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The Identity Factor - James Houston Turner
The Identity Factor
James Houston Turner
Aria Publishers
ISBN: 9780958666411
Reviewed By Marian Jeffords
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
The year is 1919. English explorer Sir Edmund George Clayton leads an expedition of four Bedouin porters across the Sinai Peninsula in search of the dwelling place of the Biblical Ishmael, son of Abraham. What has compelled Clayton to make such a trek? The hopes of finding key evidence to either prove or disprove one of the oldest assertions made in the Bible, whose lasting implications serve as the foundation of modern-day theological belief.
Much to his surprise, Clayton finds exactly what he's looking for - but his time exploring the object further is cut drastically short: he is soon killed by greedy thieves seeking to profit from his discovery, and the invaluable piece of history is soon lost in a wasteland of lies, deceit, and corruption.
Fast forward to the present day: Abu Nazer, the world's most dangerous - and elusive - terrorist has launched a full-scale operation to obtain Clayton's mystery object, seeking the upper hand it will give him once its true contents are revealed. For you see, like the object, Nazer's true identity remains unknown, and the mystery enshrouding both him and his desired target sets the international community astir with worry and trepidation. Just as determined as Nazer is to gain the power concomitant with ownership of Clayton's object, the intelligence community is resolved to do whatever it takes to keep it out of his hands forever.
What follows is enough plot twists, red herrings, and misdirection to render even the sharpest lovers of suspense thoroughly bewildered. As his convoluted tale proceeds, Turner does a fantastic job of introducing new characters and situations at just the right times, leading you to wonder just how/why you were so sure of something that was inevitably proven false - over and over again. For all its changes of direction and prolonged suspense, Turner's tale will leave you in a bemused state reminiscent of that of The Da Vinci Code.
Perhaps the strongest attribute of The Identity Factor, though, is the absolute masterful way that Turner combines so many disparate elements to tell a unified, perfectly balanced story. Such skillful storytelling is indicative of a profound imagination rife with just the right amounts of substance and flair, adept at turning a story on its ear and holding your interest captive until you just can't take it anymore.
I must admit that I wasn't much of a fan of the mystery/suspense genre before, but after reading Turner's flawless tale consider me a new convert. With tight prose and even tighter action, The Identity Factor is a highly recommended read for anyone wondering just how the government really works outside the halls of Congress and the White House. In fact, in order to so expertly put together such a detailed, intricate tale of intrigue, one can't help wondering if Turner himself may not actually be who he claims he is...
Official Apex Reviews Interview: James Houston Turner (The Identity Factor)
AR: James, thanks for joining us for this interview. Thanks also for allowing us to review The Identity Factor. We can't wait to hear more about it.
With all its plot twists and skillful misdirection, how in the world did you put this book together?
JHT: It began when I stumbled onto the "key" of the construction of Genesis while studying for my Master's Degree at the University of Houston. I remember blurting out - "holy crap!" - then laughing at my remark about a book of the Bible. But I knew I had found something really significant. I just wasn't sure what to do with it! So the discovery tumbled around in my head like raw gemstones in a lapidary drum for over twenty years until other experiences and events influenced the creative process. One of those experiences was my work as a courier and smuggler behind the old Iron Curtain - work that demanded my assuming different identities as I crossed hostile borders. I drove cars with hidden compartments in order to attend secret midnight meetings with contacts. The first creative result of thosetrips was my espionage novel, The Second Thirteen. It was a story about a retired KGB colonel living in Australia who suddenly became the target of a group of assassins known as "the second thirteen." The story was based on Department Thirteen, the actual assassination and sabotage unit of the old KGB. In fact, I've been followed and monitored by the KGB - overseas as well as in the US - according to Dutch sources who had contacts in the KGB. And while those experiences inspired me to write The Second Thirteen, they also were influencing on a much deeper level the storyline of The Identity Factor. Years later, as I sat thinking about the Genesis "key," I suddenly remembered returning to the Netherlands from one of my Iron Curtain trips, and what - or who - came to mind was a group of Middle Eastern young people. They were a religious mix - Muslims, Jews, and Christians - and everyone got along fine despite their religious differences. As I reflected on their friendship and the religious hatred so rampant back in their Middle Eastern homelands, the plot of The Identity Factor began to materialize. The complexity of the book's plot was helped by the fact that I have lived a lot of what you will read.
AR: In that same vein, was your research very exhaustive?
