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Dust to Dust
"Right now, a man is driving a bomb into the Lincoln Tunnel..."
"Right now, a man is driving a bomb into the Lincoln Tunnel..."
Somewhere in New York City, a sleeper cell is preparing the encore to September 11th.
Meanwhile, Matthew Moran, a Manhattan psychoanalyst, has been living a double life. Against his wishes, he has been spying on his patients for an American intelligence agency. When he gets an unexpected phone call, he finds himself in the middle of the effort to thwart the sleeper cell's attack.
A member of the cell has been captured, and it seems that one of Matthew's patients may have ties to the sleeper cell.
But who are the real terrorists? And who is Matthew actually working for? Matthew soon discovers that masks hide other masks, and if he is to succeed, he'll have to confront his own dark secrets...
Dust to Dust follows Matthew as he journeys into the psyche of terrorist and patient alike.
Each week, a new chapter of the novel will appear on this blog.
Meanwhile, Matthew Moran, a Manhattan psychoanalyst, has been living a double life. Against his wishes, he has been spying on his patients for an American intelligence agency. When he gets an unexpected phone call, he finds himself in the middle of the effort to thwart the sleeper cell's attack.
A member of the cell has been captured, and it seems that one of Matthew's patients may have ties to the sleeper cell.
But who are the real terrorists? And who is Matthew actually working for? Matthew soon discovers that masks hide other masks, and if he is to succeed, he'll have to confront his own dark secrets...
Dust to Dust follows Matthew as he journeys into the psyche of terrorist and patient alike.
Each week, a new chapter of the novel will appear on this blog.
Cast of Characters
Matthew Moran--A Manhattan psychoanalyst who has been spying on his patients for the government.
Christian Leonard--former FBI profiler and now intelligence operative for a shadow branch of the government. He has staked his career on hunting down The Ghost.
Laila Ahmad--Canadian-Iraqi jihadist. The only woman ever to attend Al Qaeda's training camps in Afghanistan and Chechnya.
Asiya Ali--Matthew Moran's widowed Lebanese patient suffering from panic attacks and nightmares. Mother of 3 Ali boys, 2 of whom have ties to Al Qaeda sleeper cell.
Khalid Ali--Asiya's youngest son and caretaker. When his father died, Khalid dropped out of school to work.
Qasim Ali--Asiya's middle son. A petty drug-dealer whose supply passes through the hands of known jihadists.
Aadil Ali--Asiya's oldest son. Left family to seek a purer Islamic life in Africa, where he reprotedly died in a boating accident. But Brendan Leonard believes that Aadil is operational head of Al Qaeda's sleeper cell in America.
The Ghost--Emir and spiritual leader of the sleeper cell. Reputed to be the #3 man in Al Qaeda.
Brigid Muldoon--Matthew's ex-fiancee who has taken a renewed interest in Matthew.
Christian Leonard--former FBI profiler and now intelligence operative for a shadow branch of the government. He has staked his career on hunting down The Ghost.
Laila Ahmad--Canadian-Iraqi jihadist. The only woman ever to attend Al Qaeda's training camps in Afghanistan and Chechnya.
Asiya Ali--Matthew Moran's widowed Lebanese patient suffering from panic attacks and nightmares. Mother of 3 Ali boys, 2 of whom have ties to Al Qaeda sleeper cell.
Khalid Ali--Asiya's youngest son and caretaker. When his father died, Khalid dropped out of school to work.
Qasim Ali--Asiya's middle son. A petty drug-dealer whose supply passes through the hands of known jihadists.
Aadil Ali--Asiya's oldest son. Left family to seek a purer Islamic life in Africa, where he reprotedly died in a boating accident. But Brendan Leonard believes that Aadil is operational head of Al Qaeda's sleeper cell in America.
The Ghost--Emir and spiritual leader of the sleeper cell. Reputed to be the #3 man in Al Qaeda.
Brigid Muldoon--Matthew's ex-fiancee who has taken a renewed interest in Matthew.
About Me
- Christian Talbot
- Christian Talbot graduated from Georgetown University, where he studied English, Art History, and Philosophy. He received his MA from the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, where he specialized in the Psychology of Terrorism. He currently chairs the English Department at Regis High School in Manhattan.
