Five Steps Beyond

After beginning Five Steps Beyond I was soon astonished to discover that I was at the 60% mark in the story. Before I knew it I had finished reading the book. This shows how good this story is. The book is the final installment in the Titus Ray Thriller series by Luana Ehrlich. The main character is Titus Ray, an American Christian spy who works for the CIA.

The publisher's summary:

CIA operative Titus Ray took five steps. But not just any steps.

They were five steps beyond his expectations, five steps beyond his experience, five steps beyond his past.

He took five steps beyond his expectations . . .

When Titus is summoned to the White House, he expects to be offered a Top Secret assignment. What he doesn’t expect is where that assignment will take him, and how he’ll survive if he accepts it.

He took five steps beyond his experience . . .

Even though Titus has been through a lot in his twenty-year career with the Agency, he’s never had to learn about uranium enrichment, he’s never had his appearance altered, he’s never had to be a marriage counselor.

He took five steps beyond his past . . .

Operation Strike Out finds Titus revisiting his past to prevent the Iranians from developing a nuclear weapon to annihilate Israel. When he discovers the tentacles of his past are reaching into his present, seeking to destroy his future, he realizes he has to act quickly.

Will his prayers be answered in time or has his time come to an end?

Five Steps is the second book in the series which I have read so I am a little sad that I just recently discovered the series when it is ending.  I can always go back and read the earlier books but its not the same as knowing that future books are coming. The Titus character is rather brave. He has returned to Tehran on a mission after almost losing his life there two years ago. In this installment of the series he is charged with getting a flash drive from a nuclear scientist that holds info on Iran's uranium enrichment program that would enable them to create a nuclear weapon. During the mission Titus comes face-to-face with the man charged with finding & killing him two years ago and, yes, this man recognizes Titus even though Titus is wearing a disguise. The suspense level is high. Titus's faith is more prominent than in the first book of the series which I read last year. Initially, I was put off by Titus's inner thoughts.  It seemed that Titus would not be able to be a great spy because there were actions that he did not want to take. However, the suspense kept me reading. By the time the story was over, Titus's faith did not bother me. 

4 out of 5 stars.