JHT: It was huge. My research on the Sinai Peninsula, for instance, took me to many libraries, one of which - The State Library of South Australia - has anamazing collection of old maps and journals. So I began spending long hours browsing through those old documents. In fact, I was looking for the same thing archaaeologist Clayton was looking for in my book - evidence that Ishmael actually lived in the Wilderness of Paran - which I believed to be in the northern heart of the Sinai Peninsula. So I began poring over old maps of the region looking for clues. And you know what? I found it! I found the name of an obscure mountain that was not even recorded on most maps. So I wrote this discovery - which was a really cool linguistic clue - into the story. But once the manuscript was finished, my wife - who was one of my proofreaders - said: "This part has to go. It interrupts the flow and cadence of the chapter. Naturally I did backflips of protest, but she wouldn't budge. And she was right. The part had to come out. It is still one of my favorite sections and illustrates the intricacy of research that went into making the book as authentic as possible. Once The Identity Factor has been released, I will upload this "deleted scene" onto my website, because I love the fact that I actually found the missing clue I write about in thebook! Same with a special type of weapon I created in the story. Once I had researched the plausibility of such a weapon, I put the idea to a nuclear scientist, who said, "What you have proposed is not only plausible, but very intriguing. It won't be the first time fiction precedes fact!" Other research led me to a Russian arms dealer by way of the Internet, and he gave me invaluable information on sniper rifles. I love research and details like these.
AR: Much of the action in The Identity Factor is especially timely, considering the current global focus on terrorism. How big a role, if any, did the War On Terror play in the development of the book?
JHT: Like many people, I have a deep fascination of - and attraction to - Jerusalem. There is something about that city that is genuinely unique...like no other place on earth. As I pondered what it was about Jerusalem that commanded such wonder and devotion - especially to millions of Christians, Muslims, and Jews - I felt both a deep anger and a deeper sadness at the atrocities being committed in the name of a God who is supposed to love His creation. This unforgiveable contradiction of faith and action influenced me profoundly, so I used a similar response in one of my characters, but in a "fading flame" kind of way, so as to develop his character arc. But the War On Terror has influenced me in another way, which accounts for much of my book's passionate stand against it . My son is a sergeant in the US Marines and has been to Iraq twice. He even won a medal there for heroism under fire. So whether one agrees with our being in Iraq or not, the fact is - many of our sons and daughters are putting their lives on the line because of the war on terror. My son is one of them, which makes it very personal to me.
AR: Your descriptions of many of the locales depicted in the book are very authentic. Have you personally traveled to those places?
JHT: I've been to many of the places, but not all, and in those instances where I could not go to a particular locale, I used what I call "embedded reporters" acting as my eyes and ears. I would formulate specific questions or photo requests, which I would e-mail to my reporters, who would then conduct on-site surveillance and research for me. But I do try to visit every location that I can.
AR: We'd hate to give away the real identity of Abu Nazer, but we have to commend you for devising such an ingenious character. Was this inspired by real-life events?
JHT: There was a treacherous informant I was cautioned about when I was behind the old Iron Curtain - a person who betrayed some of our friends to the secret police. One friend had been exiled to the coal mines in Siberia, where he spent many years. No one ever knew who this informant was. That person inspired Abu Nazer.
AR: Do you consider yourself a suspense/thriller author?
JHT: Yes, I do, and I like the combination. Thrillers can sometimes degenerate into an unending sequence of action shots, which I find boring. I've started reading many such "thrillers" and failed to complete most. Suspense, on the other hand uses anticipation and dread to heighten tension, and in those moments, depth of character - including flaws and blind spots - can be developed and then further used to heighten tension as the danger circles ever closer, like a predator stalking its prey.
AR: What advice would you give someone looking to reach a similar status as yours in the literary world?
JHT: You're very kind with your compliments, but the only status I have is that of being annoyingly persistent. First and foremost, to succeed as a writer takes belief in yourself. Ironically, I finished The Identity Factor in 2000, and had a New York agent shopping it around town for me. Then the atrocity that was 9/11 occurred. I remember calling my agent to ask if he and his family were safe. He said that they were, and that he could see the smoke of the Twin Towers from his home in Brooklyn. As weeks past, he told me no publisher wanted anything to do with a book having Middle Eastern content, so I was soon dropped as a client because I wouldn't discard my story. He gave up on me, and I came close to giving up on myself, for there is only so much discouragement a person can take. But like I say, I am annoyingly persistent and so kept at it. It took television shows like 24and The West Wing to finally open a door of opportunity for books like mine, and so here I am. Bottom line - belief in yourself is first and foremost, then persistence and a thick skin, then surrounding yourself with a professional support team. In my case - before anything goes to the publishers, I pay an editor friend to critique my work...to point out weaknesses I don't see or don't want to see. I also have a wonderful publicist. To me, having those kind of people on your team is critical.
