The Maltese Attack is an epic tale of star-crossed lovers set against the backdrop of political ambitions, corporate rivalries, and warring nations. Written by Jay Perin and set in the 1970s, the book follows childhood friends turned lovers Lilah and Harry as they maneuver their way across a volatile Libya to reach a haven in Egypt and escape their captors. After the untimely death of her parents, Lilah and her twin Daniel find themselves pressured into being adopted into the home of billionaire Andrew Barrons. Additionally, Lilah's trip to Libya to visit Harry ends up in disaster, as the duo is captured by kidnappers, whose affiliations seem unpredictable. Lilah and Harry must now use their wits and resilience to survive and seek a safe haven.

A gripping tale filled with twists and turns, The Maltese Attack feels like an entertaining rollercoaster all the way through. Jay Perin's intricately woven political thriller instantly grabs your attention with an engaging plot, sympathetic characters, and an absorbing narrative. The plot moves quickly, and the author uses multiple POV switches to showcase the different factions involved within the story. Jay Perin doesn't shy away from showcasing violence in vivid detail, and the action sequences feel gritty and realistic. I enjoyed the political intrigue in the story where the motives of the politicians felt always hidden. The likes of Sanders and even Temple, to some extent, seemed to cleverly maneuver their pawns into doing their bidding, not unlike the politicians of the real world. I enjoyed The Maltese Attack and would readily recommend it.

Set in 1973, The Maltese Attack by Jay Perin depicts three families subjected to oil wars, terrorism, and political games. Gaddafi, the Libyan dictator, denies the kidnapping of the sixteen-year-old daughter (Lilah) of the former US Special Envoy to the Middle East and her friend, Harry. However, his government refuses to let American personnel conduct a search within the country’s borders. As a US senator, Temple had known the political situation of the country was unstable and warned the families of the victims to find safety, but they had refused to sacrifice profit to battle evil. Though Lilah and Harry had grown up together, something romantic brews between them. However, their newfound feelings are tested as they face kidnapping, starvation, and many life-threatening and violent situations. Will Lilah and Harry get through their nightmare in one piece?

The fast-paced narrative takes you through hair-raising scenes and plots about escaping captivity in a foreign country, with explosives and armed forces waiting at every turn. Jay Perin's characters are quite unique and memorable. Lilah's determination to stick to her desires and goals and not compromise her dignity was greatly inspiring. The secrets and political games between governments and oil companies are neatly and expertly embedded in the plot for readers to unravel throughout the course of the story. There are simply no boring moments! A few scenes depict sexual abuse—not in detail—and killing. Readers who love international, political thrillers loaded with dangerous scenarios, and unforeseeable twists would enjoy The Maltese Attack.

The Maltese Attack is a work of fiction in the political thriller subgenre. It is suitable for all ages and was penned by author Jay Perin. The book follows Senator Temple, a man with his hands full of political intrigue both at home and abroad. As he realizes that an error in his past has left the door open for corruption to seep into the world’s energy sector, he must rely on a shifting landscape of loyalties and power as three dynasties offer aid but at a cost. The book follows these families as their fragile alliance attempts to hold up world peace.

Author Jay Perin has delivered an intense and arresting political thriller, filled with action and suspense from start to finish. One of my favorite things about this novel was the rich and diverse cast of characters. I particularly enjoyed the budding romance that developed between Harry and Lilah, which added a refreshing break from the grittier and more intense scenes within the book. The varied cast of characters, all with a broad range of pasts and backgrounds, really highlighted the class differences and tension and added to the realism in this book. The Maltese Attack is laced with romance, intrigue, and division but shows, despite the things that divide us, there are plenty of things that unite us too. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to fans of political thrillers, and fans of strong, character-driven stories that will keep you engaged from the very first page.