13 Days to Die
In Matt Miksa’s political thriller 13 Days to Die, American and Chinese agents work together as a deadly virus threatens to cause worldwide devastation.
Olen is used to working undercover in dangerous territories. But between the secretive Chinese government and a gruesome virus, he faces challenges in Beijing that he’s never experienced before. Paired with Jo, a determined viral expert who may be the only person who can stop the virus from ravaging the globe, he soon realizes that there is more to the outbreak than their briefings have revealed.
Olen is a quintessential American spy. He’s handsome, competent, and a touch naïve, despite his history of hazardous missions. Opposite him, Jo is intelligent, but has emotionally hardened; she’s used to being underestimated because she is a woman. Olen and Jo are at first suspicious of each other—and about the intentions of their respective countries—but as schemes and collusions are discovered, they learn to trust each other. Their adversaries-to-lovers dynamic leads to increasing sexual tension and entertaining banter.
Populated by sexy spies, stealthy agents, and strong personalities, the novel is driven forward as much by character clashes as it is by problem solving. Geopolitical conflicts involving China, Taiwan, and the US are divulged in approachable, knowledgeable ways, including through the viewpoints of US and Chinese leaders. All struggle to uncover the origins of the virus. Some governmental staff and military personnel turn out to be engaged in clandestine plans with covert organizations, and the related twists and cliffhangers result in added momentum and hints of a deeper conspiracy.
13 Days to Die is an of-the-moment thriller about the multifaceted mysteries of a deadly virus.
Reviewed by
Delia Stanley
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