A retired FBI hostage negotiator. A Manhattan tower under siege. A man who asks for him by name. Terminal Rage is the debut Booklist called a rousing cat-and-mouse game between two broken men.
Publishers Weekly
Booklist — starred review
Foreword Clarion — 5 / 5
Audiobook narrated by Scott Brick
“Dizzying, intricate, and immensely entertaining.”
Publishers Weekly
International espionage thriller · 2013Terminal RageHe walked away from hostage negotiation for good. Then a stranger seized a Manhattan skyscraper — and would…
Coming soonTerminal DeceptionShe is the most feared recruiter in Raqqa. She is also a British spy. And a stranger has just handed her a phone number that could get them both beheaded.
Science fiction thriller · 2017The ArkTwo strangers, one target, and a motel where nothing is what it seems.
About the author
A.M. Khalifa is an Egyptian author based in Rome, and the only Egyptian writing commercial espionage thrillers in English. He grew up in a diplomatic corps family and has lived and worked in more than fifteen countries. He writes international thrillers that breach cultural taboos — espionage, counterintelligence, religious fanaticism, terrorism and gender inequity — and never writes about a place he hasn’t been. He is trilingual.
Full biography & press kit → · An Egyptian spy novelist in English →
On screen · Short film · Sci-fi thriller · 2021
Two strangers meet outside a remote motel with orders to kill the same woman, and only one of them knows why. Based on his own novel, A.M. Khalifa wrote the story and screenplay.
“Tense, exciting and thought provoking.”
New on the journal · Fiction · 7 min read
There once was a man who liked to save the world. Know the type? The sort who stops for stranded drivers on the freeway when everybody else assumes a tow truck will eventually come for them.…
Coming soon
This. Changes. Everything. Join the waitlist and read the first chapter before anyone else.
What readers say
“This book will take you by surprise, you think the plot is taking you one way and actually it takes you in a completely different direction.”
“The plot and the characters keep one so hooked that one reads the book from cover to cover as quickly as possible.”
“Kept me hooked until the very last page!”
“Great thriller…quite the page-turner!”
“I'm someone who struggles to focus when reading and sticking with a book – but this one kept me engaged from start to finish.”
“Terminal Rage” by A.M. Khalifa ranks as one of my top reads in the past few years.”
“‘Terminal Rage’ was the ultimate thriller/suspense novel that had me glued to the pages from the start and did not let go.”
“His knowledge of how the FBI works aided the authenticity of the story.”
“I read an excerpt on Amazon and was hooked. Couldn’t put it down. Found myself up late saying only one more chapter.”
“The author clearly has a deep respect for the parent child relationship, healthy respect for male female relationships and an abiding sense of justice that shone through.”
“Somewhat complicated plot that made sense and was satisfying.”
“All was explained in the end which was delivered beautifully, but I was left wanting more, which is the true sign of a great novel.”
“Like Clancy, his attention to detail and technical accuracy shows he’s done his research; adding that dimension of realism.”
“A sweeping, ugly, beautiful story. This is a long, complex, and ultimately uplifting meditation on loss, redemption, and the resilience of human character.”
“I read the entire night: now I have to function on no sleep.”
“Folks if this is the one book you read this year make it “Terminal Rage”.”
“The book had lots of twists and turns that were very original and unexpected.”
“An intriguing story masterfully written.”
“The book is very well written and has an excellent twist in the plot that keeps you very interested.”
“Political intrigue at its finest!”
“One of the most gripping thrillers I have read in a while.”
“The writing is literate, which is not always a given with thrillers.”
“Lots of surprises in this one!”
“A compelling action/adventure black ops/terrorist novel with a great deal of tension even in the sections with less action.”
“This author should be knocking authors off the best seller’s list as he climbs to the top and stays there.”
“I just couldn’t put it down.”
“Action packed with twists and turns and a surprising but good ending.”
“What started as a hostage negotiation and escape that was brilliant quickly changes into something else entirely and just keeps evolving as each page is turned.”
“I wanted to stand and cheer as I neared the end.”
