LEAGUE CITY, Texas — The new book from Iranian expatriate Diako Hazhir, Dead Man’s Pacemaker, is a thrilling and deeply personal story that explores the ethical dilemmas of the Iranian diaspora — caught between safety and responsibility — and blends espionage with identity, trauma with resistance.
“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,” Hazhir said.
Dead Man’s Pacemaker introduces readers to Iranian expatriate Arman Pirouzi, who wants to lead a quiet life as an up-and-coming doctor in the United States. However, his heart yearns for a better life for those he left behind. Not long after protests in his home country lead to the imprisonment of his goddaughter, the CIA offers Arman a shocking opportunity. To stop an impending war that would cost countless innocent lives, the CIA needs a doctor to enter Iran and surgically remove a pacemaker containing sensitive data from a covert operative working within Iran. With Arman’s expertise and political ties to the country, he’s the perfect candidate.
Arman wants nothing to do with their plans. Iran watches their borders closely, and spies face torture and execution. This is a suicide mission that would place him back at the heart of all the horrors he’d left behind. But when the life of his goddaughter is threatened, he can no longer watch from afar and hope for a positive outcome.
The surgery goes well, but a fateful encounter places Arman on the government’s radar. Arman is detained, putting the entire mission and thousands of innocent lives at risk. Will he escape to the United States with the pacemaker before time runs out?
“Dead Man’s Pacemaker is more than just a political thriller,” Hazhir added. “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.”
About the Author
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. For more information, visit www.diakohazhir.com.