Bevans’ debut thriller tells a story of a terrorist cell planning a campaign of assassinations and deadly chemical attacks—and of those working to thwart its plans.

Mehmet Osman is an English teacher in Istanbul who covertly operates a website that extols his radical Islamist views and supports the actions of al-Awlaki, a terrorist group operating in Yemen. When the leader of that group is killed, Mehmet is contacted by his friend Karim and asked to do an undisclosed favor. Their exchange tips off the Turkish intelligence agency and the CIA, who deduce that Karim is actually Ali Bin Shah ram, who’s now al-Awlaki’s de facto head. They believe that the new leader’s looking to avenge the death of his predecessor, so they apprehend Mehmet and violently interrogate him until he breaks down and agrees to become a CIA spy in exchange for his family’s safety. As Mehmet struggles to reconcile his political and religious convictions with his newfound role, he’s also burdened by his growing attraction to Josie, the CIA agent training him. The novel touches on many topics relevant to current global politics, which are certain to be familiar and evocative for many readers. Al-Awlaki, for example, has links to al-Qaida, and their agenda against the West is driven by notions of jihadist vengeance. Drone strikes and brutal interrogation techniques are also major plot elements, and only sharpen the novel’s topicality. Bevans doesn’t dwell on the moral or political quandaries of such controversial subjects, however, instead choosing to focus mainly on plot and character. His spare prose maintains a steady momentum, pushing the plot forward quickly enough to keep readers engaged while also providing the characters with substantial depth. However, the novel’s romance subplot may strike many readers as clichéd, and it feels superfluous next to the weighty issues driving the main plot.

A serviceable thriller, bolstered by its contemporary backdrop.