Silent Thunder: A Novel

"Bestseller Johansen ( Quicksand ) and her Edgar-winning son, Roy ( Deadly Visions ), collaborate on their first thriller with entertaining results."-- Publishers Weekly "Johansen's collaboration with her crime-novelist son imbues their saga with muscular characters and a brisk immediacy that keep it gripping and relevant."-- Booklist “Bestseller Johansen and her Edgar-winning son, Roy, collaborate on their first thriller with entertaining results.”— Publishers Weekly Marine architect Hannah Bryson has landed the assignment of a lifetime. The U.S. maritime museum has just acquired the former pride of the Soviet fleet, the legendary nuclear attack sub Silent Thunder , for public exhibition. It’s Hannah’s job to inspect every inch of the decommissioned vessel and make sure it’s safe for the thousands of expected visitors. Enlisting the aid of her brother, Connor, they delve into its long and lethal history. “Gripping.”— Booklist Then, on a routine check, Connor discovers a cryptic message behind one of the ship’s panels. Before he can figure out what it means, there’s a deadly assault on Silent Thunder . Now, although the U.S. government warns her against it, Hannah will stop at nothing to unravel the truth about Silent Thunder . Even if it means coming face to face with the ruthless mastermind behind the plot—and joining forces with a mysterious and seductive mercenary who is willing to kill to make sure the secrets about Silent Thunder stay silent. . . . --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. IRIS JOHANSEN is the New York Times bestselling author of Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Silent Thunder (with Roy Johansen), Pandora’s Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On the Run, Countdown, Firestorm, Fatal Tide, Dead Aim, No One to Trust and more. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Booklist The cold war heats up again in Johansen’s latest thriller, when marine architect Hannah Bryson’s brother, Connor, is killed in an explosion aboard a decommissioned Russian submarine they’rexa0preparing for a nautical museum exhibit. Although the U.S. government official appointed to handle the investigation wants Hannah to believe Connor’s death wasxa0accidental, Hannah thinks otherwise. Just minutes before he died, Connor discovered cryptic symbols etched into metal panels hidden deep withinxa0Silent Thunder, and Hannah knows that if she’s ever to learn the truth about her brother’s murder, she’ll have to solve the code’s mystery. Doing so, however, involves herxa0in a protracted feud between two Russian operatives, Kirov and Pavski, who havexa0a blatant disregard for human life when their missions are threatened. It’s clearly a case of not knowing who one’s friends or enemies are, as Hannah has to decide if Kirov’s deep-seated hatred of Pavski equals her own need for revenge. Though the inherent distrust of all thingsxa0related to Russia and its military complex has long been a staple of the international thriller genre—and, as such, runs the risk of appearing trite and stale—Johansen’s collaboration with her crime-novelist son imbues their saga with muscular characters and a brisk immediacy that keep it gripping and relevant. --Carol Haggas --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. PROLOGUE HELSINKI SEPTEMBER 21 Kirov! No, it couldn’t be Kirov, Jennings thought frantically, as he ran down the dock. Kirov was dead. Pavski had given him his word that the stories were all lies. He’d laughed and said that a ghost couldn’t kill. And the person behind him was no ghost. It didn’t have to be Kirov. Jennings had made a lot of enemies in his life, and any one of them might be the man behind him. But there was no one behind him now. A quick glance behind him revealed an empty dock. His heart slowed as he drew a deep, relieved breath. He’d lost him. Maybe it had only been a thief. Yes, that was it. It was a lousy section of town, and the man had just targeted his wallet. Not his life. He shouldn’t have panicked. But after he’d heard about Lantz’s death, his nerves had been on edge. He’d be glad to be done with this business. His pace slowed as he approached the pier where the sub was moored. The Silent Thunder lay still and lethal as if crouching, waiting for prey, waiting to take another life. Prey. He tried to suppress the shiver that went through him. He only had to get on the sub and do what Pavski had asked him to do. Nothing was going to happen. It was no more a death ship than Kirov was a ghost. But, God, he didn’t want to go on that sub, he thought desperately as he reached the end of the block. He should have never listened to Pavski and stayed undercover. No amount of money was worth this— A leather noose slipped around his neck from behind! Pain. He struggled wildly to turn his head to see the man who had stepped out of the shadows. He only had an impression of height and broad shoulders as he started to black out. He couldn’t breathe… The garrote tightened around his neck. The sub… He could see the Silent Thunder before him, patiently waiting, ready to take him to hell as it had all the others. His vision was fading, and he could see nothing but that monster of a sub. He was going to die, he realized incredulously. No! He struggled harder. "Stop it." The order was a soft murmur in his ear. "I don’t want to kill you yet. They say you might still be useful." Kirov. My God. Damn you, Pavski. Lies. Lies. Lies. Kill the bastard. His hand closed on the knife holstered on his left arm. "Well, actually I do want to kill you now," Kirov said. "Thank you for giving me the excuse." He twisted the garrote, jerked backward, and broke his victim’s neck. Excerpted from Silent Thunder by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen Copyright © 2008 by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen Published in 2008 by St. Martin’s Press All rights reserved. This work is protected under copyright laws and reproduction is strictly prohibited. Permission to reproduce the material in any manner or medium must be secured from the Publisher --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From AudioFile SILENT THUNDER, a decommissioned Russian nuclear submarine, is being prepared for a U.S. maritime museum exhibit by Hannah Bryson and her brother, Connor. What they find leads to a series of murders involving Russians, CIA agents, a deadly bomb expert, and a mysterious figure called Kirov. Naturally, Hannah and Kirov experience "hate at first sight" but must work together to untangle the mystery surrounding the sub. Jennifer Van Dyke's classy performance enhances Iris and Roy Johansen's action-packed adventure. Van Dyke's accents provide international flavor, her pacing heightens the growing suspense, and her sultry tones highlight the sexual tension between Hannah and the evasive Kirov. While the story sometimes stretches credibility, Van Dyke makes the Johansens' cinematic conclusion as thrilling as any James Bond escapade. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Publishers Weekly Bestseller Johansen ( Quicksand ) and her Edgar-winning son, Roy ( Deadly Visions ), collaborate on their first thriller with entertaining results. Hannah Bryson, a top-notch submarine designer, and her brother, Conner, must make sure that a Russian nuclear submarine, the Silent Thunder , recently purchased by the U.S. government for use as a maritime museum, is safe for visitors. Working alone on the sub in a Maine harbor, the two make a strange discovery that's swiftly followed by a deadly attack. Others, both Russian and American, want what the Brysons have uncovered and will stop at nothing to obtain it. One Russian, Nicolas Kirov, has a special interest in the submarine as well as a growing interest in the feisty, beautiful Hannah. The constantly bickering Hannah and Kirov are forced to work together for a common goal as they fight various enemies and, of course, fall in love. The romantic subplot threatens to take over the action, but is thankfully reined in at the exciting finale. 12-city author tour. (July) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. 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