Afghanistan: where friends look like enemies and enemies pose as friends.

Everyone in Uruzgan province, from street vendors to the American military, relies on Security Day: a weekly convoy under the command of the vicious warlord, General Mir Hamza Khan, protecting supply trucks from Taliban attacks as they cross the Kandahar desert. Security Day has made General Khan the uncrowned king of Afghanistan but American withdrawal threatens his reign.

Rookie intelligence agent Dan Bing arrives in country eager to prove himself, but he quickly finds himself shut out when he runs afoul of the emotionally unstable American commander who is fooled by General Khan’s lies. Dan instead finds an unlikely ally in Toor Jan, a loving family man turned spy with deep ties to the Taliban.

General Khan, Dan, and Toor Jan tangle in a tense and surprising tale of espionage, betrayal, deadly vanity and mercy that climaxes into the world’s most dangerous game of survival.

Based on a true story, readers call Security Day “very different and exciting—a spy and adventure story teeming with vivid, memorable characters” that is “one of those books you can’t put down.”

Targeted Age Group:: Adults

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
This novel is based on my own real life experience in Afghanistan as a spy handler and interrogator with Special Operations.

I wasn't an operator. Or a shooter, or a soldier, or an infantryman. Not a grunt. My job was to meet and talk to people—sometimes under adverse conditions—and build rapport. Rapport was drilled into us during training, even for interrogations.

A good interrogation isn't based on power, or fear, or "torture." At the core it's about connection and—though some would call this "falling in love with your source"—empathy.

Because I wasn't doing the shooting part of war, I truly got to know Afghans and the way they viewed the world. I felt an affinity with their ancient values: love your family, honor the elders, protect our village against all comers. An encounter with reality that stark and clear alters your life. If war can make anyone a better person, then I am a better person for knowing them.

Security Day is dedicated to the Afghans who, whatever their reasons, helped us.

[Read more…] about Security Day by Matt Cricchio