Sphere of Influence

by Kyle Mills

Book Overview

Hailed by Tom Clancy as a novelist who is fast becoming "the new master of gripping and intelligent page-turners," Kyle Mills is at the forefront of America's hot new thriller writers. His New York Timesbestsellers Storming Heavenand Burn Factorshowed Mills to be a storyteller of breathless pacing, stylish prose, and chilling effectiveness. In Sphere of Influence, he takes FBI agent Mark Beamon into unnervingly hazardous territory, with shattering...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399149341
• ISBN13: 9780399149344
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 439 Pages
• Weight: 1.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.3" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Great story but pushed limits of beleivability

This was a great story, even better than a Clancy book - more action and less verbage. The main character is again Mark Beamon, an older and slightly used up FBI agent put out to pasture as Special Agent in Charge at the Phoenix office. He gets pulled into a complicated case by his former partner Laura Vilechi who has been placed in charge of finding a missing rocket launcher held by Yasin, a powerful Afghan terrorist. The case gets much more complicated involving Volkov, a powerful drug lord and other drug dealers, the mafia, CIA bosses, and his own FBI boss. I would love to see another Beamon story but I do not know where Mr. Mills could possibly take him further.

This guy can write

Mill's writing style is superb - excitement, tension, intrique, etc and out comes something to make you laugh such as "She handed Beamon a tall glass and he took a sip of the cold, fizzy liquid. For the thousandth time in his life, he said a quick, silent prayer for the souls of the brilliant men who invented Alka-Seltzer."The downside is that I guess I'll have to wait another year or so for the next one. I've read them all but if you haven't it will give you something to do until the next one comes along.

Who Is More Deadly - Criminals, Terrorists or the CIA ?

In his latest thriller, Kyle Mills combines the convoluted plotting, conspiracy paranoia and rapidity of action in the best Ludlum books with the international political intrigue with government agents operating around the edges of legality found in the best of Clancy. FBI agent Mark Beamon returns as the central character of this present day adventure involving a confluence of individually believable events that have been woven into a fascinating and extremely fast moving if somewhat implausible scenario. As readers of Mills' previous novels know, for political reasons Mark Beamon has become persona non grata at FBI headquarters and thus has been "promoted" to Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Phoenix office, a job which suits neither his temperament or skills. As he is trying to decide whether to move on with his life, a terrorist cell inside the US sends videotapes to media outlets which indicate that they possess a rocket launcher and plan to attack a major city. This causes a political firestorm, so Mark's friend and previous FBI associate secretly enlists Mark to help locate the terrorists before they can carry out their threat. Meanwhile when Mark is unable to prevent the murder of a fellow undercover FBI agent who has infiltrated the mob in an attempt to get information regarding their heroin distribution operations, he goes on a personal crusade to avenge the death which he could not prevent. Mark eventually develops a speculative theory regarding a possible connection between the two cases, and goes deep undercover himself. Mark manages to affiliate himself with an international crime organization run by Romanian expatriate Christian Volkov, and is pursued around the world by both the FBI and the CIA (in order to keep their own role hidden). While trying to stay alive and keep Volkov from guessing his identity he has to stop Al Queda from firing the rocket while simultaneously disrupting their source of income from supplying the Mob with drugs. And he is still motivated primarily by the need to find out who ordered the hit onhis friend killed and exact revenge. So, as I hope is clear, if you like political intrigue combined with non-stop action, you should enjoy this book, especially if you are a cynic regarding the motives of politicians and government agents. Additionally, Mills cleverly integrates some infrequent philosophical asides as Mark has to face such issues as the counterproductive nature of the war on drugs and prosecution of victimless crimes and whether the government uses its power more ruthlessly and often causes more harm than the the criminals who it prosecutes. That this is a subtly political novel added to my enjoyment, since I agree with the apparent philosophical inclinations of the author.I only have two minor cautions, the first few chapters move slowly but they are essential for providing background on Mark's character for first time readers of Kyle Mills and also provide elements which figure heavily in Mark

Kyle Mills is a Quality Read - Interesting & Well-Written

Sphere of Influence is the fifth novel by Kyle Mills and the fourth he has written about his main character, Mark Beamon. While readers of Mills' previous works will know what Beamon brings to a story, the strength of Sphere of Influence is its plot and storylines, which include many topics currently in the news. These include terrorism, drug-smuggling, and more. References are made to the Taliban, Osama bin Laden, and the World Trade Center. The realistic description of people and events adds to an already exciting and believeable story. Kyle Mills has penned his best novel yet and shows no signs of falling into the trap of mediocracy that plaques many writers at this stage. This book is good enough that new readers will be looking for his previous works.Also recommended: Rising Phoenix, Storming Heaven, and Free Fall by Kyle Mills. Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp novels including Transfer of Power and Separation of Power.

Great thriller

See book description above.From Kyle Mill's very first novel, I've been a fan. The character of Mark Beamon is a very likeable and admirable hero.The story and characters of Mill's latest are also very timely. From Yasin, a powerful Afghan terrorist, to Volkov, a powerful drug lord. The many characters make for a somewhat intricate plot. Afghan terrorists and drug dealers, local mafia bosses, a Laotion general, CIA bosses, FBI bosses, Heroin wars, a missing rocket launcher, and of course Mark Beamon and his friends.A great international thriller with vivid story telling.Highly recommended.