the PERFECT DECEPTION
An exceedingly twisty novel of terrorism
by Ana Rey
For fans of Jack Ryan and Jason Bourne.
A brillliant lady operative faces her deadliest mission ever.
Dazzlingly whip-smart, sexy and lethal -
retired intelligence analyst and operator
RIVER WARD thought she had escaped her perilous past.
But when America's cities begin burning and her arch-enemy returns from the dead,
she must face him.
The man she is hunting thinks as brilliantly as her, and for a bone-chilling reason!
This book has passed an amazing 10 editors, to get it just perfect.
Actually, the editors just wanted to read it! It already has a reputation.
Chapter 1
The blue phone rang. It was not supposed to ring. Not ever that phone.
Its function was to sit in its corner, mute.
It had been an obsolete dial phone with a bell ringer until three years ago. The government had insisted on replacing it with a blue instrument that contained a small, high-resolution screen, similar to a cell phone. It was not cordless, but its wires bypassed the apartment building's telephone junction box.
River Ward had wondered about the timing. Nothing particularly messy had been going on in the world at the time. Some constant wars in Africa. Impotent Russia being belligerant.
River personally knew the government installers and trusted them. She sat down her coffee and just stared at the telephone's screen. Only one person, Jerome Fletcher, had this number. He had promised never to use it unless the 'World were Ablaze!'
And the present California wildfires cerrtainly did not qualify!
...
Something dire and hidden had happened somewhere in the world, or they would not have replaced that phone three years ago. Obviously, they'd thought they could handle the crisis solo, so nobody had called her.
That had changed; she realized.
***** Ana Rey's novel delivers a fresh take on the terrorism thriller genre by focusing on infrastructure and systems rather than traditional weapons. The relationship between River Ward and Fletcher provides emotional depth, while the technical aspects of weather manipulation and chaos theory add intellectual heft. The California wildfire sequences are vivid and timely. The core story of hunting a brilliant antagonist through pattern analysis is engaging.
***** This novel merges hard science fiction concepts with spy thriller conventions. The protagonist's analytical abilities are well-portrayed, and the author clearly knows about weather patterns and chaos theory.
***** "The Perfect Deception" shines in its exploration of system vulnerabilities and the human element in security. The writer demonstrates strong knowledge of security protocols and pattern analysis, creating tension through technical detail rather than just action. The relationship between River and Fletcher is well-drawn. The contest between River and Kane keeps readers engaged through the final confrontation.
