covid and the kingdom

BubbleStream

Katherine Burlake

a book bubble about

The Bystander

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

synopsis

Synopsis

The Bystander is a mystery thriller set in Saudi Arabia where rivalries in the Saudi royal family, religion, and oil money intersect. In a kingdom built on sand, an ambitious and devious prince uses terrorism to disrupt the succession and become the next king.

bio

Author Biography

At the Department of State spent twenty-one years inspecting embassy operations around the world. Traveled to over 130 countries including Iraq and Afghanistan with over 200 total trips. Overseas living included Peru, Thailand, England, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the Cote d’Ivoire. Served four years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the U.S. Embassy. Worked as a management analyst at the VA for nine years. One of first 20 women accepted in Air Force Intelligence School, and the first female Air Force Intelligence Officer to serve in the Vietnam War. Born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lives in Colorado, BS University of Oregon, MHA Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas.
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Author Insight

covid and the kingdom

Covid 19 and the drop in oil prices has forced Saudi Arabia and the other rich oil countries to halt plans to wean themselves off oil. The problem is they are still dependent on oil. The result is they are tasking their people to pay higher taxes, and taking away free subsidies for essentials like electricity. Suppression and unrest are sure to follow unless the royal families enlist the support of the people.

Book Excerpt

The Bystander

Amy remembered the Tuwaiq escarpment was outside Riyadh and so were the desert camps of the royals. In the camps, falcon hunting, a Saudi Royal obsession, took place. She turned the page to the chapter on Ecology and Natural Resources. This looked like something that was her family business. She read one sentence that said it all.

Natural resources in the Arabian Desert include: oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur, gold, zinc, and copper.

She thought for a moment and looked back at the page. That was it—one sentence on natural resources?
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