The Twelfth Imam by Joel Rosenberg

The Twelfth Imam by Joel Rosenberg flawlessly combines the best element of a Tom Clancy political thriller with the spiritual warfare of Left Behind. Set in modern Iran, the book follows a wide cast ranging from Iranian Christians and CIA operatives to radical Muslims and Iranian nuclear scientists. Readers find themselves guessing at every turn, trying to unravel an intricate web of deceptions, alliances and hidden agendas as the Iranian government works feverishly to develop weapons of mass destruction.

The action-packed plot sprints forward from the opening paragraph, and loses none of its intense drama and emotion as it continues. The book focuses primarily on David Shirazi, a Muslim-turned-agnostic who hunts terrorist leaders for the CIA. Undercover in Iran, he finds himself struggling to outwit and outgun a host of Iranian loyalists.

The story takes place today, and current events about the conflict and intrigue that characterize the geopolitical realities of the Middle East are woven masterfully throughout. Apocalyptic leaders of Iran are calling for the annihilation of Israel and the United States. Complicating matters is the emergence of a mysterious cleric. Do the miracles and healings he’s performing confirm that he is the Islamic messiah known as the Twelfth Imam?

This is my first book by Joel Rosenberg. This book gripped my attention from the very beginning! The reading is fast pace and well written. The intrigue kept me attentive for hidden details. This was my first, but won’t be my last in this series.

If you like political thrillers you will enjoy this story and if you have never tried one this is a good one to start.