Four years after the events of Thomas Young's first novel, The Mullah's Storm, Army Sgt. Major Sophia Gold and Air Force Major Michael Parson are reunited when a bomb destroys the Afghan National Police central training facility in Kabul. Gold is helping to run the literacy program and sustains minor injuries in the blast. However, many of her students are badly injured and she's going to accompany them to a hospital in Germany that is large enough to handle all the patients. Parson is called on to fly the patients to Germany, which is a routine matter--until a bomb is discovered aboard the aircraft.
Readers unfamiliar with The Mullah's Storm will have no problems following the events of Silent Enemy. The pace is quick; there's constant action and well-timed twists. Young treats the array of characters and cultures with dignity, avoiding any hidden agendas in his themes. Some readers may find the technical elements of the aircraft piloting a bit daunting, but they play a minor role in the overall story.
Young's experience as an Air National Guardsman serving in the Middle East works to heighten the authenticity in this exciting military thriller. But don't read this on the plane heading off to vacation. Wait until you've hit the beach. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts