Forever Changed by Paul Sande is a thriller/espionage novel with a fantastic protagonist and high-octane action. Defense Intelligence Agency Agent Lavinia Walsh was ready to hang up her badge and hand over her gun, but President Olivia MacQueen wasn’t done with her yet. There was one more project the President wanted Lavinia to take on. There was a child in Germany being held in a castle, and it was Lavinia’s job to get there and return the child to the USA. However, things weren’t as simple as she thought. The child was taken to Germany for a vicious purpose. A secret organization had big plans for the child, and if they succeeded chaos would ensue all over the world. Would Lavinia be able to get to the child in time? Or was a whole world of deceit and challenges waiting for her?

I picked Forever Changed because I loved the cover. I was intrigued, and as I read the story, I was glad I had chosen it. The story has a perfect mixture of mystery, adventure, action, and suspense, so kudos to Paul Sande. After reading the first couple of chapters, I was already in awe of the author and the amount of time he must have spent researching this. He introduced turns, twists, and complex ideas at the right moments in the story. I was never able to guess what would happen next, and that was such a joy! The dialogues were the highlight of the story for me. I loved Lavinia and her reactions the most. She was honest, a little hard to read, and perfect for the story. She was smart, shrewd, and observant. Lavinia was intuitive, she knew when things were about to get worse, and she planned accordingly. I loved this book!

Forever Changed by Paul Sande sees Lavinia sent on a dangerous undercover mission by the new President Olivia MacQueen. President MacQueen suffers from multiple personality disorder and may have been instrumental in discrediting her predecessor, Barbara Anderson. The mission involves investigating and extracting a boy rumored to be a clone of Adolph Hitler. Back in the US, Dan Nolan runs an incredible risk gathering intelligence regarding MacQueen’s bizarre strategy. Fearing a coup from within her party, she is blackmailing Tanner of the opposition to run as vice president. MacQueen may also be more interested in getting rid of Lavinia than neutralizing the Neo-Nazi threat. What sort of president would put their own country at risk and what sinister threat lies behind the inexplicable internet activity?

Forever Changed by Paul Sande is a multi-layered political thriller laced with parliamentary parody. I liked the blending of technology with the themes of disinformation and influence. The science fiction elements were intelligently employed to create a speculative element. Not being American, I feared I might have been missing nuances of the political satire, but I found the story provided an entertaining international read. I was angered by the high cost paid to survive the mission and felt the significance of the sacrifice symbolized the senseless massacre of billions. Motifs of paraphernalia and mythology surrounding the Nazi party were skillfully embedded to evoke a sinister atmosphere. The major threat was ideological as well as military, emphasizing how systemic racial prejudice and other damaging beliefs are prevalent on a global scale. This book should appeal to lovers of political suspense and alternative history.