Waterside Pier, which is located off the FDR Drive in New York City, is rocked one day by the sound of explosions --- the result of suicide bombers with connections to Middle Eastern terrorist groups. Law enforcement and the military fear that they are heading to the United Nations and targeting a global unity parade taking place there with thousands of unsuspecting civilians.

Thus begins FDR DRIVE by James Comey, the former Director of the FBI turned fiction writer, who brings his wealth of intricate knowledge about the inner workings of federal law enforcement to the table. It is also the third novel to feature FBI Agent Nora Carleton, who recently has moved from her position in Westport, Connecticut, to her current spot in downtown Manhattan at the building known as 26 Fed.

"FDR DRIVE speaks to a country that is politically and morally divided and does it in such a way that it definitely will trigger a reaction."

Nora and her team discuss the suicide bombers, and it makes them think about the Islamic terrorist jihad attacks that happened in the NYC subways and the World Trade Center prior to the 9/11 tragedy. During their investigation, they find an unexpected adversary who is making their job far more difficult than it needs to be. Right-wing conservative radio and podcast personality Samuel Buchanan has stirred up his supporters to the point of near anarchy, and they are constantly getting involved in things that are contrary to their agenda.

This is personally experienced when Carla Rodriguez, who is overseeing a Pride parade in Phoenix, is brutally attacked by a Buchanan follower who got her address from a statement made on a recent broadcast of his. He has been untouchable so far, but Nora and her FBI allies are making it their mission to take him down. They decide to go after the weak link in Buchanan’s chain, an employee named Becky, who is not necessarily on board with his rhetoric or the violent actions of his supporters.

Nora and her colleagues have clandestine meetings with Becky and are confident that she will be the key to helping them nab Buchanan. That is, until an unknown assailant kills her. Even though Buchanan is being protected by a former Homeland Security agent, the FBI is spurred by Becky’s murder to arrest Buchanan. This, of course, leads to the major crux of the novel as freedom of speech is at play, as well as the rights given under the Constitution. It could result in a response similar to a civil war and may be more trouble than Nora and company can chew off.

FDR DRIVE speaks to a country that is politically and morally divided and does it in such a way that it definitely will trigger a reaction. There can be fault found on both sides of the issues raised here. The FBI is seeking to defend freedom of speech rights for some citizens who push these rights to the point of conflagration. On the other end of the spectrum are the political and social media pundits who stoke the flames of patriotism at any cost.

James Comey is such a polarizing figure that I feared it might permeate his fictional narrative. Thankfully, aside from a few occasions where his feelings on government are presented through his characters, there is nothing to see here outside of the wealth of experience he gained as the FBI director, which lends itself beautifully to this intense novel.