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Shadow Warriors #2
The Gate
Review
"Bob Mayer has craft a military thriller in the tradition of John Grisham;s The Firm." Publishers Weekly ref Mayer's The Line --Publishers Weekly
NY Times bestseller A thriller delivers in all plot, suspense, authenticity and pace. --Library Journal
"Exciting and authentic! Don't miss this." --WEB Griffen
Product Description
NY Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Bob Mayer
Over four million books sold. Translated into over a dozen languages.
Reference Mayer’s Thrillers
“Mayer had me hooked from the very first page.” Stephen Coonts
“Exciting and authentic. Don’t miss this one!” W.E.B. Griffen
“Fascinating, imaginative and nerve-wracking.” Kirkus Reviews
“A pulsing technothriller. A nailbiter in the best tradition of adventure fiction.” Publishers Weekly.
What if the Japanese succeeded in their atomic bomb program in World War II? And what if the legacy of that program has sat in a submarine at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge for all the decades since then?
In Manchuria in 1945 a German U-Boat delivers the dying Reich’s processed uranium. As Russian forces close in on the infamous Unit 731 Concentration Camp, the Japanese load one of the two bombs they’ve developed on a submarine bound for the United States. They detonate the other to destroy all evidence.
Present day United States. Lake, a covert operative for the United States government, is on the trail of rogue militia terrorists. He begins to learn that various factions are all searching for something in the San Francisco area. Something powerful. Something that was lost over sixty years ago, but still can be a powerful weapon in the wrong hands.
Battling the Japanese Yakuza, North Korean agents, home-grown terrorists, and betrayal in his own organization, Lake must uncover the history of this threat in order to prevent disaster.
"Bob Mayer has craft a military thriller in the tradition of John Grisham;s The Firm." Publishers Weekly ref Mayer's The Line --Publishers Weekly
NY Times bestseller A thriller delivers in all plot, suspense, authenticity and pace. --Library Journal
"Exciting and authentic! Don't miss this." --WEB Griffen
Product Description
NY Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Bob Mayer
Over four million books sold. Translated into over a dozen languages.
Reference Mayer’s Thrillers
“Mayer had me hooked from the very first page.” Stephen Coonts
“Exciting and authentic. Don’t miss this one!” W.E.B. Griffen
“Fascinating, imaginative and nerve-wracking.” Kirkus Reviews
“A pulsing technothriller. A nailbiter in the best tradition of adventure fiction.” Publishers Weekly.
What if the Japanese succeeded in their atomic bomb program in World War II? And what if the legacy of that program has sat in a submarine at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge for all the decades since then?
In Manchuria in 1945 a German U-Boat delivers the dying Reich’s processed uranium. As Russian forces close in on the infamous Unit 731 Concentration Camp, the Japanese load one of the two bombs they’ve developed on a submarine bound for the United States. They detonate the other to destroy all evidence.
Present day United States. Lake, a covert operative for the United States government, is on the trail of rogue militia terrorists. He begins to learn that various factions are all searching for something in the San Francisco area. Something powerful. Something that was lost over sixty years ago, but still can be a powerful weapon in the wrong hands.
Battling the Japanese Yakuza, North Korean agents, home-grown terrorists, and betrayal in his own organization, Lake must uncover the history of this threat in order to prevent disaster.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1997
151 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Bob Mayer
207 books47.9k followersBesides my own interests, I read whatever my wife tells me to read-- she's a voracious reader and has wide-ranging tastes as my reviews show (she also always has the TV remote and she's always right about what to watch). I read a lot of nonfiction, mostly for research. Some of my favorite books are Lonesome Dove, Mystic River, LOTR, and an array of science fiction classics including the Foundation series. Our house is covered with books, although I finally broke down and started reading eBooks, strangely enough on my iPhone. Since I carry it pretty much everywhere, it means I always have an entire library of books with me.
I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.
I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.
I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.
I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 29, 2013
Review of Black Ops: The Gate by Bob Mayer
5 stars
An exciting and thrill-packed adventure, Black Ops: The Gate convinced me that my avoidance of tech-thrillers is senseless and that I’m missing out. This was a non-stop read, immediately hooking and then maintaining my attention. Exploration of history interwoven with dangerous and thrilling present events (the present here being 1997), politics and bureaucracy, covert security, and an anti-hero protagonist named “just Lake,” together with just a modicum of budding romance, keep this book a winning proposition.
