5-STAR REVIEW: THE UNDERHANDED by Adam Sikes

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The Description

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

Europe’s last line of defense against neofascism—a history professor?

Professor William Dresden has found solitude in the south of France to grapple with his troubled past—a neglected upbringing, failed romances, the recent demolition of his life’s work in academia, and even witnessing genocide, among other secrets. But he soon learns that he has much larger problems when an adrift MI6 officer, Adeline Parker, calls and insists on a meeting, revealing shocking information about his family. Then a bomb explodes.

William and Adeline narrowly escape the attempt on their lives and find themselves battling a group of neofascists and extreme nationalists who are inciting violent divisions across Europe. They are pulled into a shadowy war against a cabal called the Strasbourg Executive and pushed to the brink by family betrayals, corrupt institutions, and the Executive’s subversive plots against the fabric of Western society.

To survive, William must make tough decisions and act in ways he could’ve never previously imagined—but even that might not be enough.

Perfect for fans of Dan Brown and Jack Carr

Excerpt The Review

A history professor finds himself drawn into an international espionage incident of epic proportions.

The Underhanded by Adam Sikes ties a group of prominent rich men to unrest in 19th-century Europe. Reports indicate an increase in activity tied to the group in the present day. It’s not until an MI6 agent reaches out to Professor William Dresden that he realizes the connection between his research and current events.

Told in the first person, Dresden details his fateful meeting with Adeline Parker and their narrow escape from a bomb. He must trust Parker as they take on a group used to operating in the shadows.

For Dresden, it proves to be challenging because he has no roadmap for what is happening. The unveiling of past secrets creates an incredible story arc as the typically unflappable professor learns more about his own family.

The Underhanded delivers a fast-paced political thriller with memorable characters fighting against evil. Buy Links

About The Author Adam Sikes is a novelist, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Silver Star recipient, and former CIA paramilitary officer who has lived and served around the world, with combat tours in the Balkans, Iraq, and elsewhere in the Middle East. He has also operated in Central Asia, East Africa, and Europe. He is the author of Landslide, and in addition to writing fiction, Adam co-authored Open Skies: My Life as Afghanistan’s First Female Pilot. The Underhanded is his latest novel. Adam holds an M.A. in Global, International, and Comparative History from Georgetown University and resides in Southern California.