Crimson Code
Rachel Lee
Mira, Feb 2006, $6.99, 480 pp.
ISBN: 0778322718

Christmas is being celebrated around the globe when the simultaneous terrorist attacks occur. In every time zone a Catholic Cathedral is devastated. At the same time several economic points, like an oil rig and the New York Stock Exchange data base were also hit. Whereas the former left thousands dead; the latter killed no one. Additionally, an anomaly in Baden Baden happened when a small church was targeted.

Saudi moderate Ahmed Ahsami feels betrayed. He set up the economic terrorism to hurt the West without causing deaths, which is why he chose Christmas. However, when you partner with the devil anything can happen, and in this case it did. He plans vengeance for Islamic and Catholics as he tells Vatican Monsignor Vectroni of Stewards of Faith. In France, history aficionado General Jules Souet celebrates the first step he fostered towards his taking over as the world's leader.

At the same time UN Office 119 operative Renate Baehle is filled with rage over the Baden Baden murders, as her family was eradicated in her opinion to get at her. She plans vengeance on those who committed the atrocity. Renate and Lawton Laine begin tracking the Internet banking that was needed to support this pandemic terrorism, even as the nuclear genie appears on the verge of escaping the bottle.

This exciting doomsday thriller smoothly ties two modern day conspiracies from competing groups vying for world domination back to Moses. The storyline leaps around the globe as numerous subplots bring across the vast scope of the secret societies to dominate the planet. Initially difficult to follow with so much happening seemingly everywhere, the regional actions tie back together to forge the main exhilarating plot. Fans will appreciate this fast-paced powerful conspiracy thriller.