Title: The Paris Protection
Author: Bryan Devore
Publisher: Bryan Devore (2015)
ISBN: 978-0-9852413-5-3
Pages: 358
Genre: Thriller
Reviewed by: Carol Davala
Pacific Book Review
In light of Pope Francis’ recent visit to the United States, and with the 2016 Presidential elections just around the corner, Bryan Devore has perfect timing in releasing a modern day, action-packed thriller that highlights the extreme regimen and expansive security measures that are taken in order to keep our leaders safe. With today’s social media concerns, and the ever-popular selfie, the public continues to try and get up-close-and-personal with headlining individuals. Add the ever-present threat of global terrorists and psychotic misfits looking to claim their Andy Warhol dictum of “15 minutes of fame”, and it’s no wonder that the elite entourage of protective agents continue to play an increasingly vital role in securing the lives of public figures.“In less than an hour, we will kill the president of the United States!” is a proclamation that sets the stage for the riveting story that unfolds in “The Paris Protection”. Here the imminent target is Abigail Clarke, a woman who prior to her POTUS status served as state prosecutor, US senator, and governor of Virginia. At a Paris summit meeting an initiative is on the table to place organized crime at a threat elevation. With a top-notch Secret Service team in place and a miles wide expanse of agents and tactical support, President Clarke seems in good hands.
Against a well-chosen background Devore fully engages readers with the sights and sounds of Paris. From the classic Louvre and spires of Notre Dame, to the exquisite Eiffel Tower, charming sidewalk cafes and the “small padlocks of love” that cover the bridges crossing the Seine, this renowned “City of Lights” seems an affable draw. Yet cleverly, in marked contrast, Devore places the primary action beneath the beautiful streets. Here amidst the grand underground labyrinth of ancient catacombs, contemptuous forces and evil destruction encroach on the present day. These ancient tombs become the select battleground for Maximillian Wolff, a man who once served on an Israeli Security Protection team during the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and has since abandoned Israel and all its allies. In his rejection of superpowers meddling influence on other countries of the world, he is determined to destroy the US and quell its hunger for economic dominance. Under the auspices of Dominik Kalmar, a figure connected to organized crime, and with strategies likened to Hannibal’s attack against the Romans, Maximillian resolves to use surprise, deception, and strategy to undermine America. Second in command, Turk, Kazim Aslan has spent most of his warring days as an insurgent soldier in Iraq. With two brothers captured by the American CIA, and another killed by enemy fire, he vows to exact vengeance on their behalf.
When Secret Service agents react to a vibration detected by a seismometer, and a “Crush POTUS’ warning affirms that security has been compromised, the story plays out on a heightened alert level in a race against time to deliver the President from harm’s way. Suddenly a luxury hotel and the tunnels beneath are turned into a catastrophic war zone. Devore’s narrative style and eye for detail prove well-suited to this tension building genre. Here he showcases a literary landscape sated with fire, explosives, Black Hawk and King Stallion helicopters, and high-tech weaponry. As chapters alternate between the action of protagonists and antagonists, the author reveals a key psychological component of these characters. Perhaps flip sides of the same coin, in this contrast of good vs. evil, regardless of the outcome each is loyal to their cause. Kudos to Devore for giving readers strong female characters in both the President and agent Rebecca Reid. While the President’s Protection Detail is often viewed as a man’s world, Reid is included as a smart and competent woman. More important, in a defining, detailed moment, her selfless actions bring the plot full-circle in a heart-stopping denouement.
Like the historic tunnels that stretch for miles beneath the artful cityscape, Devore draws us into the depths of these clearly defined characters and this captivating read. From the profundity of sacrifice and revenge, to the heights of loyalty and dedication, this is a precarious path with unexpected turns along the way. Yet even with this glimpse of the indomitable American spirit, Devore tactically keeps readers on high alert until the very end.
