Foreign Influence
Author: Brad Thor
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 9781444712353
Year Published: 2010
In Foreign Influence, Brad Thor once again takes the readers on a political thriller ride. His hero, Scot Harvath, now 40 and a veteran of the SEALs, the Secret Service and a black ops government agency called The Apex Project, is now working for The Carlton Group. While decompressing from his last mission, he’s tapped by Reed Carlton to investigate the bombing of a busload of American college students in Spain.
At the same time, a seemingly unrelated hit-and-run accident goes uninvestigated in Chicago. But the two Chicago policemen who take on the responsibility of finding the driver will soon uncover something even more terrifying and that it will be inter-connected with the unbelievable plot against the United States that Harvath is investigating.
Once again, Thor puts the readers right in the middle of the game, taking them on a ride that leaves them breathless as the story proceeds. Deftly written with a skill that is unbeatable, Thor is the master at taking the readers into the underbelly of political intrigue and introducing them to characters who are both intriguing as well as frightening.
As the action moves from Spain to Switzerland to Amsterdam and back to the United States, you find that you are with Harvath every heart-stopping step of the way. You get a first hand feel and very frightening taste of what really goes on as countries jockey for supremacy in a world whose political landscape changes daily - if not hourly.
As the race to find the masterminds behind the plot to initiate a series of bombings from Rome to Paris and the US, Harvath and his team have to not just take out the bad guys but also to find the locations of the attacks before they happen, to save lives.
Thor gives us a glimpse into Harvath’s personal side as well. While Harvath is fighting to save the country for which he’s fought in many different roles, he’s also wrestling with a heartbreaking situation and decision involving his fiancée, Tracy. He loves her very much, but ultimately, he still needs to make a decision regarding his future.
The book is filled with impressionable characters who will remain on your mind and live with you long after the last page is turned. And these people also give us a glimpse into the person Scot Harvath really is.
Thor has not openly imbued Harvath with the focused dedication of a true patriot but also the personality, characteristics, and personal code that makes the reader cheer for him every step of the way. It’s obvious that Thor does his research well, which not only makes his books more realistic and interesting but captivating as well. A gripping read.
Check out Brad Thor’s bio @Biography.