Gambit

This author is new to me. I read 'Checkmate' and was encouraged to read the sequel 'Gambit' and I wasn't disappointed. The story line is right along with current events and keeps your attention. With her background working in Federal Government, she brings a lot of insight to the plot. I would recommend this as a very good read.

This spy thriller is hard to put down. It is written with a spare journalistic style and moves you long at a pace that keeps you wanting to read just a little more. The author's background makes her an expert on the workings of Washington, the White House and the National Security community. It makes you look three steps farther at the happenings in our complicated world and its intricate network of alliances and competition.

Most action/thriller books today are written by men and it is refreshing to find such an interesting plot told with a woman's sensibilities. I was first drawn to the book by its title which is similar to one of my own books(Rebel's Gambit). I opened the book and began to read it in the book store. 100 pages later I finally managed to actually buy it and leave the store. Rebel's Gambit

"If you like thrillers with a touch of fantasy then Karna Small Bodman is the writer for you. Gambit is another winner."

In this book, a very realistic scenario is portrayed in which terrorists shoot down commercial planes as they take off from U.S. airports. Air travel in the U.S. is crippled, reminiscent of the days immediately after 9/11. Our protagonist the brilliant scientist Dr. Cammy Talbot, who saved the day with her missile defense system in the previous book, this time designs a laser defense system for airplanes. And as last time, her life is in jeopardy as the bad guys try to eliminate her to prevent her from succeeding. The book has lots of details about the White House, political intrigue in Washington, the intelligence and military communities and the high tech defense industry. Author Bodman, having served in the White House for six years and been a senior director of the National Security Council is well qualified to write from experience. The book was an enjoyable and quick read. I can imagine these books would make good action movies. In fact after a rather dramatic event near the end, one of the characters says, "Took a lot of guts to pull off that E-DIRCM movement, though. Looked like something you'd only see in a movie with special effects."