Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published May 2010
400 pages
Genre: Thrillers
Publication Information
Somewhere in Pakistan, Sonia Laghari and eight fellow members of a symposium on peace are being held captive by armed terrorists. Sonia, a deeply religious woman as well as a Jungian psychologist, has become the de facto leader of the kidnapped group. While her son Theo, an ex-Delta soldier, uses his military connections to find and free the victims, Sonia tries to keep them all alive by working her way into the kidnappers' psyches and interpreting their dreams. With her knowledge of their language, her familiarity with their religion, and her Jungian training, Sonia confounds her captors with her insights and beliefs. Meanwhile, when the kidnappers decide to kill their captives, one by one, in retaliation for perceived crimes against their country, Theo races against the clock to try and save their lives.
"Starred Review. [A] provocative thriller that readers won't soon forget." - Publishers Weekly
"Starred Review. The pace here isn’t as rapid as usual, and much of the story is told in flashback or as discourse. But there are twists and tension aplenty - ideas, too." - Booklist
"Gruber… weaves threads together masterfully while successfully exploring themes of family, duty, loyalty, cultural identity and more, without ever slowing the momentum. Smart, tense and vastly entertaining." - Kirkus Reviews
"Starred Review. There are many surprises in this excellent thriller, including its ability to inform." - Library Journal
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Michael Gruber was born and raised in New York City, and educated in its public
schools. He went to Columbia, earning a BA in English literature. After college
he did editorial work at various small magazines in New York, and then went back
to school at City College and got the equivalent of a second BA, in biology.
After that he went to the University of Miami and got a masters in marine
biology. In 1968-69 he was in the U. S. Army as a medic.
In 1973, he received his Ph.D. in marine sciences, for a study of octopus
behavior. Then he was a chef at several Miami restaurants, a hippie traveling
around in a bus and a roadie for various rock groups. After this he worked for
the county manager of Metropolitan Dade County, as an analyst, then as director
of planning for ...
... Full Biography
Author Interview
Link to Michael Gruber's Website
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