The Persian Gambit

The Persian Gambit

Author: Eugene Bull

 A gambit according to the dictionary is an opening in chess in which a player seeks to obtain some advantage by sacrificing a pawn or piece or a remark made during a speech to gain advantage. The Persian Gambit by author Eugene Bull fulfills the meaning of both definitions in more ways than one as Peter Graser the main character would learn. Peter Graser thought he was saving the life of Assistant Secretary Cox when he collapses during a diplomatic event. Thinking it was just a heart attack he performs CPR but fails. His efforts do not fall silent to those observing him and some feel that he just might have murdered him. But, Peter is not aware of the murder weapon as a poison placed in the food of the Assistant Secretary and at the time he thought he was doing something heroic to save a man’s life. Questioned after the incident by the police they imply he is a suspect.  At the party and close by to observe the events first hand is Russian Spy Irene Belakova whose reason for attending the party was anything but diplomatic. At her side was the Iranian Ambassador whose wife learned of his indiscretions and whose wrath no one would want to endure.

Robert C. Mackey was his direct boss in the INR and learning of the cause of death did not make his troubles disappear. Added to the mix are 2 twin brothers who are linked to not only the Iranian Ambassador’s wife but to what is about to happen and be unleashed. Dangerous, deadly assassins who seem to be immune to prosecution, above the law they are involved with a millionaire, a crooked bank and the MEK which stands for the People’s Mujahidan. Added to the mix is one Hector Nagano an arms dealer who is about to make a huge deal supplying arms to Iran. But, there is much more as Peter learns on a short trip to New York visiting his mother that his father’s death over 30 years ago is somehow linked to what is going on now. Working for an oil company in Iran he came to New York to complete his business and was killed in a hit and run accident that was no accident. When his mother tried to learn more the police did not want to help her and now Peter was going to find out the rest as he meets with the retired detective and what he learns sets in a motion more than he could ever expect. One memo written by an unknown source and linked to Iran is being passed around but no one knows if this memo is the reason everything is happening and no one has taken credit for its contents. During a standard polygraph test to find out what else Peter might know he is blindsided by the tested into answering questions not related to the memo but to prohibited contacts and more. When he repeats what happens to Torp they both agree that there is an underlying reason that still needs to be discovered that will link the billionaire named Moulan, the bank and the arms dealer.

Roya is a friend from his past and the author flashes back to their meeting and their relationship as she appears in the present. Then the unthinkable happens and Peter learns the truth about more than he would have expected he is being sacrificed and set up for writing the memo linked back to his computer, a connection to the BCM bank just because he asked to investigate it and to the master plan added to the mix is the death of a secretary in Iran and the VETAK operation that seems to have been kept secret from the top officials in Iran. Just how all of this will piece together still remains to be seen. But, Peter was the intended pawn of Viktor Maximov and his reasons have yet to be revealed as the pieces and links to the memo, the bank and much more lead straight to Peter as he goes to London to investigate his father’s death and is stonewalled until someone comes forward with information but can she be trusted? Meanwhile others are following Roya and she receives a message to Get Out!

Peter has been set up and now he wants to know why and by whom. The pieces are not falling into place yet but the edges of the puzzle are definitely frayed as he learns more about his father’s murder, his links to the ones in the states and the connections to Pere Moulan, the BCM bank and more.    The more he delves the deeper he gets into the intrigue and the deceit not only of the Iranians but the twins, the bank the United States Government where someone inside is helping to set him up as the twins decide to cut their losses by getting rid of the arms dealer.   More lives are lost and the truths come out as Torp reveals her real mission to Peter and Roya is pegged as a Spy but is she playing Peter for the fool and why are they feeding information to Maximov from Torp. Iran is about to lose her oil reserves and the reports filed by an agent that worked with Peter’s father verified that and the information not divulged as the end result would catastrophic if Iran’s plan to take over the oil industry and the reserves pans out. The deceit runs high all the way up and the threat if carried out would do more than just destroy the United States and someone else would be blamed if Pere Moulan’s plan wins out but first as Peter is forced to make a split second decision and his freedom and much more are at stake. An ending that will send chills down your spine and a book that will keep you riveted to the printed page from start to finish. An ending so explosive the world will not see it coming and one man’s life hangs in the balance. Will Peter live and save the United States? What will happen to Moulan and will he get there in time before more lives are lost? Read The Persian Gambit and not until you read the last page will you know the truth. Pawns: Some are just too smart!

Fran Lewis: reviewer