A Chernobyl-type nuclear disaster, murders disguised as suicides, corruption, nanotechnology, political conspiracy, and more abound in Canadian author Lawrence Uhlin’s debut novel, Machiavelli's Desert. Canada’s sovereignty is challenged to the brink in a thriller that takes the reader from Ottawa to Washington D.C. and from the Grand Caymans to Kamloops, British Columbia.

The horrific meltdown-explosion of a nuclear power reactor opens up the story in a small pacific Island called Arnivan. I was immediately hooked by the author’s attention to detail in describing the disaster. The island’s population is devastated and the environment polluted. The facility is a CANDU reactor designed, built, and installed by Canada.   

Scientist Dr. Claire Frenette is found dead shortly after revealing to a rookie politician how she believes the reactor meltdown is the result of government financial cutbacks to scientific programs. Will Headley is a government staffer with a gambling problem. A mysterious Russian-sounding man known as Renakes has a solution to Headley’s dept predicament. Daley Whitman is a blue collar criminal sprung from jail for a promise of a favour to Canada Corrections. An ailing veteran senator is Whitman’s chosen confidant in his dilemma. CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) Intelligence Officer, Mari Volser, at the senator’s request, investigates Whitman and later Dr. Frenette. Meanwhile the World Court is poised to charge Canada for crimes against humanity for the Arnivan catastrophe. Reparations to the island nation will certainly bankrupt Canada. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nicholas Plato is charged with keeping Canada afloat in its most desperate hour. Plato has been offered a chance to purchase advanced computer technology that could be the key to Canada’s financial stability, or plunge the government into a scandal the likes of which the country has never before experienced. In the meantime, the Americans are poised to pick up the pieces and push forward their desires for Canada’s vast natural resources.  

I found Machiavelli's Desert to be one of the most dialogue heavy books I have ever read. Although the dialogue is authentic, many of the conversations continue for several pages and some for full chapters. I found myself craving a car chase, love scene, or fist fight to break up the constant conversation. Uhlin has created several fascinating point-of-view characters and he uses each effectively to tell his story; but none is a clear cut protagonist in whom we can become truly invested.

Uhlin shows his considerable knowledge of Canadian politics and culture. He questions international policies, morals, and values and he examines how doing the obvious wrong thing can benefit the greater good. The characters are interesting and well drawn with vivid descriptions. Uhlin has infused enough suspense while pacing the story in a way that keeps us guessing, without giving away too much, as he sets up a whopper of a twist at the end. Machiavelli's Desert is an entertaining, quick read with a wonderful opening and a satisfying conclusion and is recommended to readers who enjoy political espionage thrillers.

 Libros Libertad (February 17, 2010)
978-1926763019

reviewed by William Potter