Dark Waters

Raisa Jordan Thriller #1

by Chris Goff

Raisa "Rae" Jordan, an agent for the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, isn't in Israel for more than a day before her predecessor is killed in a Tel Aviv square. Assigned to investigate the assassination of one of her own, she must also protect Judge Ben Taylor and his teenage daughter. They may be the sniper's next target and are most certainly being threatened by a desperate cadre of terrorists with their sights set on the Secretary of State's upcoming visit. But is an attack on the Secretary of State all that they have planned or is that just the beginning?

There are no protocols for this kind of a situation, and following the rules is exactly the kind of thing that could get the Taylors killed. To subvert an attack that could crush the fledgling peace in the Middle East, Jordan must trust her instincts and bring together a contentious team of agents from Israel, the U.S., and the Palestinian territories to uncover a conspiracy years in the making.

With millions of lives hanging in the balance, Dark Waters , Chris Goff's explosive new thriller, is a series debut that mirrors global headlines and will have you frantically turning pages.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Adult

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2015

About the author

Chris Goff is the award-winning author of an international thriller series and the Birdwatcher's Mystery series.

Her mysteries have been Finalists for the prestigious Willa Literary Award for Best Original Paperback Fiction and the Colorado Authors' League Award for Genre Fiction. In 2002, Goff was Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Writer of the Year. Her most recent Birdwatcher's Mystery, A PARLIAMENT OF OWLS (May 2016) is set on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, Colorado.

In recent news, Sharpe Books has re-released the Birdwatcher's Mystery series in the US and UK. Keep your eye out for promotions.


She is also the author of two international Thrillers. RED SKY, the second in her international thriller series is set in Ukraine and Asia, where Agent Raisa Jordan tests the boundaries of diplomacy as she races to prevent the start of a new Cold War. RED SKY was a 2018 Colorado Book Award Finalist.

The first in the series, DARK WATERS was a Finalist for a 2016 Colorado Authors' League-Genre Fiction Award, a 2016 Colorado Book Award in theThriller category and a 2016 Anthony Award for Best Crime Fiction Audiobook, .

Here's what some of her colleagues had to say:

"Great characters, action and location--altogether terrific."
-- Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Whip-smart, informed, and tightly woven...Chris Goff crushes the genre in her debut effort."
— Mark Sullivan, #1 New York Times Bestselling co-author of Private L.A. and Thief

Goff has also published six books in her bestselling Birdwatcher's Mystery series, which have been nominated for two WILLA Literary Awards, a Colorado Author's League Award, and published internationally.The sixth book in the series, A Parliament of Owls, was released in May 2016.

A former journalist, Goff began her career writing non-fiction for several local newspapers in Summit County, Colorado, as well as articles for regional and national publication. She later edited rock and ice-climbing guides for Chockstone Press, and worked in graphic production for “Living the Good News,” a division of The Morehouse Publishing Group. She teaches writing workshops at writer's conferences, is a long-standing member of multiple writing organizations, and has served on several local, regional and national boards, including Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bullets fly, while a very ill young girl and her father witness two murders in an exchange gone wrong, drawing in two fierce women warriors who must band together in a battle against time in this fascinating novel of conspiracy, murder, politics, hidden agendas and terrorism that smacks of reality.

[LadyTechie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely phenomenal! I have a new go-to author. I will read whatever Chris Goff writes I think. I received an e-Arc via the publisher, Crooked Lane Books - Penguin Books in exchange for an honest review. I am a bit behind with reviewing titles due to work and previously working on my dissertation. I truly loved Dark Waters. I will always dig in to read a great thriller that has special forces from Israel or really from anywhere really. Throw in two kick-ass women that lead the story and I am all in.

