Shaiton's Fire (Chapter 16: Waging War on Terror, Book 1) [Paperback]

Jake Thoene (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2002

Shaiton's Fire, the first book in the techno-thriller series Chapter 16, propels you into the world of domestic counter-terrorism. The bombing of a subway train is only the beginning of a master plan that Steve Alstead--tactical operations specialist--and the rest of the team have to stop . . . before it's too late.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Terrorism is the theme of this inspirational suspense novel, which was completed before September 11 but updated afterwards to include plenty of references to the attacks in New York and Washington. A subway train in San Francisco is blown up in the first strike by Shaiton's Fire, a small, radical group of terrorists planning to destroy one of California's largest nuclear energy plants. It's up to Chapter 16, an interagency counterterrorism unit, to stop them. Family man Steve Alstead is on the team and desperately juggles his desire to keep his country safe while mending the rift that has developed between him and his family over his extended absences. It's not long before his home and work life collide when his son is kidnapped and events move toward a climax. The novel has some troubles-the characters are not fully developed, and Thoene often tells rather than shows. Overdescription, tasteless humor, inconsistencies such as a character's eye color being alternately green and brown, and a showy use of military acronyms and technical jargon slow down the pacing. Thoene also liberally sprinkles cliched and cutesy subheadings throughout the chapters. But with suspense novels garnering some attention in the CBA and terrorism in the headlines, this could find an audience.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Coauthor with brother Luke of the "Portraits of Destiny" series and the "Baker Street" mysteries, the son of best-selling authors Brock and Bodie Thoene strikes out on his own with a timely thriller about terrorism in America, completed before the September 11 attacks but updated to include references to them. When a San Francisco BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) subway station is bombed a day after the anniversaries of Waco and Ruby Ridge, the President calls for assistance from "Chapter 16," an interagency counterterrorism unit. The team follows several false leads while the terrorists, a cell of Islamic fundamentalists, move to their ultimate goal, a meltdown at California's largest nuclear power plant. At the same time, Steve Alstead, the team's FBI tactical commander, struggles with tensions at home. Steve feels that he is doing God's work keeping the world safe from terrorism, but his wife, who unfortunately comes off as shrill and annoying, is intolerant of Steve's work schedule and demands. This first title in a new technothriller series offers a rip-roaring adventure that will appeal to male readers who might not normally read Christian fiction. Recommended for most collections where both generations of Theones are popular.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842353615
• ISBN-13: 978-0842353618
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,243,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shaitons Fire is a GREAT read., September 4, 2002

By 

Lynn Porter (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shaiton's Fire (Chapter 16: Waging War on Terror, Book 1) (Paperback)

The book opens when a group of terrorists bomb a subway train in San Francisco. The plot thickens when another terrorist attack is connected to the first bombing. The group's primary target is Diablo, a nuclear power plant in California. If they pull it off, the entire central coast of California would be at risk.

Chapter 16, a unit created to create domestic security attempts to stop the attacks. Steve Alstead's hands on role in the organization places his family in jeopardy. Steve tries to balance his commitment to his family and his job. However, his son is kidnapped, and his wife, Cindy, struggles with Steve's absence and their fragile marriage.

Shaiton's Fire has a complicated, exciting plot that draws you in from the first page. Thoene absolutely pulls this off. The book is well worth your time!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't put it down, Blow by Blow, Awesome!, August 17, 2002

By 

Jim Setzer (Fortworth, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shaiton's Fire (Chapter 16: Waging War on Terror, Book 1) (Paperback)

It seems for the last year and a half, the intrigue/suspence novels I've read have been disapointing, unrealistic, or just too dang far fetched. It was like my favorite authors had run out of ideas, but I gotta say, Shaiton's Fire was truely refreshing.

Dealing with the patriotic issue of Islamic terrorists agaist America, it was action packed, realist and cutting edge, yet all that intensity was balance by good humor. Every chapter I read pulled me deeper into the plot, until the final chapters. Then is was 'can't put it down', 'blow by blow' 'When's the sequal comin?' Awsome!

If you've been disapointed by Net Force, but love the genre, Shaiton's fire is a must read. Just make sure you have the weekend free.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CBA Fiction has truly hit the mark!, August 15, 2002

By 

Jim Setzer (Fortworth, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shaiton's Fire (Chapter 16: Waging War on Terror, Book 1) (Paperback)

Shaiton's Fire is incredble!

I am a big reader of Clancy and Ludlum, and I have to say, the action and suspense in Shaiton's Fire is so intense, I had to look twice to see that it was actually published by a CBA house.

This novel reads like a film. The character development was true to life, accurately depicting the trials and challenges which every HRT, Hostage Resuce Team member, or military Special ops. and their families are faced with. The plot was fast paced and exciting, yet nothing like Hollywood. The writing was clean and the content was something you could recommend to your mother.

I have a back ground in Nuclear Science and was impressed with the depth that this book portrays of the inner workings and weeknesses of a nuclear power plant.

Thoene has done his research. The terrorist threat in Shaiton's Fire is not only highly plausible and disturbingly real enough. But, the methods used by terrorists to attack Diablo, a nuclear power plant located on the central coast of California, are truly possible.

On the back of the book, I noticed that it is endorsed by MSGT Don Busse,USAF retired, also one of the world's five, four weapons combat masters. His review of the novel said it all; "Timely and Superb! Thoene's work is as tactically precise as the Remington 700 his character shoots!"

An understatment perhaps.... When I saw that this novel on domestic counter terrorism was written prior to 9/11, I wondered if Thoene has his finger on the pulse of the world!

My only negative feeling and I did have one; is genuine fear. Shaiton's Fire reads like a blue print for a terrorist attack. Hopefully, nobody gets any ideas from this one.

CBA fiction truely has come a long way. This chilling, thrilling tale gets my five stars!