Chapters 1-6
Chapter 1
Yunus and Laila Ahmad, Canadian-Iraqi jihadists, try to drive a bomb into the Lincoln Tunnel.
Chapter 2
Crushing debt and a peculiar form of claustrophobia are crippling Matthew Moran, a Manhattan psychoanalyst. Two phone calls threaten to send him over the edge--one from his ex-fiancee, Brigid Muldoon, who wants to reconcile with him; the other from a more sinister figure from Matthew's past.
Chapter 3
Matthew has been spying on his patients in order to repay a debt of another sort to Christian Leonard, a CIA officer. Only Matthew has not been submitting reports on everyone. After 2 years without contact, Leonard resurfaces and summons Matthew to a CIA safe house.
Chapter 4
At MANIC Station, Matthew comes face to face with Laila Ahmad. For days, her interrogators have subjected her to "extraordinary protocols"--torture--to extract intelligence. Savagely beautiful, Laila has not broken. Yet.
Chapter 5
Khalid Ali, a Lebanese-American, rises before dawn to prepare for his day selling fruit on the street. When he checks his email, however, he finds a message from his father. Who is supposed to be dead. Khalid's brother Qasim compounds Khalid's anguish when he asks him to hold papers containing dangerous information.
Chapter 6
Back at MANIC Station, Matthew witnesses the ongoing interrogation of Laila. Even days of sensory and sleep deprivation cannot break her, so Leonard authorizes the use of physical torture.
Yunus and Laila Ahmad, Canadian-Iraqi jihadists, try to drive a bomb into the Lincoln Tunnel.
Chapter 2
Crushing debt and a peculiar form of claustrophobia are crippling Matthew Moran, a Manhattan psychoanalyst. Two phone calls threaten to send him over the edge--one from his ex-fiancee, Brigid Muldoon, who wants to reconcile with him; the other from a more sinister figure from Matthew's past.
Chapter 3
Matthew has been spying on his patients in order to repay a debt of another sort to Christian Leonard, a CIA officer. Only Matthew has not been submitting reports on everyone. After 2 years without contact, Leonard resurfaces and summons Matthew to a CIA safe house.
Chapter 4
At MANIC Station, Matthew comes face to face with Laila Ahmad. For days, her interrogators have subjected her to "extraordinary protocols"--torture--to extract intelligence. Savagely beautiful, Laila has not broken. Yet.
Chapter 5
Khalid Ali, a Lebanese-American, rises before dawn to prepare for his day selling fruit on the street. When he checks his email, however, he finds a message from his father. Who is supposed to be dead. Khalid's brother Qasim compounds Khalid's anguish when he asks him to hold papers containing dangerous information.
Chapter 6
Back at MANIC Station, Matthew witnesses the ongoing interrogation of Laila. Even days of sensory and sleep deprivation cannot break her, so Leonard authorizes the use of physical torture.
Chapters 7-11
Chapter 7
Leonard pressures Matthew to interrogate one of his patients: Asiya Ali. Asiya, a Lebanese widow, is the mother of Aadil Ali, Al Qaeda's most important sleeper cell operative. Matthew, not yet willing to cross the line, pushes back, at which point Leonard reveals that he is not CIA, but rather the head of The Caleb Corporation, a privatize intelligence group.
Chapter 8
Using "extraordinary protocols," Laila's interrogator coerces a confession out of her. But his psychoanalytic training cues Matthew into some incongruities in her response...
Chapter 9
At home with his mother, Khalid Ali tries to hide Qasim's papers when Asiya experiences a crippling panic attack.
Chapter 10
Hounded by doubts and his own neuroses, Matthew seeks guidance from his mentor, Rev. D.W. Winnicott, SJ, a Jesuit psychiatrist.
Chapter 11
Qasim dodges surveillance by The Caleb Corporation and finds his way to the safe house set up by his older brother, Aadil. Here he learns of the sleeper cell's next target--and how many casualties they expect.
Leonard pressures Matthew to interrogate one of his patients: Asiya Ali. Asiya, a Lebanese widow, is the mother of Aadil Ali, Al Qaeda's most important sleeper cell operative. Matthew, not yet willing to cross the line, pushes back, at which point Leonard reveals that he is not CIA, but rather the head of The Caleb Corporation, a privatize intelligence group.
Chapter 8
Using "extraordinary protocols," Laila's interrogator coerces a confession out of her. But his psychoanalytic training cues Matthew into some incongruities in her response...