Jordan is Russian but was mostly raised in the U.S. where she works as an agent for the government. She has been recently stationed in Israel where she is replacing an agent who needs to return to the U.S. immediately, however, it appears he was not being truthful and he is involved in something so deadly that when the shooting starts it appears a judge and his daughter who are visiting Israel from the U.S. are the targets. There actually are no shortages of targets in that plaza when the shooting starts. Not to mention an Israeli agent who is on the scene for her own reasons that are just as deadly. It is not quite clear who started the shooting, who the actual target is, and what the reason is for the assassination, but, Jordan, who is quite intelligent, and learns that she can be just as deadly when she is assigned assets for protection. What Jordan uncovers is a plot that is far reaching and really a plot within a plot that really kept me enthralled. I am really looking forward to the next book, i.e., Red Sky by Chris Goff. The review can also be seen at LadyTechie’s Book Musings ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspot.com.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good thriller! There's quite a bit of action, and there's much to be said for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the thick of the story is Agent Raisa Jordan. This is not my usual type of suspense. I think I got this in a book shipment. So glad I read it because now I want to know more about Raisa in the next book.

[S. Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great feeling for the setting in Israel. Absorbing read. Raisa Jordan is a great character. I would have liked to know more about Ganani, who I found to be as interesting as Jordan. I liked that the author tried to balance the political reality in Israel and portrays a very real danger to Israel from the ultra orthodox who are rapidly increasing.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read most of Goff's Bird Mysteries, seeing her dive into a thriller seemed like she was heading into the deep end of the pool (with the likes of Thor, Flynn, Child). This was not a bad start, and I liked the fact that 99 percent of it took place in/around Israel, especially Tel Aviv.

The story seemed a little far-fetched at times, especially with the abilities of the main character, who was portrayed as a newbie with the Diplomatic Security Service. One of the other main characters, Ben, was a former Navy Seal, but did not come across as very sure of himself.

There were some fast-paced action scenes, and some building dialogue of characters, so it wasn't a constant go-go-go type of thriller.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as American security agent Risa Jordon arrives arrives in Israel, the agent she is replacing is killed in an apparent intelligence exchange. She is tasked with guarding a US federal judge and his daughter when they are targeted by a terrorist group on the eve of a visit by the Secretary of State. With a mole in Israel's intelligence network the story turns into a real thriller.

[Lisa Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot—it had a lot of information about the Middle East that wasn’t straight out of Wikipedia, and the characters all seemed like real people. I don’t read a lot of spy stories, but this was more than flash and bang. I liked Raisa a lot and wonder what will happen in the next book. And I definitely want to know more about Ganani even if I’m not sure I like her.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raisa Jordan in newly assigned to Israel just in time to find herself in the middle of a massive terrorist threat. Things start slow. She finds herself assigned to protect US Federal Court Judge Ben Taylor who is in Israel getting a non-traditional medical treatment for his seriously ill eleven-year-old daughter. Despite being the targets of Palestinians who want something he or his daughter has, he refuses to leave until the medical treatments are over.

Taylor and his daughter can't be sheltered in the embassy either because the embassy is gearing up for a visit by the Secretary of State. That leaves Raisa and a small group of Marines to protect Taylor and his daughter Lucy.

This is formatted like the usual thriller. At the beginning, each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a different character. The main characters here are Raisa, Ben Taylor, Ganani who works for the Israeli Secret Service under the command of the mysterious Colonel Brodsky, and a Palestinian reluctantly drafted into the PLC named Haddid. Their stories are woven together into a fast-paced thriller made more complex by the twisted politics of the Middle East.

Raisa is hampered by bosses who seem to be more concerned with covering their own butts than preventing terrorist attacks which has her teaming up with Ganani who has come to distrust her boss, Taylor who will do anything to protect his daughter, and a Marine who is a former computer hacker if the terrorist plot against both Israel and Palestine is to be thwarted.

We learn something of Raisa's background - both her immediate background and when she was a child - but there are still mysteries to be solved. She is a great character - smart, fluent in a number of languages, trained in martial arts, and with the resolution to kill if it is necessary. I look forward to reading more of her adventures.

[Christine Zibas · Rating 5 out of 5]

In what appears to be a new series based on the US Diplomatic Security Service, Author Chris Goff introduces readers to Agent Raisa Jordan. Just installed in her post in Israel, Jordan finds herself dealing with the murder of her predecessor (who's supposed to be back in the States already). There's suspicion he was trading secrets with the Palestinians, but what secrets and why?

