Middle-Eastern Intrigue Comes to Connecticut: The Unwilling Pawn by Vaughn Keller

A convincing and gripping read, with engaging characters, a well-developed plot, and insight into the international forces that place a visiting student from Turkey in danger from religious fanatics, "The Unwilling Pawn" by Vaughn Keller has a lot going for it. A midlife career change has vaulted our hero, Frank Kelly, a widower with two young adult children, into the security business when his company takes on the job with big international implications. The cloistered, immature son of a major Turkish political player has come to study law in a university just outside of New Haven. But radical backers of a movement to turn Turkey into a so-called Islamic republic are threatening the boy's safety as a means to put pressure on his father, a supporter of a strongly secular Turkish state. Among his book's strengths are Keller's realistic portrayals of the Kelly family dynamics as Frank Kelly's children try to keep their 'old man' out of trouble, while getting as deeply involved as they can. A cast of sympathetic characters enrich a closely narrated procedural thriller as Kelly's security team plays cat and mouse with a shadowy terror-team whose moves can only be guessed at . When expert assistance on political and religious currents in contemporary Turkey are provided by an intriguing woman with an unusual past (no spoilers!), Frank's life becomes still more interesting. But despite the good interpersonal vibes, when their Turkish playboy unwisely slips his leash and exposes himself to his enemies, we're plunged into a fast-paced, high-risk race to save a life and prevent an international crisis. After finishing this book, I'm looking forward to the future adventures of savvy security specialist Frank Kelly and company.
A personal note: For this reader, the greater New Haven setting, extending to the quiet woods of Sleeping Giant Park, setting brought back nostalgic memories.