Fresh off a harrowing return to the jungles of Vietnam where he served, psychologist John Moore is once again sent on a covert mission by his CIA boss. The mission starts simple enough––deliver a message to his boss’ ex-lover, who just so happens to be a former member a German anarchist group. When she is brutally attacked by neo-Nazis, John uncovers a larger plot that reaches the heart of the CIA itself. It’s a race against time, battling neo-Nazis intent on world domination, to find a nuclear device before it falls into the wrong hands. The chase takes John and his CIA partner across Northern Europe and finally the bitter cold of the Arctic Circle, fighting demons within and the horrifying rise of fascism without.

It takes a bit of time for LEGACY OF EVIL to pick up steam, as there is some housekeeping, so to speak, and leftover trauma to deal with at the start from John’s last mission. There’s also a lot of exposition to wade through to understand the intricacies involved in his latest globe-trotting expedition on behalf of the CIA. But once the story gets going, all of these moving pieces race together to craft a nuanced and well-plotted action-adventure. Car chases through European streets, skirmishes, and shoot-outs across the icy taiga abound––plenty of danger and intrigue to keep the plot barreling along just like the dogsleds John and his partner use to traverse freezing Lapland.

As if a nuclear device isn’t enough of a high-stakes problem, the rise in fascist beliefs that’s made itself known internationally has colluded with top agents hidden among the CIA. Ed Marohn sculpts his novel around the very real and terrifying truth that isn’t fiction at all, that white supremacy is a clear and present danger. The subject is handled well, especially with John being the son of a Holocaust survivor. The second half of the novel might be the most compelling, as John faces the evil that’s hidden in plain sight and is forced to make difficult choices once the situation quickly goes from bad to worse. Marohn’s writing shines in the middle of action sequences, where the tension is dialed up to eleven and the suspense finally boils over.

But it’s not all gunplay and fighting––the intense narrative is tempered by emotion, by the friendships that form in the midst of this perilous journey. It’s John struggling with PTSD from war and the grief of losing his wife. It’s the friendship that blossoms between John and Nina, the woman he’s sent to find. It’s the unbreakable connection John forges with a sled dog named Sheba, a gorgeous husky full of personality. All of these genuine emotional threads help tie the novel together, giving the story heart and a reason to defeat the ugliest sort of evil.

A nuanced, well-plotted action-adventure that simmers with intrigue, LEGACY OF EVIL confronts a chilling reality and reminds us what’s worth fighting for.

~Jessica Thomas for IndieReader