Former Mossad agent Aaron Bergman vanishes while investigating whether a diamond merchant is part of a scheme that could deeply embarrass Israel. Pike Logan and his Taskforce get involved when they waylay killers intent on rubbing out Aaron's partner Shoshana. Pike Logan titles have sold one million copies across formats.

While shadowing an American arms dealer in Tel Aviv, Israel, who might be selling sensitive nuclear weapons components to the highest bidder, Taskforce members Pike Logan (last seen in Ring of Fire) and Jennifer Cahill inadvertently come across highly sensitive military and political details from a recorded conversation suggesting that Aaron Bergman, Alexandra, and Shoshana, old colleagues and leaders of a Mossad elite direct action team, are being targeted. While Pike formulates a plan to thwart this assault, he discovers a concerted military conspiracy to overturn a democratic African country—forcing Pike to choose between rescuing his friends or adhering to Taskforce orders. He also untangles many conflicting allegiances permeating the American and Israeli intelligence communities. VERDICT Former Delta Force officer Taylor relies on his familiarity with modern combat logistics to create credible characters and complex plots that pulse with intense intrigue, authenticity, and realism. Fans of military thrillers will enjoy how this narrative mirrors current events in the worldwide war on terror. [See Prepub Alert 7/24/17.]—Jerry P. Miller, Cambridge, MA

Bestseller Taylor excels at quality action scenes, but getting there can be a chore, as in his complicated 12th Pike Logan thriller (after 2016's Ring of Fire). What starts as a surveillance job for Pike, pal Knuckles, and sidekick and love interest Jennifer—all members of the extralegal counterterrorism group known as Taskforce—takes a deadly turn after a coup in the African kingdom of Lesotho. Diamonds are involved, as is an arms dealer who's bartering trigger components for nuclear devices to pay for the coup. Meanwhile, Pike's Israeli spy friend, Aaron Bergmann, gets captured and needs to be rescued. Aaron's girlfriend, cold-blooded assassin Shoshana, is always entertaining, as she can be counted on to kill, in the most horrific manner, anyone who gets in her way or threatens her beloved Aaron. Pike has been partially tamed by Jennifer, but he's still happy to go off reservation when needed, much to the dismay of his Taskforce boss—and much to the delight of series fans, who are sure to relish this entry, despite the slow spots. Agent: John Talbot, Talbot Fortune. (Jan.)