The Creation of Necessary Illusions

When the cousin to the President of the United States is kidnapped from a boat in Burma, along with several other westerners and a Burmese monk, all fingers immediately point to al-Qaeda. As the White House rushes to formulate a rescue plan, the hostages are taken deep into the Burmese rainforest where they discover the disturbing purpose behind the kidnapping, and are forced to make a terrible choice. Meanwhile, back in Washington DC, Karla Sneed, the President's political consultant and closest advisor, seeks to use the crisis to restore the President's battered image and poor approval ratings. But the kidnapping is not all it seems, and the ambitious and cunning Sneed is seduced by a bitter political enemy into confronting the sinister powers behind it in a high stakes game of life and death. A fast-paced and absorbing thriller, The Creation of Necessary Illusions opens a window into the endearing and fascinatingly superstitious world of the Burmese - from the lowest beggar to the country's most powerful generals. Inspired by real and current world events, this unforgettable story of power, greed, courage and compassion will live in the memory of the reader long after the shocking truth has been revealed.