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An Ordinary Day
Agent Kevin Durant of the National Intelligence Agency has been keeping close tabs on Ali, a Durban businessman corrupt to his core. Libyan terrorists are buying parts for weapons of mass destruction and Ali is their go-between. Into this shadowy world of hidden cameras and disguises enters beautiful and reckless Leila, a Libyan spy who flies to South Africa to clinch the deal with Ali. Leila doesn’t travel alone. Her lover accompanies her, and so does trouble. For Durant – with the CIA fingering his investigation, a post-natal wife at home and a rat on his team – an ‘ordinary day’ means anything but.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
About the author
Trevor Corbett
3 booksTrevor was born in Cape Town and went to High School in Durbanville. He completed two years of military service on the SAS Umhloti (SA Navy) and moved to Durban to start work. He has been an Intelligence Practitioner since 1985. He spent time in various specialised fields in the intelligence environment from surveillance to economic intelligence collection, before assisting in the setting up of an organised crime and corruption unit in 1995.
Academically, he has a BA with majors in Communication and Criminology and a BA Honours degree in Criminology. He loves music, photography and videography and helps his wife, Wanda, with her video company called Dream Maker Productions, specialising in wedding productions. He also produced a one-minute book trailer for An Ordinary Day for YouTube.
Academically, he has a BA with majors in Communication and Criminology and a BA Honours degree in Criminology. He loves music, photography and videography and helps his wife, Wanda, with her video company called Dream Maker Productions, specialising in wedding productions. He also produced a one-minute book trailer for An Ordinary Day for YouTube.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 25, 2011
Trevor Corbett spoke to the SAWC in May 2011. He is, as he tries to emphasize in this book, an "ordinary man" even though his career could be aligned with that of Alexander Litvinenko ... everything but ordinary!
The story begins with Kevin Durant, NIA agent, and Mike Shezi entering the house of Farouk Ali, a known criminal and smuggler of WMD (weapons of mass destruction). But as with any human being, Ali forms part of a network of criminals - most notably, the Libyan Leila Elhasoumi. Since these two have not only been noticed by the NIA/National Intelligence Service, but the CIA as well, lines get crossed and the tension mounts as both Intelligence Departments try to nab these Moslems (note the religion, which later creates a fair amount of tension when they come into contact with Jews, Ben Salem in particular). But this is only half the story. The other half relates to Durant and his colleagues, Masondo (his boss), Mike and Amina, who all have a personal life which has a huge impact on each individual's well-being. Corbett skilfully weaves these personal and professional networks into each other in such a way that the reader feels compelled to read on ... both halves build up tension and surprises lurk in every chapter, almost right to the end. The attention to detail keeps your interest and a balance is created that one can only marvel at.
For me a few of the most poignant moments were when Durant is on the verge of a breakthrough, only to be pulled away from all the action by his wife, Stephanie, who is suffering from severe post-natal depression. The scene that brought tears to my eyes was when Durant speaks at Mike's funeral. The entire scenario here can only be described as tragic. Corbett's insight into the human psyche and how we react when desperate is masterfully depicted.
So if you're looking for a spy thriller, you have it here. If you want to read more about humans and their reactions, you have it here. Perhaps one can only say that the tale is almost too perfectly rounded off at the end, but that is in no way a failing.
The story begins with Kevin Durant, NIA agent, and Mike Shezi entering the house of Farouk Ali, a known criminal and smuggler of WMD (weapons of mass destruction). But as with any human being, Ali forms part of a network of criminals - most notably, the Libyan Leila Elhasoumi. Since these two have not only been noticed by the NIA/National Intelligence Service, but the CIA as well, lines get crossed and the tension mounts as both Intelligence Departments try to nab these Moslems (note the religion, which later creates a fair amount of tension when they come into contact with Jews, Ben Salem in particular). But this is only half the story. The other half relates to Durant and his colleagues, Masondo (his boss), Mike and Amina, who all have a personal life which has a huge impact on each individual's well-being. Corbett skilfully weaves these personal and professional networks into each other in such a way that the reader feels compelled to read on ... both halves build up tension and surprises lurk in every chapter, almost right to the end. The attention to detail keeps your interest and a balance is created that one can only marvel at.
For me a few of the most poignant moments were when Durant is on the verge of a breakthrough, only to be pulled away from all the action by his wife, Stephanie, who is suffering from severe post-natal depression. The scene that brought tears to my eyes was when Durant speaks at Mike's funeral. The entire scenario here can only be described as tragic. Corbett's insight into the human psyche and how we react when desperate is masterfully depicted.
So if you're looking for a spy thriller, you have it here. If you want to read more about humans and their reactions, you have it here. Perhaps one can only say that the tale is almost too perfectly rounded off at the end, but that is in no way a failing.
Displaying 1 of 1 review