Review of The Intercept by Dick Wolf

Publisher: William Morrow
Series: Jeremy Fisk #1
Format Read: Print ARC
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: December 26, 2012

Buying Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depsoitory

Blurb from goodreads:

Dick Wolf makes his literary debut with this tense, driving thriller reminiscent of the classic The Day of the Jackal, an extraordinary tale filled with the ingenious twists and high-wire suspense we have come to expect from this master storyteller.

Days before the July Fourth holiday and the dedication of One World Trade Center at Ground Zero, an incident aboard a commercial jet over the Atlantic Ocean reminds everyone that vigilance is not a task to be taken lightly. But for iconoclastic New York Police detective Jeremy Fisk, it may also be a signal that there is much more to this case than the easy answer: that this is just the work of another lone terrorist.  

Fisk—from the department’s Intelligence Division, a well-funded anti-terror unit modeled upon the CIA—suspects that the event might also be a warning sign that another, potentially more extraordinary scheme has been set in motion. Fluent in Arabic and the ways of his opponents, Fisk is a rule breaker who follows his gut—even if it means defying those above him in the department’s food chain. So when a passenger from the same plane, a Saudi Arabian national, disappears into the crowds of Manhattan, it’s up to Fisk and his partner Krina Gersten to find him before the celebrations begin. 

Watching each new lead fizzle, chasing shadows to dead ends, Fisk and Gersten quickly realize that their opponents are smarter and more agile than any they have ever faced. Extremely clever and seemingly invisible, they are able to exploit any security weakness and anticipate Fisk’s every move. And time is running out.  

Bea's Thoughts:




I admit, the author's name caught my eye immediately as I was a Law and Order fan for many years and Wolf was the creator, director and producer of that show. I like thrillers and was curious to see what Wolf could pull off. It turns out he pulls off a very good, believable, absorbing story. He creates complex, realistic characters and even the villains and minor characters have depth. They feel real and not at all cardboard.

Recently I read a thriller that left me cold so part of my reaction to this book is a counter-reaction to that book. In "The Intercept", Wolf takes time to flesh out his characters and even his villains are presented in a manner that makes them seem likeable, if, you know, they weren't trying to cause destruction and mayhem. The story is told from the perspective of the two main characters, New York Police Intelligence officer Jeremy Fisk, and police officer Krina Gersten. They are work partners and secret lovers, secret because it might cause work problems for them. They have a nice solid relationship and I really appreciated that Krina was not just a token female; she was an essential part of the story. In addition to Jeremy and Krina's perspectives, we also get that of the various villains. Allowing us into their heads helped to make them likable, as I mentioned earlier, and relatable and added to the overall depth and complexity of the story. Wolf juggles the different perspectives well and I never found them to be confusing.

Fisk is a dedicated officer, able to work as part of a team but also willing to defy authority and go his own way when he thinks it's justified. He doesn't however hare off and whatever he pleases and he accepts the consequences of his actions, a refreshing change from many action thrillers. He's smart, dedicated, flawed and never comes across as a super hero but a man who is good at his work and dedicated to it. Gersten is also dedicated and good at her work; she accepts the crap assignments she often gets, complaining only to her lover Fisk. She's a fourth generation cop, confident, smart, and knows when to stand up for herself and when to back down. She's kick ass and occasionally a smart ass but she's not obnoxious.

The seeds of the story start in 2009 then we jump to 2011 where the bulk of the story takes place. The plot is complicated with red herrings for both the reader and the law enforcement officials. They prevent one disaster only to find that there's another one and possible even more. The story takes many twists and turns and Wolf keeps track of all the story lines without losing track. I did figure out one twist early on but wasn't sure how Wolf would play it out. There's a mostly happy ending and most of the loose ends are tied up. The story was fascinating, realistic and frighteningly plausible. If you enjoy current event thrillers, you need to pick this one up.