Title: Three Gorges Dam
Series: 
Author: Thomas V. Harris
Genre: Action, Political Thriller
Publisher: BookBaby
Format: eBook
ISBN: 0991580311

Summary: CHINA’S WESTERN FRONTIER IS A POWDER KEG. ITS BUDDHIST AND MUSLIM MINORITIES ARE ABOUT TO LIGHT THE FUSE.Michael Brannigan and the People’s Republic of China are concluding a triumphant week. The PRC’s top energy consultant has fallen in love with Australian geophysicist Kylie Ryan while traveling in Xinjiang Province. President Lao Ming is in Beijing hosting a game-changing summit with the United States. CNN is broadcasting the new reality: the Communist juggernaut has surpassed the US.Brannigan’s train is retracing Marco Polo’s historic journey. When the Silk Road Express reaches the Far East’s Far West, his team of engineers will assist the Chinese in developing the world’s richest oil fields. Brannigan is heading deeper into the Taklamakan Desert as President Lao’s motorcade approaches the end of its parade route. In a few hours, Lao will celebrate his victory in the Hall of Purple Light.All that changes in two blinks of an eye. China’s Young Turks and Fighting Monks rock the country. Caught up in the violence, Brannigan’s love affair meets a tragic end. The Reds and rebels engage in an escalating cycle of provocations and reprisals. In the midst of the turmoil, Brannigan returns to China for a hush-hush assignment at Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric facility. There he overcomes his demons and finds lasting happiness. Everything is coming up aces. UNTIL THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS

If it weren’t for silly work getting in the way, I would not have put this book down. 😉 It’s a good fast-pace book about a consulting engineer on China’s Three Gorges Dam. The author flips the story between a few different views: the engineer and his work to save the dam, China’s leadership (including their President), and a terror- group revolting against the Chinese government. I had no problem diving into each view, and I liked the fast dialog. (I know some reviewers didn’t like the pace as much, but after the first few conversations, you got the hang of it). One side of the story is through the consultant engineer’s eyes. He’s in high demand, and is sent to China for a project. While he’s there, he meets a woman and they are in whirlwind of a relationship/fling that comes screeching to a halt when their train, The Beijing Express, is targeted by a terrorist group; and his partner, Kylie, ends up with amnesia. Pan to the second point of view: the Tibetan terrorists. They are tired of being oppressed and are planning to take out the Chinese president. Two of the leaders, one a Tibetan and the other a Spanish Merc are in charge of the operation. They are recruiting former Tibetan monks, but can they keep their operations a secret long enough to carry out their mission? The third point of view is the Chinese government. While they are aware of the terrorists, they always seem to be one step behind the traitors. Each of the terrorist attacks and attempts end in suicide, so their search for who-dun-it is usually quickly stomped on.After Mike recovers from the massacre on the train , he is sent on another case in China, this time to Three Gorges Dam in secrecy. The dam is being overloaded, and the sudden earthquakes are not helping. And guess who his geological scientist is, none other than Kylie herself, with no memory of their past. To add fuel to the fire, the local Chinese people are protesting the Chinese government, including the Dam. It’s a race to see what breaks first: the dam, the Chinese Gov’t (from their people or the terrorists), or Mike’s will to tell Kylie about their past. 😉 This story does have a little romance weaving through it, but for those that don’t like reading “romance” novels, you’ll be fine. It doesn’t get too mushy and we will all still enjoy the story. Besides, she’s a smart cookie, too. It’s not a damsel in distress situation. Word to the wise, there is some graphic explanations about torture and blood & guts. If it were a movie, I’d have covered my eyes. All in all, it was a good action thriller book, and I almost wish there was another, but as most of these types of stories go you won’t need it. 🙂   FTC Disclaimer: A digital copy of this book was provided for promotional consideration.  No additional compensation provided for this review and the author’s words and opinions are her own.