AR: Among your many accomplishments, you're also a cancer survivor. Would you please share more with our readers about waging that triumphant fight?
JHT: What indeed ended in triumph nearly ended in tragedy, as I came close to losing that battle. When I was diagnosed with cancer in my jaw in 1991, we went to see a cancer specialist in San Diego, where my wife and I were living at the time. When the doctor found out I had no health insurance - nor the $200,000 needed for an operation - he simply walked out of the room, leaving me alone in the examination chair. I never saw him again. My wife and I cried all the way home, after which my wife - who was an Australian citizen - decided to call her sister in Adelaide to see if help was available there. There was, and with weeks to live, we flew to Australia, where for $17,000, a team of surgeons excised a tumor the size of an orange from my face. I was told if I lived eighteen months I would probably live to be one hundred, so I am happy to report I am well on my way toward that goal! What happened was this: doctors removed half of my mandible and teeth, then took hip bone and made me a new jaw bone. Skin and vessels from my arm were grafted into my mouth, where teeth and gums used to be. Skin from my thigh was then grafted onto my arm, with muscle and arteries from my other arm then used to rebuild my face. So I feel a bit like a Lego man - interchangeable parts. But I beat the odds and lived - which in a lot of ways parallels my journey as a writer. My doctors, like my agent and what seemed like every publisher on earth, gave up on me and my story. Other doctors, however, like other publishers, saw someone - and something - of value. Life can be challenging like that, so I can't emphasize this enough: don't give up. You are the one who loses most if you do.
AR: What's next for you?
JHT: I have three stories from which to choose and all of them hold a different appeal. One is a sequel to The Second Thirteen, one is a sequel to The Identity Factor, with a third being a completely different story altogether. I'll probably toss the raw ingredients into the lapidary drum and see what pops out.
AR: Thanks again, James, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
JHT: You're awesome, Apex. Thank YOU!
James Houston Turner
Aria Publishers
ISBN: 9780958666411
Reviewed By Marian Jeffords
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
The year is 1919. English explorer Sir Edmund George Clayton leads an expedition of four Bedouin porters across the Sinai Peninsula in search of the dwelling place of the Biblical Ishmael, son of Abraham. What has compelled Clayton to make such a trek? The hopes of finding key evidence to either prove or disprove one of the oldest assertions made in the Bible, whose lasting implications serve as the foundation of modern-day theological belief.
Much to his surprise, Clayton finds exactly what he's looking for - but his time exploring the object further is cut drastically short: he is soon killed by greedy thieves seeking to profit from his discovery, and the invaluable piece of history is soon lost in a wasteland of lies, deceit, and corruption.
Fast forward to the present day: Abu Nazer, the world's most dangerous - and elusive - terrorist has launched a full-scale operation to obtain Clayton's mystery object, seeking the upper hand it will give him once its true contents are revealed. For you see, like the object, Nazer's true identity remains unknown, and the mystery enshrouding both him and his desired target sets the international community astir with worry and trepidation. Just as determined as Nazer is to gain the power concomitant with ownership of Clayton's object, the intelligence community is resolved to do whatever it takes to keep it out of his hands forever.
What follows is enough plot twists, red herrings, and misdirection to render even the sharpest lovers of suspense thoroughly bewildered. As his convoluted tale proceeds, Turner does a fantastic job of introducing new characters and situations at just the right times, leading you to wonder just how/why you were so sure of something that was inevitably proven false - over and over again. For all its changes of direction and prolonged suspense, Turner's tale will leave you in a bemused state reminiscent of that of The Da Vinci Code.
Perhaps the strongest attribute of The Identity Factor, though, is the absolute masterful way that Turner combines so many disparate elements to tell a unified, perfectly balanced story. Such skillful storytelling is indicative of a profound imagination rife with just the right amounts of substance and flair, adept at turning a story on its ear and holding your interest captive until you just can't take it anymore.
