Zanzibar (Paperback)

This novel deals with al-Qaida and the US embassy bombings of the late 1990s. The novel was substantially completed before 11.9.2001 and its content evidences the diligence of Foden's researches into ther organisation (although there is a didacticism here that is not present in his earlier novels). It looks at the early links between bin Laden's organisation and the American CIA, one of the three central western characters being a CIA agent involved in training al-Qaida operatives in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. This strand is for me the most successful part of the novel. Quiller is an interesting character, battling his past failure, trying to make recompense. He echoes those characters that populate Foden's previous novels (although even aspects of his character - such as his missing limb - feel like caricature). However, Quiller is off centre too often. Instead the plot centres around a young American marinne biologist Nick, (Memo to central casting - man on a mission, driven, unable to commit: promising for Ben Affleck?), and his sometime love interest Miranda, a diplomat at the US embassy in Tanzania (memo to central casting - attractive, strong woman, stumbling into love, powerful scenes when on solo investigation. All scantily clad sections wholly essential to plot due to extreme hear: Try J-LO?). Neither wholly convinces, and the love story feels like a pitch for a movie.

I wonder if the book was rushed out to remain topical. It could have benefited from a longer gestation, the paring down of the plot, the building up of the characters.

The pages keep turning, but a week after I've finished the novel there are few scenes that remain in the mind, no long lasting impression. One could say it was perfect airline reading, and one can see a big budget all action movie, if it were not for the problem that Foden makes clear the complicity of the US in the development of bin Laden's movement.

On the strength of Foden's previous work I will look forward to his next novel, but I don't think I'll be revisiting Zanzibar.

Nick Karolides, Miranda Powers and Jack Queller are Americans in Tanzania. An aid worker, an embassy worker and a spy thrown together by tragedy: the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Dar es Salaam.

As a thriller 'Zanzibar' takes some time to wind-up. Most of the action occurs in the last third of the book but in setting the scene meticulously Foden does us a favour with his description of Zanzibar.

The characterisation is less well hewn. The older, whiter and more masculine it is, the more convincingly his cast is portrayed. Crusty old Leggatt is my favourite.

Of course this is not history; it is one link in a chain of current events started in the Cold War and going on in the 'War on Terrorism'.

Perhaps wisely Foden skates over the bombers who, though crucial to the plot, are incidental to the narrative and real events are reported, jarring the storytelling.

As the pace quickens the reader is torn between the urge to skip sections and the fear of missing something. In a great thriller the urge is overwhelming but you do not give in. 'Zanzibar' passes the test, just. You do care, and although he may not be the best fisherman, once Foden has you hooked he plays you like a barracuda in the Indian Ocean.

For many history stopped on September 11, 2001 and when it started again the World was a more dangerous place. Although there is no mention of those events, 'Zanzibar' trashes the notion September 11 was a one-off.

The image that lingers is not the palms of Zanzibar or bustle of Dar, impressively though they are drawn, it is the haunting vision, barely described, that Bin Laden will strike again. The hydra-like nature of al-Qaida ensures it.