CIA agent is trapped behind enemy lines in ‘The Beirut Protocol’
New York Times bestselling author Joel C. Rosenberg has been dubbed “a modern-day Nostradamus” because of his penchant for predicting world events in the storylines of his international thrillers. And the storylines that have not come to pass – yet – feel entirely (and alarmingly) plausible. Smack dab in the middle of current events is his latest, the fast-paced military thriller, “The Beirut Protocol,” and the fourth foray of his Marcus Ryker series.
Special Agent Ryker, a stellar CIA operative, is on one of the most dangerous missions of his life. This particular journey has him leading an advance mission along the Israel/ Lebanon border ahead of the secretary of state’s arrival to negotiate a peace treaty between the Saudis and Israel. He is accompanied by other operatives, some of whom do not survive a sudden ambush by a rogue, Iranian-backed Hezbollah team of cutthroats.
Ryker is joined by Special Agent Kailea Curtis, a former New York City beat cop, and Yigal Mizrachi, an intelligence officer for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and nephew of the Israeli prime minister. After they are captured, Ryker has to keep their identities secret as they are tortured and dragged deep behind enemy lines. As a prisoner, he is unable to use his unique skills to escape. If the Hezbollah team should discover who Curtis and Mizrachi are, they’ll all be taken back to
Iran and executed on live television, which could bring the United States into another war in the Middle East and derail the treaty.
As Israeli and U.S. troops scan the area to find Ryker and the hostages, Ryker wonders whether he should wait to be rescued or attempt an escape. And even if he could thwart his captors and break away, how will he bring his two seriously wounded comrades with him?
Ryker is an action hero who triumphs over any evil he encounters. But he does so not just with his brawn, bravery or formidable training. He’s also a highly intelligent, modest guy who loves his mother. With such a complex protagonist, it should come as no surprise that the Marcus Ryker series has garnered praise from thriller stars like Brad Thor and Mark Greaney in addition to publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today and the New York Times among others.
Much the same can be said for his other series – “The Third Target,” a political thriller series following award-winning journalist J.B. Collins; “The Twelfth Imam,” an espionage and spy thriller series; and “The Last Jihad,” the explosive political thriller series that launched Rosenberg’s career.
“The Beirut Protocol” is a great next read for any lover of military and political thrillers and fans of authors like Steve Berry. Its tension and suspense will have readers immersed in the action and turning pages to keep up with the plot’s swift unfolding. And when they’ve finished Marcus Ryker’s latest adventure, they may find themselves reaching for another Rosenberg thriller. And maybe by then, we’ll know just how much of Rosenberg’s storyline has come to pass.