Lake works for “The Ranch,” a governmental security agency far more secret and far deeper than the CIA, FBI, or NSA. A former Navy Seal, Lake’s history is a cipher, but his talents and skills are clearly obvious as he tracks a North Korean military contingent who are seeking a Japanese atomic bomb. Yes, Dear Reader, you did read that correctly: according to the history in this novel, the Japanese worked on and finally invented the atomic bomb, just too late to prevent the American bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, although one bomb was imploded on an island off North Korea, the other was brought toward the U.S.—and may still be active.
If you love technothrillers or even just a good story enterprisingly related, grab “Black Ops: The Gate.” Author Bob Mayer is a prolifically published writer and I hope to read a good many more of his novels.
5 stars
An exciting and thrill-packed adventure, Black Ops: The Gate convinced me that my avoidance of tech-thrillers is senseless and that I’m missing out. This was a non-stop read, immediately hooking and then maintaining my attention. Exploration of history interwoven with dangerous and thrilling present events (the present here being 1997), politics and bureaucracy, covert security, and an anti-hero protagonist named “just Lake,” together with just a modicum of budding romance, keep this book a winning proposition.
Lake works for “The Ranch,” a governmental security agency far more secret and far deeper than the CIA, FBI, or NSA. A former Navy Seal, Lake’s history is a cipher, but his talents and skills are clearly obvious as he tracks a North Korean military contingent who are seeking a Japanese atomic bomb. Yes, Dear Reader, you did read that correctly: according to the history in this novel, the Japanese worked on and finally invented the atomic bomb, just too late to prevent the American bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, although one bomb was imploded on an island off North Korea, the other was brought toward the U.S.—and may still be active.
If you love technothrillers or even just a good story enterprisingly related, grab “Black Ops: The Gate.” Author Bob Mayer is a prolifically published writer and I hope to read a good many more of his novels.
February 25, 2018
This is the 2nd book in this series.
This is not a book related to the 1st or 3rd books at all and is completely standalone.
In this book, it takes on the concept if the Japanese had been educated and could, working with other countries during WW2, could have made an atomic bomb. It goes shows you how the person could get into the US, be educated, along with having a romance, and then leave. This is all without the US knowing the real reason behind it. This is what makes this so scary.
Anyhow, we have our hero who is undercover and working with multiple alphabet agencies. However, when things start to get twisted and something not right, our hero starts to look further into things no matter who requests that he'd stop - even his supervisor. Our hero pairs up with several over agencies to get to the bottom of the whole twisted thing.
At the end we found out the bad guy leader in Japan who came up with the atomic bomb, didn't care any longer due to the loss of his wife and child during the attack at Pearl Harbor. What he soon learns is his wife is still alive and never had killed herself but made everyone else think she had.
We also get to learn about how they manipulated others within the US government to do their bidding and our hero goes about to make sure they can't do that any longer.
The plot was good, very twisted and at times very hard to understand where it was going. For the longest time I was thinking our hero was actually the son of the one baddie in Japan and his wife. However, at the end of it, and after doing the numbers on ages via events, I found I would be about a generation out. The switching between scenes and people was very confusing and frustrating at times.
This is not a book related to the 1st or 3rd books at all and is completely standalone.
In this book, it takes on the concept if the Japanese had been educated and could, working with other countries during WW2, could have made an atomic bomb. It goes shows you how the person could get into the US, be educated, along with having a romance, and then leave. This is all without the US knowing the real reason behind it. This is what makes this so scary.
Anyhow, we have our hero who is undercover and working with multiple alphabet agencies. However, when things start to get twisted and something not right, our hero starts to look further into things no matter who requests that he'd stop - even his supervisor. Our hero pairs up with several over agencies to get to the bottom of the whole twisted thing.
At the end we found out the bad guy leader in Japan who came up with the atomic bomb, didn't care any longer due to the loss of his wife and child during the attack at Pearl Harbor. What he soon learns is his wife is still alive and never had killed herself but made everyone else think she had.
We also get to learn about how they manipulated others within the US government to do their bidding and our hero goes about to make sure they can't do that any longer.
The plot was good, very twisted and at times very hard to understand where it was going. For the longest time I was thinking our hero was actually the son of the one baddie in Japan and his wife. However, at the end of it, and after doing the numbers on ages via events, I found I would be about a generation out. The switching between scenes and people was very confusing and frustrating at times.
