Enemies among Us

January 18, 2010
Novels about undercover FBI agents nabbing terrorists are more credible when written by former FBI agents. Hamer's nearly three decades as a street agent gives weight to this thriller about erstwhile reckless agent Matt Hogan's redemption with the agency, his wife, and guilt-ridden past. In order to save his job, Hogan must leave his dangerous operations and infiltrate a Christian hospital, which he sees as a red herring to get him off the streets. But as the hospital is suspected of helping terrorists, Hogan has never had a more important assignment. Beyond thriller-speed action, the author includes references to Osama bin Laden, reflections on the difference between guilt and shame societies, and just enough hot married love for Christian fiction. Suspense is often pre-empted by unnecessary spoilers in the middle of the action: “Fate was about to confront the team.” Otherwise few flaws mar what is a page-turning roller coaster that feels like Jack Bauer's 24
without sailing over the top. Stereotype-bending dialogue and believable characters elicit fear of evil and call forth hope that good exists in all ethnicities and religions.