David A. Rollins The Death Trust

The Death Trust

David A. Rollins

Bantam, Oct 2007, $24.00

ISBN: 9780553805345

US Air Force CID Special Agent Major Vin Cooper is assigned to investigate the death of General Abraham Scott in a glider crash in Germany one week short of the anniversary of the death of his son, Sergeant Peyton Scott by unknown enemy fire in Iraq. Vin assumes a routine fatality caused either by pilot error or mechanical failure.

Suffering from a hangover to numb his toothache, his divorce from Brenda, and his realization that his career is dead, he arrives at Ramstein Air Base in Germany where he is met by agent Anna Masters, who has been told to keep this wild maverick in line. They quickly realize that the glider crash was the result of sabotage, which means they are looking at murder. They soon link the four star murder to his son's death as the two agents believe two homicides occurred. Attempts occur on their lives and someone with clout hampers their inquiries that lead to Blair House and Latvia as more previously thought accidental deaths begin to appear suspicious to the military sleuths.

The keys to this exciting thriller are the flawed arrogant Vin, his dedicated sidekick who knows her career might tank but does the right thing (think of General (R) Anthony Teguba) and the conspiracy; especially the latter. Before 9/11 and the Bush-Cheney postscript readers would have scoffed at James A. Rollins' conspiracy, but now it seems plausible. Fans of tense action-packed military tales filled with twists will enjoy traveling with the two special agents as they investigate a complex case that if revealed would devastate the country worse than Abu Ghraib did.

Harriet Klausner