This week I’ve been listening to “65 Below” by Basil Sands.

“65 Below” is the story of recently retired United States Marine Corp Master Sergeant Marcus Orlando Johnson and his return home to Alaska after 20 years in the military. But he carries a burden. His high school sweet heart is in Alaska and he still loves her even though she broke his heart. This reunion ends up being unplanned as these two characters get wrapped up in an attempted terrorist act on U.S. soil by a collaboration of Arab terrorists and North Korean special forces who have discovered the whereabouts of a long-forgotten U.S. military chemical weapon and intend to use it immediately.

About a half-dozen chapters in I felt that Mr. Sands reminded me of Jack Higgins. Mr. Sands tosses in coincidences that sometimes feel odd or unbelievable. Such as the fact that Top, an honored nickname that Master Sergeants receive, has such intimate previous experiences with so many of the other characters. But it does not ruin the tale. The story builds expertly and intertwines flash backs effortlessly to slowly build the plot to a climax that left me unable to put the headphones down. He reads the story himself and has a voice that is easy to listen to. The many and varied characters feel like people I know. It’s worth the listen!