THE KOVALENKO SECRET

In this novel, a reclusive billionaire coordinates efforts to stop a terrorist plot to detonate a nuclear bomb in the United States.

Fatih Abdul-Kaliq claims to be the new leader of the Islamic State group and harbors great confidence that soon he will bring his avowed enemy, the U.S., to heel. He’s generously funded by Shamir Rahmani, a wealthy Sunni radical who invested his fortune in oil and peddling drugs throughout the Middle East. In an interview with Valentin Murat, a reporter from Kazakhstan, Fatih admits he has a plan in place but refuses to disclose the details. Murat is murdered shortly after the interview. Duke Chancellor, a billionaire and the head of the “super secret” Chancellor Organization, had recently been sent a message from Murat and laments his shocking death: “I must find out what Valentin had seen or done that got him killed. I must do at least that much. Was he simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? Why, God? WHY? He was young, strong, intelligent, and full of promise...! WHY? The world needs more people like him—not fewer!” More information makes its way to Duke. Viktor Kovalenko, a colonel in the Russian army, notices an alarming discrepancy in an arsenal inventory—a nuclear weapon has disappeared. Duke comes to believe that the bomb will be used in a catastrophic attack on the Hoover Dam.

In a prefatory note to readers, Rettew announces his intention to “provoke at least entertaining awareness of, if not serious thought about human nature, life, culture, the current condition of the human species, and its future in the age of terrorism.” The author gets great credit for composing an eventful book—in the spirit of a propulsive, big-budget action film, every scene brings with it some moment of great consequence, intrigue, or violence. In addition, he clearly aims for a topical relevance. Rettew chillingly portrays the fragility of the world’s security and the indefatigable efforts of violent extremists who wish to destroy their enemies. But the ambitious novel’s plot is quite complex—it features prodigious subplots, a mix of fresh and familiar story elements, and a growing legion of characters. Unfortunately, many of the players are underdeveloped, including the valiant protagonist. Duke is a fictional type largely culled from spy thrillers, graphic novels, and superhero films. In addition, the author’s writing is sometimes a bit wordy and earnest. Readers are told that Duke is a man eager for “opportunities to use some of his vast wealth and influence to create a brighter future by seeking out and enhancing the good and eliminating or at least diminishing the evil, in both the individual and the social or institutional levels.”

An action-packed but uneven thriller.