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Inspired by his lovely wife, Nelson—a dentist with aspirations beyond the examination chair—shares an idea with his sensei at the dojo where he trains. The sensei runs the idea by a CIA colleague, and Operation Loudmouth, in which transmitters are implanted in patients' (suspects') teeth, is born. The book tracks a Saudi terrorist plot the team learns about through the transmissions and America's response to it.
Although in-depth details at the beginning get the book off to a slow start, terrorist intrigue soon increases the pace as Nelson sets up a new practice in Dubai. The speed of the storyline increases during a chase around the world, culminating in a showdown in the Alaskan wilderness. The plot effectively mirrors the operatives' steady, relentless practice for the rare moments of extreme action worth their efforts.
Set against the backdrop of 9/11, a constant competition between "us" and "them" fuels the narrative. In the beginning, the primary antagonists are Nelson and his first wife. Later, the haves and the have-nots battle as the book describes five-star hotels, restaurants, and sights around the globe. The opulent way of life paved by capitalism and free choice, particularly for women, is set against an image of Muslim extremism and hypocrisy. One-on-one combat completes the array of battles in graphic and technical prowess.
The writing matches the fast and furious plot. Told primarily from Nelson's ambitious point of view at first, the perspective expands to voices from the White House, the terrorist cell, Russian mobsters, and a mysterious mercenary. Jumping between vantage points conveys the warring factions' fierceness and antagonism. Frequent allusions to sex contribute to a passionate tone and tension-filled suspense. The author's novel is an adrenaline rush resulting in a satisfying victory for the good guys.