SPECIAL MEANS

GENRE
SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Core Theme
LOYALTY, BRAVERY, PATRIOTISM
TIME PERIOD
Contemporary
COMPARABLE TITLES
OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, WHITE HOUSE DOWN, ANGEL HAS FALLEN, LONDON HAS FALLEN
CHARACTER LIST
• DAVE MCCLURE: 30S, LEAD, COURAGEOUS, INGENIOUS
• PETE NOVAK: 40S, HONORABLE, LOYAL, DEPUTY CIA DIRECTOR, DAVE’S BOSS
• JACK BARRETT: 40S, STRONG, LOYAL, CIA DIRECTOR, DAVE’S BOSS
• DARYL CHILTON: 30, LOYAL, BRAVE, PATRIOTIC, DAVE’S INFORMANT
• KAREN MCCLURE: 30S, LOVING, SMART, DAVE’S WIFE
• TONY ROBERTSON: 30, STRONG, DETERMINED, PATRIOTIC, SPECIAL AGENT WHO TAKES CARE OF KAREN
Logline
CIA agents must play catch-up in time to stop powerful men in Homeland Security and the Defense Department from staging the overthrow of the President and his administration!
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Denver, CO; Raton, NM; and the Washington D.C. Metro Area (MD, VA)
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Year Published: 2020
Starting Description
When the CIA sends Agent Dave McClure to Denver to investigate inexplicable lethal violence being waged with advanced military weaponry against organized street gangs, McClure discovers unearths a nightmarish plot to seize the military district of Washington and overthrow the federal government.
Ending Description
Ends with confrontations in Raton, NM, and Wash D.C. metro area including Richmond, Dulles, and BWI airports as well as The White House in an attempt to seize military district of Washington & overthrow the federal govt. HS Special Operations forces clash with CIA, VA and MD nat'l guard forces.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
ISBN-13: 978-1977225764
Mature Audience Themes
Language/Profanity,Extreme Violence
Plot - Other Elements
Philosophical Questions
Plot - Premise
Rebellion Against 'The One'
Main Character Details
Name: David "Dave" McClure, CIA agent in the Clandestine Operations Division
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Heroic,Honorable,Masculine,Sexy,Patriotic,Selfless,Skillful,Strong Moral Code
Additional Character Details
Name: Peter Novak, Deputy Director for Operations (the DepOps), CIA
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Role: Mentor
Key Traits: Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Educated,Honorable,Leader,Blunt,Skillful,Sophisticated,Strong Moral Code
Additional Character Details
Name: Jack Barrett, Director of Central Intelligence (the DCI), CIA
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Role: logical
Key Traits: Confident,Decisive,Empathetic,Engaging,Educated,Honorable,Leader,Patriotic,Skillful,Visionary,Sophisticated,Strong Moral Code,Faithful
Additional Character Details
Name: Karen McClure, Dave McClure's wife, ex-NCIS agent, now CIA agent in the National Resources Division
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Charming,Empathetic,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Heartthrob,Educated,Sexy,Romantic
Development Pitch
LOGLINE: “CIA agents must play catch-up in time to stop powerful men in Homeland Security and the Defense Department from staging the overthrow of the president and his administration." Audiences who like the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan series, Robert Ludlum Jason Bourne series as well as the works of Daniel Silva, Brad Thor and Vince Flynn novels would enjoy this book and the blockbuster film. Escalating gang violence in Denver, Colorado, and in other large cities in the nation captures the attention of the first term President. He wants a solution, and he wants it NOW. Legislation would take years. The Director of Homeland Security suggests that the remedy to the deteriorating situation may be a highly classified program deep within the charter of the Federal Emergency Management Agency-FEMA, known as Annex K. This deep-black program, nicknamed STARDUST, would be executed beneath the cloak of utmost secrecy and without the informed consent of Congress. When the CIA sends Agent Dave McClure to Denver to investigate inexplicable lethal violence being waged with advanced military weaponry against organized street gangs, McClure discovers that what has been unleashed is a sinister solution far worse than the problem. He unearths a nightmarish plot to do much more than eliminate gangs in America - rather, an attempt to seize the military district of Washington and overthrow the federal government. McClure's own life now at risk, the CIA must act quickly and with overwhelming force.
Genre
ACTION, THRILLER, POLITICS, DRAMA
Brief
A special agent is sent to investigate some over the top assassinations of violent gangs in the United States. As his investigation continues, he slowly uncovers a sinister plot to overthrow the United States government from the inside. With his life in danger, he has to do everything it takes to stop the hostile takeover of the country.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: EXCELLENT
Franchise Potential: EXCELLENT
Pace: GOOD
Premise: EXCELLENT
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
The book profile is accurate.
Draw of Story
The clandestine nature of CIA investigations draws the reader into the story quickly.
Possible Drawbacks
The dialogue can get monotonous and heavy on exposition. Working on the dialogue to give each character a unique and more natural voice would greatly improve the quality of the project.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
It is extremely topical. In fact it is so realistic and potentially probable, it could have literally been lifted from today's news headlines.
Fanbase Potential
This is the kind of big budget movie that studios might use as a tentpole feature. It has great potential of being quite popular with fans.
Awards Potential
This is probably not an Awards contender. It is much more of a summer and popcorn kind of release.
