A terrifying tale of torture and terrorism

Recent headlines seemed to have been ripped from the pages of Andre Le Gallo’s best selling second novel, Satan’s Spy.  Iran’s capture of a U.S. drone, hackers attacking American computers via surrogate computers from a third country, and, most recently, Iran’s test firing of missiles in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz, all lend credence to the prescient nature of Le Gallo’s writing.  Armed with the experience and connections available to a former CIA operative, Le Gallo takes readers on a fast-paced, action-packed mission into Iran.  

Those who have read Le Gallo’s first novel, The Caliphate, will remember the father-son team of Marshall and Steve Church. Marshall is a retired CIA agent and Steve works for a private company in the states with business ties to the CIA.  While not an agent himself, the younger Church’s position provides a convenient cover for clandestine operations.  Early on readers get an example of how other cultures regard (and use) both torture and capital punishment.  Will this clear contrast to how both issues are viewed in the West foretell the fate of our hero?  While the world and the media observe the tenth anniversary of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp(Jan. 5, 2012), and debate both it’s morality and effectiveness, readers of Satan’s Spy can discover how it affects Steve Church and his companion(s).  

The plot develops with flashbacks to the ‘78-’79 revolution in Iran when the Shah lost power.  Events and participants from that time combine to drive the action as our young hero begins dual metaphorical chess matches with proven masters, both political and religious.  Will he be up to the task?  

Le Gallo’s story takes place in what may sound to readers as a surrealistic nightmare-filled world conjured up by David Lynch.  General Michael V.Hayden, reigning Director of the CIA confirms in the introduction that Satan’s Spy is “anchored in reality.”  Hayden goes on to say that Le Gallo’s work gives readers “more than a small edge in penetrating the meaning of current events.”  

As we ponder current events, we also look back.  Was there a public outcry in the mid-forties over the internment of Japanese citizens that would approach the concerns raised today over Gitmo?  Does the culture of our enemy influence our response to the perceived threat?  Should it?  After reviewing Le Gallo’s first book, The Caliphate, I interviewed him for his current publisher, Venture Galleries.  That interview is available HERE.

In a follow-up conversation this week, I learned that Le Gallo is at work on a third novel and I asked about the different approaches in dealing with enemies.

Le Gallo:  The ways that we and our enemies wage war separate us by a 1000 years.   In combat, in the court room, and in our everyday lives we  exert every effort to give noncombatants the benefit of the doubt in keeping with the values of a democracy.   On the other hand, one of the mottos of the true believers on the other side is “Jihad is our way and dying for the sake of Allah is our highest hope.”   In their culture human life is cheap and we should not expect to be treated better than they treat themselves.

As this review is being written, Iran has issued a threat to the United States to keep an aircraft carrier out of the Persian Gulf.  I enthusiastically recommend Satan’s Spy not only as an exciting read, but as an objective and revealing look at today’s events in the Middle East.

Satan’s Spy is available in e-book from Venture Galleries and Amazon.