I must admit that I wasn't much of a fan of the mystery/suspense genre before, but after reading Turner's flawless tale consider me a new convert. With tight prose and even tighter action, The Identity Factor is a highly recommended read for anyone wondering just how the government really works outside the halls of Congress and the White House. In fact, in order to so expertly put together such a detailed, intricate tale of intrigue, one can't help wondering if Turner himself may not actually be who he claims he is...
Official Apex Reviews Interview: James Houston Turner (The Identity Factor)
AR: James, thanks for joining us for this interview. Thanks also for allowing us to review The Identity Factor. We can't wait to hear more about it.
With all its plot twists and skillful misdirection, how in the world did you put this book together?
JHT: It began when I stumbled onto the "key" of the construction of Genesis while studying for my Master's Degree at the University of Houston. I remember blurting out - "holy crap!" - then laughing at my remark about a book of the Bible. But I knew I had found something really significant. I just wasn't sure what to do with it! So the discovery tumbled around in my head like raw gemstones in a lapidary drum for over twenty years until other experiences and events influenced the creative process. One of those experiences was my work as a courier and smuggler behind the old Iron Curtain - work that demanded my assuming different identities as I crossed hostile borders. I drove cars with hidden compartments in order to attend secret midnight meetings with contacts. The first creative result of thosetrips was my espionage novel, The Second Thirteen. It was a story about a retired KGB colonel living in Australia who suddenly became the target of a group of assassins known as "the second thirteen." The story was based on Department Thirteen, the actual assassination and sabotage unit of the old KGB. In fact, I've been followed and monitored by the KGB - overseas as well as in the US - according to Dutch sources who had contacts in the KGB. And while those experiences inspired me to write The Second Thirteen, they also were influencing on a much deeper level the storyline of The Identity Factor. Years later, as I sat thinking about the Genesis "key," I suddenly remembered returning to the Netherlands from one of my Iron Curtain trips, and what - or who - came to mind was a group of Middle Eastern young people. They were a religious mix - Muslims, Jews, and Christians - and everyone got along fine despite their religious differences. As I reflected on their friendship and the religious hatred so rampant back in their Middle Eastern homelands, the plot of The Identity Factor began to materialize. The complexity of the book's plot was helped by the fact that I have lived a lot of what you will read.
AR: In that same vein, was your research very exhaustive?
JHT: It was huge. My research on the Sinai Peninsula, for instance, took me to many libraries, one of which - The State Library of South Australia - has anamazing collection of old maps and journals. So I began spending long hours browsing through those old documents. In fact, I was looking for the same thing archaaeologist Clayton was looking for in my book - evidence that Ishmael actually lived in the Wilderness of Paran - which I believed to be in the northern heart of the Sinai Peninsula. So I began poring over old maps of the region looking for clues. And you know what? I found it! I found the name of an obscure mountain that was not even recorded on most maps. So I wrote this discovery - which was a really cool linguistic clue - into the story. But once the manuscript was finished, my wife - who was one of my proofreaders - said: "This part has to go. It interrupts the flow and cadence of the chapter. Naturally I did backflips of protest, but she wouldn't budge. And she was right. The part had to come out. It is still one of my favorite sections and illustrates the intricacy of research that went into making the book as authentic as possible. Once The Identity Factor has been released, I will upload this "deleted scene" onto my website, because I love the fact that I actually found the missing clue I write about in thebook! Same with a special type of weapon I created in the story. Once I had researched the plausibility of such a weapon, I put the idea to a nuclear scientist, who said, "What you have proposed is not only plausible, but very intriguing. It won't be the first time fiction precedes fact!" Other research led me to a Russian arms dealer by way of the Internet, and he gave me invaluable information on sniper rifles. I love research and details like these.
AR: Much of the action in The Identity Factor is especially timely, considering the current global focus on terrorism. How big a role, if any, did the War On Terror play in the development of the book?
JHT: Like many people, I have a deep fascination of - and attraction to - Jerusalem. There is something about that city that is genuinely unique...like no other place on earth. As I pondered what it was about Jerusalem that commanded such wonder and devotion - especially to millions of Christians, Muslims, and Jews - I felt both a deep anger and a deeper sadness at the atrocities being committed in the name of a God who is supposed to love His creation. This unforgiveable contradiction of faith and action influenced me profoundly, so I used a similar response in one of my characters, but in a "fading flame" kind of way, so as to develop his character arc. But the War On Terror has influenced me in another way, which accounts for much of my book's passionate stand against it . My son is a sergeant in the US Marines and has been to Iraq twice. He even won a medal there for heroism under fire. So whether one agrees with our being in Iraq or not, the fact is - many of our sons and daughters are putting their lives on the line because of the war on terror. My son is one of them, which makes it very personal to me.