August 23, 2018
The Gate (Black Ops #2) is the second book that I've read by the New York Times best selling author Bob Mayer. Bob is a world class author, hitting the ball out of the park with every book he writes., He's king of the thriller hill and he has class to booth, anyone that names his publishing company after his dog, "Cool Gus," has to have a lot of class. OK, maybe I'm just a hair biased since I'm a real dog person myself and come from a family of military veterans, but my evaluation of his books is purely objective. Like the first book I read, Eyes of The Hammerthe characters in this book are authentic and believable, the plot is plausible, it's something that could have happened in real life, and the dialogue is crisp and realistic. The action is nonstop and will keep you turning the pages until the very last page is reached. I can't say much more about this exciting story without risking spoiling the read for you. All I'm going to say at this point is that the ending will truly surprise and please you.
June 8, 2017
The Gate (Shadow Warriors #2) by Bob Mayer
History has a way of repeating itself, bringing the past to life in ways unimaginable to the individual or parties who discover it's resurrection. Lake, Nishim, and the other characters are the recipient of such an event. You'll have to read the rest of the story to find out what happens, but you won't be disappointed. Thanks for another great read.
History has a way of repeating itself, bringing the past to life in ways unimaginable to the individual or parties who discover it's resurrection. Lake, Nishim, and the other characters are the recipient of such an event. You'll have to read the rest of the story to find out what happens, but you won't be disappointed. Thanks for another great read.
January 1, 2021
Not Alternative History, but Additional History
Another great tale of what MIGHT have happened...focused on the end of WWII in the Pacific.
Our present -day secret warriors, along with those from Japan and North Korea with a pinch of the Yakuza lead all factions searching for control of a loss prize.
Sorry, it's hard to write a review without dropping the spoilers. You will enjoy.
Another great tale of what MIGHT have happened...focused on the end of WWII in the Pacific.
Our present -day secret warriors, along with those from Japan and North Korea with a pinch of the Yakuza lead all factions searching for control of a loss prize.
Sorry, it's hard to write a review without dropping the spoilers. You will enjoy.
June 7, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so.Shelley q
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so.Shelley q
June 14, 2017
A Compelling Read
Mayer delivers yet again. Tried to read it in bits and pieces but wound up finishing it in one go. More than a little scary premise.
Mayer delivers yet again. Tried to read it in bits and pieces but wound up finishing it in one go. More than a little scary premise.
September 23, 2017
Good Book
Good action and plot. Sometimes difficult to keep track of all the different charaters and factions. The ending was unexpected.
Good action and plot. Sometimes difficult to keep track of all the different charaters and factions. The ending was unexpected.
August 7, 2020
I reaaly enjoyed reading this book.
October 25, 2020
Great story
Great characters, great plot. Haven't had a bad book yet and don't expect one. Keep up the good work sir.
Great characters, great plot. Haven't had a bad book yet and don't expect one. Keep up the good work sir.
January 8, 2022
All Mayers books are wonderful, and I have read a lot of them
All Mayers books are wonderful, and I have read a lot of them. I suggest reading them all. Thanks Mr Mayer.
All Mayers books are wonderful, and I have read a lot of them. I suggest reading them all. Thanks Mr Mayer.
March 7, 2013
Military thrillers like this usually aren’t my preferred genre, but the premise of this one intrigued me so I thought I’d give it a shot. I’m glad I did as it was an intense, action filled romp through San Francisco. I really enjoyed all the historical background the author gave as it really added to the understanding of the how and why of what was going on. It did get to be too much at times, even for a history nut like myself.
That said, the premise was plausible, even if the action was a bit overboard at times. However, that’s often a hallmark of a novel like this, right? It’d be a hit at the box office, for that reason alone. Not to mention that the action really carries the story forward quickly, bringing you to the resolution before you realize you’re there.
I really liked Lake, despite wondering off and on just whose side he was on. That kind of ambiguity keeps me reading though. I like not knowing all the answers, just so long as they’re all eventually answered in the end. Lake was more than a little scary at times, but always within the lines of getting the job done.
Overall, The Gate was an exciting novel that kept you guessing right up to the surprise ending. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys military thrillers or a story packed full of action. The variety of characters kept you from getting bored, you learn a little history, and you up your heart rate for a bit.
