Night of the Bear by Alan Cockrell and Richard Hess
Night of the Bear by Alan Cockrell and Richard Hess is a suspenseful tale of revenge and military aggression, reminiscent of Tom Clancy’s earliest Cold War thrillers. A covert meeting off the coast of Long Island between Russian Intelligence and a highly placed asset with links to the highest levels of the US Government discusses a planned attack on the United States with the potential of decapitating the leadership of Russia’s on-again, off-again foe.
The Reverend Bobby Chatman is a popular and influential minister; his friendship with President Andrew Phillips grants him unprecedented access to the White House and other corridors of power in Washington, DC. His Russian lineage is known to more than a few people, but his hatred for the United States government is carefully masked.
SVR Chief Viktor Darginsky knows how Chatman lost his father and brother in battles where the shadow of the US loomed. When Chatman proposes an operation dubbed Lucifer/Inblue, Darginsky is intrigued but knows he will need to convince the mercurial Russian leader to sign off on this audacious plan.
Deep-Cover Operatives and Nuclear Threats
The opportunity for a decisive tactical strike on their bête noire appeals to Russian President Nikolai Kozlov. His leadership is in a precarious state, and the success of Lucifer/Inblue could strengthen his position at home while also cementing his tough reputation in the global community. Kozlov gives the go-ahead for the mission to proceed, but subtly hints to Darginsky how failure could lead to grave consequences.
The US Government receives word of nuclear weapons that have gone missing from Russia. The possibility of dirty bombs or other devices being detonated on American soil has the FBI and other agencies on high alert. FBI Agent Darryl McCormick remains vigilant, especially as the President is set to address a joint session of Congress. However, the FBI, CIA and others remain blind to the plot being hatched practically under their noses, and it may be too late for them to halt the catastrophic attack.
The relations between the United States and Russia began to thaw after the decades-long Cold War, but have chilled again over the last decade. This continuing hostility becomes an excellent plot device for this story. Whereas Darginsky and Kozlov’s motives relate to power, Chatman is motivated by his insatiable need for retribution. The desperation of Chatman in having his plan is equaled by the desperate attempts of the federal agents in locating the bad actors.
Espionage Reminiscent of “The Americans”
Authors Alan Cockrell and Richard Hess possess a boundless amount of knowledge about aviation and military matters, and it is apparent in this exceptional work. Their ability to elucidate the complex inner workings of an F-15 or a TU-95 is appreciable.
The characters, whether they be traitorous pastors or skittish Russian pilots, possess enough emotional complexity to render them captivating. The pacing of the suspense novel is smooth throughout.
Night of the Bear evokes thoughts of sleeper cells and skullduggery witnessed in TV programs such as The Americans and 24, while being equally inspiring and compelling. The dramatic novel shines with intelligent and crisp dialogue, while also providing plenty of nail-biting tension as the plot progresses towards its triumphant conclusion.
About the Authors:
Richard Hess
Richard Hess and Alan Cockrell are both former military aviators. Between them, they have almost a century of military and commercial flight experience.
Richard has been an international military adviser through the State Department for 15 years. He has written dozens of articles for Warbird Digest on aircraft safety and maintenance, as well as international ferry missions.
Alan Cockrell
Alan is the author of three other books, including his novel, The Restless Earth, and Tail of the Storm, a book about his and other US pilots’ Desert Storm experiences. He’s also been featured on the show Air Warriors on the Smithsonian Channel.
