JAY MacLARTY

The third in the Simon Leonidovich series.
LIVE WIRE begins in the Oval Office. The President receives dire news from Tucker Stark, the Director of Central Intelligence, that the North Koreans not only have “the bomb,” but intend to sell it indiscriminately on the open market. Knowing the UN would never act quickly enough, and that the American public would never support another unilateral action after Iraq, the President agrees to support a dissident North Korean faction against the government of Kim Jong-il.

In an attempt to distance the President from this clandestine operation, professional courier, Simon Leonidovich, is called upon to transfer documents between the CIA and the North Korean dissidents. In reality the crisis has been “manufactured” as part of an elaborate scheme by someone within the Administration to overthrow the President. By the time Simon realizes something is amiss he’s trapped and on the run with a briefcase full of incriminating evidence. Twisting back and forth between Washington D.C. and a string of international locations, Simon pits his wits against a ruthless and unknown enemy intent on destroying him and bringing down the President.

Using all his contacts and resources, Simon slowly narrows the field of suspects, leading him to the doorstep of the CIA, and one step away from the head conspirator. Using the President as an unwitting foil, Simon forces the plotters into a final meeting; but nothing works as planned and the daring scheme threatens to backfire until the very end, when the identity of the head conspirator is finally revealed.


AWARDS
Finalist for a BARRY AWARD as the
Best Paperback Original in 2007.


REVIEWS

"Live Wire is jam-packed with sizzling action, exotic international locales and brilliant political brinkmanship! Simon Leonidovich has earned his place in the thriller pantheon right alongside Cussler's Dirk Pitt, Clancy's Jack Ryan and Ludlum's Jason Bourne. MacLarty is thriller writing's gold standard. Nobody does it better!"
by BRAD THOR, bestselling author of BLOWBACK

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"5 STARS . . . a frightening thriller . . . there is plenty of action and political intrigue in Jay MacLarty’s cat and mouse thriller; which, depending on who survives will determine the direction of the United States."
by HARRIET KLAUSNER, reviewer for “The Best Reviews”


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In his third book, Jay MacLarty features professional courier Simon Leonidovich, who delivers packages anywhere in the world. In LIVE WIRE, Simon is hired by the State Department to take some documents to North Korea. Simon wonders why the briefcase can't be delivered through diplomatic channels, but accepts the mysterious assignment.

Unfortunately for Simon, the CIA director is engineering a scandal to force the U.S. President out of office, and Simon is completely expendable. While making a delivery in Pyongyang, all hell breaks loose; Simon narrowly avoids death. Now, he must escape from North Korea, avoid a psychopathic assassin, and untangle the mess in which he's landed. The plot is intricate, fast-moving and overall, a whole lot of fun.
by MARK TERRY, The Daily Oakland Press
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