BookLemur.com

A native of Los Angeles, has lived in Israel and traveled extensively through Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. At the age of 21, he was sent on a mission into the Soviet Union to smuggle a dissident's manuscript on microfilm to London. His first trip was a success. On his second trip, he transferred a manuscript to the Dutch Ambassador inside his Moscow embassy. A week later, he was arrested in Khartiv in the Ukraine and interrogated for two days there and then two days in Moscow, before being expelled from the USSR. The KGB had picked him up for meeting dissidents and did not know about the manuscript transfers. He holds a BA in Middle East History from UC Berkeley and an MA in Philosophy of Education from UCLA. He is the author of five novels. DAMASCUS COVER is now a major motion picture starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Sir John Hurt and Olivia Thirlby.

Rich in historical detail, TO DESTROY JERUSALEM is a thrilling tale of espionage, nationalism, and fate When a neutron source— a necessary component in triggering a nuclear explosion— is stolen in New York, the CIA calls on Shai Shaham, the legendary Mossad field agent. To trace the stolen neutron source, Shai needs to locate where and how those behind the theft are obtaining plutonium so he heads to Amsterdam to meet Ramzy Awwad, the Palestinian agent who Shai had been ordered to kill at the end of a mission together. He doesn’t know if Ramzy is more likely to help stop the plotters or join the Palestinian people in the midst of the first intifada (uprising) in the Occupied Territories. Set in 1990, TO DESTROY JERUSALEM is the tale of a terrifying plot that spans the globe, from Rio de Janeiro to war-torn Beirut to the West Bank. As Shai rushes to avert catastrophe, he unearths a link to the underground intifada in Jerusalem, and he tracks the conspirators until they thwart him with an ingenious plan to bridge the heavily fortified northern border into Israel. Whether Shai will be able to depend on Ramzy to help stop a horrific attack is a question on which the fate of these peoples—and the greater world--depends.

Kindle Price: $4.99

Category: Literature & Fiction; History

“Kaplan is. . . without peer in his grasp of the delicate and explosive relationship between the Israelis and the Palestinians. This is a thriller in the best tradition of the genre. ” -Los Angeles TimesWhen the Israeli Prime Minister boards a new stealth submarine in Norfolk, Virginia intending a celebratory ride and the sub vanishes, it sets in motion a suspenseful story that intertwines the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a story of what could be. Shai Shaham—an Israeli intelligence officer—contacts old friend and adversary Ramzy Awwad—a former PLO intelligence officer and one of the great writers of his people—for help in locating the missing prime minister. But can they trust each other? Can their friendship withstand the turbulent political landscape? Eli Bardin—an agent who is feeling the strain of being away from his wife and children for so long in the field—is also tasked to contact Ramzy for the help in finding the missing sub. It seems the Russian have great interest in the technology, and he must locate the prime minister. . . because losing him is a national calamity that threatens to upset a delicate political balance in the most terrifying ways. Starkly depicting the excesses of both sides and moving through actual events, THE SPY’S GAMBLE relies on in-depth research to weave a thrilling tale of suspense of reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Kindle Price: $4.99

Category: Literature & Fiction; History

A spy walks the dangerous line between love and survival. LA Times Bestselling Spy Thriller. Now a Major Motion Picture. "Kaplan is up there with the best. " - Clive Cussler"In the best tradition of the new espionage novel. Kaplan's grasp of history and scene creates a genuine reality. He seems to know every back alley of Damascus and Cyprus. " - Los Angeles Times. In a last ditch effort to revive his career, washed out agent Ari Ben-Sion accepts a mission he never would have 30 years ago ─ to smuggle a group of Jewish children out of the Damascus ghetto. Or so he thinks. In Damascus, a beautiful American photographer, Kim, seems to be falling in love with Ari. But, she is asking too many questions. His communication equipment disappears. His contact never shows up. The operation is only hours away and everything seems awry. Realizing that he's caught up in a bigger and more dangerous game, Ari is desperate to succeed. . . and he's willing to risk everything. . . even his life. The Damascus Cover is a gripping thriller with enough twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued until the explosive ending. What Readers Are Saying:★★★★★ "This is a beautifully written book about the middle east, its longstanding history of enmity and rivalry, about love, and about brutality. "★★★★★ "Like Le Carre's spies, Ari, the aging Israeli spy, is far less than perfect, but the good in the man outweighs his failings. "★★★★★ "The descriptions of Damascus make you feel that you are walking the streets and alleyways of Syria as you breathlessly hope that Ari's mission will succeed. "★★★★★ "This is a timeless thriller which leaves the reader glued to its pages. . . " More Titles by Howard Kaplan:Bullets of PalestineTo Destroy JerusalemThe Spy's Gamble Visit the author's website at: howardkaplanauthor. comConnect on Twitter: @kaplanhow

Kindle Price: $4.99

Category: Literature & Fiction; Politics & Social Sciences

Two agents. Two opposing sides. “Kaplan is not merely the author of two previous best-selling novels built around international intrigue but is probably without peer in his grasp of the delicate and explosive relationship between the Israelis and the Palestinians. This is a terrorist thriller in the best tradition of the genre by an author who knows the Middle East like the back of his hand. ” ~Los Angeles Times"Incredible thrills. An ingenious plot. This book is a gripper. ” ~Jerusalem Post. Israeli Agent Shai is dispatched to eliminate a terrorist threat. To succeed in his mission, Shai must win the trust of Palestinian Agent Ramzy, who will help him gain access to the infamous and dangerous Abu Nidal. Shai is under orders to kill Ramzy when the mission ends. But instead, they forge a friendship that transcends the hatreds of their heritage. Loyalties are tested. Will they work together to capture Abu Nidal or betray each other's trust? In a conflict where both sides dehumanize each other, two extremely human men are caught in the cross-hairs of the larger war. “Heart rending. Kaplan tells the story in rapid-fire sequences dripping with realism; indeed so heavily infused with actual fact that it’s difficult to remember this is a work of fiction. ” ~Sada Alwatan (Leading Arabic Newspaper of North America). What Readers Are Saying:★★★★★ "This is not a book cluttered with complex geopolitical thought. It is a book about people living in a geopolitical world. It’s an engaging read and I highly recommend. "★★★★★ "This author knows how to create intriguing, flawed characters that transcend time and place, who linger in your thoughts. Kudos to Kaplan for an engaging, perfectly paced novel that I didn't want to end! "★★★★★ "Unfortunately, although this book was written quite some time ago, it is still so meaningful today. It makes us aware that progress in the Middle east has been very slow. Based on actual historical events, the pace of the story is breathtaking. A wonderful read! "★★★★★ "A fascinating thriller peopled by fictional characters who move through real life events. This novel is suspense at its best, a rip roaring ride. . . " Visit the author's website at: howardkaplanauthor. comConnect on Twitter: @kaplanhow

Kindle Price: $4.99

Category: Literature & Fiction; History