The United States, under the auspices of Jake Grafton, the new CIA head of Middle East Operations, and Israel complete a mission in Syria which eliminates Syria's nuclear reactor. The very next day, the President of the United States inquires as to when Iran will have operational warheads for their missiles and when they do, what will they do with them. The President insists on proof, not speculation as was the case in Iraq.

Grafton had placed retired jewel thief turned CIA operative Tommy Carmellini in Tehran acting as a United States Department agent processing visas in the basement of the Swiss Embassy. It is Carmellini who is tasked to provide the specific information about Iran's nuclear prowess. Carmellini is to meet with "Rostram" in Tehran who passes information to Professor Azaria, a mathematics professor at Georgetown, who has predicted in the American press that Iran will have three nuclear warheads within the year. Is this information correct or duplicitous misinformation to confuse the Americans? Early on, Tommy discovers that Rostram is actually the niece of the minister of defense and that she has spent time with Azaria at Oxford University.

The Israelis, who have much to risk if Iran starts a nuclear war, plan an assassination of Ahmadinejad when he goes to Jakarta. The Mossad also work closely with Tommy as he learns that in only two weeks, Iran will have enough raw material for twelve warheads. At that time, there would be nothing that could be done to stop them as all of their war heads and bunkers are underground and well-protected.

The Disciple begins with a technical discussion of the tactics and technology of war in 2010. We also are provided with a brief history of Iran, formerly Persia, and Ahmadinejad who served as a leader of Iran's terrorist special forces unit and who was involved in every aspect of the fundamentalist takeover of Iran. Later, he became the Mayor of Tehran and in 2005 won the questionably rigged election which made him president. However, there is all too much detail until midway through the story when the action picks up as did my interest. In this, the fourth novel to feature Carmellini and Grafton, we are not treated to Stephen Coonts’ best work.

--Jerry Solot