Jihad (Stephen Coonts' Deep Black, Book 5)

This was my first venture into the "Deep Black" series, and I enjoyed it. It's a necessary updating of Coonts' intrigue thrillers. The Grafton series in its later versions is interesting primarily for Tommy Carmellini's persona and low-tech, burglar-hip ways of getting things done, but Coonts had pushed the limits of that and meanwhile they'd lost the graver charm Jake Grafton had in the earlier, more military books. "Deep Black" has similarities to TV's "24". The several lead operatives - the Jack Bauer characters - are NSA agents connected 24/7 to the agency's unbelievable satellite and video capabilities. There, a host of Chloe-types can hack into any video system or computer database at will, provide them with instant information through their headphones about what they'll find around the next corner. Or translators tell them what to say in a foreign country. Or surgeons tell them how to perform surgery. Whatever they need. In "24", the heavies are often the jerks from Division, administrative tyrants who muck up the works. Here, that role is played by the National Security Advisor, an administrative rival of the NSA executive running these operations. The team, operating in Istanbul, ingeniously bugs an Al-Qaeda leader with a tiny microphone, letting them listen in on his conversations. They find he's plotting a major terrorist strike in the U.S. but don't know what it is. Following him into the country, they find him linking up with a mysterious agent who has left few electronic traces in society. The characters aren't terribly interesting, except for the team's Muslim-American doctor, Saed Ramil, who finds his own loyalties torn by the operation. The action and technology are pretty good and keep the book moving.

Techno thrillers are pretty much a guy thing. It is also surprisingly subjective. For example, I do not like the Clancy books, and I hate the W.E.B. Griffen books. However, the Coonts series of Deep Black books has struck a cord in me, and I devour them. There is just the right blend of plot, character, and technology, to ring true for me. I like the fact that we blow away Arabs and muslims, something they all richly deserve. Mr. Coonts just needs to write many more of this series.

A good story, with the typical blend of no sex and lots of violence. Tech issues and politics with just a hint of the American superiority complex.

As usual, Stephen Coonts has another winner on his hands. Really enjoyed this read and looking forward to the next one.

Stephen Coonts' DEEP BLACK: JIHAD is written by Stephen Coonts and Jim DeFelice and narrated by J. Charles, who brings to life a gripping thriller of international terrorism and agents who try to stop them. Al Qaeda is launching a series of new attacks against the West and a new war is emerging from it in this gripping narrative.