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MWSA Review
The China Factor by Timothy Trainer is the second book featuring Kelli Liang and Aaron Foster. The story includes international industrial espionage with military implications, political shenanigans and biases, as well as the continuing difficulties of biracial children in Vietnam who were fathered by American soldiers.
This is an intriguing well told tale with many twists. Although it is not difficult to keep track of the various characters, the author provides a chapter-by-chapter list as each one is added to the story. The time frame is Spring 2005, and characters are found on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as well as Vietnam, where many soldiers return to find a very changed city.
Chinese industrialists desperately need to expand their work to other parts of Southeast Asia for both factory sites and new markets, and Vietnam needs deep water ports in order to build their economy. The Chinese government hides its ambitions behind the efforts of their business sector.
In this book, Kellie, senior aide to a senator, finds prejudice among the very people who do not hesitate to ask for her help in understanding Southeast Asia when she is nominated for a position in the State Department. Aaron accompanies his uncle to Vietnam and unexpectedly comes across a Chinese corporate connection to the information theft that was attempted in D.C.
Review by Nancy Kauffman (February 2025)
Author's Synopsis
In the spring of 2005, the FBI foils a government employee’s attempt to provide confidential information to the Chinese. As the FBI struggles to understand why the information is valuable, its investigation entangles Capitol Hill staffer Kellie Liang and jeopardizes her nomination to a State Department position. Under scrutiny, Kellie thrusts herself into the FBI investigation. Seeking a voice of reason, Kellie reaches out to Aaron Foster only to learn that he is vacationing in Vietnam with his uncle, a war veteran. Surprisingly, Aaron believes he has found a Chinese corporate connection to the information theft, and from two sides of the world, Kellie and Aaron work to thwart China’s efforts and save Kellie’s nomination.
Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Number of Pages: 324
Word Count: 112,000