Defenders (Andrus)

Nick Parkos is a low-level intelligence analyst when a shocking twist thrusts him to the forefront. All at once he's the man best qualified to deal with a dire threat to the stability of the entire world. Bashir al-Khultyer, seeking revenge for his family's death by Russian paramilitary troops, detonates a dirty bomb in Moscow's Red Square--and threatens to deploy more bombs in the near future. With the world's capitals on red alert, Parkos must find and stop al-Khultyer before thousands are killed and entire cities are contaminated. While dealing with powerful personal demons, Parkos follows a cryptic trail across three continents and eleven cities, hoping he can somehow prevent brutal and merciless deaths. But Bashir has more lethal surprises planned than Parkos can anticiapte. The first bomb kills thousands--and the next could destabilize fragile peace in the world's most treacherous regions.

A Chinese sub in American waters. Rare elements every nation wants. Can Parkos prevent an environmental apocalypse-and a world war? National Security Analyst Nick Parkos, still recovering from the Amber Dawn incident, uncovers a plot to control the US supply of rare earth elements vital to its military-defense systems. Teaming with former Navy SEAL Geoffrey Lange, he travels to Cape Lisberne, just off the coast of Alaska, to investigate. What he doesn't know is that a foreign mastermind is actively working behind the scenes to discredit Parkos and hide the truth. The situation soon escalates, and Parkos unearths evidence that a foreign power plans to explode a radioactive radiation dispersal device in Alaska, killing thousands and making the rare elements unobtainable. With time quickly running out, Parkos puts his life on the line to stop them from detonating the bomb. With the world watching and peace hanging in the balance, Parkos stares into the face of his greatest challenge. Kenneth Andrus' third Defenders novel is a thrilling roller-coaster ride based on his expert knowledge of the current military-political world. If you like breathtaking action based on real-world scenarios, you won't want to miss Arctic Menace.