Promised Virgins: A Novel of Jihad

In a debut novel as timely as today’s news, here is a thrilling tale of love, politics, and deception that illuminates the dark edges of terrorism and the tragic consequences of war. Veteran journalist Jay Morgan senses that the simmering conflict in Kosovo is about to take on a new dimension when he hears rumors that a mysterious bearded foreigner, bearing weapons and money and preaching Holy War, has appeared in the rebels’ mountain camps. What is his mission? What new horror has he brought? Together Jay and his translator, the beautiful Alija, searching for a missing brother and herself a victim of the war, race to find this prophet of jihad. Each danger-fraught foray across the lines, each interview-with rebel commander, Serb sniper, or American spook tasked to evaluate and maybe take out this new threat-brings them closer to each other and to the devastating truth. Pitch perfect and keenly observed, Promised Virgins delivers bracing suspense in a novel of substance reminiscent of Graham Greene and Ernest Hemingway.