Key eye witnesses (and perhaps targets) are an American judge (a former SEAL) and his sick daugher, whom he has brought to Israel for medical treatment. Is the judge a target as well? While the operation was interrupted in progress, both the Israelis and the Americans believe that the trouble isn't over yet. The US Secretary of State is due for a visit and presents a real opportunity for the Palestinians to disrupt the peace process as a result.

Soon Jordan finds she doesn't know who she can trust, as everyone seems to have an alternate agenda. As a result, her life and work become a lot more hostile. Add to that the increasing tension of the arrival of the Secretary of State and a lack of communication by the Israelis (who don't want to share intel), and Jodan increasingly finds herself operating on the fly with an ever-changing game plan.

Her own history comes into play when her work intersects with that of an Israeli intelligence supervisor. That part of the story is more obscure, and the author clearly uses that carrot to dangle before readers at the end of this thriller, implying there will be more books to come. This is a solid, well told story from a unique perspective (an agent with the Diplomatic Security Service), but the author cheats her readers a bit just at the end, when she leaves too many questions unanswered.


Review first appeared on ReviewingtheEvidence.com.

[Bob Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've rated this 3 stars, its close to a 4. The blurb on the book's cover says this is the author's first thriller. She has written other mystery books. I haven't read any of those. This book introduces a female agent who is dealing with a shooting in Tel Aviv, an American tourists and his ill daughter, a female agent from the Israeli version of the FBI and a collection of Palestinian terrorists who are conducting a plot against Israel.

Goff has created two credible female characters who are able to carry the action scenes is a believable manner. I found the secondary female character more interesting than the main character. The plot is credible enough, although I thought the final part where the heroine enters a water processing plant was a little too much for me. The villains are good enough to present a threat. The action scenes are plentiful and well done. There's a character who's a faith healer who is treating the ill daughter. I found that to be distracting from the plot. The story is full of Tel Aviv and surrounding areas of the city. I enjoyed those descriptions and the writing about the people who live there.

The ultimate plot point doesn't become clear until you're well into the book. I thought that was a problem because it gave her fewer pages to build up the suspense in dealing with it. I think its preferable to put the "big threat" out at the beginning and then work slowly toward its solution.
I purchased this book based solely on an endorsement by Lee Child on its front. I understand the author is accomplished and trying to break into another genre and good luck to her on that effort. If I ran into the second in this series on sale (like I did this one) I'd be likely to buy it.

[Bruce Most · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Israel-set international thriller Dark Waters begins with a bang, literally, and the pace doesn’t let up from there. A debut thriller by Chris Goff, who writes a series of bird-watching mysteries, she proves her chops in a crowded genre. The book focuses primarily on two tough women, Raisa “Rae” Jordan, an agent for the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, and hard-as-nails Batya Ganani, who works for the Israeli version of the FBI. Jordan especially gets our attention because she has personal and professional issues in a genre too often populated by stock macho heroes. Nothing, of course, is ever simple in thrillers. Jordan barely arrives in Israel to protect an American federal judge and his daughter when her predecessor is murdered in a crowded Tel Aviv square—a predecessor who was supposed to have returned home to the United States. The murder in the square may be a prelude to a terrorist plot that could shatter fragile peace efforts. To thwart the plot, Jordan must assemble a contentious team: the antagonistic Batya Ganani, a U.S. and Israeli agents, and Palestinians. Writing thrillers set in the Middle East is always dicey in light of the explosive politics, but I thought Goff deftly maneuvered the shoals with a well-balanced approach to conflicting agendas. I’m definitely looking forward to the her next thriller.
Bruce Most is author of Murder on the Tracks and other mysteries

