“Thriller readers looking for a contemporary read that excels in action, character development, and even a touch of romance will find this story thoroughly engrossing and hard to put down,”“Intrepid Spirit is an intriguing battle story that takes place across time and holds roots in history, magical realism and thriller scenarios alike, exploring the oldest battleship in the world, the 200-year-old USS Constitution, and its reluctant captain Moses Redding.
Moses finds that his role as an unwilling ambassador to the Middle East during the ship’s goodwill tour of the region unexpectedly places him in the center of a terrorist plot to capture and assassinate the Vice President when he visits the region. But that isn’t all that he faces as the story evolves.
Redding has already learned that the truth won’t set you free, but he has yet to confront the forces that operate under the force of a jihad push and a plot involving Iran that threaten U.S. interests and the foundations of its democracy.
What begins as a too-simple tour quickly becomes a complex series of confrontations between Redding, puzzling Iranian leadership, Dr. Miriam Hanna, Vice Presidential aide to Virginia Mitchell, and crewmembers and political figures alike.
Women feature prominently in this story, even though the protagonist is male, as do the political thought processes and changing strategies of all sides involved in the conflict. This lends Intrepid Spirit a multifaceted flavor and depth that tends to be unexpected in the thriller genre, often skirting the edges of political and social depth in favor of nonstop action (which Intrepid Spirit holds in abundance, as well).
From situation room logic behind the scenes (“…I’d rather be wrong and apologize later than risk the security of the mission by clueing in the Egyptians.”) to one man’s sudden challenge to view his mission differently, Intrepid Spirit is often realistic (despite its sometimes-surreal backdrop and science fictional events), strongly rooted in the personal conundrums of men and women who are staunch believers in their countries, values, and missions, and always engrossing.
Reader involvement and interest is cemented by the element of surprise in the plot’s many twists, and by the backdrop of Middle East politics and issues. As battles ramp up and decision-makers on all sides reconsider their strategies and possible impacts, readers are treated to a gripping edge-of-your-seat story that moves from high tech responses to hand-to-hand combat. The battle scenes pit the antique weaponry of Constitution and her crew against a modern, well-armed military force, emphasizing the strategic approaches may be the only solution to a battle in which one side is clearly outgunned.
Also unexpected and unique to this approach is a metaphysical element in which the ship assumes the persona of a character who comes to life in the course of struggles and confrontations.
Intrepid Spirit is powered by historical precedent, present-day conflicts and political maneuvering, and characters that are three-dimensional in their approaches to their jobs and lives.
Thriller readers looking for a contemporary read that excels in action, character development, and even a touch of romance will find this story thoroughly engrossing and hard to put down.”
Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Reviews