Whirlwind - Softcover

Joseph Garber

3.58

312 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0749935421 ISBN 13: 9780749935429

Publisher: Piatkus Paperback, 2004

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When Russian spy Irena Kolodenkova stumbles upon project Whirlwind and makes a run for it, Sam, the National security Advisor, calls on Charlie McKenzie, former Central Intelligence Operations director, for one last job. Having lost his position and served time in prison after following mistaken orders from Sam, Charlie sees it as an opportunity to make a lot of money and force Sam to give him a presidential pardon. Sam also hires ruthless mercenary Johan Schmidt, who hopes his assignment will not only result in the capture of Irina, but the death of Charlie. Charlie quickly locates Irina, only to let her go. He'll catch up with her soon enough. As the chase ensues and becomes more volatile, Charlie unravels the mystery of Whirlwind and finds himself falling for the beautiful, talented and good-hearted Irina. He appoints himself her protector, though Irina isn't so ready to let him help her. Humiliated by her father while growing up, Irina is determined to prove she's good enough. As Johan and his henchmen close in on Irina and Charlie, the bond between them grows, but is it enough to save them both and bring Irina over to Charlie's side?

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About the Author:

Joseph Garber is the author of the international bestseller Vertical Run and two other novels. Prior to becoming a novelist he was a journalist and businessman. He lives in Northern California, where is he is working on a new thriller.

From Publishers Weekly:

A James Bond for the AARP set, unjustly disgraced ex-CIA agent Charlie McKenzie is called out of forced retirement when a secret weapon known as Whirlwind is stolen by gorgeous Russian spy Irina. Ever the knight-errant, he decides to protect Irina against the corrupt national security adviser and the evil South African mercenary who are also pursuing her. Much bickering ensues between the paternal Charlie and the feistily independent Irina, who has father issues, until, as they are picking off henchmen with a sniper rifle, a platonic May-December romance blossoms. Garber (Vertical Run) slathers on pure Hollywood clich�, as the story proceeds inexorably from trash-talking confrontation to climactic gasoline explosion, powered by a villain who is such a Teutonic effigy of exquisite politeness and barbaric cruelty that one wonders why he isn't wearing a monocle. But the trash-talk is snappy, the villain is deliciously hateful and the plot, fast-paced enough to leap over its own holes, leaves little time to reflect on the implausibility of Charlie's feats of ratiocination, or to note that his and Irina's problems are often caused by their own special-ops showboating. Charlie, a cocky, white-haired juggernaut adored by his family, effortlessly superior to his younger antagonists and still capable of arousing—and chivalrously deflecting—the passions of 20-something Russian babes, makes a gratifying fantasy hero.
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