Book Recommendation - Fatal Domain

 

Steven James has long been among my favorites when it comes to suspense novels. With intense and intricate plot-lines, his characters race against the clock to save the world - of course that over-simplifies things. But his characters are always wonderful, there is always growth, intensity, and suspense. And I always feel smarter after reading his books. This one was no exception. Here's a bit about the book:

When the past scratches its way into the present, it can leave deep scars.

A series of cryptic clues leads Department of Defense redactor Travis Brock to suspect that a grim chapter from his past is not yet over. With the help of his eidetic memory and his newly formed team, he must unearth the truth and stop a terrorist group from stealing one of the military’s most highly guarded technological breakthroughs. With it, the group commit a daring act of espionage that could upend the work of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms and impact millions of people worldwide.

In a high-stakes story of action and intrigue that reaches from a refugee settlement in Uganda to the shores of the Potomac in Washington, DC, shattering secrets from the past will be revealed, loyalties tested, and intimate betrayals brought to light as Brock is forced to decide how to forgive what he cannot forget.

From a novelist that Publishers Weekly has called a “master storyteller” comes an intricate and taut thriller that will have you guessing until the final page.

As a subscriber to the author's newsletter, I received this Q&A about the book in his latest newsletter:

Your stories tend to feature cutting-edge technology in them. Is all of it real, or is some of it fictional?
In truth, a surprising amount of the tech is available. Of course, I took a novelist’s liberties to shape some of the tech for the story.

Do you train for the fight scenes you write?
I actually did train in some martial arts and close quarters combat to help with the fight scenes. I wish I was as adept at it as Adira is in the book.

One of the characters, a former Army Ranger, is now writing a cringy romance novel. What led you to make that choice for him? Can you give us an example of his bad writing?
I wanted him to have some contrast—he’s as tough-as-nails, but has this other side to him that you would never expect. As far as example, “She warmed at the thought of his hands around her waist, of his lips against hers. The soft pleasing pleasure of pleasant pressure of lip on lip on lip on lip. Heat flushed through her. She awaited his embrace, her mouth puckered and ready, as she longed to feel his arms wrap around her like two strong appendages jutting from his torso might do.” Eek.

Tell us a little about your writing process. I understand you don’t outline or plot anything out, but let the story unfold as you write it. How does that work?
As I write, I’m always asking myself what the character would naturally do, how I can make things worse, how I can write myself into a corner—and then how to get out of it in a way that readers will not anticipate. I trust the direction of the story and let it reveal itself to me as it unfolds. I also value narrative promises—trying always to fulfill them and make sure that they point in the right direction.

As tense as your story is, there are light moments scattered through it. How important is that for you?
It’s really vital. We all like to be entertained when we read. So, as long as the humor is natural to the story and authentic to the characters, I think it’s really an added benefit to the story.

You’re known for including twists in your stories. How do you come up with them?
I look for moments that are unexpected and also inevitable—so, they are logical and follow naturally from what precedes them, but also offer surprises to readers. I like every scene to have a touch of this; I also want the story as a whole to have an ending that readers won’t see coming, but will appreciate when they get there. That’s the pivot. That’s what I’m looking for.

In this story, the villains actually seem to have a good goal, one that could help humanity in the long-term. How hard was it to write the part of the heroes trying to stop them?
This dilemma was actually what led me into the story in the first place. I love to explore difficult questions in my stories and this was one that I just found extremely profound.

Do you draw from personal experience when you create your characters or scenes?
Hmm… I think that every character has aspects of our personality within them, and occasionally I will use moments from real life in my stories, but honestly, I try to focus more on what is honest to the story and authentic to the characters than tapping into my own experiences. I heard someone refer to is as “plagiarizing reality” and I never forgot that.

A lot of your story has to do with Department of Defense secrets. I understand that you have consulted with people in the Secret Service and the FBI, as well as former CIA, NSA, and Pentagon employees and law enforcement professionals in this story. What was that like?
I’m always honored to be able to speak to those who are experts in the fields that I write about. I’ve been privileged to meet some amazing people who serve our country. I only hope I that I’ve done them justice in the way I’ve used the information they’ve provided me with.

What’s the most important part of a story to you?
Two things come to mind—the pivots (think twists) and the payoff at the end of the story. Is the story honest about human nature and morality? What aspect of this story is desperate to be told or impossible to ignore? Does the story mean more than it says? Can we overhear an unforeseen truth? Is action imbued with deeper meaning? Is the takeaway unstated and yet unforgettable? If the story can check off some of those boxes, I’ll be thrilled.

Here's a bit about the author:

Steven James is a critically acclaimed author of eighteen novels and numerous nonfiction books that have sold more than 1 million copies. His books have won or been shortlisted for dozens of national and international awards. In addition, his stories and articles have appeared in more than eighty different publications, including the New York Times. He is also a popular keynote speaker and professional storyteller with a master’s degree in storytelling. 

James’ latest thriller, BROKER OF LIES, was released on April 11, 2023. The sequel, FATAL DOMAIN, will be released in 2024 but is available for pre-order now! The new series follows Travis Brock, a redactor for the Department of Defense who must attempt to unearth the truth of a personal tragedy while trying to stop a terrorist group from stealing one of the military’s most highly guarded technological breakthroughs.

Since 1996, James has appeared more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe, presenting his stories and teaching the principles of storytelling to writers, speakers, teachers, and leaders. He also hosts the weekly podcast The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed more than 150 of the world’s leading writers and storytellers. In 2020, he was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for excellence in fiction writing. Publishers Weekly has called him “[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game.”

When he’s not writing or speaking, you may find him playing basketball or disc golf, or hiking near his home in the Appalachian Highlands of East Tennessee. He may or may not watch too many science fiction movies while eating bottomless bowls of chips and salsa. 

Fatal Domain releases April 9, 2024 wherever books are sold. For additional information, check out the following links:

Steven James' website: https://stevenjames.net/

Steven James' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/readstevenjames

My full 5-star review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6336802378