This is a thriller of a different kind. It is about terrorism but from a parents’ point of view. It is about radicalization but radicalization done for a political end not because of religious fanaticism. It is about the hunt for terrorists by an FBI agent whose family is from East India and knows something about how racism can blind investigators of terrorism. Fast paced with cliff hangers and plot twists, this book will stay with you long after you finish the last page!

A bomb goes off in a mall in Los Angeles killing dozens of people including the bomber- a young Arab woman.  A few days later Sajid Khan is arrested at his place of work in London. He is interrogated and beaten as the officers try to extract information from him about his 18 year old daughter Aliyah. This is how he finds out that is precious daughter is not in Japan teaching English but rather seems to be a part of the terrorist group that bombed the mall in Los Angeles.

A few days later Carol Flynn arrives at Sajid’s door. She is from Florida and she flew all the way to London because she thinks her son and Aliyah are connected and that they may both be caught up in some kind of radical cult. Together they decide that they must try and save their children before the FBI finds them.

Shreya Mistry, is on her last chance. Her inability to follow orders or keep quiet when her “betters” are talking will cause them to send her to an FBI outpost, but the bombing means “all hands on deck” and so she gets a bit of a reprieve. Shreya’s instincts are what gets her into trouble. She can’t always explain why she thinks they should follow certain leads over others or why she know the suspect went left instead of right. Luckily most of her instincts are right but her bosses don’t always like being second guessed. Shreya’s instincts are screaming that there is something wrong about this case. It looks like another terrorist bombing but things don’t quite add up. As she gets further and further into it she knows that there is something different about this organization than other Islamist groups, additionally she believes there is a mole in the FBI letting the terrorists know the FBI’s next move.

With their children in the cross hairs, and Shreya’s career on the line and credible threats of another bombing, there is more at stake than they know.

This is a plot line that has been worked over many times, but Mukherjee has found a way to make it fresh, surprising and new. Seeing the anguish of parents who realize their children are caught up in a violent group, or seeing the war on terrorism from the perspective of a woman of East Indian descent creates new and startling understandings. This was a fascinating book that was hard to put down!

Brenda’s Rating: **** (4 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Marian, Keith, Sharon and Ken.

Book Study Worthy? YES

Read in e-library format.