gar ian ▁people ▁of ▁Polish ▁descent <0x0A> </s> ▁Chris ▁Allen ▁is ▁an ▁Australian ▁thr iller ▁writer , ▁based ▁in ▁Sydney , ▁Australia . ▁A ▁former ▁par atro oper , ▁Allen ▁has ▁also ▁served ▁as ▁Security ▁Manager ▁for ▁the ▁international ▁aid ▁ag ency ▁CA RE ▁in ▁Tim or ▁L este ; ▁with ▁the ▁Australian ▁Prote ct ive ▁Service ; ▁and ▁for ▁the ▁Government ▁of ▁New ▁South ▁Wales ▁as ▁Head ▁of ▁Security ▁for ▁the ▁Sydney ▁Opera ▁House ▁and ▁as ▁Sher iff ▁of ▁NS W . ▁He ▁self - pub lished ▁his ▁first ▁novel , ▁Def ender ▁of ▁the ▁Fa ith , ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Allen ▁was ▁offered ▁a ▁contract ▁for ▁two ▁books ▁with ▁Pan ▁Mac mill an ' s ▁digital ▁im print ▁M oment um , ▁followed ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁by ▁a ▁contract ▁for ▁a ▁further ▁two ▁books . ▁ ▁Career ▁Allen ▁served ▁with ▁the ▁Australian ▁Army , ▁including ▁an ▁exchange ▁posting ▁with ▁the ▁British ▁Army ' s ▁ 5 ▁Air bor ne ▁Brigade , ▁before ▁leaving ▁the ▁military ▁due ▁to ▁inj uries . ▁Following ▁ret irement ▁from ▁the ▁army ▁Allen ▁led ▁security ▁operations ▁for ▁an ▁international ▁aid ▁ag ency ▁in ▁East ▁Tim or ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 . ▁Post ▁ 9 / 1 1 , ▁he ▁served ▁within ▁Australia ' s ▁government ▁protect ive ▁security ▁and ▁law ▁enfor cement ▁environment . ▁He ▁was ▁rec ru ited ▁to ▁take ▁over ▁the ▁protection ▁of ▁Sydney ' s ▁Opera ▁House ▁after ▁the