Probably the best book in the last half dozen of the Kirk McGarvey series (but not as good as the early books), an U.S. intelligence officer with expertise on Pakistan, dons a disguise and assassinates the president of Pakistan to start a new regime, aligning himself with the army and Taliban. However, Kirk McGarvey changes his appearance to go undercover to Pakistan, accompanying the new ambassador With his usual support team of Otto and Louise Rencke, his paramour, Pete Boylan, and his Pakistan-based buddy, Milt Thomas, Mac has a secret order from the U.S. President to kill the Messiah. Meanwhile, nobody knows the Messiah's psychotic endgame. The book could have been better had Hagberg provided any insight into the Pakistani-Indian conflict, and had a plausible reason for Pete to know Mac was being water-boarded. 3.75 stars. ( )