Former CIA Officer Writes Action-Packed Novel About Real Life Intrigue, Espionage and Terrorism in South Asia North From Calcutta is set in India and Pakistan, the interwoven plot themes take readers to Washington, DC, London, Abu Dhabi, and Dhaka, BangladeshAmbassador Cofer Black, former Chief of the CIA's Counterterrorist Center, says North From Calcutta is "A great tale of today's espionage and terror" and is both "what it's like" and "what it could be." Reading Duane Evans' new adventure and action novel about espionage and terror in South Asia is uncannily like reading the pages of the international section of the N.Y. Times or Wall Street Journal about real life intrigues in India and Pakistan. North From Calcutta (ISBN: 978-0-9819454-0-8, 2009, 360 pages Atlas Books, www.northfromcalcutta.com $24.95) is an action-packed, non-stop tale of espionage
and intrigue told from the unique perspective of a westernized Pakistani intelligence officer. The story culminates in an attempt by terrorists to destroy a dam in India using a portable backpack nuclear device. The attack is to occur during a dedication ceremony attended by hundreds of important government officials and international VIP's. Author Duane Evans is a retired Central Intelligence Agency officer with operational tours on four continents, including duty as Chief of Station which is the CIA's most senior field position. Evans, now living in northern Virginia, is the recipient of the Intelligence Star for valor. Before joining the agency he was a U.S. Army Special Forces officer. National best selling officer and former senior CIA officer Gary Schroen says of Evan's first novel: "Taken from what could be tomorrow's headlines, the author takes us deep into the underside of Pakistan's intelligence services, where nationalism clashes with Islamic fundamentalism, as radical elements plot against India – with nuclear war hanging in the balance. Plot twists, well-developed characters, settings that bring you the feel and smell of South Asia, this is a page-turning exciting ride." After assignments in Latin America, Europe, South Asia and in the Mideast, Evans retired from the CIA in 2007 and concentrated on completing North From Calcutta, the story that first began to form in his mind in the 1990s while on assignment in South Asia. "Most Americans don't have a clue what South Asia is like but it absolutely fascinated me and I wanted to put a spotlight on the region, hoping in some small way I could educate Americans about the people, culture, and problems of the region," says Evans. While North From Calcutta is set in India and Pakistan, the interwoven plot themes take readers to Washington, DC, London, Abu Dhabi, and Dhaka, Bangladesh. The story line, enriched by fascinating characters, not only unveils the mindset and methodologies of an intelligence officer but also reveals the attitudes, thought processes, and activities of Islamic extremists who are caught up in the religious and geo-political struggle between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory of Kashmir. "While this is an action-adventure genre," explains the author, "there is an important element of romance throughout the story. I started off intending that romance would play only a small role in the story but the character of the female heroine, an Indian Hindu, continued to grow as I wrote, and the romantic aspect grew to the point that it is a central element of the story." North From Calcutta will be of great interest to fiction readers who enjoy espionage, thrillers, adventure, and foreign intrigue. But it will also appeal to readers who are interested in other countries, cultures and religions, international affairs, and politics. About Duane Evans Duane Evans is a former CIA officer with operational tours on four continents including duty as Chief of Station, which is the CIA's most senior field position. He is the recipient of the Intelligence Star for valor. Prior to joining the Agency, he was a U.S. Army Special Forces officer. North From Calcutta is his first novel. www.northfromcalcutta.com http://www.pr-inside.com/former-cia-officer-writes-action-packed-novel-r1224392.htm |
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