James Hicks is a spy. But he doesn’t work for one of the familiar American intelligence-gathering organizations --- the CIA, the NSA or even the FBI. No, Hicks is a part of a secretive, unpublicized group called the University. It’s run by the “Dean,” and has a board of “Trustees,” “professors” and other operatives scattered here and there around the globe. He heads up its New York office.

In many ways, the University is the hand behind the world scene --- directing events, captures and missions that other agencies learn about after the fact, if at all. Certainly they’re unaware of the University and its missions, not to mention the importance of those missions. While that seems quite noble and honorable, clandestine work in the 21st century is often anything but. Tracking down terrorists, preventing biological attacks, listening in on other governments or even spying on the United States’ own agencies are a regular part of the University’s work. As are executions, sexual entrapment, blackmail and torture. And interrogation? The post-9/11 waterboarding episodes have nothing on the University’s methods. These efforts are helped along by OMNI, the advanced information-gathering computer system that can access any network it can crack.

"Terrence McCauley has written an exciting, fast-paced thriller. Readers of conventional spy novels will discover that today’s intelligence community and work bear little resemblance to what in retrospect are the tamer Cold War politics..."

Hicks is squarely in the middle of this work. Directed by the Dean, he is on his way to join the final phase of the violent interrogation of the terrorist who he himself captured in Philadelphia, just before the man unleashed devastating biological agents on the U.S. Fortunately for America, but not for the infected, the viruses injected into the carriers were so virulent that most of them expired before they could get out among the public to carry out their missions of martyrdom. 

Now the University has the terrorist. And Hicks and the other interrogator must discover what larger group the man is a part of, and what further attacks may be ferreted out and halted before they’re unleashed on the U.S. On his way to the interrogation, Hicks begins to notice something: he is being tracked. It’s not so obvious at first, but he has spent much of his adult lifetime developing the necessary awareness of what and who are around him. But who on earth could be looking for him, and why? 

Hicks is rather appalled to discover, thanks to OMNI, that the CIA is behind the surveillance. However, along with his special awareness of his surroundings, Hicks developed the ability to blend into crowds and disappear. It might take him far out of his way and consume time, yet it’s effective; for the moment he loses his watchers.

The question remains: Why would the CIA be interested in him? And how did they hear about him in the first place? Hicks is certain that it’s tied to the terrorist he apprehended in Philadelphia, but he can’t quite connect the dots to the larger picture. The CIA shouldn’t even know what the University is, much less about Hicks’ own existence and identity.

Before this mission is over, Hicks will have battled the CIA, Mossad, terrorists from the Middle East, and his own countrymen. He’ll suffer the loss of someone very important to him and utilize methods that are deceptive, inhumane and cruel. Yet what he discovers will change everything, not only for America, but also for himself. Still, will he find the answers --- and apprehend the suspects --- in time?

Terrence McCauley has written an exciting, fast-paced thriller. Readers of conventional spy novels will discover that today’s intelligence community and work bear little resemblance to what in retrospect are the tamer Cold War politics, and Hicks stops at nothing to gather information and manipulate events to protect the U.S. A MURDER OF CROWS is the second installment in this series, following SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL, and I fully expect that McCauley has more stories to tell about this unusual man.