As the lead agent of the US government's top-secret Persona project, he is its most valuable weapon in the War on Terror. Experimental technology enables him to take on the personality - and memories - of anyone - be it a Russian arms dealer, a high-stakes gambler or a nuclear scientist. Whatever secrets they know, he knows.
But the most dangerous secrets of all are his own.
Gray is able to take on these identities for a full day, thanks to the incredible protocol machine and the special drugs used.
This mind reading or personality transfer kit enables Adam and his team to seize a suspect, make the lateral memory transfer to Adam, then take on his thoughts and effectively interrogate himself until sleep removes the connection.
The victim’s short term memory is erased so he has no idea of what has just happened. The project is run by a black agency called Special Technology Section or STS that liaises with the CIA and other US Intelligence agencies.
So the STS team is able to jump at their suspect, one victim at a time. Of course, if you need to fly a plane, win at cards or conduct surgery, then this device can prove its handiness time after time. But there is a downside – too many repeat protocols with the same victim can be harmful for Adam, as his predecessor, Tony Carpenter revealed.
The Persona Protocol leaps from one outrageous scenario to another, each vying with the one before for sheer audacity and nerve. There’s barely time to draw breath before Adam and the others are yet again up to their necks in it.
The story, though, is given an extra human touch, thanks to the introduction of the British scientist, Bianca Childs, whose job is to look after the medical side of the protocol. As she becomes caught up in the adventure, she takes on much more than her role as a doctor, until she is the thriller’s greatest source of glamour and humour. Even Adam begins to open up to this exciting young woman. There are interesting lines of dialogue and interplay between Bianca and Adam.
McDermott again delivers his mix of breakneck pacing and humour that are the reason readers will enjoy this book.
When Adam hunts a terrorist plotting to murder millions, he begins to realise that, although he can delve into the minds of others, his own memories are a mystery. Hidden in his past is the key to a deadly conspiracy - and its masterminds will stop at nothing to conceal their crimes. But with the help of Dr Childs, Adam becomes interested in his past.
As he pursues to regain his memory, he finds himself the target of his own STS. Will Adam succeed in his own mission to find out who he really is?
The Persona Protocol is an intriguing read and gets really exciting in the last few chapters.
