The New Bad Thing Summary, Characters and Themes
The New Bad Thing by Michael Ebner is a fast-paced political thriller centered on Teagan Penn, a seasoned journalist whose personal heartbreak collides with global terrorism.
Set against the backdrop of modern-day fears—mass violence, extremism, and media distrust—the novel explores what happens when one woman decides not to wait for justice. Grieving infertility and trapped in a failing marriage, Teagan secretly creates a rogue rescue operation, blending journalism, deception, and vigilantism.
Summary
The novel opens in a luxury hotel in Paris, where journalist Teagan Penn is hiding during a brutal terrorist attack.
As chaos erupts around her, she reaches out to Roman, a mysterious fixer with underworld ties.
Her call hints at a deeper connection between them and a secret she’s desperate to keep hidden.
The story jumps back and forth between the present siege and the past, slowly uncovering how Teagan reached this point.
In the months leading up to the attack, Teagan’s life in Seattle is marked by emotional strain and professional frustration.
She works for a magazine where she’s constantly fighting against sensationalist coverage and defending younger colleagues from unethical decisions.
Her marriage to Todd is faltering under the weight of failed fertility treatments and the emotional toll of multiple miscarriages.
Isolated and increasingly disillusioned, Teagan begins searching for a purpose that her career and personal life no longer offer.
Her turning point comes after a series of news reports: a gruesome baby-theft case and the rise of a terrorist group called K.I.L. (Kings in Life), known for abducting and trafficking women.
Outraged and desperate to make a difference, Teagan creates “Project Rebound”—a fake book crowdfunding campaign masking a real mission.
Her goal is to raise money for mercenaries who will rescue kidnapped women.
She keeps the project secret from almost everyone, including her husband.
She travels to Los Angeles to recruit Roman, a high-powered intermediary who deals in global intelligence and operations.
To gain his trust, Teagan claims to be writing his biography.
Roman is skeptical but intrigued, especially as Teagan proves capable, resourceful, and committed.
The two form a cautious alliance.
Teagan returns home and begins setting up infrastructure: websites, payment channels, and covert communication.
As the donations roll in, so do the risks.
Back in Paris, the hotel siege intensifies.
Teagan arms herself and kills two terrorists.
She’s eventually rescued but immediately taken into custody by U.S. Agent Lexington.
Lexington has been monitoring her activities and confronts her about Project Rebound.
He hints at government awareness and concern over her unauthorized mission.
As the second half of the book unfolds, Teagan is pulled deeper into global intrigue.
Governments begin tracking the suspicious activity behind Rebound.
Hackers start poking holes in her security.
Someone from inside her circle betrays her, leading to the platform’s temporary collapse.
Teagan learns that Roman’s past is far darker than he let on.
His ties include military coups, arms dealing, and assassinations.
She is forced to reconsider how much she can trust him.
Despite mounting pressure, Teagan goes ahead with the mission.
With millions raised, a team of operatives is assembled to raid a K.I.L. compound in the Middle East.
The rescue is partially successful—27 women are freed, but many mercenaries are killed.
The violence exposes Rebound to global scrutiny.
Teagan flees back to the U.S., where she becomes the subject of legal investigations and public debate.
Is she a hero, or a criminal who endangered lives by taking justice into her own hands?
Roman is later found dead.
His murder is likely an effort to silence or warn those involved in Rebound.
Teagan, left to face the consequences alone, visits one of the recovery centers for the rescued women.
The emotional weight of her decisions finally catches up to her.
The novel closes on a quieter, reflective note.
Teagan is no longer the same person.
She questions the cost of her choices, the meaning of justice, and whether she did the right thing.
While her mission succeeded in part, it left behind scars—physical, political, and emotional—that may never fully heal.
Characters
Teagan Penn
Teagan Penn is the novel’s central protagonist, a deeply complex character marked by both vulnerability and fierce determination. As a seasoned journalist, she struggles with a heavy emotional burden stemming from infertility and multiple miscarriages, which not only strain her marriage but also intensify her sense of isolation and despair.
This personal pain drives much of her motivation, pushing her beyond the boundaries of traditional journalism into a more dangerous, vigilante role through her secret initiative, Project Rebound. Teagan embodies the archetype of a conflicted hero—she is brave and resourceful, having survived a terrorist siege, yet haunted by trauma and moral ambiguity.
Her professional integrity clashes with the harsh realities she confronts, especially as she balances deception with the urgent desire to rescue kidnapped women from a ruthless terrorist group. Throughout the novel, Teagan’s psychological state deteriorates under the pressure of her covert mission and violent confrontations, revealing a woman who is both a survivor and a fragile soul wrestling with guilt and the cost of justice.
Roman
Roman is an enigmatic and morally ambiguous character who operates as a shadowy fixer with deep underground connections across global crime networks. Initially presented as a powerful ally whom Teagan seeks out to help fund and execute Project Rebound, Roman’s true nature gradually unfolds as both a mentor and a dangerous wildcard.
His background includes ties to political coups, assassinations, and illicit operations, blurring the line between villain and necessary evil. Roman tests Teagan’s loyalty and cunning, manipulating her in ways that challenge her trust and ethics.
His presence adds layers of complexity and danger to the narrative, symbolizing the murky alliances often required in high-stakes covert missions. His assassination near the novel’s end underlines the lethal stakes of this shadow world and leaves Teagan to face the consequences largely alone.
Todd Penn
Todd, Teagan’s husband, plays a significant but more subdued role, representing the personal and emotional stakes at home. Their marriage is deeply affected by their shared struggle with infertility, which introduces a layer of emotional distance and conflict.
