Synopses & Reviews
New York Times Bestseller
Dr. Jonathan Ransom, a surgeon for Doctors Without Borders, is climbing in the Swiss Alps with his wife, Emma, when she falls into a hidden crevasse and dies. Twenty-four hours later, Jonathan receives an envelope addressed to his wife containing two baggage-claim tickets. Puzzled, he journeys to a railway station only to find himself inexplicably attacked by the Swiss police. Suddenly forced on the run, Jonathan's only chance at survival lies in uncovering the devastating truth behind his wife's secret life.
Follow the Rules:
Don't miss the other thrillers in the series—Rules of Vengeance (in paperback) and Rules of Betrayal (in hardcover July 2010).
Synopsis
In this brilliantly conceived, jet-fueled thriller, New York Times bestselling author Christopher Reich has boldly redefined the espionage novel for the twenty-first century.
Dr. Jonathan Ransom, a surgeon for Doctors Without Borders, is climbing in the Swiss Alps with his wife, Emma, when she falls into a hidden crevasse and dies. Twenty-four hours later, Jonathan receives an envelope addressed to his wife containing two baggage-claim tickets. Puzzled, he journeys to a railway station only to find himself inexplicably pursued by the Swiss police. Suddenly forced on the run, Jonathan's only chance at survival lies in uncovering the devastating truth behind his wife's secret life. Step by step, he is drawn deeper into a world of spies, high-tech weaponry, and global terrorism--a world where no one is who they appear to be and where the end always justifies the means.
About the Author
1.
Rules of Deception deals with lots of hot button issues that are at the forefront of both our personal lives and public debate. Lets start with the personal stuff:
• How well do you know your spouse or partner? As a test, ask yourself if you know his or her place of birth, names of parents and siblings, college or high school and year of graduation, major in college. Do you know what was his or her first job? Their best friend, favorite beverage, favorite band?
• How much do you know about your spouses or partners work? Do you know his boss? His co-workers?
• Does your spouse or partner travel for work? If so, do you check up on him while hes gone - either by phone or e-mail?
• How often do you like to hear from your spouse or partner? If you didnt hear from them for twelve hours, would you be worried? What about twenty-four hours?
• Do you ever look through your spouses or partners belongings? If so, have you ever found something there you didnt expect? Did your confront him or her about it? What happened?
• In the story, Jonathan doesnt discover the truth about his wifes true profession until she dies in a tragic accident. Do you think he should have figured it out beforehand?
• Why are doctors the perfect “front” for spies?
• Would you volunteer to spy for your government?
2. Rules of Deception also deals with major foreign policy concerns confronting the United States and her allies, namely Irans drive to possess nuclear weapons. Here are some questions you might wish to discuss.
• Should Iran be allowed to possess nuclear weapons? If so, how many and in what forms? Bombs? Warheads?
• Should Iran be allowed to develop a “peaceful” nuclear energy program?
• Does the United States have an obligation or right to police other countrys nuclear programs, both peaceful and military?
• The current president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has spoken about his desire to “wipe Israel off the map of the Middle East.” Do you think that Iran would actually use nuclear weapons to attack Israel?
• In view of these provocative statements, do you think Israel has the right to take preemptive actions should they believe Iran to have nuclear weapons? Or is it enough if Iran is trying to make the weapons?
• What is your opinion about the United States intelligence community? Do you feel we should actively spy on our enemies? What about our friends?
• The U.S. government currently admits to spending approximately $40 billion a year on intelligence. Do you think this is enough or should they spend more? Do you feel that we are getting a good “return on our investment?”
• If you discovered information that you believed might impact the wellbeing of the United States, would you make an effort to contact the government and tell them? Or do you think they can take care of themselves?
(Reading Group Guide provided by the author. For more information visit www.christopherreich.com.)
Reading Group Guide
A Note from the Author -
Let me be upfront about something: I love speaking to book clubs. I spend so much time at my desk writing that when my book finally hits the shelves, I am dying to get out in front of people and talk about it! Its amazing what readers glean from your work. Often, Ill find themes in my story I hadnt intentionally written about, or facets of my characters Id only subconsciously developed. I guess thats a fancy way of saying that readers are always smarter than authors! (If youd like me to come speak to your group, feel free to get in touch with me at my site: www.christopherreich.com.)