Operation Hell Gate (2005) by Marc Cerasini is the first of the 24: Declassified novels based on the FOX

Fox Broadcasting Company

Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...

 television series 24

24 (TV series)

24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...

. It takes place before season 1

24 (season 1)

Season One, also known as Day 1, of the television series 24 was first broadcast from November 6, 2001 to May 21, 2002.The season's storyline starts at 12:00 a.m...

, and Jack Bauer

Jack Bauer

Jack Bauer is the main protagonist of the American television series 24. His character has worked in various capacities on the show, often as a member of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit based in Los Angeles, and working with the FBI in Washington, D.C...

's story is set in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. Co-authors for the novel are Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran.

Plot summary

Jack Bauer has a bit of a problem with a recent mission. Subsequently he must accompany the prisoner, FBI agent Frank Hensley (who was later revealed to be an Iraqi agent) and other government officials. The plane crashes and all chaos breaks loose - Frank Hensley frames Jack Bauer for the murder of two FBI agents, Ryan Chappelle has trouble helping Jack from LA, and a weapon has been stolen that could potentially release a virus deadly to the whole of America.
Jack Bauer must use all his skill and recruit the help of some Irish women (Caitlin) in order to break down a highly complicated conspiracy that leads to the government.

Characters

Characters from the Show

• Jack Bauer- The protagonist of 24, Jack goes undercover to take down the terrorist attack that threatens the country. A subplot involves Jack being framed by Frank Hensley for killing two Federal Marshals and helping a fugitive escape.
• Nina Myers- Nina provides CTU support for Jack in Los Angeles.
• Tony Almeida- Tony has his own subplot involving characters in Los Angeles related to the terrorist plot.
• Jamey Farrell and Milo Pressman- The main CTU tech analysts.
• Ryan Chappelle- Comes in from Division to help lead the operation on thwarting the days events.
• Richard Walsh- Appears in the Prologue and the Epilogue, debriefs Jack on Operation Hell Gate.

New Characters

• Caitlin O'Connor- An immigrant and girlfriend of Shamus, she finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy and ends up aiding Jack.
• Liam O'Connor- Caitlin's 15-year-old brother. Has his own sub-plot of delivering a case to Taj.
• Dae Soo Min (Doris)- A female Korean analyst brought in to help aid Jack.
• Georgi Timko- Russian immigrant who owns Tatiana's Tavern. At the end of the novel, it is revealed Timko gave CTU-Los Angeles the tip-off about the attack at the beginning of the novel.
• Yuri- Timko's trusty henchman. He doesn't say much but is skilled at gun-fights.
• Saito- undercover police agent for the LAPD
• Captain Jessica Schneider- A former marine who is called into CTU for help working on the computer chip. She is also there for field work.

Villains

• Frank Hensley - A war hero who was thought to be killed in Iraq by the Iraqi Special Forces. One of his captors assumed his identity and joined the FBI
  Federal Bureau of Investigation
  The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
  
  , allowing them to attempt an act of terror.
• Taj Ali Kahlil- brother of Khan Ali Kahlil. An Afghan who wants revenge on America for betraying his people in the Soviet-Afghanistan War.
• Khan Ali Kahlil- brother of Taj Kahlil. When Jack pretends to be Shamus Lynch to meet Taj, Khan pretends to be Taj to test Jack. When Jack fails that test, he attempts to kill Jack by choking him. The attempt fails and Khan commits suicide by throwing himself over the bridge.
• Shamus and Griffin Lynch- Two brothers who has a rough past in their home country. They both have aliases in America and aides in terrorism on US soil. Shamus tries to provide for Caitlin's family.
• Omar Bayat- henchman of Taj Kahlil and assassin to kill Felix Tanner.
• Dante Arete- Part of a Spanish gang involved in terrorist activity to launch a missile strike. He was caught by Jack Bauer but escaped after the plane crash lands. He helps terrorists to earn money, but gets killed because the bomb inside the suitcase full of money activated.
• Dennis Spain- Chief of staff of Senator Cheever of New York.

External links

• Book excerpt and author information (Official publisher web page)