Description:

The #1 New York Times-bestselling series returns with a story as up-to-date as the headlines.

The novels of W. E. B. Griffin featuring Delta Force officer Charley Castillo and his band of troubleshooters have won wide praise for their realism, action, and "punchy prose that connects like a right hook" (Chicago Tribune).

Now, still in Argentina tying up loose ends from his investigation into the UN oil-for-food scandal, Castillo is startled when a young man is marched into his office at gunpoint, caught trying to sneak through the fence. It turns out he's an American officer, a lieutenant assigned to the embassy in Paraguay. A key agent for the DEA has disappeared while trying to interdict drugs and very little is being done about it, for phony diplomatic reasons. The lieutenant's heard of Castillo, knows what he's done, and wants his help in getting the agent back. More than that, he's got an innovative plan for dealing with the drug lords themselves.

Intrigued, Castillo gets permission to try it, but the President has just one warning for him: Don't get caught. Charley couldn't agree more-but it might turn out to be something easier said than done. . . .

Filled with Griffin's trademark rich characters and cutting-edge drama, this is an exceptional novel by "a writer of true virtuosity and talent" (Fort Worth Star-Telegram).

From Publishers Weekly

When DEA Special Agent Byron J. Timmons is kidnapped in Asunción, Paraguay, at the start of bestseller Griffin's rousing fourth presidential agent novel (after The Hunters), Timmons's grandfather asks his friend, the mayor of Chicago, for help. The mayor passes the request on to the U.S. president, who assigns his personal in-house expert, Lt. Col. C.G. Castillo, to rescue agent Timmons. Castillo is familiar with the territory, having sorted out various terrorist and drug dealer threats in South America in earlier books in the series. Castillo spends a lot of time in meetings and flying around the globe in the course of setting up the big shoot-out. After the brief, long-awaited climax, everyone pats each other on the back and gets ready for the next adventure, which is sure to pick up the loose threads left untied from the just-completed mission. In less accomplished hands, this would be a recipe for boredom, but Griffin pulls it off, leaving satisfied thriller readers hankering for more. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"The Castillo novels offer timely plots and enough firepower to keep the action--adventure crowd happy" Booklist on The Hunters "Griffin just keeps on getting better with a formula that... is exciting and great fun" Library Journal on The Hostage "This is typical Griffin, which means plenty of action, high-level intrigue, interesting characters, flip dialog, romance, and a whole lot of drinking and other carrying on. His fans will enjoy it immensely. Recommended for most popular fiction collections" Library Journal on By Order of the President"