“Terminal Rage is not like any Mitch Rapp I’ve ever read (and I have read them all). No, this book is 100 times deeper, 100 times more complex and intricate and put every spy/terrorist thriller I have ever read to shame.”
“This was one of the best books I have read in the last year and I think this book would make a wonderful movie.”
“It was captivating to the very last word! Now, my husband is captivated by it, too!”
“Great characters and incredible plot.”
“If you love intricate set pieces in novels, this is for you.”
“I knew from the onset that the initial hostage situation wasn’t going to last long enough for the whole book but what happened afterwards was a huge surprise.”
“The story is still resonating in my mind after finishing this book two weeks ago.”
“This would be a great airplane book; not because it’s easy to read but because it is gripping enough to keep you from noticing the length of the flight.”
“All the ingredients for a great read: characters you can become attached to and a plot line that you want to follow to the end.”
“So many twists and so much humanity amongst the pain and chaos of evil in this world.”
“So intricate and clever and I had to keep reading to know what happens next.”
“This book is a real page turner! Excellent plot, realistic characters, and some real surprises.”
“I have been a reader of international thrillers for some time and I have to say, this is one of the best I have ever read!”
“Whoever said M.A. Khalifa is the new Nelson DeMille, they were right.”
“The ending was first rate and I felt like it was exactly the right one since it could have been any of several.”
“This one has a complex yet satisfying plot, complex yet understandable characters, twists and turns that left me dizzy, yet a satisfying and powerful finish.”
“The plot is complex and very well thought out.”
“Great creative suspense and whodunit writing.”
“I hated for the book to end but loved the ending.”
“Now this is a book that will keep you up reading at night.”
“Wonderful story, woven with generous amounts of suspense and excellent characters to keep the pages turning.”
“Labeled as a political thriller, but has also a great narrative on closure and forgiveness.”
“I just finished the best book I think I ever read.”
“If a six-star review was available, that would be my grade!”
“It had lots of action, lots of interesting characters and travel to enough locations for several novels.”
“You’ll find it difficult to anticipate what comes next…”
“This story is a thrilling exhilarating read.”
“Never saw the next scene coming, kept me guessing and reading until it was over, and I still wanted more.”
“So incredibly and masterfully written, interwoven with shocking brutality and poignant emotion that at times will bring tears to your eyes.”
“Was captured immediately and kept reading until finished.”
“OMG! Terminal Rage is mind blowing.”
“The story is fast moving, detailed, and hard hitting.”
“Woven together like a masterpiece.”
“I am in awe of Sam & Alex.”
“When you don’t want it to end you know it’s terrific writing.”
“It was action packed and continuously made you wonder what was really going on!”
“A story that is quite different and brilliantly told.”
“It interested me so much I read it in three days. For me that’s fast.”
“More than a good read. More twists than a pretzel.”
“It has so many twists and turns it is hard to remember them all.”
“Very knowledgeable on subject matter; ties up all loose ends!”
“If you like stories that keep you wondering and trying to figure out what is going on this is the book for you.”
“Fascinating story with pieces doled out in a way that explained just enough but not too much.”
“The well-conceived plot twists along the way had me nodding my head in admiration of the author’s imagination and storytelling ability, which I would compare favorably to the best of Robert Ludlum, Frederick Forsyth or Ken Follett.”
“The whole feel of this novel is similar to the popular BBC television series called Spooks, of which I was a fan.”
“If you are a fan of fast paced, political action thrillers you will love Terminal Rage by AM Khalifa.”
“Terminal Rage is a fast-paced, action-packed political thriller that you will find hard to put down.”
“Terminal Rage is a heartrending voyage into human nature and how far you would go to deliver justice for the ones that you love.”
“Brilliantly written and laced with multiple stories which were skillfully tied together in the end.”
“Terminal Rage is a satisfying read that you won’t be able to put down until the last page, but the characters will linger long after.”
“Very intricate and well thought out plot.”
“Mystery all the way to the last page.”
“It starts off compelling and doesn’t let up until the end.”
