By Brett James

Published 2009 by Fallacy Publications

Available as an eBook

ISBN: 978-0-578-02918-4

We live in an unpredictable and unstable world and are constantly reminded of this by our governments and the media so ‘The Deadfall Project’ is a timely thriller which sees ‘Iranian terrorists plant a bomb in Paris, nearly killing millions. This is when CIA agent Grey Stark is recalled after two decades of retirement, searching for an elusive bomb that could level a city in seconds.

With NATO amassing troops at Iran's border, Stark races across France with his ex-wife digging through his own dark past in a desperate attempt to defuse the war. Hunted by a world-class gunman, a playboy terrorist, and half the world's intelligence agencies, he realizes that even his own boss will stop at nothing to protect the secrets of The Deadfall Project...’

It’s a well worked premise and tried and tested formula: the lone agent or ex-agent burned or hunted and assisted with a strong independent female companion. Very Robert Ludlum I thought.

The novel skilfully plays on the divisions and tensions as the French intelligence agency ‘The Directorate’ (or DST) work with the American CIA and NSC. I enjoyed the characters of Tom McGareth, Faison and Dr Peerson among others. The mistrust, swaggering and self-interest rang true and kept the tension levels nice and high.

The on-off-on relationship between Stark and his wife Leigh grated rather than enthralled and was one of the weaker plot devices. There are far too many examples of bickering couples up against time and the odds and as I read on I felt I had heard or seen it all before. Sadly the terrorists are a little cartoony and clichéd as well.

The locations however, are used to great effect and James describes Paris and Marseilles very well which infuses the fantastical plot with some much needed grounding and reality. The way the media reacts to the unfolding events also ring true and reminded the reader of the immediacy and importance of Stark’s mission.

At times I felt this did meander, it is a thriller after all. But that said when the action did come it was swift, brutal and gripping. You just had to wait a while for it.

The grizzled, disgruntled, world-weary Stark has been seen and portrayed in literature and on film countless times and his unique involvement with ‘Operation Deadfall’ in the late 1980s and his current involvement is classic thriller territory.

The ‘past coming back to bite you’ is an all too familiar theme. Also there is an unconvincing episode where a doctor ‘assumes’ that Stark is on the side of good when he discovers he has multiple fake passports! Despite this and a few other implausible moments it does build to an exciting and ultimately satisfying finale.

The overall effect and impression that the reader is left with from ‘The Deadfall Project’ is that it’s an entertaining ride let down only by over familiarity and some pacing issues. If it focussed more on the different agencies, the terrorist plot and conspiracy it would have worked much better.