THE KENNEDY MOMENTUM

The Cold War reaches its zenith with the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba threatening the US. While JFK and his brother face deep divisions in trying to diffuse the crisis, Philip Marsden is sent on a mission to Cuba where he becomes trapped, betrayed by a CIA-Mafia joint operation.

The opening describes the arrival of Soviet nuclear missiles and technicians in Cuba. They are spotted en route to installation by a rich local, Don Plata. Before Castro's revolution, he was closely involved with the American Mafia's casino operations and would like to see the US return. As a way to help, he sends a radio message about the missiles to his family in Florida, which happens to include Philip Marsden's Cuban-American wife, Carrie, who is now pregnant. The couple settled in Miami after their marriage. When Philip hears the news from Don Plata, he reports it to the agency. He is then asked by Ed Lansdale to take another mission, this time into Cuba. The adminstration needs confirmation of the missiles before they're willing to risk photographic overflights. His case officer will be Bill Harvey, who has covert ties with the Mafia, working with them to assassinate Castro...

LEON BERGER is the author of two literary fiction novels in hard cover and 3 commercial fiction, including 2 recent thrillers, in trade paperback. All were distributed in Canada, three in the US and rights were also sold in Europe. He was reviewed in Globe & Mail, La Presse and Time and featured on Book TV.