Point of Entry

by Peter Schechter

Book Overview

With calculated cunning, renegade Syrian intelligence operatives have discovered how to smuggle uranium-235--the key material required to manufacture an atomic weapon--into the United States... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061205648
• ISBN13: 9780061205644
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Rayo
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

What an exciting ride, by a debut author!

If I had to sum up this work in one word, it would simply be "WOW!". What an incredible ride from start to finish. To be honest, I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book, considering I have never read anything along the lines of this particular theme/topic. Meaning governmental and political, as well as terrorist focus. I love to try new areas of literature, however, so was thrilled with the opportunity to read Point of Entry. Once I started reading, I could not put it down - I raced from page to page to see what would happen next. Often times, I even had to stop and think to myself "Is this really going on in the world?!" The author brings to life the possibility of what truly could be taking place in our world - smuggling and terrorist plots and threats. At the same time Mr. Schechter brings to life his characters with compassion and foresight. This is sure to be a best-seller and Peter Schechter is sure to be received with great praise - many, including myself, eagerly awaiting future releases!

An Exciting First Novel from a Talented New Author

Point of Entry is Peter Schechter's first novel. I hope it is the first of many. As far as `entry' novels are concerned this is just about as good as it gets. It was an exciting and entertaining read and I was delighted to have received an advance review copy of this book. The time is the "not-so-distant" future. Straight-laced, conservative President John Stockman is convinced that Syria's overt and cover connections to terrorists in the Middle East and throughout the world poses a grave threat to U.S. security. Wishing to avoid the mistakes of the last administration Stockman is determined to obtain multilateral support from the United Nations to impose stringent sanctions on the Syrian regime. Stockman's dedication to lower or eliminate terrorists threats emanating from Syria causes a few rogue Syrian intelligence operatives to take drastic retaliatory action. Marta Padilla, the newly-elected President of Colombia is determined to root out the drug-fueled corruption that has long tarnished the image of a vibrant, beautiful nation. This determination poses a threat to the livelihood of the old-guard Colombian political families whose power and wealth are derived from the international drug trade. The convergence of interests between the rogue Syrian agents and the Colombian form the basis of a plot by which Syria plans to smuggle a large quantity of Uranium-235 into the United States to unleash a series of terror-bombings that will bring the U.S. to its knees. And who better to find a way to smuggle the Uranium-235 into the U.S. than the drug cartels whose success in evading capture is legendary. Schechter lays out the plot in a clear and plausible fashion. The various threads that make up the story are set out parallel to each other. Schechter does an excellent job of keeping each story-line moving in a suspenseful manner until they eventually converge in an exciting closing 1/3rd of the book. The book takes the reader on a trip from Washington, Colombia, Italy, Cuba, Syria, Pakistan, and the former Soviet Union. One of the book's strongest points is the word-pictures Schechter paints of those exotic locales. Based on my own experiences in some, not all, of these locations, the author got it dead solid perfect. All in all this is an excellent first novel and anyone with an interest in a thriller with what the book's publishers call a "cut from the headlines" theme will be well served by picking up a copy. Highly recommended. L. Fleisig

