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Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War

About the Book

Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War

In this thrilling true story, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jake Tapper uncovers an investigation --- unlike any other in American history --- to lock up a dangerous terrorist before he’s set free.

June 2011: The case has been cold for nearly 10 years when a terrorist fleeing the Arab Spring turns himself in and confesses to killing American soldiers in Afghanistan. This brazen act sets off an unlikely chain of events that puts the entirety of the American justice system to the test. They have the killer but no evidence to prove the murders happened.

Determined to deliver justice, a team led by federal prosecutors Dave Bitkower and Shreve Ariail must traverse the globe, uncovering facts across thousands of miles and tracing shocking plots of terror in order to prevent tragedy from striking again.

Through intense reporting and meticulous recreation, RACE AGAINST TERROR shows a man radicalized to enact violence, courageous soldiers who risked their lives for each other, and the diverse set of men and women who work tirelessly to stay one step ahead of disaster. In this gripping narrative history, CNN’s Jake Tapper reveals the true costs of the War on Terror and delivers a salient warning for the increasing threats of extremism we face to this day.

Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War
by Jake Tapper

  • Publication Date: October 7, 2025
  • Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime
  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Atria Books
  • ISBN-10: 1668079445
  • ISBN-13: 9781668079447