Terminal by John Leifer is a terrorist thriller of the finest example, a sequel to 8 Seconds to Midnight. Four jihadists are out to use a cutting edge technology to orchestrate the most devastating terrorist attack on American soil. They are not armed with bombs and grenades, but a weapon that kills without spilling blood, and now they are at the busiest airports in the country, armed only with a briefcase and a pen. But they carry a virus able to create a wide scale pandemic and advance the cause of the United Islamic State. Only one man can stop them — Commander John Hart — but does he have the resources he needs and can he stop them in time to prevent Armageddon?

This is a well-crafted novel and the author makes sure that readers hate the villains as much as they love the heroes, a highly imaginative achievement. Character development is impeccable and the author allows readers powerful insights into the characters, including interesting backgrounds that best situate them in the roles they play. For instance: “Ahmed Al Hameed was tall and pale —his ghostly pallor the result of a small error in a single gene. The mistake of nature, an indelible defect, impacted far more than just the pigment of his skin. In many ways, it defined him.” The plot is skillfully executed, and the author demonstrates expertise in wielding different literary techniques to enhance the story with suspense. Terminal also has hints of science fiction and dystopia, but what caught my attention and had me turning the pages is the realism infused into the story and the powerful conflict. John Leifer just became one of the writers I will be keeping an eye on.

Terminal by John Leifer is the prequel to 8 Seconds to Midnight and charts the story of a devastating terrorist attack on America by zealous Islamic jihadists. Enemies of the infidels of the West, their aim is to bring America to its knees and install a Holy Caliphate. Armed with nothing more than a briefcase and a pen, four of the extremists saunter through airports, spraying a lethal dose of a virulent biological weapon upon unsuspecting members of the public. By creating a deadly global pandemic, they intend to wipe out all but the Chosen Ones. The task of stopping them is laid at the door of Commander John Hart and he has a race against time to thwart a devastating tragedy from unfolding.

I was completely captivated with the story line from the very first chapter. John Leifer writes effortlessly and eloquently. The narrative was current, coherent and absorbing. I immediately warmed to the main protagonist and former Navy SEAL, John Hart. Perfectly cast as the man to save the day, he was ably assisted by bio-safety expert, and love interest, Liz Wilkins. I was swept along in the plot line with a few 'edge of the seat' moments. Would Sayad, the undercover agent, make it out alive and would the jihadists succeed? The zealousness of Hart's adversaries was vividly portrayed and provided an interesting insight into the lives and mindset of Islamic extremists. Terminal contains all the components of a blockbuster movie. This is a well-researched book which held my attention throughout. I highly recommend it.