I love a book that can get all my emotions roiling and Puja Guha did just that with Ahriman. From gut wrenching sorrow, to savage torture, to a love that will break all the rules, I was hooked from beginning to end.

We start off with a late night call and Kasem races to meet Lila. And, we begin the story of Ahriman: The Spirit of Destruction.

We will travel from New York to Kuwait.

Years later, Petra is awakened by an early morning call, cutting short her vacation.

We are in Kuwait. Their is political unrest. There are those that are pushing for Sharia law, wanting to role back any progress they have gained, but the Emir has other ideas. Seeing what is happening in the world today, we all know that is a possibility.

May 15, 2021, is a date that will change the face of the Middle East forever, or will it? What is the plan? Can it be stopped?

Petra had retired from active field duty, but she was the only agent suitable for the job. She has struggled with PTSD and I wonder what happened to cause it. Her career hinges on her decision. They are, more or less, blackmailing her into doing it. And, she will be on her own. It makes me wonder how these undercover operations work in real life. The Agency is a swift action oriented organization that members around the world agreed to. It allows for action without all the oversight and approvals that other organizations may require.

Petra has an incentive to come home from this mission. She has a significant other, Grant, who is also an agent, and though she hasn’t said those three little words, he has. His specialty is IT, and it will come in handy.

We travel from the past to the present and back again as Puja Guha fills in all the blanks and keeps us informed of current events. Terrorism. Betrayal from your own always cuts the deepest. Tragic terrorist actions will change Kasem and Petra’s lives forever.

Kasem didn’t deserve the hand he was dealt. I feel so bad for him and I don’t see a good ending for him. Will Lila ever know the truth? Will Kasem?

General Mayed…evil…I hope he gets taken down in a brutal, savage way. Do unto others should apply to him.

Puja Guha has written a realistic novel of terrorism, betrayal, and love. The manipulation and psychological torture was so real. Ahriman is the story of the creation of an assassin. In the spy game, we have to watch out for those rogue elements that can change history. It makes me wonder how an intelligence agency can keep track of all the double crosses and convoluted ‘missions’ among so many players.

This amazing debut novel brings to mind a suspense series that I have been following for years, the Leine Basso series by D V Berkom. A lone woman agent is sent in to stop a terrorist action that will reverberate around the world. I can’t think of a thing I would change about Ahriman and I never figured out all the double crosses, betrayals, and the ending. There will be more and I can hardly wait to find out what happens next.

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Thanks to the author for this book.

Though I wanted to try something different from my usual type of reads, I did not finish this book due to the espionage plot. Just too complicated and complex for my "simple" mind. However, though I've never read these types of books, I have to mention that I can't think of a female author off the top of my head who writes these types of book but I may be wrong. ( )