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Dark Waters, Christine Goff takes readers on a thrilling ride that will leave you breathless. Steeped in the history of the region and the political turmoil of Israel, Dark Waters will keep you guessing, turning pages, and constantly reminding yourself to breathe. Raisa Jordon is the kind of character I love, tough and complicated, brave and smart. This is a terrific opening for what I hope will be a long series.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gripping thriller following a US Diplomatic Security Service agent's investigation of complex Palestinian-Israeli terrorism in Tel Aviv.
Honestly - I almost gave it 3 stars (explained later), but I bumped it up to 4 for several reasons.
It is very well constructed: the plot/action kept me turning pages even when I had other things I needed to do.
The writing itself is well-crafted and descriptive in a very complicated story line. The descriptions of the Israeli/Palestinian locations and some of the religious, political & historical viewpoints and conflicts are compelling and to a neophyte to these things seem very believable and eye-opening - enough so that I now want to learn more real details about the issues there.
Also, I understand that this author has written cozy mysteries (which I have not read), but this is her first go at a serious thriller, which is a very different genre and may be a good fit for her. She deserves one book to solve the problems I noticed, which may turn out to be learning curve bumps, and didn't interfere with the suspense.
For me those problems were mostly character issues. Ben Taylor, the Federal Judge and former SEAL, seemingly sophisticated with high political connections, should know a lot about protecting people and reacting to volatile & dangerous situations. But he keeps acting like a dolt on that score, and his deep concern for his sick daughter should have made him more cautious, not less so.
Our heroine Raisa, the new US Asst. RSO in Tel Aviv, has a boss who is a biased ass, so unwilling to listen to a smart experienced agent's informed assessments that it's impossible to believe he has risen to his current post. Surely he would have suffered so many losses by not paying attention to important information and assessments, he would have been demoted.
Then there is the child's Israeli faith healer doctor, a former Russian. In an already extremely complicated plot, the weird faith healer bit seemed gratuitously complicated. All the same plot goals could be accomplished by simply making her a skilled Russian-Israeli Dr. with a medical specialty in the child's disease.
I also thought the contentiousness between Ben and his ex-wife was largely irrelevant, and not needed for the plot.
In spite of the issues with character details , I really look forward to seeing how the second book in this series deals with some of the problems I saw in this one. Hopefully, unnecessary & unrealistic complications in characters, and plot, will be tempered, while keeping the depth of excitement, description and suspense, leading to a really compelling series going forward.

[Elizabeth Kral · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased Dark Waters at The Poisoned Pen book store in Scottsdale, AZ, when the author, Chris Goff, appeared there on three-author panel in December 2017.

The setting on the border of Israel and Palestine took me to tourist sites down alleys, and through neighborhoods. The well-developed plot kept me guessing about which characters would die and which would live (but, of course, Raisa Jordan lives because she's the star of the already advertised coming series). Yea, another book to come!

Chris Goff's writing is spot on: understandable dialogue, clear narrative, and pacing that wouldn't let me even consider not reading to the end.

The back cover clearly warns of a political theme. I found it facinating.

[Joyce Hertzoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent thriller from mystery writer Chris Goff. Raisa Jordan arrives in Israel to take over for another diplomatic security agent and immediately becomes involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict when her predecessor is shot along with a Palestinian. Witnessing the event are an American federal judge Ben Taylor and his Lucy, who’s in Israel for non-traditional treatment. There are also an Israeli sniper Ganani, another Palestinian Haddid, and assorted member of the police and diplomatic corp. The action is fast-moving, but allows the growth of the characters. The author said at the conference where I bought this book that her daughter convinced her to travel to Israel and her trip inspired the book.

[Patricia Stoltey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Waters is a top-notch international thriller, well-researched and well-written. I love the Raisa Jordan character who tries to uncover the truth behind her father's past while still doing her job, sometimes in spite of the leaders who don't always wish her to follow through on missions. Going rogue (in a good way) seems to be her way of getting things done, so there's plenty of danger to keep the tension level high and keep us turning the pages.

[Jeananne Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good thriller, I enjoyed the setting in Israel and a lot of the fast paced action.
I do think the author could have done a little more to have this as a stand alone book- I want to read the second in the series because the first was so good - not because the first book doesn't answer questions.

