Dead Air - Softcover

Charles Jaco was one of CNN's intrepid reporting stars during the Gulf War, and he's turned that experience--plus hundreds of other risky missions--into a lively debut thriller full of the kinds of details other writers would die for. When GTV reporter Peter Dees arrives in Saudi Arabia to cover the war with Iraq, he's briefed by a Marine on how to inject himself first with atropine and then with an animal tranquilizer (to slow down his heart rate) in the event of a gas attack, after which he must take the needles and bend them over his belt. The marine adds casually, "The medics have orders not to treat anyone with three of the needles bent over their belt. They figure if you've had to give yourself three shots of atropine and three shots of animal tranquilizer, you're dead even if the nerve agents didn't get you." But Dees has even more serious problems: somebody high up in GTV management is tied to a company selling nerve gas to Saddam Hussein, and every time Dees tracks down a clue his source winds up dead. A strong story, deftly told, from a writer who undoubtedly has many more in his duffle bag. --Dick Adler

One day this manuscript just showed up from an unknown lawyer in St. Louis. It went into the pile of things waiting to be read. When it reached the top of the pile, I read the cover letter, which mentioned Charles Jaco and his exploits covering the Gulf War for CNN. I had watched the opening days of the conflict on TV while recovering from having my wisdom teeth pulled. I vaguely remembered him and figured, what the hell. The manuscript was opened up with the usual resignation of "Okay, I'll read 10 pages and if I'm not hooked, I'll reject it." Well, by the time I put it down--which was after I'd devoured the entire thing--I knew there was something here.

I rushed into the office of another editor, who had initially received the ms. but passed it on to me because she thought it was more up my alley. She read it, and was hooked too. Let me tell you--Jaco can write. After reading this, I know what it feels like to be a combat reporter. He really puts you into the middle of the action. But as scary as it is, he also captures the lunacy and insanity of war. His characters are great--funny, sharp, and shrewdly drawn. His dialogue snaps. His long career in journalism, with degrees from the University of Chicago and Columbia, and his stints on radio and TV, have proved to be a great training ground for him to fulfill his childhood dream of being a writer. And on top of that, he's a great guy, even if he is a Cardinals fan. Pick up DEAD AIR, you will not be disappointed!

Doug Grad, Editor