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Enemy Within, Executive Office 3, by Tal Bauer
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By Tal Bauer
Published by the author, 2017
Five stars
This was a hard book to read, for me. I bought it over a year ago—after NOT publishing my review of the second book (Enemy of My Enemy). I’ve been holding this book in my backlist, because the second book upset me so deeply, having read it with the background of the 2020 election resonating in my head.
I give this book five stars because Bauer is a good thriller writer. Fast-paced, nail-biting, vivid. This story of international political betrayal and threatened global Armageddon is not for the faint of heart. The fact that there are three gay couples at the center of this tale is notable. The fact that the core gay couple seems to hinge on a “gay for you� trope continues to really bug me. In the end, however, my admiration and enjoyment of this Charles-Bronson-level revenge fest won over my discomfort.
This is a very dark fantasy, a hair-raising “end of the world� adventure that cuts too close to the current political atmosphere to be entirely comfortable. Bauer, of course, had no idea, even in 2017, what would happen over the next five years. As violent as it is dark, Bauer handles the Byzantine plot, filled with twists and surprises (many of them unpleasant) with great skill. The fantasies involved here are extreme, but there is just enough plausibility to be both terrifying and gratifying.
Bauer also handles the three same-sex relationships well, honoring them with full emotional development to the point that I found myself getting pretty weepy at several points—despite the ongoing carnage and relentless anxiety. I really can’t say more for fear of spoilers, but I will say that I was floored by the Saudi-related plot line, and honestly wept at the author’s choices in developing that story. (In a good way.) There is a sort of Theban warriors idea going on here (if you kids don’t know what that means, look it up.), and that gave me some comfort.
Bauer’s approach to story-telling and history-bending is unique. He deserves a big audience, but not everyone will find this level of intrigue and action their cup of tea. I’m glad I made it through.