REVIEW IN THE NAPLES SUN TIMES

Marwan: The Autobiography of a 9/11 Terrorist, is a taut, well-paced exploration of a key episode in contemporary history. Suspenseful and illuminating, Marwan is brilliantly balanced between the compelling narration of known facts and an imaginative response to unanswered questions. Who are these people who found themselves attracted to the suicide mission of flying American airliners into the towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and, if all had gone according to plan, the Capitol building? What shaped them? What made their destinies inevitable? How did they relate to one another? How did they form their opinions about the United States and its purposes? How convinced were they of the holiness of their martyrdom? How pure was their Islamic faith?

Schefrin gives us an intimate portrait of his title character's thoughts and feelings - and his frequent stretches of ambivalence and confusion. Sure-handedly, Schefrin mixes action, densely-textured setting and atmosphere, and characterization. He fashions a convincing world filled with sensory detail, that lends credence to the more speculative and abstract dimensions of the novel. clearly, he is one of those self-published writers who deserves the status of a traditional publisher and a prestige imprint.

The author does a remarkable job of keeping the reader engaged, especially considering the fact that the story's outcome is known from the beginning. Along the way, we come to appreciate (or more likely be stunned by) the brilliant simplicity of the terrorist plan and the ease with which a series of interim goals were accomplished, leading to the ultimate objective.