Crossing Boundaries

"Whose drug problem, yours or ours? They are different. You Americans, smoke, swallow, shoot, lick and ingest anything to get you high. In Columbia, we die trying to stop the supply of products that you require to do those things by yourself. The best of us are the ones who die most: Our journalists, judges, politicians, police, and academics are the ones who get killed on the front lines of your drug war." says the President of Columbia. Marta Pradilla, a beautiful, former Miss Universe and Rhodes scholar has been elected the first female president of Colombia. She has many enemies, and she still was able to get elected. Her honesty and dedication to bring Colombia to the front of the line, impresses John Stockman, President of the United States. Both of these world figures are unlike any we know of today. They are honest, respectful and want to cross the boundaries of time, region and politics. Theirs is a love story of country and of possibilities. Peter Schechter has written a page turner. I was engrossed from the first to the last page. I was captured from the start of this thriller. His writing is electric and draws you in. I felt as though I knew the characters from his imaginative description and dialogue. I was transported to parts of the world that I had only imagined, and Mr. Schechter's description of the countries, and the events that unfolded were real time. Even though the story happens in the future, there is no reason that this could not be a story from today. Mr. Schechter knows the world of which he writes. He is an international political and communication consultant and his knowledge of the countries and customs opens his world to all of us. Professor Farooq Rahman has agreed to carry uranium-235 from the Chechnya border to Georgia. A trip that is rife with danger and difficulties. Professor Rahman was known as the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb. His research lab has been closed and he is looking at reviving his professional life. He carries this uranium though many countries down the Pankisi Gorge. by donkey back to Georgia. A dangerous mission and from there the uranium is brought to Columbia via dangerous minds and missions. The CIA hears rumors of his uranium and spends countless days' and nights interpreting the signs and signals. They are sure they have the answer, but it is not until Marta Pradilla calls President Stockman that they know the true story. From here on in, "The Point Of Entry' turns one dangerous corner to another, and the lives of all involved will never be the same. The nuclear age, the terrorist siege of the crime organizations that will breach anything to make their land their own, is at the center of this novel. And, the southern continent will play a part in the salvation of a conservative power. Suspenseful, on the edge of your seat reading, and the vast and pervasive beauty of the lands that we fear and loathe bring us to the realization that we are living on the edge of danger at all times.

Drug smugglers and terrorists hooking up? Scary...

So what would happen if nuclear terrorists and drug traffickers linked up to threaten the United States? Peter Schechter explores this twist in his first novel Point Of Entry. I got the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of the novel, and I really got absorbed into this one... The United States wants to push an international sanction on Syria for their involvement in housing terrorists. There isn't a clear-cut majority in the UN Security Council to pass this, but Columbia's new female president is willing to deliver Latin American votes if the US changes some policies (like their Cuban embargo). Even though the US president isn't likely to change the current policies, he does start communicating with her via email accounts that no one knows about. In the process, they both start to fall for each other, although it would never work out in real life. When she discovers a plot by her political rivals to transport uranium via drug channels into the US for a nuclear bomb, she has to make hard painful choices. The right thing is to tell the president, but by doing so he'll end up sending troops into Columbia to find the material, thereby dooming her chances to remain in power. And if he reacts the way everyone wants him to, he'll destroy the woman he's fallen in love with as well as alienate an entire region. But to do nothing means that millions of Americans will likely die... What to do? This book reads like the headlines of CNN. Many of the assumptions and situations underpinning the story-line are pulled from real events and current hostilities. While it might not be completely believable to think that two heads of state could carry on a cyber-relationship without discovery, it works well enough to set up the conflict between personal relationships and national responsibilities. And unfortunately I had *no* problem believing the logistics of how drug smugglers could get uranium past our borders. And that's scary... If you're into thrillers based on current political headlines, grab this one and prepare to be somewhat unnerved...

One Amazing Ride

Point of Entry by Peter Schechter was an amazing book. The idea of another attack on America is quite often discussed in the media. This book shows how it could be done and it was almost not detected if not for the hard work of Dr. Pearlman of the CIA. It was a roller coaster ride that left me on the edge of my seat. I found that the beginning was a little slow but all the information presented there was important to the entire book. I was completely blown away with how corrupt people can be no matter what country they are from. One of the things that impressed me the most was that there was no year presented with the timeline of this book just month and date. That was an intelligent move because it was said that this happened after the current administration. Another thing that impressed me was that the jump from continents was smooth and flowed well. It never felt rushed. I also felt that every thing that the characters were trying to do was believable, whether it was good or bad. Something else that impressed me was the boldness of the character Marta Pradilla who was the President of Columbia. She didn't take any crap from anyone and she stuck to her guns even if that could have meant something awful happening to her country. Also, the character of the President John Stockman of the United States was a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed not knowing what party he was as well as how well he stayed true to his beliefs. I was able to enjoy the characters because of who they were and it only focused on the problems that had to be dealt with. Peter Schechter is an amazing writer in his first novel. He writes so that you will want to follow along on the journey and where it will take you. With the background this author has it made me want to read this book even more. He is an amazing storyteller. I recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers with a little political edge to them.