Todd’s disbelief and lack of understanding regarding Teagan’s secret plans highlight the gap between them, underscoring her isolation even within her closest relationship. He embodies the normal life and conventional expectations from which Teagan increasingly diverges as her dangerous mission consumes her.
Todd’s character serves as a poignant contrast to the clandestine, violent world Teagan enters, illustrating the personal sacrifices and collateral damage caused by her crusade.
Agent Lexington
Agent Lexington is a government official who appears as both an antagonist and a complicated enforcer of law and order. His interrogation of Teagan after the Paris siege reveals his awareness of Project Rebound and hints at broader governmental surveillance and suspicion.
Lexington represents institutional authority and the legal boundaries that Teagan challenges through her vigilante actions. His role introduces a tension between official justice and Teagan’s rogue operations, raising questions about accountability, legality, and the fine line between heroism and criminality.
His persistent presence throughout the story keeps pressure on Teagan, emphasizing that her mission operates in a perilous gray zone.
Neetu
Neetu is a colleague of Teagan’s at the Seattle magazine, symbolizing the professional and ethical challenges Teagan faces in her civilian life. Teagan’s defense of Neetu in confrontations with their editor reveals her commitment to integrity and loyalty amid workplace politics and betrayals.
Neetu’s character also contrasts with Teagan’s increasingly secretive and hazardous undertakings, grounding the narrative in everyday struggles and moral choices outside the immediate thriller action. Neetu serves as a reminder of the stakes Teagan faces in balancing public and private battles.
Themes
Moral Ambiguity and Vigilantism
One of the central themes in The New Bad Thing is the complex question of morality in the face of injustice and violence. Teagan Penn’s decision to launch Project Rebound—a secret crowdfunding campaign to fund a vigilante rescue mission—places her in a morally gray area.
The novel challenges readers to consider whether breaking laws and ethical norms can be justified by noble ends, such as rescuing kidnapped women from a terrorist organization. Throughout the story, Teagan struggles with the consequences of her actions, including deception, alliances with questionable characters like Roman, and the violence her mission entails.
Her internal conflict over whether she is a hero or a criminal drives much of the narrative tension. The book raises uncomfortable questions about the cost of justice and whether taking the law into one’s own hands ultimately causes more harm than good.
Psychological Trauma and Personal Loss
Teagan’s personal struggles form a poignant emotional backbone for the novel. Her battles with infertility, miscarriages, and a strained marriage contribute to her sense of isolation and emotional fragility.
These intimate hardships mirror the larger chaos unfolding around her, highlighting how trauma operates on both personal and global levels. The psychological toll of her vigilante mission—particularly after killing terrorists and facing betrayals—deepens her sense of guilt and anxiety.
This theme emphasizes the human cost of conflict, showing that the consequences of violence extend beyond physical danger to deep mental and emotional wounds. Teagan’s unraveling underscores the fragility of resilience and the heavy burden borne by those who choose to fight dangerous causes.
Power, Corruption, and Global Terrorism
The terrorist group K.I.L. (Kings in Life) serves as a representation of unchecked power and the corrosive nature of extremism on a global scale. Their violent expansion into various cities and involvement in heinous crimes such as kidnapping and murder demonstrates how terrorism disrupts societies and breeds fear.
The novel explores the international ramifications of such groups, revealing internal power struggles and the blurred lines between political agendas and outright violence. This broader geopolitical backdrop intensifies the stakes of Teagan’s mission and highlights how individual lives are caught in the crossfire of large-scale conflict.
The theme also touches on governmental and intelligence agencies’ responses, raising questions about surveillance, control, and the effectiveness or ethics of counterterrorism efforts.
Deception, Trust, and Betrayal
Deception is a recurring theme that complicates relationships and drives suspense in the novel. Teagan’s double life, keeping Project Rebound secret from her husband and others, sets a foundation of mistrust that permeates the story.
The alliance with Roman, a mysterious fixer with a shadowy past, adds layers of uncertainty and danger. His true identity and motives emerge slowly, forcing Teagan to reevaluate whom she can trust.
Additionally, the revelation of betrayal from someone close to her threatens to dismantle her mission and endangers her life. These dynamics of trust and treachery reflect how in high-stakes situations, alliances are fragile and self-interest often overshadows loyalty.
The theme reveals the isolating effects of secrets and the difficulty of finding genuine support in a world rife with hidden agendas.
Ethical Complexity of Media and Public Perception
Teagan’s role as a journalist adds another dimension to the ethical exploration in the story. Her conflict with editorial decisions and media politics illustrates the challenges of maintaining integrity within an industry often swayed by sensationalism and power.
Furthermore, the public exposure of Project Rebound and the resulting media debate on vigilantism show how justice is perceived differently across social and political spectra. Some hail Teagan as a hero who acted when institutions failed, while others condemn her as reckless and unlawful.
This theme underscores the power of narrative and public opinion in shaping the legacy of controversial actions. It also raises important questions about the responsibility of the media in covering sensitive and dangerous issues.
Resilience and the Search for Identity
The novel ultimately explores themes of resilience and self-discovery. Despite overwhelming odds, personal loss, and physical danger, Teagan continues to pursue her mission driven by a fierce commitment to rescuing victims and confronting evil.
Yet, the end of the story finds her reflecting on the true cost of her choices—both to others and to herself. The psychological scars, the loss of allies, and the ambiguity of the rescue’s success compel her to question who she has become through this journey.
This theme resonates with the universal human quest to find meaning in suffering and to reconcile one’s ideals with the harsh realities of the world. It suggests that resilience is not just about endurance but also about coming to terms with one’s own limits and the consequences of difficult decisions.