State Of Fear by Tim Ayliffe

Publisher's Synopsis

Catching the world's most wanted terrorist was supposed to be someone else's job...

John Bailey has a history of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The former war correspondent has been kidnapped and tortured – twice. Finally he’s living something that resembles a normal life. But all that changes when a terrorist murders a woman in front of Bailey in London.

The mastermind behind the attack is Mustafa al-Baghdadi – No.1 on the FBI’s most wanted list – and the man who tortured Bailey in Fallujah a decade ago.

Mustafa has a deadly axe to grind with Bailey. He taunts him with threats of more attacks in other cities, closer to home. Back in Sydney, the people who matter most to Bailey have become targets.

Bailey turns to the only man who can help – ruthless CIA veteran Ronnie Johnson – to bring down the world’s most deadly terrorist.

My Review of State of Fear by Tim Ayliffe

State of Fear is the second book by Tim Ayliffe featuring journalist John Bailey. Although the second book in the series, this is the first one that I’ve read and I had no trouble picking up the essence of the guy and his fight against multiple demons, not the least of which in this case are terrorists and terrorism.

As a journalist Bailey has served time in Iraq and Afghanistan where he not only reported on the action but also became a part of it. He was captured and tortured by Islamic fundamentalists, These days he’s a recovering alcoholic and still suffers nightmares from his hellish past.

Now back in Sydney, Australia, his former driver from Baghdad, Omar Haneef has tracked him down. Omar’s son has disappeared and he’s convinced the 15 year old boy has been radicalised. He has turned to Bailey as the only man he trusts to help him track down and save his son.

On the one hand, Bailey is just a journalist. On the other, he has access to some serious contacts that take him to another level. His girlfriend, Sharon Dexter is a Detective Chief Inspector with the NSW Police and his housemate is the huge (and very enigmatic) ex-CIA agent Ronnie Johnson. With these assets he has the ways and means to get the sort of access unavailable to your average Joe. 

Oh yeah, on top of all the rest, one of the most wanted men in the world, terrorist leader Mustafa al-Baghdadi has made contact with Bailey too. Mustafa has a personal vendetta dating back to the kidnapping in Mosul and intends on following through on an ‘eye for an eye’ threat.

So, essentially, Bailey works in some kind of uneasy tandem operation with the police to try to find young Tariq Haneef. Is he really radicalised? Is there a believable threat of an impending terror attack on Sydney? Can Bailey really do anything to avert the threat?

This is an action thriller that has become something of the modern-day norm with the threat of terrorism creating an unpredictable and difficult to fight enemy. With numerous confrontations, knife attacks, bombings, tactical operations shootouts and terror cell raids, the action is relentless. 

Similarly, despite all sorts of injuries, Bailey manages to continue to put himself in the middle of that action. Not bad for a guy with no fight training.

Although he suffers numerous physical injuries and appears to soldier on manfully, it’s the mental side where he really takes a battering. And this is where we get access to the true character of the man enabling a deeper understanding and compassion for him. He is clearly sitting right on the edge as he constantly battles with his alcoholism, while also holding grave fears for the safety of his closest friends and family (that whole eye for an eye threat).

Part of the territory with any good action thriller is the suspension of disbelief that’s necessary to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Ayliffe provides a really good ride with State of Fear.