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THE LION

Nelson DeMille
Grand Central Publishing (2010)
ISBN 9780446580830
Reviewed by Enid Grabiner for RebeccasReads.com (06/2010)


In DeMille’s previous novel, “The Lion’s Game,” Libyan terrorist Asad Khalil, under guise of defection, surrenders to the US embassy in Paris.  He is then brought over on a flight to the US.  With the aid of accomplices he orchestrates a shocking in-flight massacre by cyanide gas of all on board.  Computer equipment ultimately helps to safely land the plane, but Khalil is the only survivor.  In the surrounding chaos he eludes authorities by posing as a baggage handler.  Recurring character John Corey, a New York City Detective on loan to the Anti-terrorist Task Force, is one of the investigators in pursuit of this fanatic assassin who is out to avenge the death of his family previously killed in a US bombing raid on Tripoli.  Khalil wreaks havoc as he crosses the country in pursuit of members of the flight crews of that mission, eliminating them one by one. Due to the efforts of the ATTF, Khalil is unable to finish his mission but does escape back to the Middle East and effectively disappears.

Fast forward a few years and we now have the anxiously anticipated sequel, “The Lion,” reprising the characters of Corey, wife and FBI agent Kate Mayfield, and Asad Khalil.  Khalil, nicknamed the Lion, has returned to the US to finish his mission of revenge.  Following his personal hit-list, he continues to systematically murder those he missed on his last effort.  New additions are members the ATTF who previously thwarted his objective.  He methodically plans out the execution of those on his hit list and slaughters without mercy or remorse.  Any witness or accomplice he has recruited becomes collateral damage.  Although bodies keep stockpiling, DeMille portrays them as well-fleshed out victims so the reader becomes emotionally connected, making the crimes that much more horrific.

Kahlil sees John Corey as his strongest adversary and targets him in a manner than will cause him the most pain.  He attempts to kill Kate as John watches her suffer. He then plans to kills John slowly and painfully.  In retaliation for the attack on Kate, Corey goes after Khalil with a vengeance, becoming no different than his antagonist. As Khalil successfully assassinates one target after another, Corey becomes more and more focused on his own fantasized act of revenge.   It becomes very clear that this is a battle to the end!

This book deals with the intimidation of global terrorism.  It makes us realize how insecure we really are as our nation is put at risk.    Rationalization for our actions is dependent on the threat against us.  Right and wrong run along gray lines and what we accept as justifiable depends upon our own motivation.  It becomes a bit scary as everyone loses a bit of humanity. Like “The Lion’s Game” this novel is also inspired by true events and fictionalized to create breath-holding riveting narratives. What make this book so enjoyable are the fast paced action, well-developed story and John Corey at his verbal best.  His dialogue is snappy and sarcastic.  He always thinks of caustic replies but moderates his spoken responses to be more socially acceptable.  This provides a welcome comic relief to an otherwise dark and violent plot.