The Asset

Starred review from May 9, 2016
This exhilarating standalone from Kuhn (Hostile Takeover and one other John Largo novel) boasts a clever terrorist plot and an appealing everyman protagonist. Kennedy, driven by grief over his sister’s death on one of the planes hijacked on 9/11, has become an aviation security specialist, the best in the business. Consumed by work, he’s jolted out of his doldrums by a chance reunion with his sister’s childhood best friend, an indie musician now known as Love, and an offer to join Red Carpet, a CIA Clandestine Service operation investigating a suspected national attack from a mysterious global terrorist, Lentz. Kennedy and his team unwittingly put Lentz’s plan in motion and must race to deactivate 25 suitcase nukes installed in airports nationwide, even as they cope with betrayal from within. Kuhn’s gimmick of one-named characters quickly passes from affectation to annoyance, but the typical thriller tropes are rejuvenated by Kennedy’s refreshing differences from the usual action hero, including his newcomer reactions to violence and unusual perspective on terrorism. Agent: Hannah Brown Gordon, Foundry Literary + Media.

May 1, 2016
A thriller that addresses the threat of nuclear terrorism against U.S. cities. Kennedy (no first name) is a "practically legendary" aviation security specialist who trains TSA and Homeland Security personnel as a consultant. Naturally, he will do anything to prevent another 9/11. So when he receives a TSA threat memo, he assumes it could be worse than the 2001 disaster. A CIA friend admonishes Kennedy, "don't be a hero," clearly reaching deaf ears. An unidentified stranger phones Kennedy at 3 a.m. and tells him to board a private jet in the morning for a one-day trip to Paris. The caller gives no reason--no information at all--and says Kennedy's fee is no object. Kennedy accepts. Duh. Dire danger ensues, but it really doesn't. Instead he becomes an intelligence asset, "the perfect lone wolf" to help the CIA deal with the looming threat. If a cookbook described how to whip up a thriller, the recipe might look like this: introduce the threat and characters with names like Love, Best, Kruz, and Lentz. Mix in systemic problems like the defeatism and incompetence at TSA's core. After a slow beginning, stir in frenetic scenes jam-packed with bullets and f-bombs. Start a ticking clock. Kill off a few dispensable players. Reveal a trusted character to be rotten. Give the villain the perfect chance to kill the hero, but make him give a speech instead. Add a generous chunk of bologna, and heat to "tens of millions of degrees." Cool suddenly with witty but tender dialogue. Be sure the ultimate twist makes readers' jaws drop, no matter how maddeningly implausible. Suddenly switch to present tense for the last eight pages even though the main plot is resolved. Hint at a sequel. Formulaic but still fun. Not a bad recipe for a quick thriller fix.

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