Coonts has been writing about the U.S. military for more than 30 years, and he still knows how to craft a terrific page-turner oozing with authenticity. Here, the Chinese covertly plant a nuclear weapon in Chesapeake Bay near a naval base that will soon have several aircraft carriers docked for a secret meeting. Setting off the bomb would spark WWIII in Pearl Harbor fashion, and it would incapacitate the navy. Then the CIA director is murdered, and Jake Grafton is chosen to take his place. Jake works with his right-hand man, Tommy Carmellini, to figure out who is responsible for assassinating his predecessor. More killings follow, but still Jake and his team have no idea that the bomb is ticking. Coonts has written another winner in the Grafton series, and his hero's new position opens new avenues for future stories. When it comes to military fiction, Coonts remains on every fan's A-list.--Ayers, Jeff Copyright 2015 Booklist

In bestseller Coonts's superior military thriller, the murders-or attempted murders-of several high-level Washington, D.C., government officials, including the CIA director and the FBI director, are a major concern for Jake Grafton, who becomes the interim CIA director, and CIA burglar Tommy Carmellini, last seen together in 2013's Pirate Alley. Meanwhile, Chinese agents have planted a nuclear device in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay in Norfolk, Va., close to the U.S. Navy's largest base. Jake becomes aware that the Chinese are planning an attack, but he doesn't know where. The primary story is Tommy's, but Coonts smoothly juggles a large cast of characters, each of whom has a distinct voice. The action builds steadily to a satisfying conclusion. Tommy is damaged yet again, and Jake is still the iron-man leader that series fans could only wish to see in real life. Readers will look forward to Jake and Tommy's further adventures. Agent: Deborah C. Grosvenor, Grosvenor Literary Agency. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.