THE CONSULTANT introduces us to Jonathan Hunter, a CIA "consultant" working at a post in the Middle East. When he receives a plea for help from his brother, Kevin, who he has not heard from in over 18 years, he goes AWOL from Kandahar, Afghanistan, and heads to heir hometown of Winchester, VA. He arrives at the designated location just as Kevin is shot. Lying and dying in his arms, Kevin talks about: "Khalifah... Maya..." and "Not them." Jonathan promises he will avenge his brother. Here, the action truly begins. He meets Noor, his brother's Iranian wife, and their adopted teenage son, Sameh, a shifty, very hostile young man. Jonathan did not know Kevin was married and had a family, and getting to know them was his first difficult task. Neither of them wanted or expected Jonathan in their life. He also does not get on well with the investigating officer. Kevin worked with the local force, and they are suspicious about why Jonathan suddenly appeared and if he was involved in Kevin's killing.

Oscar La Rue, Jonathan's CIA boss, mentor, and longtime friend, arrives in Winchester and is not pleased with his departure from the CIA without permission. He has impounded all of Jonathan's substantial savings and promises to give it back in the future after more missions are accomplished. They must work together on this mission and find out why Kevin was killed and what he was involved with that needed his brother's help. Jonathan is a great hero, slow but sure. He is also very funny, and I enjoyed his wisecracks.

THE CONSULTANT is a story not for the faint of heart as it depicts brutality, killings, tortures, and a diabolical scheme to kill thousands of innocent people with a deadly nerve gas in Washington, D.C., This plot could come easily from our daily headlines. There is non-stop suspense and action. Just when I thought I knew who the guilty party is, there is a quick sudden twist and turn that throws my theory out, as I rush to find another one. The locale is mostly in quiet, rural Virginia. I especially enjoyed that as I live in the Land of Lovers, many of the descriptions are easily recognized and adds to this exciting tale of terrorists and traitors. The ending was a surprise to me as I am a good sleuth and usually can forecast the villains. Not so this time. TJ O'Connor is on my list of authors to follow and await his next offering, coming soon I hope. THE CONSULTANT has my best praise!

Book Summary

Terrorism hits Main Street America

When a rogue CIA consultant goes AWOL from his Middle Eastern post in response to his brother’s plea for help, he arrives just in time to witness his brother’s murder. For years, Jonathan Hunter and his brother Kevin Mallory had not spoken―until Kevin’s final words, “… Khalifah … Not Them … Maya.”

Pursuing his brother’s killer, Hunter stumbles into a nest of horrifying terrorist activity by Middle Eastern refugees, which sparks a backlash across America. In the shadows, Hunter’s mentor, the omnipotent Oscar LaRue, is playing a dangerous game with Russian Intelligence. Neither Hunter nor LaRue realizes that a new threat―the Iranian threat―has entered the game. Stakes rise as two shadowy players are one step ahead of Hunter and LaRue―Khalifah, a terrorist mastermind, and Caine, a nomadic assassin who dances with the highest bidder.

As attacks escalate and the country drifts toward another Middle East conflict, innocent refugees become trapped between the terrorists and the terrorized. Prejudice, hate, and fear vent everywhere. Is this who we’ve become? Before the country explodes, Hunter must find Khalifah, learn the next terror target, and pray he’s in time to stop further annihilation.

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