Chapter 9
At home with his mother, Khalid Ali tries to hide Qasim's papers when Asiya experiences a crippling panic attack.
Chapter 10
Hounded by doubts and his own neuroses, Matthew seeks guidance from his mentor, Rev. D.W. Winnicott, SJ, a Jesuit psychiatrist.
Chapter 11
Qasim dodges surveillance by The Caleb Corporation and finds his way to the safe house set up by his older brother, Aadil. Here he learns of the sleeper cell's next target--and how many casualties they expect.
Chapters 12-16
Chapter 12
During an emergency session to manage Asiya's panic disorder, Matthew senses that the Lebanese widow knows more about her son than she is letting on.
Chapter 13
Qasim finds out that his drug dealing has been sanctioned by the upper echelons of Al Qaeda because the money is funding Operation Passover. Later Qasim leaves the safe house only to witness the arrest--or is it rendition?--of one of Aadil's accomplices.
Chapter 14
Matthew tries to take a break by going on a date at Rocky's new Trattoria, but his feelings for Brigid keep getting in the way.
Chapter 15
At a midnight meeting in St. Ignatius Church, Matthew's mentor Rev. Dean Winnicott, SJ recounts the Muslim myth of Original Sin. The next morning, Matthew is nearly blown to bits when Al Qaeda's sleeper cell carries out their next attack. And it's not on the George Washington Bridge.
Chapter 16
Having failed to get accurate intelligence from Laila Ahmad using "extraordinary protocols," Leonard agrees to allow Matthew to question her. Matthew finds an entree with Laila, who is eager to talk about her religious beliefs.
During an emergency session to manage Asiya's panic disorder, Matthew senses that the Lebanese widow knows more about her son than she is letting on.
Chapter 13
Qasim finds out that his drug dealing has been sanctioned by the upper echelons of Al Qaeda because the money is funding Operation Passover. Later Qasim leaves the safe house only to witness the arrest--or is it rendition?--of one of Aadil's accomplices.
Chapter 14
Matthew tries to take a break by going on a date at Rocky's new Trattoria, but his feelings for Brigid keep getting in the way.
Chapter 15
At a midnight meeting in St. Ignatius Church, Matthew's mentor Rev. Dean Winnicott, SJ recounts the Muslim myth of Original Sin. The next morning, Matthew is nearly blown to bits when Al Qaeda's sleeper cell carries out their next attack. And it's not on the George Washington Bridge.
Chapter 16
Having failed to get accurate intelligence from Laila Ahmad using "extraordinary protocols," Leonard agrees to allow Matthew to question her. Matthew finds an entree with Laila, who is eager to talk about her religious beliefs.
Chapters 17-22
Chapter 17
Khalid Ali witnesses the aftermath of the 85th Street bombing just before his brother Qasim schedules an emergency meeting for later that evening. Qasim wants something critical from Khalid.
Chapter 18
Matthew and Laila discuss jihad.
Chapter 19
Rumors about an attack on the NYC Bus system flourish. At home, a conflicted Khalid argues with his mother about safety.
Chapter 20
Matthew and Laila are discussing jihad when Matthew manipulates her into revealing critical piece of intelligence.
Chapter 21
Khalid and Asiya arrive at Matthew's private office just as Matthew is fielding a call from the increasingly persistent Brigid. Asiya is shocked when a special guest appears.
Chapter 22
Qasim and his men are preparing to perform their own extraordinary rendition on Matthew when Brigid shows up.
Khalid Ali witnesses the aftermath of the 85th Street bombing just before his brother Qasim schedules an emergency meeting for later that evening. Qasim wants something critical from Khalid.
Chapter 18
Matthew and Laila discuss jihad.
Chapter 19
Rumors about an attack on the NYC Bus system flourish. At home, a conflicted Khalid argues with his mother about safety.
Chapter 20
Matthew and Laila are discussing jihad when Matthew manipulates her into revealing critical piece of intelligence.
Chapter 21
Khalid and Asiya arrive at Matthew's private office just as Matthew is fielding a call from the increasingly persistent Brigid. Asiya is shocked when a special guest appears.
Chapter 22
Qasim and his men are preparing to perform their own extraordinary rendition on Matthew when Brigid shows up.