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MWSA Review
Ted Kissel has taken us on a wild ride in his first novel, Betrayal in the Casbah. His prose makes for easy reading—bold and descriptive. There is a bit of everything for the reader to enjoy—romance, foreign intrigue, terrorist attacks, dangerous old Algiers, diplomatic insight, and betrayal. His characters are likable—the decorated fighter pilot turned defense attaché; the beautiful, sexy, and resourceful nurse; the good ol’ boy from Kentucky who can handle any situation and loves his bourbon; the charming French diplomat; the administrative assistant with a secret; some unexpected allies; and a cast of evil terrorists.
It all begins with our hero, Mitch Ross, barely surviving a knife attack at a diplomatic function. He is nursed back to health by the lovely Abella, who has a mysterious story of her own. Then, upon returning to duty at the U. S. Embassy, he is approached by the CIA chief of station and the ambassador with a special request: a covert mission to rescue a downed pilot from the Gulf War allegedly held prisoner these many years. Mitch begins to assemble his plan and his team with little information.
The story takes us through twists and turns, as windy as the cobbled roads in Algiers’s ancient Casbah. There are unforeseen obstacles at every corner. Can he complete his mission? Read and find out.
Review by Sandi Cathcart (May 2022)
Author's Synopsis
It's the early 2000's in the U.S. Embassy, Algiers. U.S. military attaché and decorated fighter pilot Colonel Mitch Ross needs a dose of reality and relief from the constraints of the diplomatic life. He catches a break of sorts when he survives a brutal knife attack one evening after attending a diplomatic reception.
Nursed to health by the beautiful and mysterious Abella, Mitch returns to duty and is approached by the CIA with a covert mission: to rescue and bring home a downed American pilot being held by terrorists in Algiers. As he plans and prepares for the mission, Mitch and Abella become confidants and lovers, as Mitch discovers she is more than just a nurse working in a military hospital. Together with longtime friend, French Colonel Yves Dureau and Mitch's assistant, Army Warrant Officer Dave McQueen, Mitch and Abella will risk life and limb to bring the American POW to safety.
Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller
Number of Pages: 316