AR: Your descriptions of many of the locales depicted in the book are very authentic. Have you personally traveled to those places?
JHT: I've been to many of the places, but not all, and in those instances where I could not go to a particular locale, I used what I call "embedded reporters" acting as my eyes and ears. I would formulate specific questions or photo requests, which I would e-mail to my reporters, who would then conduct on-site surveillance and research for me. But I do try to visit every location that I can.
AR: We'd hate to give away the real identity of Abu Nazer, but we have to commend you for devising such an ingenious character. Was this inspired by real-life events?
JHT: There was a treacherous informant I was cautioned about when I was behind the old Iron Curtain - a person who betrayed some of our friends to the secret police. One friend had been exiled to the coal mines in Siberia, where he spent many years. No one ever knew who this informant was. That person inspired Abu Nazer.
AR: Do you consider yourself a suspense/thriller author?
JHT: Yes, I do, and I like the combination. Thrillers can sometimes degenerate into an unending sequence of action shots, which I find boring. I've started reading many such "thrillers" and failed to complete most. Suspense, on the other hand uses anticipation and dread to heighten tension, and in those moments, depth of character - including flaws and blind spots - can be developed and then further used to heighten tension as the danger circles ever closer, like a predator stalking its prey.
AR: What advice would you give someone looking to reach a similar status as yours in the literary world?
JHT: You're very kind with your compliments, but the only status I have is that of being annoyingly persistent. First and foremost, to succeed as a writer takes belief in yourself. Ironically, I finished The Identity Factor in 2000, and had a New York agent shopping it around town for me. Then the atrocity that was 9/11 occurred. I remember calling my agent to ask if he and his family were safe. He said that they were, and that he could see the smoke of the Twin Towers from his home in Brooklyn. As weeks past, he told me no publisher wanted anything to do with a book having Middle Eastern content, so I was soon dropped as a client because I wouldn't discard my story. He gave up on me, and I came close to giving up on myself, for there is only so much discouragement a person can take. But like I say, I am annoyingly persistent and so kept at it. It took television shows like 24and The West Wing to finally open a door of opportunity for books like mine, and so here I am. Bottom line - belief in yourself is first and foremost, then persistence and a thick skin, then surrounding yourself with a professional support team. In my case - before anything goes to the publishers, I pay an editor friend to critique my work...to point out weaknesses I don't see or don't want to see. I also have a wonderful publicist. To me, having those kind of people on your team is critical.
AR: Among your many accomplishments, you're also a cancer survivor. Would you please share more with our readers about waging that triumphant fight?
JHT: What indeed ended in triumph nearly ended in tragedy, as I came close to losing that battle. When I was diagnosed with cancer in my jaw in 1991, we went to see a cancer specialist in San Diego, where my wife and I were living at the time. When the doctor found out I had no health insurance - nor the $200,000 needed for an operation - he simply walked out of the room, leaving me alone in the examination chair. I never saw him again. My wife and I cried all the way home, after which my wife - who was an Australian citizen - decided to call her sister in Adelaide to see if help was available there. There was, and with weeks to live, we flew to Australia, where for $17,000, a team of surgeons excised a tumor the size of an orange from my face. I was told if I lived eighteen months I would probably live to be one hundred, so I am happy to report I am well on my way toward that goal! What happened was this: doctors removed half of my mandible and teeth, then took hip bone and made me a new jaw bone. Skin and vessels from my arm were grafted into my mouth, where teeth and gums used to be. Skin from my thigh was then grafted onto my arm, with muscle and arteries from my other arm then used to rebuild my face. So I feel a bit like a Lego man - interchangeable parts. But I beat the odds and lived - which in a lot of ways parallels my journey as a writer. My doctors, like my agent and what seemed like every publisher on earth, gave up on me and my story. Other doctors, however, like other publishers, saw someone - and something - of value. Life can be challenging like that, so I can't emphasize this enough: don't give up. You are the one who loses most if you do.
AR: What's next for you?
JHT: I have three stories from which to choose and all of them hold a different appeal. One is a sequel to The Second Thirteen, one is a sequel to The Identity Factor, with a third being a completely different story altogether. I'll probably toss the raw ingredients into the lapidary drum and see what pops out.
AR: Thanks again, James, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
JHT: You're awesome, Apex. Thank YOU!