Title: The Savagery of Man – Operation Homecoming

Author: Nikki Yanu Kanati

Genre: Thriller

 

The United States was immersed in chaos before the blitzkrieg attack on the Presidential motorcade left scores dead, reportedly the President among the fallen. Factionalism had overtaken the individual states, and secession was being discussed more and more. With the shooting of President Abraham Calhoun, Vice President Dreyfus has taken leadership, and severe measures have been taken as Habeas Corpus has been suspended, and suspected politicians are being rounded up.

Max Doss is determined to get answers that reveal the insidious plot, and he will allow his words to intimidate nearly as often as actions. The upheaval in the United States is being duplicated in China, Russia, and other countries, and the world is on the brink. Max will need to work quickly in locating and neutralizing the conspirators.

Nikki Yanu Kanati wastes no time in foreshadowing the tense action and drama that will unfold throughout the book, as the opening pages set the stage for unpredictability. The author sets the narrative in the not-too-distant future, where contemporary concerns are no longer discussed utilizing diplomacy but with brute force instead. The author’s knowledge of Geopolitics and its tenuous alliances is evident throughout this excellent and entertaining novel.

Max Doss is an agent of a covert entity within the United States Government who is the quintessential leader for any mission he is assigned. With the President having been incapacitated as part of a larger plot and the country facing destruction, Doss doesn’t mince words when interrogating suspects. Doss’s authenticity comes through in these moments, as he doesn’t engage in hysterics but informs the accused of their dwindling options for salvation, assuming the role of both good/bad cop.

Doss is viewed as a lone-wolf type who prefers to go it alone on vital missions. When he is informed that he has been partnered with Agent Alejandra Bijeau, he is less than enthused. However, the pair quickly establish a rapport and are soon providing cover for the other as the bullets fly. The importance of trust between partners is encapsulated well in the relationship between Doss and Bijeau.

One of the key themes that emerges in this novel exploring intrigue on both domestic and foreign fronts is loyalty. Doss and Bijeau are loyal to the Calhoun administration and the preservation of the established order, while duplicitous politicians and government officials sell their allegiance for money or to aid in the success of “The Council,” the cabal seeking to take over the United States. There are eerie parallels between this theme and to the questioning of patriotic loyalty in reality.

The narrative is primarily told through a third person perspective and the author cunningly utilizes a character’s “private journal” to relay crucial events. The character of Hermann Adelman, known as “Herr Direktor” is Doss’s superior and the pair appear to have a longstanding relationship, yet the story could benefit from providing more backstory to Doss and Adelman’s friendship/association.

The Savagery of Man – Operation Homecoming combines elements of compelling espionage thriller and dystopian fiction in its depiction of a world on fire. The action and drama are omnipresent and the author excels at throwing a curveball or two on the road to a rewarding climax.

 

 

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