NIGHTWATCH

Readers who saw Air Force One will feel right at home as a coup against the US government is enacted on the high-flying Nightwatch, a terrifically advanced 747 that becomes the America’s supreme seat of power from which a nuclear nightmare can be launched. Launched not only against an enemy abroad but also—well, would the Missouri Ozarks, where Vice-President Andrew Chapman is fishing, surprise you? In Henrick’s 18th book, the President, on a visit to the Crimea, has had his head blown off like a pumpkin, and the “football” (a black satchel with the nuclear launch keys) has been captured, though later deactivated. While the VP is off fishing, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs assumes military command of the US, and the launch capability of the “football” is transferred to Nightwatch. Aboard is Commander Brittany Cooper, the Navy’s military aide to the President and one of five officers responsible for maintaining the black satchel. Also back from Attack on the Queen (1998) are the Kellogg brothers: Vince of the Secret Service, protecting Andrew Chapman out fishing, and Thomas of the ATF, who’s trying to find Vince and the VP before they’re assassinated. Let’s not forget that some of the action takes place undersea in nuclear subs, although the climax aboard a riddled Nightwatch will get your nerves sparkling. All moves cracklingly, despite a ton of acronyms cluttering every page.