**I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review**
That said, the premise was plausible, even if the action was a bit overboard at times. However, that’s often a hallmark of a novel like this, right? It’d be a hit at the box office, for that reason alone. Not to mention that the action really carries the story forward quickly, bringing you to the resolution before you realize you’re there.
I really liked Lake, despite wondering off and on just whose side he was on. That kind of ambiguity keeps me reading though. I like not knowing all the answers, just so long as they’re all eventually answered in the end. Lake was more than a little scary at times, but always within the lines of getting the job done.
Overall, The Gate was an exciting novel that kept you guessing right up to the surprise ending. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys military thrillers or a story packed full of action. The variety of characters kept you from getting bored, you learn a little history, and you up your heart rate for a bit.
**I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review**
December 14, 2012
Interesting concept, not so keen on the execution though.
Mayer tends to give a lot of factual information in his books. Sometimes to the detrement of the story. The dialogue seems awkward and lacking in emotion. Yes I know it is a thriller and isn't supposed to be emotive, but the it lacks the finesse of conversational flow.
Anyway back to the quite fascinating concept of nuclear bombs and the initial research and use of them. The story depicts a change of events that if true would certainly shape the image of history during WW2 in a different way.
I received a free copy of this book for my review.
Mayer tends to give a lot of factual information in his books. Sometimes to the detrement of the story. The dialogue seems awkward and lacking in emotion. Yes I know it is a thriller and isn't supposed to be emotive, but the it lacks the finesse of conversational flow.
Anyway back to the quite fascinating concept of nuclear bombs and the initial research and use of them. The story depicts a change of events that if true would certainly shape the image of history during WW2 in a different way.
I received a free copy of this book for my review.
December 20, 2014
Not bad, though it didn't keep my attention to the extent that the 1st book in the series, The Line, did.
The Gate didn't seem to come into focus quite so well, though the climactic ending is reasonably exciting.
Overall, the writing is serviceable, with little bumps in the road where gets a subjunctive wrong or commits another small grammatical peccadillo.
This second volume also has a heavier smattering of f-bombing--which for me is not a point in its favor.
The Gate didn't seem to come into focus quite so well, though the climactic ending is reasonably exciting.
Overall, the writing is serviceable, with little bumps in the road where gets a subjunctive wrong or commits another small grammatical peccadillo.
This second volume also has a heavier smattering of f-bombing--which for me is not a point in its favor.
February 10, 2013
I was given a copy of this book to review. I found the book over all a well written thriller, I found the plot twists good. All of the different groups in 1940 are returned in present day. I never expected the many plot twists and felt for lake, the main player. If you enjoy spy/military books, then this is for you.
October 18, 2014
I've felt this way before but this is really one of the best Bob Mayer books I've read. Lake was the typical man's man character but he wasn't infallible. I very much enjoyed the ending. Maybe I was a little bit slow but it was close to end before I figured out Harmon's link to the story. I'll keep reading Mayer's books but wonder what I will do when I finish all of them. Hope he keeps writing.
June 2, 2011
The book is a decent conspiracy story. I do not regret reading it and was in to the story. There were a few editorial issues such as missing and misspelled words here and there. It was entertaining overall but I was a little disappointed with the ending.
June 27, 2012
I love the Black Ops series. this one had me on the edge of my seat for a while.
Starts the "What if" thinking going, which you don't want to do just before bedtime.
Starts the "What if" thinking going, which you don't want to do just before bedtime.
November 25, 2014
This is one of the best Black Ops novels I have read; good story, good characters. This is what I expect from a writer such as Bob Mayer. A rather abrupt end, but it closed all the holes. Well done.
June 20, 2013
Black Ops search for Japanese WWII bomb.
July 14, 2013
It had a few moments, but it was light on plot believability and heavy and military details (loving descriptions of hardware).
I did enjoy the intersection of numerous secret organizations.
I did enjoy the intersection of numerous secret organizations.
July 24, 2013
An exciting novel. Great read
July 5, 2014
awesome book, it is a good what could have been, well written I will definitely try more
November 1, 2014
Interesting review of the development of nuclear weapons!
January 23, 2016
Kind of hard to follow, what with all the Korean and Japanese names and organizations, but ultimately interesting enough to stick with to the end.
January 18, 2012
my opinion.....very good reading
July 16, 2013
Reading on my Kindle.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews