In the autumn of 1970, members of the Front de libÔeration du QuÔebec take several foreign diplomats hostage, giving rise to fears of further attacks across the country. Faced with the decision to declare Martial Law in Montreal, the prime minister consults with Luc Cadotte, the Department of External Affairs' leading terrorist expert. In Exceptional Circumstances, James Bartleman writes Cadotte's account of the time leading up to the crisis. From the jungles of Colombia to post-revolution Cuba, Cadotte travels through the era of Latin American revolution, interacting with those who see no evil or good, fanatical ideologues, and crass egoists with bloody hands. After several years abroad, Luc returns to his home country to face a question that will put his career at risk, and test the extent to which his morals can be stretched.