By Order of the President by W.E.B. Griffin

 

While the whole idea that Somalian terrorists stealing a 727 to fly it into the Liberty Bell might seem preposterous, I liked this book.  It’s far from a thinking persons novel, but Griffin, like Tom Clancy, invokes loads of military and technical detail that gives the story a more realistic nature – a technique I almost always find a story enhancer.

 

Our hero, Carlos Guillermo Castillo, an army major on loan to the secretary of Homeland Security (he’s also a Secret Service agent, Special Forces vet, Airborne Commando and Casanova, among other things – you know the type) is assigned by the President to bypass the useless bureaucracies of the vast intelligence agencies in Washington in order to find the plane in question and do what needs to be done . . .  Known as Charley, even by the President, he is the son of a highly decorated Army helicopter pilot and a wealthy German newspaper heiress.  Just like everyone else I know.

 

This book is a good introduction to the series of books with Castillo saving the US.  All I can tell you is that I’m glad he’s on our side.

 

If you can deal with the hokey pretext of the story, I found it really enjoyable and highly recommend it.