Review: The Intercept by Dick Wolf

The Intercept 
by Dick Wolf
Series: Jeremy Fisk #1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: December 26, 2012
Genre: Adult Crime Thriller
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

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...

When I was approached to review The Intercept, I thought I recognized this authors’ name. We are huge fans of the Law and Order television shows and I was immediately excited. Wolf delivered an action packed crime thriller that kept me riveted in this chillingly realistic scenario that take place over the July fourth weekend in the city that never sleeps; New York. I consumed this over the course of two evenings and cannot wait for the next Jeremy Fisk novel.

The tale begins days before the dedication of the One World Trade Center at ground zero. A group of six civilians thwart a terrorist hijacker from commandeering a plane over the Atlantic. New York Detective Jeremy Fisk, a special agent in New York’s Intelligence Division, is called in along with a dozen units of the FBI, homeland security and the CIA. While everyone is ready to assume the hijacker acted alone, Fisk’s intuition tells him this threat is far from over and the tale that unfolds is brilliant, fast paced and tightly woven.

Jeremy Fisk is complicated, dedicated and it would be safe to say he questions authority. If something does not feel right to him he pursues it. He is fluent in Arabic and highly intelligent. I easily connected with and admired him. His partner Krina Gersten is a fourth generation cop and has worked undercover gathering Intel. I liked the interaction between them; they bounced ideas off each other which helped piece the puzzle together. They have a secret relationship which helped to flesh them out, make them vulnerable and it felt very genuine. The suspects and even Bin Laden make appearances throughout the novel, giving us a feeling of authenticity that made me shiver. It was interesting getting into their mind-set. The six heroes from the flight were fairly fleshed out and each had a unique voice.

Wolf brought this tale to life, and the world-building was brilliant. He blends fact with fiction giving the tale a realism that still gives me goosebumps. He takes us back and forth between Fisk, the six and the terrorist giving us a panoramic view of the tale as it unfolds. At times we know more than Fisk making the wait for him to catch up very suspenseful. Wolf has a firm grasp on the city, the different governmental agencies involved and protocol. He delivers all of this while unfolding the tale at a gripping pace. The twists and turns held me captive. I will admit to figuring it out, but until the last final chapters I was not able to confirm who. A gut-wrenching event near the end devastated me, and I honestly did not see it coming. I found myself vested in the characters and solving the mystery and turned the pages at a dizzying pace. As I read the outside world slipped away, and my only thought was I hope the terrorist are never as diabolical and clever as Dick Wolf.

Fans of crime thrillers will welcome The Intercept and this brilliant new series. At the time of this review there was no news on the expected release of the next book, but I will be watching!

I want to thank HarperCollins for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. 

Four and half cups of New York's finest brew out of five