Gideon's War

In this debut action thriller by Gordon (www.howardmgordon.com), executive producer of the hit show 24, presidential peace envoy Gideon Davis tries to quell a Jihad uprising focused on an oil rig situated off shore from the Pacific island nation of Mohan, where a mounting Islamist insurgency threatens to overthrow the local U.S.-friendly government. The personal stakes are raised when Gideon's older brother, Tillman Davis, gets caught in the crossfire, and pressure further increases with the introduction of a ticking time bomb and the impending destruction of the oil rig (managed by lovely Kate Murphy) by a typhoon. Actor/narrator Carlos Bernard, who plays Tony Almeida on 24, delivers an intriguing rendering of the overblown characters and unbelievable plot twists. The chapter-long tracks may be an issue for listeners anticipating frequent interruptions. A marginal purchase of greatest interest to 24fans. ["Essential...for fans of political and action thrillers," read the review of the Touchstone hc, LJ 12/10.—Ed.]—Sandy Glover, Camas P.L., WA