Nine Lives Too Many features ruthless terrorist attacks in New York City and the probable causes of such following the 9/11 tragedy. The two real-to-life main characters are Denny Delaney, a flawed New York detective fighting alcoholism and a failing marriage, and a fanatical bomber who is willing to indiscriminately sacrifice hundreds of innocents. “Felix the Cat” leads the NYPD and the FBI on a merciless, almost flawless chase to capture him before another travesty occurs. Felix is a classic antagonist who has honed his destructive bombing skills to a frightening degree.

News bulletins flash all around the world. A powerful explosion has rocked the main concourse of Manhattan’s Grand Central Station. Scores have been killed; damages and insecurities balloon. Following the initial explosion, other well-placed bombs and rockets are detonated from a distance with a cell phone - an untraceable, disposable cell phone, cutting back chances of detection by law enforcement officers. Some of the FBI’s tactics and choices are put under public scrutiny, further demoralizing the nation.

The author has called this a cautionary tale. That’s exactly what it is. The only defense Americans have is constant vigilance. They must be strong and resilient in a war that may well define all of the twenty-first century. This wasn’t written for shock value or to be exploitive. It is a thoughtful rethinking of our values and the sore spots that make Americans potential victims of terrorism.

This bright, hunky, interesting “good guy” versus “bad guy” story could possibly lead to a series for Rooney. This is a complex terrorist thriller with plenty of action, intriguing characters and conspiratorial theories to mesmerize just about anyone.