Posted: April 4, 2006

Athletics: In New Novel, Terrorists Target Marathon

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

In her latest novel, "Blown," former CIA analyst turned author Francine Mathews spins a tail of espionage which includes one of the running industry's greatest nightmares: a terrorist attack on a major marathon.

"As thousands of runners line up for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., no one suspects that in a matter of hours the event will become a race between life and death," reads the promotional copy on the author's website.

The plot centers around a U.S. secret agent, Caroline Carmichael, whose husband, Eric (another secret agent) has had his cover blown and his life is now in danger. Carmichael is "torn between a desire to save her husband and her duty to save her country," according to the author's promotional materials, and she "is drawn back into a treacherous labyrinth where trusting others is as good as suicide."

The novel opens with the reader learning that the Marine Corps Marathon has been delayed two weeks by the terrorist kidnapping and murder of the Vice President of the United States who, buy the way, was a woman. Now it is race day, and preparations are being made at the marathon's 20-mile aid station. Things seem normal, but a sabateur, Daniel Becker, has cleverly infiltrated the aid station, stocking it with water which has been spiked with the deadly poisin, ricin. The first runner approaches:

"Daniel turned the tap on the water cooler and watched the liquid spill into the cup," writes Mathews. "It was tinged faintly brown, as though it came from rusted pipes; he'd have to hope nobody noticed. He thrust the paper cupful into the outstretched hand of the frontrunner. 'Lookin' good!' he cheered, clapping. 'Lookin' strong! You go, guy.'"

Hundreds die, and Becker goes on to shoot the director of the CIA before setting his sights on harming Ms. Carmichael.

The book has received strong reviews as a solid thriller. Publisher's Weekly wrote that Mathews "dexterously serves up strong suspense and crisp espionage maneuvers. With Caroline Carmichael at the wheel, it's a riveting, wild ride right to the nail-biting conclusion."

The first chapter can be sampled on the author's website: www.francinemathews.com.

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