On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Dead Man’s Pacemaker by Diako Hazhir is a heart-pounding political thriller that follows an Iranian expatriate doctor’s perilous CIA mission to prevent war, blending espionage, identity, and the emotional cost of freedom.
Dead Man’s Pacemaker
Diako Hazhir’s Dead Man’s Pacemaker is a gripping political thriller that delves into the emotional and ethical complexities faced by the Iranian diaspora. Written by an Iranian expatriate, this deeply personal narrative weaves together themes of identity, trauma, and resistance, offering a high-stakes story of espionage and moral dilemmas. The novel reflects the pain of watching a homeland suffer from afar while paying tribute to those fighting for freedom within Iran.
The story centers on Arman Pirouzi, an Iranian expatriate and rising doctor in the United States, who longs for a quiet life but remains haunted by the struggles of those he left behind. When protests in Iran lead to the imprisonment of his goddaughter, Arman is thrust into a perilous mission by the CIA. The agency needs a doctor to enter Iran and surgically remove a pacemaker containing sensitive data from a covert operative—a task critical to preventing a war that could claim countless lives. With his medical expertise and ties to Iran, Arman is the ideal candidate, but the risks are staggering. Iran’s borders are tightly monitored, and spies face torture or execution, making the mission a potential death sentence.
Initially, Arman resists the CIA’s plan, unwilling to return to the horrors he escaped. However, when his goddaughter’s life is threatened, he can no longer remain a bystander. The surgery succeeds, but a chance encounter puts Arman in the crosshairs of the Iranian government. Detained and under suspicion, he must navigate a treacherous landscape to escape with the pacemaker and prevent catastrophe. Arman’s journey is marked by inner conflict, as he grapples with impossible choices that test his courage and moral compass.
A Thriller with Emotional Depth
Beyond its pulse-pounding plot, Dead Man’s Pacemaker offers a nuanced portrayal of exile and the cost of freedom. The suspense and espionage captivate readers, but it’s the emotional weight of Arman’s struggle with identity and morality that resonates. Hazhir, a medical professional and member of the Iranian diaspora, infuses the story with authenticity, drawing on his 27 years of lived experience in Iran. Many events in the novel echo real-life moments he witnessed, creating a vivid backdrop of oppression, resilience, and resistance.
The stakes escalate as Arman returns to Tehran, where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ruthlessly hunts spies with brutal efficiency. Tasked with locating a critical asset and extracting classified intelligence, Arman must stop a war before it ignites. The city becomes a deadly maze where old allies turn into enemies, past relationships resurface, and danger lurks at every turn. Capture means torture; failure could unleash disaster. The greatest challenge lies in discerning whom to trust in a world where betrayal is ever-present.
A Must-Read Political Thriller
Praised as a must-read for fans of political thrillers with real-world relevance, Dead Man’s Pacemaker stands in the tradition of works like The Night Manager and The Tehran Initiative. It delivers a heart-pounding race against time where every decision could be life-or-death. Hazhir’s storytelling not only entertains but also sheds light on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression, making it a compelling read for those seeking insight into the intersection of personal and political struggle.
Dead Man’s Pacemaker is a powerful exploration of what it means to be caught between safety and responsibility. Through Arman’s journey, Hazhir offers readers a thrilling yet poignant window into the realities of Iran and the enduring cost of freedom, making this novel a standout in the genre of political thrillers.
Diako Hazhir
Diako Hazhir is a medical professional and a writer of gripping political thrillers. As a member of the Iranian diaspora, he brings a deeply personal perspective to his storytelling, drawing from 27 years
of lived experience in Iran. Many of the events in his novels echo real-life moments he has witnessed, blending authenticity with high-stakes intrigue. Through his writing, Diako Hazhir explores themes of resistance, espionage, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression
I wrote Dead Man’s Pacemaker to explore the emotional and political complexities of being an Iranian in exile. It’s a response to the pain of watching my homeland suffer from afar, and a tribute to those still fighting for freedom inside Iran.
Dead Man’s Pacemaker_ is more than just a political thriller. Readers will be hooked by the suspense and espionage, but what they’ll remember is the emotional weight — Arman’s inner conflict and the moral choices he faces. It’s a thriller with depth, offering a nuanced, authentic look at identity, exile and the cost of freedom.
–Diako Hazhir
Find more from Diako Hazhir now:
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Audible: https://amzn.to/4l3axI3
Apple Audiobook: https://apple.co/4kNlu0c
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