Andrew Britton The American

The American

Andrew Britton

Kensington, Mar 2006, $24.00, 384 pp.

ISBN 0758213336

Physically former US Army Special Forces Officer Jason March is as atypical of an al-Qaeda operative there is as for instance he has blond hair. However, he loathes the United States and is willing to do anything to destroy the country. Thus, with his western looks, he is the perfect insider recruit by the terrorist organization.

Jason blows up a motorcade killing Senate Majority Leader Daniel Levy and several others in his retinue. Desperate to stop March from further assassinations, the CIA brings back former agent thirtyish Ryan Kealey to stop him. Ryan is the only known person to survive a March assault; on a Special Forces mission, the commanding officer March killed his entire team except Kealey, who he wounded but survived. Kealey teams up with CIA counter-terrorism expert Naomi Kharmai who can provide insight into March's "handlers". However, March could not care less what bin Laden wants as he has his own personal agenda making him that much more dangerous than any outsider could be.

Though many recent terrorism tales make Arab extremists the villains, THE AMERICAN provides a fresh perspective at least in terms of the killer, who would be like Oklahoma City bombers working for Al-Qaeda. Ryan is a retired champion brought back for one last gig though if it was anyone but March he would refuse; this one is personal to him; March is a brilliant sociopath with a grudge; finally Naomi is a throw away who brings unneeded sexual tension disguised as "expertise" to the cat and mouse tale. Though the story line quickly turns into the typical high noon between the good guy (our side of course) and the bad guy (Al-Qaeda's side), Andrew Britton provides an exciting thriller.