Avenger (Forsyth novel)

Avenger is a thriller novel by Frederick Forsyth and it was published in September 2003.

Plot

Template:Spoiler The hero of the novel, Calvin Dexter, is first shown as a lawyer who is in his fifties and who keeps a passion for running triathlons. But when the reason and price is right he transforms himself into the "Avenger" and delivers justice by 'rendering' foreign criminals to the United States where they will stand trial for their crimes against American citizens and interests. He is a Vietnam veteran and he tightly keeps the secret from his neighbors. Calvin Dexter was a ‘Tunnel Rat’ while he was in Vietnam and the skills he acquired there are used by him for fighting international criminals.

When the plot thickens, ‘Avenger’ is hired by a Canadian billionaire named Steve Edmond for avenging the death of his grandson, who went to Bosnia as a volunteer. There he finds that Zoran Zilic, a sadistic hitman of Slobodan Milošević's regime is responsible for the murder of Edmond’s grandson. But when ‘Avenger’ reaches Serbia the eagle has already fled the nest and this starts a breath taking chase by him against his enemy. Using his skills Avenger closes in on the kill.

However, a secret section in the CIA, headed by Paul Devereaux III, a dedicated patriot, gets in contact with Zilic plans to use him to eliminate another terrorist (Osama bin Laden himself). In the CIA’s viewpoint, Zilic, despite his horrific crimes, has been marginalized as a result of the end of hostilities in Bosnia and is no longer a threat to the American people. But the terrorist bin Laden is a threat and Devereaux has a plan to use Zilic to eliminate Bin Laden. Now starts a real thrilling roller-coaster ride of pure action packed reading pleasure as Dexter takes vow to bring Zilic to justice and Devereaux and CIA tries to Protect Zilic.