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Fiction Women Sleuths

The Imam of Tawi-Tawi

An Ava Lee Novel: Book 10

by (author) Ian Hamilton

Publisher
House of Anansi Press Inc
Initial publish date
Jan 2018
Category
Women Sleuths, Crime, Thrillers
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781487002749
    Publish Date
    Jan 2018
    List Price
    $19.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781487002756
    Publish Date
    Jan 2018
    List Price
    $10.99
  • Downloadable audio file

    ISBN
    9781487004507
    Publish Date
    Jun 2018
    List Price
    $34.99
  • Downloadable audio file

    ISBN
    9781487004996
    Publish Date
    Jun 2018
    List Price
    $34.99

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Description

In the most explosive novel in the Ava Lee series to date, Ava partners with a CIA agent to investigate a college on a Philippine island that is suspected of training terrorists — what she discovers is brutal and shocking.

Ava has spent two nights luxuriating in a hotel in Yunnan Province with the actress Pang Fai, with whom she has begun a secret relationship. She receives an urgent phone call from Chang Wang, the right hand to the billionaire Tommy Ordonez and one of Uncle’s oldest friends.

Chang asks Ava to fly to Manila to meet with his friend, Senator Miguel Ramirez. Ramirez asks Ava to investigate a college in Tawi-Tawi, an island province in the Philippines, which he suspects is training terrorists. Ava’s investigation leads to a partnership with a CIA agent, and together they attempt to stop an international plot so horrific in size and that Ava’s judgement and morals are tested like never before.

About the author

Ian Hamilton is the author of seven novels in the Ava Lee series: The Dragon Head of Hong Kong: The Ava Lee Prequel, The Water Rat of Wanchai, The Disciple of Las Vegas, The Wild Beasts of Wuhan, The Red Pole of Macau, The Scottish Banker of Surabaya, and The Two Sisters of Borneo. The Water Rat of Wanchai was the winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel, an Amazon.ca Top 100 Book of the Year, an Amazon.ca Top 100 Editors’ Pick, an Amazon.ca Canadian Pick, an Amazon.ca Mysteries and Thrillers Pick, a Toronto Star Top 5 Fiction Book of the Year, and a Quill & Quire Top 5 Fiction Book of the Year.

Ian Hamilton's profile page

Excerpt: The Imam of Tawi-Tawi: An Ava Lee Novel: Book 10 (by (author) Ian Hamilton)

“What is this potential problem?” Ava said.

Chang hesitated. She thought she heard ice clinking in a glass and wondered if he was drinking. “Ava, I would like that explanation to take place in Manila,” he said. “I know this will sound vague and maybe even conspiratorial, but I’m not comfortable explaining it to you over the phone. First, it’s very complicated, and I’m not as well informed as some other people I’d like you to talk to. Second, this isn’t something that can be explained in half an hour, or even several hours. I believe you should meet and take the measure of the people who’ve related at least part of their suspicions to us.”

“And you have no one in the Philippines you can turn to?”

“Absolutely not. As I said, this is about trust, and the number of people who Tommy and I truly trust we can count on one hand. Of those, only one lives in Manila, and he’s the first person we want you to talk to.”

“Uncle, I really don’t know what to say. I have other responsibilities now.”

“Give us one day,” he said quickly. “Get on a plane tomorrow and come to Manila for one meeting. If you decide to go back to Toronto or Hong Kong or wherever after that, the issue will never be mentioned again and we’ll still be grateful for your time.”

“I’m expected in Shanghai tomorrow for a business review that’s scheduled to last several days.”

“Postpone it,” Chang said. “Please, Ava.”

The word please startled her. It wasn’t something she could remember Chang or Tommy Ordonez ever uttering. Not only was it out of character, in her mind it was an acknowledgement that she was their equal.

“I can’t give you an answer this minute,” she said. “I have to think about it, and I also want to talk to my partners and the people expecting me in Shanghai.”

“Of course, do that,” he said. “But there is urgency to this matter. Waiting four days to talk to you wasn’t easy — more than once I reached for the phone. Can you possibly speak to them tonight?”

“Yes, I can, and I’ll call you when I have.”

“I’ll stay up until I hear from you,” he said.

“Uncle, you do understand this doesn’t mean I’m leaning towards saying yes?”

“Please, give us that one day, Ava,” Chang said. “My belief is that if you do, you’ll commit to helping us get to the bottom of this problem.”

He’s dangling bait, she thought. She admired how skillfully he had handled his end of the conversation: He had started it by invoking their connection through Uncle. Then he’d complimented her while insisting that he thought she was above flattery. Finally, he had framed his request as a personal favour. She didn’t know why he thought he had the right to ask for one, since he and Ava were hardly friends, but he had anyway and it had been exactly the right approach. Indeed, it was probably the only approach that had a chance of succeeding with her.

“Let me make some calls,” she said.

Editorial Reviews

"The best of the series so far."

Globe and Mail

"Combines lots of action with Ava’s acute intelligence and ability to solve even the most complex problems."

Literary Hub

"One of his best . . . Tightly plotted and quick-moving, this is a spare yet terrifically suspenseful novel."

Publisher's Weekly

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