James R. Hannibal continues the story of CIA Officer Talia Inger in “Chasing the Lion,” which begins shortly after “The Gryphon Heist.”
Talia now works for the Russian Operations desk in the CIA Directorate’s Russian Eastern European Division. While working a case, she reconnects with an interesting group from her past — filled with thieves, demolitions experts and those who skirt between the wrong and right side of the law. They come together to take down the infamous White Lion, who oversees a massive crowd-sourced crime syndicate, while determining his connection to children kidnapped from a refugee camp.
“Chasing the White Lion” is an action-packed, heart-thumping suspense thriller filled with spies, secret missions, murders and human trafficking. The author does a great job of developing some incredible characters — Talia is full of moxie, yet has issues to overcome as a former foster child who is working with the man who once assassinated her father; Adam Tyler, the aforementioned man, and his ragamuffin team of “commando thieves”; and truly evil bad guys, including the infamous White Lion and Archangel, the person who years ago ordered the hit against Talia’s father.
This story isn’t just an incredible thriller, though. It is filled with many amazing themes, like God has a plan for each of us; holding on to anger cripples us; families catch each other and lift each other up; and the power of prayer.
A huge theme is finding one’s way to God and relying on Him and not one’s self during life’s storms — a lesson Talia must learn. Her story reminds us to “Let God. Trust. Faith.”
Hannibal does an incredible job of creating a James Bond-worthy world. This story is almost like Jason Bourne meets “The Hunger Games.” Lovers of adventure, action, spy and survival stories will love “Chasing the White Lion.”
This book, however, is not really a standalone. I would highly recommend first reading “The Gryphon Heist,” as it may at times be difficult to follow some of the storylines, as well as remember who some of the characters are.
Another aspect I truly love about this book is Hannibal’s featuring of Compassion International, an organization near and dear to my heart. He features the importance of its work in communities throughout the world through child sponsorship and its ability to release children and their families from poverty in Jesus’ name. Please check out their Web site at www.compassion.com for more information.
I don’t know if we have another adventure with Talia and her “commando thieves” gang, but I certainly hope so!
Five stars out of five.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.