Path of the Assassin by Brad Thor (copyright 2003) is the second novel for this bestselling author featuring his hero, former SEAL, now Secret Service Agent Scot Harvath. Following Thor's first release The Lions of Lucerne (which I have not yet read) where Scot Harvath rescued the president from his captives, Harvath is tasked with eliminating each of the terrorists involved in the kidnapping of the POTUS.
On a promotional flight, designed by Meg Cassidy's private PR firm, of a new sleek and fully equipped United Airlines jet, she felt like she'd scored the publicity event of a lifetime. Virtually ignoring the new chaos in the Middle East, the first direct flight from Chicago to Cairo promised to produce dividends for both United and Meg Cassidy's firm. Until it is hijacked at the Cairo airport by Middle Eastern terrorists. Notably onboard the flight besides Meg are Chicago's Mayor Jim Fellinger and United CEO Bob Lawrence.
From Saudi Arabia to Hong Kong to Washington DC, Chicago, Cairo, and Italy, Scot Harvath's mission is to discover and destroy the efforts of one Hashim Nidal, the son of deceased terrorist Abu Nidal responsible for massive murdering and mayhem. In the meantime Israel is on full alert, innocent of the Arab killings done by a group claiming to be the previously defunct Hand of God. The problem with finding Hashim Nidal is nobody has seen him and can identify him. Except . . .
Meg Cassidy learns the jet she's on is under seige and she is quickly a target of one of the terrorists' perverse desires. At his first attempt, he is stopped by one of his cohorts, the penetrating and unique eyes of the one preventing those actions sticking with Meg. In his second attempt Meg is able to pull off his mask and escape his grasp. That action makes her valuable and necessary to putting an end to his terror.
In the course of one fatal event, Scot Harvath spots the assassin fleeing the scene but not before he gets a good look at the strange silver eyes of the perpetrator. When he returns to Washington, he is quickly assigned to accompany the CIA to Cairo to stop the terrorists on the United plane. Scot and the head of the operation don't get along and go about things differently, but ultimately it's Scot who takes control at a critical moment at the airport.
There are many twists in this story, a bare touch of romance between Scot and Meg, lots of snarky "discussions" between the CIA operative, his team, and Scot, but the relentless imagination and action required by Scot and Meg to accomplish their mission provides high octane entertainment in Path of the Assassin. A true thriller, the novels to follow will no doubt give the reader more of the same.
Father, it's an ugly sin-filled world. Thank you for the benevolent blessings you give to your writers who desire to spread hope within a satisfying ending to stories. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.