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Checkmate by Karna Small Bodman
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(Paperback)
Average Customer Rating: 
(2 ratings)
- Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
- Pub. Date: March 2008
- ISBN-13: 9780765354525
- Sales Rank: 78,673
- 384pp
- Other Formats:
- Hardcover
Synopsis
Dr. Cameron Talbot has invented a breakthrough technology to defend against cruise missiles. But she needs support from skeptical company officers, funding from a reluctant Congress, and help from the White House to develop her life-saving project. Lt. Col. Hunt Daniels, detailed from the Pentagon to the White House National Security Council to investigate Dr. Talbot's work, sees the potential of the invention. The fact that he's attracted to the brilliant scientist adds one more dimension to his interest in her work.
But disaster is brewing overseas as militants in the disputed Kashmir region of India steal a series of missiles from sympathizers in the Pakistani military and launch one against India. At the same time, they send one of their agents to Washington, D.C., to steal Dr. Talbot's technology so they can protect themselves when their enemies retaliate.
The scientist and the NSC staffer find themselves enmeshed in terrorist plots and political wrangling at the highest levels. With scenes in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Capitol Hill, Georgetown restaurants, and Washington dinner parties, as well as action in Kashmir, New Delhi, and at the Taj Mahal, the tension and intrigue escalate until two nuclear-armed countries stand at the brink of war.
Publishers Weekly
Bodman, a deputy press secretary and later senior director of the National Security Council under Reagan, comes up with a cool premise for her debut thriller, but the book suffers from annoying minutiae, lame jokes and pedestrian plotting. Computer genius Cameron "Cammy" Talbot of Bandaq Technologies has developed a program whereby she's able to hack into the guidance system of an incoming cruise missile and redirect it back against whoever fired it. Meanwhile, a Muslim terror group bent on taking over Kashmir has stolen three Pakistani cruise missiles, one of which it has fired into India in an effort to provoke a nuclear response against Pakistan. Lt. Col. Hunt Daniels of the Air Force becomes involved with Cammy after someone tries to kill her, and romantic sparks fly: "She could feel the hard muscles of his arms encircling her in a velvet vice." Insider info can be invaluable, but knowing the color of the drapery in the Oval Office (gold) doesn't make up for a thriller that keeps dipping back into romance for its source of suspense. Author tour. (Jan.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
More Reviews and RecommendationsBiography
The Honorable Karna Small Bodman served in the White House for six years, first as deputy press secretary and later as senior director of the National Security Council. At the time of her departure, she was the highest-ranking woman on the White House staff. She was also on the air for fifteen years as a reporter, television news anchor, and political commentator in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York City.
Customer Reviews
Number of Reviews: 2
Average Rating:
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Pretty Damn Good!
Steve-O, A reviewer, 02/13/2007
I was little skeptical at first, but I saw that Vince Flynn gave it a thumbs up and that was good enough for me to give it a shot. I quit reading Robert Ludlum's 'Bancroft Strategy' to read your book...What does that tell you? Great job! I will be looking for your next book. I liked the technology you used also, but try and use or make up more combatant technology next time like the robots in Dale Brown's books. I look forward to your next book and I hope to see it soon.
Also recommended: All Vince Flynn books! Dale Brown's Jason Richter series!
fine thriller
A reviewer, A reviewer, 10/21/2006
At Bandaq Technologies, Cameron 'Cammy' Talbot leads a team of brilliant technocrats in developing the ultimate missile defense program. She and her crew ignore the Star Wars initiative of shooting the projectile out of the sky. Instead they concentrate on a program that takes control of an incoming missile’s guidance system in order to reverse it hitting the initiator. Due to unsavory lobbying her program is in jeopardy as Congress considers moving funding to a rival firm supporting the Star Wars initiative. Still as Cammy and cohorts make major progress, Muslims steal three Pakistani cruise missiles, firing one at India. This terrorist group intends to take over Kashmir as they expect India to reciprocate leading to an all out war with nukes between India and Pakistan. --- Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Hunt Daniels meets Cammy when someone tries to kill her. They each feel a strong attraction to one another while someone wants her new technology stopped before completion with her dead before it can be used to prevent a deadly nuclear war. --- The premise of this tale is superb, but Karna Small Bodman is unable to decide between a romantic suspense and a nuclear countdown thriller the reader gets some of both, but the sum of the parts does not quite make a cohesive whole. Still the story line is fun to follow as Cammy races against time to prove her concept works even as she ponders whether Hunt is the hunk who makes her feel complete. Congress seems realistic as money speaks in spite of the cost to the world. Overall this is a fine novel that will please fans of final countdowns to pending disaster with a romantic subplot weaved into the last digits. --- Harriet Klausner
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