“Wow, what a ride, the book was so good that I was dreaming about what would happen next.”
“The author kept me interested throughout with many twists and turns plus I appreciated that I was kept informed along with the main protagonist.”
“Things aren’t as you expect them to be, and it’s worth reading this book to find out why.”
“Best book I’ve read so far this year.”
“Goodreads proposed I’d read Terminal Rage as it goes along with other books that I’ve read over the year. Goodreads, you were right.”
“The story begins taking you in one direction, then you discover you do not know what you thought you knew.”
“For those of you who are fans of Brad Thor, check out Terminal Rage. Buckle your seat belt and hang on.”
“This book has a very intricate, complex plot, with twists and turns that will keep you interested until the last word.”
“Kept my interest and wasn’t easy to figure out the next steps or where the story was going.”
“My Highest Recommendation. Five HAZARDOUS Stars.”
“Scott Brick is incredible bringing the characters to life with this listen.”
“Recommended to me by Amazon based on my purchase of another book in this genre called “I am Pilgrim”, this plot-twister measured up!”
“I was hooked as soon as I started reading it and couldn’t put it down.”
“What a plot, what a twist, what a book.”
“Brilliantly written and hard to stop reading once you start.”
“At first I was skeptical, but as the story developed and especially later in the book I became so involved and interested I felt anxious to keep reading.”
“Read it in two days — couldn’t put it down and can’t wait for the next one!”
“Realistic, right on target, loved it!”
“This is an imaginative and well thought out intricate story of betrayal and revenge with poetic justice for all involved.”
“Twists and turns kept my attention, really interesting story line shown from two different perspectives.”
“Never heard of this author but the story was impeccable.”
“This story has some twists that will thrill you…well written, it carries you in directions not anticipated.”
“Very well written, the author keeps you on the edge to the very last page.”
“This author has a long career ahead of him.”
“I consume thrillers voraciously and this is the best I’ve read in quite some time.”
“The new Vince Flynn?”
“Stumbled upon it based on reviews, and really glad I did.”
“Plot twists left and right, love it!”
“Superb storytelling.”
“Quite an exceptional work of suspense, mystery, and compassion.”
“Loved the plot twist in this book – it definitely kept me guessing until the end.”
“Keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
“Mr. A.M. Khalifa’s Terminal Rage is an exceptional novel in many respects, and is all the more impressive since this is his first book!”
“The story is complex and in the end all comes skillfully together.”
“Gripping story and worth all the countless hours I stayed up to finish it.”
“Great, a real nail biter!”
“A total edge of your seat page turner, I couldn’t put it down!!”
“Excellent read, great pacing, well placed reveals.”
“I was expecting a pulpy action thriller, but this was very different.”
“While thrillers often beg the question if there can be morality in evil acts, this one is more concerned in whether we can find evil in deeply moral actions, no matter how wrong they may, at first, seem.”
“This is the first review I’ve ever written, it was that good!”
“Terminal Rage” is an excellent debut novel, and I think Mr Khalifa is a star in the making.”
“Masterful revelation of layer after layer of suspense until the book finally brings you down and leaves you with a satisfied, pleased smile.”
“A seducing thriller like none I have read lately!”
“I want more of these characters and I do mean characters.”
“I keep telling myself ‘just one more chapter’ and before I know it it’s 2am and I really should be getting to sleep.”
“You captured and reeled me in with the first paragraph.”
“The plot unfolds like a movie, with grandiose scenery as well as unnerving close ups.”
“As a person who usually devours books like candy, I found it to hit too close to home at certain moments.”
“From the very first sentence the book grips you and does not let you go.”
“Multiple surprising yet well-grounded twists held me hostage throughout.”
“This breathtaking story will take you from one twist to another and will literally leave you unsettled.”
“It is a compelling and well-crafted story that sucks you in completely and then leads you in an entirely unexpected direction.”
“A real triumph.”
“It was hard to put down and I have on a number of occasions almost missed my train stop!!”
“There are no absolutes – no white hats and black hats, only variations of gray.”
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