Published on the twelfth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks, Loose Nukes explores an even more frightening possibility: nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists. From Kyrgyzstan to Kashmir to Britain, from Washington to New York to Chicago to Alaska, we follow the Mushrooms (anarchists with The Bomb) and the man who would stop them, nuclear nonproliferation expert Coot Jenkins. The physical devastation and human suffering that even a small nuclear weapon can cause become horribly apparent as the Mushrooms begin their attacks. Coot is drawn into the center of the action when Mushrooms member George Boyd demands to negotiate with him. In the exciting climax, Coot must discover who has financed the Mushrooms' purchase of Soviet-era nukes and gain the cooperation of the Mushrooms to thwart an even more devastating nuclear attack on the United States. His courage, skill, and resourcefulness are required in full measure to prevent the unfolding disaster. While Coot works to contain the spreading carnage, he is also grieving over the death of his wife Frannie. When he meets computer security specialist Diana Munson, his personal turmoil intensifies. Coot wants to be more than friends but Diana has serious issues of her own holding her back. As they both struggle to prevent more nuclear attacks, Coot and Diana must also overcome the personal conflicts that keep them apart.