The Black Hand

by Andrew Stack

What if America's future came down to a "Dream Team" of twelve men, three women and a single word? After the murders of seven NBA All-Stars on the return flight from the 2020 Summer Olympics, a small clandestine team as diverse as America, must save the country from itself. On August 9th, 2020, the world is celebrating the close of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo Japan. The date of the closing ceremonies was chosen to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki. But a domestic terrorism group in the U.S. calling itself the Crna Ruka (Bosnian for The Black Hand), chose the date August 9th to attack America in remembrance of a different day in history. The sixth anniversary of the riots in Ferguson, Missouri. The group chose the name the Crna Ruka for its legacy of success in causing international chaos. For it was the same name selected by a group of Bosnian Serbs in 1914. It was this group who was responsible for the assassination of a royal figure that ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I and the loss of 20 million lives. The story of August 9th, 2020 is told through the lens of a presidential briefing one year later on August 9th, 2021. The "8/9 Commission" provides a narrated and interactive account of the people, places and social dynamics behind the attacks. Sara Gujic, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist from St. Louis, leads the 8/9 Commission. Gujic, a survivor of the Bosnian Wars of the mid-90's, presents a compelling chronicle as members of Congress, the National Security Council and the American people listen and watch. Gujic is not only the storyteller, she is a member of The Black Hand. Three iconic American cities play outsized roles as the backdrop for this compelling thriller set in the very near future. Its oldest, most powerful and deadliest. St. Augustine, Florida, Washington, DC and St. Louis, Missouri. The team of American heroes assembled to eliminate the threat of the Crna Ruka has no collective experience in counter-terrorism operations. However, the field leader of this team is the deputy director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis. He has access to intelligence and experience to lead his team to success. He and his best friend, a combat veteran with a tragic past, form this hodgepodge of a team based on solely on the histories and destinies of their two families. In the end, The Black Hand, is first and foremost a story about language; interpretations, misinterpretations, titles, honorifics, code names, nicknames and slurs. Even a single solitary word and that word's legacy and currency are vital in determining the future of America. The Black Hand is a commercial thriller of 103,000 words.

326 pages, Hardcover

Published June 8, 2020

Reviews

[John Winkelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the tremendous fortune of reading an advanced copy of this manuscript. It is a compelling story, filled with interesting characters and twists that keep the pages turning. I gave this book five stars because I really liked it and recommend it especially for those who enjoy a thriller novel, not just because I have known the author since my elementary school days. Great job Andy!

[Carol Kern · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not the typical genre of book I would read. Too much violence and death for me. The book did hold my interest and had some definite surprises and twists. I would recommend the book to others who like more action and thrillers.

[Rick Gehrke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, entertaining, and informative

I read this book twice, back to back, first because it was that good and second because the revelations at the end piqued my curiosity to find out what I'd missed the first time through. Having a background in military intelligence and linguistics, Middle East/North Africa operations, I found the terrorism and counter-terrorism aspects of The Black Hand engaging from the start. "Ripped from the Headlines" is becoming a cliche in some circles, but in this case, it's right on point. The author's background in that theater and awareness of today's sociopolitical environment bring an engaging and well-informed projection of what could be, based on history and the trajectory of current events. The Black Hand also provides some very blunt and, in my mind, non-partisan challenges for readers to question their thoughts and positions on serious and universal topics such as the history of slavery and racism in America, reparations, gender discrimination, sexual orientation, the beneficial and adverse impacts of social media, loyalty, duty, war, and sacrifice. The characters appear and feel genuine, with good dialogue and an appropriate level of humor given the gravity of the book's subjects. Once the characters and setting are established, the story moves along at a satisfying pace, with plenty of action and good visualization of scenes. The Black Hand is a well-balanced mix of story and education, and I found myself researching many of its topics online as I read the book. Bottom line and recommendation: a worthy read!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to start with this review. My mother reads a lot of spy books and political thrillers and when I was first telling her about this book she said "That sounds like something I would read!" And now I totally understand why she likes them so much. The story and the details were amazing! The plot had so many twists and turns that you couldn't figure out if you were coming or going. At the end of each chapter, I'd think "Where is this going next?!" This definitely isn't one of those books where you get halfway through and you have it all figured out. Even with 20 pages left to go, I was still being surprised.

I also love that the book is taking place in our current timeline. Although political parties are left out (not know who is on which "side"), you can definitely tell that bits and pieces were based on real life. And being from Florida, I did love that one of the main characters is from St. Augustine and that other places in the state are mentioned in the book. It just made the whole story seem more familiar.

[John Scheck · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uncannily prescient look into the near future of America as it comes to terms with racism. This fast-paced thriller will take you on a ride and a history lesson of how racism was literally built into the American man-made landscape and the roots of the conflict that became WWI. Don’t worry about having your eyes glaze over from the lecture as there is enough action between the covers to make you welcome the insights.

I happen to be good friends with the author and have been since our days together serving int the U.S.A.F. Andy is one of those guys who excels at anything and everything he does. When his focus turned towards writing a novel, I had no doubt that he would succeed.

[CHRISTIE THOMPSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hard to put down and cost me some sleep, but was well worth it! The interesting characters, twisting intrigue, and unique storyline woven around actual historical events manifested into a great read. Looking forward to another by Andrew Stack.

[D. Lampsha · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are better thrillers out there

[Ike Horst · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this up yesterday. The author is unsavory, and I certainly felt pressured by him to buy this book. So far, nothing impressive

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like I just read a made-for-military, EO movie. Or perhaps a military "after school special" with every sexual orientation, race, gender, etc. represented. Writing from a female perspective is not this author's strong suit, and as a female and a Veteran, I'm a little offended.