Shadows of the Fathers - Q&A with author Crowley Clark

Q. What inspired Shadows of the Fathers' main character, Hunter Long?

A. Hunter came from the idea that many heroes in the genre seem to show up fully-baked. It isn't that they don’t have an arc or change, but they have the skills to succeed. Hunter is capable, but he is young and inexperienced, with a lot to learn. So, this is an origin story. I also wanted Hunter to wrestle with the idea of becoming a killer and the moral weight of that choice, rather than just running through bad guys. Even if they live, men and women who put themselves in harm's way for others' safety sometimes pay a high price and can lose themselves along the way. I’ve also seen a lot of people from generational wealth struggle to make their own way and find their own success. Hunter is compared to his grandfather, a CIA legend, which makes him struggle more than he might otherwise.

Q. The story is a cross between a contemporary spy novel and a narco-thriller. What inspired it?

A. My own loves and experience. I grew up on James Bond, Mission: Impossible, and Tom Clancy. I read or listen to as many espionage thrillers as I can get my hands on, and I have always found the genre fascinating. I was raised in a military family and have an appreciation for service. As for the cartel side of the equation, Mexico is such a beautiful, cultured place that has been devastated by the drug war. The intersection of espionage and drugs carries significant moral ambiguity and shades of gray, so hopefully it challenges beliefs and provokes thought from multiple perspectives. The idea for the cartel merger came from a "what if" question. There are already huge international conglomerates, but this book takes it to the next level.

Q. Good authors pay attention to technical accuracy. What kind of research did you do for this book?

A. Lots of reading, listening to books and podcasts, and endless online research. A few books I highly recommend include Annie Jacobsen's Surprise, Kill, Vanish: The Secret History of CIA Paramilitary Armies, Operators, and Assassins, and Peter Schweizer's Blood Money: Why the Powerful Turn a Blind Eye While China Kills Americans. Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick was great on hacking and social engineering. To capture the Colombian jungle, I read The Lost City of Z by David Grann. Peter Zeihan is a good source for geopolitics. I won't name all my sources, but I did interviews, including one with former Mexican law enforcement officer and current security consultant and combat instructor Ed Calderon. I've had my fair share of exposure to firearms and military hardware, so that helps.

Q. What is something unusual you uncovered in your research?

A. I didn't have to embellish much of the violence in the book. In fact, several incidents came from recent headlines. In many ways, this book mirrors a sad, unfortunate reality.

Q. What made you choose the settings in the book?

A. This involves U.S. intelligence, so some time at CIA headquarters was a must before the action really pops off. Mexico is the obvious ground zero of the drug war, but I wanted Hunter to get progressively further from home (and hope) as the story progressed, so he gets a ride to Colombia. I also thought it was important to highlight Mexico’s beauty and contrast that with the horrors of violence in the country.

Ground zero of ground zero: Mexico City's Constitution Plaza with the Presidential Palace on the left.

Q. Who is your favorite character in the novel and why?

A. Outside of Hunter, Victor Chernov. He's the world-weary spymaster with mixed loyalties. He thinks on his feet, is highly skilled, and gets himself out of impossible situations. Given their connection, Victor gives the reader a glimpse of Hunter's amazing potential. Bianca Cruz is my next favorite, mostly because of how the story forces such a brutal change on her.

Q. What can readers expect out of this book? What's it like?

A. This is like a young Jack Ryan with a good dose of imposter syndrome meets Netflix's Narcos. Most who loves a good spy novel or espionage thriller will appreciate it. It has geopolitical aspects and elements of narco- and crime thrillers. From a contemporary perspective, if you like Mark Greaney's The Gray Man series or Jack Carr's The Terminal List, you'll appreciate it. Going back further, anything by Tom Clancy and, for the cartel side, Don Winslow's Power of the Dog series. Head back even further, and you have Ian Fleming's James Bond and John le Carré's George Smiley. This book attempts a broader reach and appeal, though, as each character, both men and women, has a different story.

Q. Will Hunter Long return?

A. There's a good chance. He has quite the backstory with his upbringing, his college trip to Mexico, and his boxing, so I like the idea of a prequel. As far as a sequel, it's in the works, and I plan for it to be bigger and better than the first book. By that, I mean it will be harder for Hunter to reach the next level in his development.