A New York synagogue is leveled by an explosion on Yom Kippur. Hundreds are killed and maimed. An investigation indicates Jewish members were responsible. But were they? Simultaneously, the threat of an organized Muslim Brotherhood attack on Israel looms on the horizon. FBI agent Lara Edmond and Mossad field agent, Uri Levin, lead characters in Winnick's debut novel, East Wind, are assigned the dangerous task of solving this new attempt to stop the U.S. from providing aid to Israel.PRAISE FOR WINNICK’S FIRST NOVEL, EAST WINDIn the genre of international spy thrillers from Daniel Silva and Vince Flynn, Jack Winnick's East Wind is a fast-paced, page-turner novel involving a credible scenario: Muslim terrorists have penetrated the U.S., detonated one small nuclear dirty bomb in a major U.S. city and are threatening further attacks if the U.S. does not cease its support for Israel.- Lee Bender, Philadelphia Jewish VoiceOnly from an engineer with over 40 years of experience in nuclear and chemical engineering could an international terror plot thriller be so detailed and effective. - Gerard Casale, Jr., Shofar MagazineA riveting thriller with real world connections, East Wind is a fine read, and highly recommended.- Midwest Book ReviewBook Cover design by Richard Lucas, Dancing Tornado Design A terrorist attack on U.S. soil leads to an armed strike in the Middle East in this second military thriller from Winnick (East Wind, 2010). FBI Special Agent Lara Edmond of the Joint Terrorism Task Force is sent to Brooklyn, N.Y., after a local Orthodox synagogue explodes. She teams up with Uri Levin, a Mossad agent with whom she’s quite familiar both professionally and romantically, and they suspect that Islamic terrorists have infiltrated the country using false identities. It turns out that the terrorists’ ultimate goal is more global—to prevent America from intervening after an attack on Israel. A lot happens in this thriller, and its action takes various forms: Lara and Uri in bullet-ridden fights; Arabs watching fighter planes shoot one another out of the sky; and numerous discussions of military strategy from aggressors such as Iran, which has long-range missiles aimed at Tel Aviv. The first half of the novel is structured as a mystery, as Lara and Uri track down Israeli students in Texas who may be sleeper agents. They are strong, intelligent leads. The second half is more suspenseful, as Israel contends with hostile forces from Syria, Egypt and other nations, with American logistical support remaining uncertain. Winnick manages to imbue these pages with tension, as Israel’s enemies form a “tenuous coalition,” as the Syrian chief of staff suggests. Some villains are painted in basic colors—the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, for example, revels in the Jewish deaths in the synagogue explosion—while others are cunningly left obscure. Winnick’s fine thriller displays his expert knowledge of the Middle East and his laudable skill as a storyteller.rtip.re [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Devil Among Us" by jack winnick.] 4 out of 4 stars Devil Among Us by Jack Winnick is an action-packed, suspenseful thriller. It is the second novel in the Lara and Uri Series but can be read as a stand-alone book. The story grips the reader from the first chapter when a bombing incident rips through a New York City Synagogue. Hundreds are killed and injured, and the FBI quickly arrives to investigate. FBI Special Agent Lara Edmond, a member of the Joint Terrorist Task Force, and Uri Levin, a Mossad agent, happily work together again to unravel this terrorist plot. Initially, the investigation points toward some members of the synagogue. However, after following several leads to Texas, Lara and Uri suspect that Islamic terrorists entered the country and that the "Brooklyn bombing" might have larger, possibly global, implications. As the mystery unfolds, more and more questions arise. Is this a giant plot to prevent the United States from aiding Israel? Why does Iran have a long-range missile aimed at Tel Aviv? Furthermore, how does this all relate to the New York synagogue bombing? Lara and Uri must connect the dots and figure out who is behind these sinister events. One aspect of the story that I like is how the narrative shifts perspectives, providing an omniscient point of view and a dynamic, well-rounded narrative. Additionally, the changes in perspective, as well as the skillful integration of flashbacks, add to the character development. Even the minor characters have distinct personalities. This includes Yehudi Bar-lev, the teenager who enters the synagogue before the bombing reveling in his recent Bat Mitzvah, Hadley Parkinson, the no-nonsense, penny-pinching chief of police, President Seymour, the conflicted leader of the United States, and the myriad of anti-Semitic, hate-fueled terrorists. The characters and perspectives are varied, defined, and realistic. I also appreciate the expertise of the autho