ESCAPE

A NOVEL

by Megan Lisa Jones ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 6, 2014

Jones’ (Captive, 2010) latest thriller has a celebrity talk show host and a war journalist teaming up to foil an assassination plot somewhere in Manhattan.

It’s been about a year since Stanford psychology professor George Harris interrogated a terrorist, Khalil, for the CIA and helped stop a planned attack. His boss sends George, who’s now interviewing celebrities and politicians on TV, and female journalist/photographer Emine to Cairo to cover the ongoing revolution. But after escaping, Khalil is also in Egypt, and George believes that Khalil, who’d mentioned Aswan, has something devious in the works at the Aswan Dam. Or it’s merely a diversion, as George and Emine learn that Khalil has made his way to New York. Intel suggests that Khalil may try assassinating someone, and George must first, with help from the CIA and others, figure out who the potential target is. The author’s gripping novel devotes a good amount of the story to relationships, many of which are essential to the plot: The calculating Khalil is clearly enamored with Jennifer, whom he first met over 20 years ago as a student in San Diego, while George seems to be questioning his love for his wife, Karen. Conversely, Emine’s new and old romances—sometimes-boyfriend Ed, friend/lover Bud and even her boss, who all show up in Cairo for different reasons—sometimes border on soap opera, though they’re not without humor. Ed, for example, is alternately called her “on-again, off-again boyfriend” and her “almost-but-not-quite-perfect boyfriend.” The second half of the book, though, allows the plot to step into the foreground and concentrates on the notably more intense story with George, Emine and Khalil in Manhattan. Suspenseful scenes include George getting Karen and their kids into protective custody when Khalil makes it clear that he’s watching the TV host (he sends bagels and coffee to George’s apartment). Surrounded by obstacles, Khalil frequently adapts his plan when he hits a snag, such as someone possibly recognizing one of his minions in the U.S. Jones provides few details of her previous book, perhaps assuming that readers are familiar with it, but there’s enough to keep new readers from getting lost. The open ending likely suggests another sequel.

An invigorating nail-biter, especially when it focuses on story over relationships.

Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2014

ISBN: 978-0692023341

Page Count: 464

Publisher: Laernn

Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2014

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

GENERAL FICTION