphical nature of the scenes stuck out as feeling like a different book entirely. By way of analogy, imagine a graphically hardcore scene in the middle of any of the Bourne films - it would dismember the plot.
The Summary:
There is a lot to like here. I personally didn't get on with the prose itself, but I understand the author is having the book edited. Perhaps after the editing, the plot, depth and detail will get that final coat of polish it deserves.
The Positives:
Tsunami Connection is a multi-layered, three-dimensional work that has clearly been well-researched, thoroughly planned and executed with precision. I have had the fortune of visiting some of the exotic locations mentioned in the book, and the details are spot on. Detail extends beyond the geographical; any and every subject matter that features in Tsunami Connection is thoroughly and convincingly researched.
The plot follows a fairly conventional political thriller theme, yet the twists and turns are unpredictable and the pace bounces along at a comfortable rate, introducing characters, relationships and events with good rhythm. The depth of the plot adds a reassuringly richness to the book, giving the reader confidence that it won't unravel in a disappointing manner - which it doesn't.
The Negatives:
I found the style of writing difficult to get along with, which is a shame, because the rest of the book was so complete. Description, although detailed and well-informed, came across in an almost journalistic way, laying out the picture with a matter-of-fact starkness that wasn't to my taste. This isn't to say that my feelings are to be mirrored by everyone - this is purely preference.
The writing style extended to dialogue, which had a very unnatural, stilted quality to it that was almost robotic, lacking in a certain humanity that makes people feel like people. As an extension of the characters, I also felt that the sex scenes seemed out of place within the book. It's not to do with prudishness on my part - sex has its place - but the graphical nature of the scenes stuck out as feeling like a different book entirely. By way of analogy, imagine a graphically hardcore scene in the middle of any of the Bourne films - it would dismember the plot.
The Summary:
There is a lot to like here. I personally didn't get on with the prose itself, but I understand the author is having the book edited. Perhaps after the editing, the plot, depth and detail will get that final coat of polish it deserves.
March 18, 2015
Tsunami Connection (the first in the New World Trilogy) is a fast-paced, intriguing spy thriller, with scenes set in the Middle east (such as the Sinai desert), North Korea and Russia. Written in snappy chapters, and alternating between fast paced action and a reflective tone that facilitates character development, the book is well balanced. It features Kefira (whose name in Hebrew means lioness): a fierce, courageous, and highly trained Mossad operative. You will be gripped by the dangers she faces on her mission and relieved by the narrow escapes.
The scenes are lovingly painted, with a light touch that leads you directly back into the action: “At midnight, an ocean breeze straggled across the rooftops to the crown of a luxury duplex on Melchette Street, Tel Aviv.” The flashbacks to Kefira’s past illuminate the traumatic events that shaped her past and forged her mettle. “Orphaned at a young age, Kefira involuntarily became an instrument, Mossad’s contrivance.”
Some of the reviewers commented on the ending being a cliff hanger, but I fully understand the need for it, as it is designated to be a jumping board to the next adventure in the series.
Five stars.
The scenes are lovingly painted, with a light touch that leads you directly back into the action: “At midnight, an ocean breeze straggled across the rooftops to the crown of a luxury duplex on Melchette Street, Tel Aviv.” The flashbacks to Kefira’s past illuminate the traumatic events that shaped her past and forged her mettle. “Orphaned at a young age, Kefira involuntarily became an instrument, Mossad’s contrivance.”
Some of the reviewers commented on the ending being a cliff hanger, but I fully understand the need for it, as it is designated to be a jumping board to the next adventure in the series.
Five stars.
October 10, 2015
This is an exciting, engrossing political/military/spy thriller with a realistic background. The characters are interesting and varied in the setting of spy plots and Special Forces operations carried out by an ultra-secret arm of the Mossad. Action is fast-paced, the narrative informative without being intrusive, and the author's staggering amount of research into his subject shines through on every page. Having done similar research myself I know how much time and effort it takes and is very commendable that the author has created such realism in which to place his characters.
I enjoyed reading this book and have no hesitation in giving it five stars and recommending it to other readers who are looking for political/spy/military thriller intrigue. The story keeps the reader gripped from the first page as we follow the exploits of Kefira, Zak, their handlers Yochana and Sam, and the Machiavellian opposition. Several surprises lie in store and what the reader expects is not what happens. Well-crafted plotlines raise this book to the top of its genre.
I enjoyed reading this book and have no hesitation in giving it five stars and recommending it to other readers who are looking for political/spy/military thriller intrigue. The story keeps the reader gripped from the first page as we follow the exploits of Kefira, Zak, their handlers Yochana and Sam, and the Machiavellian opposition. Several surprises lie in store and what the reader expects is not what happens. Well-crafted plotlines raise this book to the top of its genre.
May 12, 2014
An Interesting read
It's a wonderful story, there's no doubt about it. There are plenty of twists and turns that'll keep you guessing till the very end. Some of the psychological machinations will set you thinking. And, you'll end up travelling all over the globe with this book. It's a great start. It's the first book Michael's written and things can only get better from here.
It's a wonderful story, there's no doubt about it. There are plenty of twists and turns that'll keep you guessing till the very end. Some of the psychological machinations will set you thinking. And, you'll end up travelling all over the globe with this book. It's a great start. It's the first book Michael's written and things can only get better from here.
January 18, 2015
Well, Great Book! It is my book but hey I am an honest sort of guy. Pick one up now...
March 16, 2016
I painfully reached the end of the book hoping a rebound confirming the good reviews. In vain.
February 15, 2017
Not your usual tail of spies
It took me several chapters to actually get into this book. At one time, I almost abandoned it altogether, but persevered. The most exciting part for me was the chapters set with the tale of thee Tango, the characters surrounding it and the pursuit of it. These felt real. I felt there was a coldness to Zacs character which was not apparent in kefiras. Her passion for all things more than made up for it. I'm sort of glad I made it to the final pages.
It took me several chapters to actually get into this book. At one time, I almost abandoned it altogether, but persevered. The most exciting part for me was the chapters set with the tale of thee Tango, the characters surrounding it and the pursuit of it. These felt real. I felt there was a coldness to Zacs character which was not apparent in kefiras. Her passion for all things more than made up for it. I'm sort of glad I made it to the final pages.
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