Envisioned Budget
LARGE BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, WHITE HOUSE DOWN, ANGEL HAS FALLEN, LONDON HAS FALLEN
What’s New About the Story
This is incredibly well-researched and therefore quite realistic. The best thing to make it more unique would be to work on creating more realistic, conversation-like dialogue, especially for the lead characters.
Lead Characters
The integrity and bravery that the main character brings makes him stand out.
Uniqueness of Story
This is timely and insanely marketable. Rounding up the large cast of characters to combine could help the improve the pacing and pairing down some of the exposition in the dialogue would make the characters unique.
Possible Formats
Film - Studio, TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series
Analyst Recommendation
RECOMMEND
Justification
The subject matter is current. It's marketable. It has potential to do well at the box office. It is chocked full of everything a successful needs - action, body count, drama, suspense, intrigue, etc.
Brief
A special agent, tasked with investigating excessive force in violent gang killings, uncovers a sinister plan from within to overthrow the United States government. He and the CIA must jump into action with their own form of excessive force to stop the nefarious plot.
What We Liked
- There is a lot of intrigue and a bit of suspense. It is also incredibly realistic, so much so, that it could conceivably be based on a true story. The characters are patriotic, selfless and loyal to their country. It is very salable and will most likely appeal to audiences on a large scale.
- A feature adaptation of this story would be intriguing with potential to bring in a big fanbase. It is tailor-made to foster interest in creating a media franchise.
- Adapting this book into a limited television series could be fostered with the investment of a high end cable or emerging media company.
- Key points: Topical; Patriotic; Franchise potential; Realistic; Action-filled.
Synopsis
In Denver, Colorado, an elderly couple is enjoying a meal at a local diner. While in the parking lot attempting to leave, they become pawns in a violent gang confrontation which leaves the husband dead from a heart attack and his wife in a coma, from which she will never wake. The sad and needless murder of the innocent couple reaches the highest echelons of the United States government. The United States President is in his first term and is anxious to come up with a solution to the problem of escalating gang violence in Colorado as well as in many big cities in the United States. the country’s leadership is looking for a way to combat the problem. The Director of Homeland Security, General Blanton, who is often very critical of the president, mentions a highly classified provision within the FEMA special charter. Under the acronym, STARDUST, the program allows for top secret military operations to be carried out without informing or obtaining consent from Congress. The President is desperate for a solution so he allows Blanton, and George Stiles, the Director of FEMA, to implement the secret program.
Special Agent Dave McClure, is about to leave his wife, Karen, behind and embark on a European mission, when the CIA reassigns him to Colorado. The investigation he is heading was sparked when organized street gangs are being killed in a manner that looks professional. Advanced weapons are being used and the casualties are always from one gang, making it seem as if the lethal violence is not being initiated by rival gangs, but potentially the military. Dave is a valuable asset and the assignment comes down from his friends, CIA Director, Jack Barrett, and his Deputy Director, Pete Novak. Meanwhile, Lester, an elderly man out on a daily hike with his dog, Bax, unexpectedly runs into some aggressive military men. They murder him when he refuses to turn around on the trail. After he is shot, they move his body and truck to another location. When it’s discovered and reported to him that the body was moved, it raises Dave’s suspicions.
While chatting with a local grocery store manager, Dave discovers that the store is providing weekly food and supply orders for the military. Under the cloak of night, military trucks come, load up and go back to a secret location. As Dave does some sleuthing, he discovers the area where the secret base is located. Posing as an ICE agent, Dave goes to the site where he talks with Captain Daryl Chilton. Dave also discovers the remains of Lester’s dog in the area which ties up the mystery of where and why Lester was killed. Dave is not determined to sort out the purpose of the underground military base hideaway. As Dave gets closer to the investigation, his wife Karen, feels insecure in their house. Pete Novak sees to it that she is protected. He calls in Agent Tony Robertson and his team to the McClure house. Karen is whisked off to a safe house while Tony and his team, lay in wait. When the house is broken into, they foil the attempted kidnapping and kill the perpetrators. Upon examining the bodies, it is clear that they are military. Dave realizes that he must be getting close to something pretty big if a kidnapping attempt on his wife was carried out.
Chilton contacts Dave with some frightening news. Chilton has information that tips Dave off about a plot to use the military from the Colorado secret base in addition to two others across the country, in a coup overthrow the United States government. Blanton and Stiles are behind the plot and when they learn that Chilton may have ratted them out, they have him killed. Dave knows that he has to move quickly and with the greatest force possible in order to stop the effort to overthrow the United States President and his administration. With his own life is in grave danger, Dave has to rely on help from Barrett and Novak to get him the resources he needs for the important task of keeping the government intact. They amass the military help that they need to secure the White House and get the administration to safety. Dave, with the help of Tony and his team, get into a battle to the death with Blanton and Stiles. Dave manages to finish both characters off with a bit of help from some state of the art drones before going unconscious from his wounds. The President is safe and the over throwing of the United States government is stopped all thanks to the quick action of Dave and the CIA. When Dave recovers and is able to leave the hospital, he and Karen are taken directly to a meeting with the President. Dave’s heroics are recognized by hardily the President even though the American people will never be able to know what happened behind the scenes to protect their government.