| The Cobra | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Frederick Forsyth |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Thriller novel |
| Publication date | 2010 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN |
The Cobra is a 2010 thriller novel by Frederick Forsyth about the international cocaine trade. In it an unnamed Obama-like (not named but said to have had a Kenyan father and a wife named 'Michelle') U.S. president colludes with an unnamed Cameron-like UK Prime Minister (having a wife named 'Sam') to put an end to the international cocaine trade and brings in ex-CIA director Paul Deveraux who is basically given carte blanche to accomplish this task by any means necessary. The book re-introduces some of the characters from Forsyth's book Avenger.
Paul Deveraux, who previously appeared in the Forsyth novel Avenger, is tasked by the U.S. president to end the international cocaine trade. He recruits lawyer Cal Dexter, the main character in Avenger, to help him with this task. Together they set up a joint Anglo-American task force operating from 2 converted grain carriers to intercept cocaine shipments, destroy the ships and to detain the crews on a remote island. Both teams have access to a UAV that provides them with target information and other intelligence. Dexter also recruits a Blackburn Buccaneer pilot to shoot down the cartel's cocaine-carrying airplanes. When the actions of both task forces and the pilot lead to major international cocaine shortages, Deveraux starts a misinformation campaign aimed at turning the international drug cartels against each other. Since this leads to out-of-hand gang wars with innocent bystanders getting killed, Deveraux is eventually asked by the White House to stop all operations. Dissatisfied by the White House decision, Deveraux cuts a deal with a drug lord promising him the cocaine captured by the task forces. He tells Dexter the location of the captured cocaine and tells him to destroy it. However, it turns out to be fake and Cal Dexter finds out about this and has the Buccaneer pilot destroy the cocaine-carrying ship before it reaches its destination. In the epilogue, Deveraux's assassinated body is discovered. He has been shot for not keeping his promise with Don Diego Esteban and for messing with him.
The novel has been lauded for its background research, but the Washington Post reviewer found the characters lacking in depth, and the plot often unconvincing, "a fantasy that spins out of control".[1]