[Nakul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of your seat thriller with marvelous fact and opinion about the Israel Palestine conflict. Great geographic, geopolitical and location detail makes you feel vested in the issues and terrain. I will stay tuned for the next book in this series.

[Buddy Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and it’s the first in a series with this protagonist. The setting is Israel, which has so many complexities that it makes for a natural for a thrilling story.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book got a lot of 5 stars but I found it difficult to follow in some spots. Maybe too many characters, difficult names.. Not sure, but it was an ok story, good enough that I want to read the next book.

[Emily Grieser · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little hard to follow the plot for me, but the farther into the story I read, the more interesting it got. The ending was exciting. Character personalities could have been more flushed out and original.

[Cindie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere between a 2 and 3. Nothing extraordinary, but I am left wanting to read the next installment, if there is one...

[Karli Sherwinter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook and found it a little difficult to follow the action sequences.

[DeeAnn Jeschke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me up at night listening. It was a great story but also interesting to read about life in Israel.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written thriller. Good action, good locations, good character development. Definitely would recommend this book. Plenty of meat on the bones.

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good for a 1st on a series, It was tense right up to the last page. I for a democratic secular Palestine, this was a book that really didn’t take sides.

[Kay Churgel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating- 3.6

[Steve Gross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pedestrian and silly.

[Military Writers Society of America (MWSA)]

MWSA Review

Dark Waters by Chris Goff is an intricate thriller which keeps the reader guessing to the very end. Set in Israel and the West Bank, the action keeps us moving as Diplomatic Security Services Agent Raisa Jordan works to protect her American charges while unraveling a terrorist plot scheduled to coincide with peace talks in the region. Arrayed against her are a boss concerned mainly with his own career, a coworker who despises her, Israeli Shin Bet agents, Palestinians, ultra-conservative Jews, and terrorists bent on disrupting the region. Add a Russian spy, a traitor among the Israeli police, and the U.S. Marines and we have the makings of a read that will keep you turning pages.

Goff’s setting in Israel provides the reader with fresh vistas and colorful descriptions as the characters race from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to Bethlehem to Tiberias and finally to the Sea of Galilee. The complex plot is woven around a wealth of information regarding the political, cultural, and religious turmoil that seems to constantly fester in the region. A strong, smart, and capable female cast add to the fun of the twisty plot and evolving relationships as Raisa finds support in unexpected places.

Review by Betsy Beard (March 2019)

[Once Upon a Romance Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars
Sexual Content: Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Moderate/Intense
The story starts off with a bang, US judge and his 11-year old daughter, who have just been having the usual morning argument about whether that coach bag (pink of course!) is really worth delaying seeing a fantastic fountain display in the center of Tel Aviv, need to seek cover behind a wall because people ar having their throats slashed and shots are being fired.

This is the start of Chris Goof’s first thriller and there is no slowing down after this. The story plays in Israel and has an international angle since not only is the US judge being targeted by Palestinian terrorists, but the Secretary of State is also due for a visit and now with possible target galore, Raissa Jordan, newly assigned to work security for the US Embassy in Israel needs to be figure out how to prioritize her effort to defend US assets and who really her enemies are here.

Turns out that the US judge is in Israel to seek treatment for his daughter, something hinted on early on, but really developing later since the good judge refuses to leave the country and get to a safe location as long as his daughter’s treatment is not finished. Raissa must deal with strong characters everywhere who are determined to not cooperate. The judge and his daughter are one target, but are they the main target? Raissa has few helpers in this tumultuous period. One of them has a very similar character and job, Batya works for the Israeli federal policy force. It is up to these two strong-willed women to do the heavy lifting in this story, diplomatically navigating around the bureaucracy that can be a hindrance and nuisance and use intuition, but also learned skills in how to handle advanced weapons technology to keep the US targets safe and sort out who is enemy and who is friend in the usual foggy landscape that sees to be the present Middle East.

Chris Goff manages to write a fast paced book that is the first book of a series focused on Raissa Jordan. Using women as central figures in the modern spy game is still unusual, but the author manages to write a story that seem realistic and still manages to deserve the name thriller.

-- EVA