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Scot Harvath #14
Code of Conduct
Hidden deep within one of the world’s most powerful organizations is a secret committee with a devastating agenda. Its members are afforded incredible protections—considered elites, untouchables.
But when four seconds of video is captured halfway around the world and anonymously transmitted to D.C., covert wheels are set in motion, and counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is tapped to undertake the deadliest assignment of his career.
What begins as a favor will evolve into a globe-spanning drama of highly personal stakes played out against a backdrop of stunning international intrigue, duplicitous political gamesmanship, and the darkest, most clandestine fears of the espionage world.
With razor-sharp plotting, richly rendered characters, and heart-stopping surprises on every page, Thor isn’t just at the top of his game—he owns the entire genre.
But when four seconds of video is captured halfway around the world and anonymously transmitted to D.C., covert wheels are set in motion, and counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is tapped to undertake the deadliest assignment of his career.
What begins as a favor will evolve into a globe-spanning drama of highly personal stakes played out against a backdrop of stunning international intrigue, duplicitous political gamesmanship, and the darkest, most clandestine fears of the espionage world.
With razor-sharp plotting, richly rendered characters, and heart-stopping surprises on every page, Thor isn’t just at the top of his game—he owns the entire genre.
450 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 7, 2015
1823 people are currently reading
5861 people want to read
About the author
Brad Thor
44 books7,271 followersBRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five thrillers, including EDGE OF HONOR, SHADOW OF DOUBT, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 917 reviews
November 20, 2019
With Brad Thor there are few things you can always expect:
- Manly, tough guy behavior
- Disgust for terrorists and extremists
- Torture
- 70s Funk music
But, as of late, I have not been able to expect a good novel/story. The last few book kind of fell flat for me – including the lowest rating I had ever given one of his Scot Harvath books. I was starting to wonder if the Harvath storyline had jumped the shark? Lost its luster? Should I keep going?
Well, I was this far in to the series and committed, so I had to keep going!
When this book first started, I thought it was going to be like the recent ones. It felt a bit slow and forced. For the first third, there is a lot of running around the African jungle without a lot of content or story progression to keep me interested. I was starting to fade again.
However . . . after the first third, things started to pick up and it felt a bit more like the old Harvath titles!
Stakes were raised, the plot line became apocalyptic and suspenseful, seemingly “good guys” were revealed as definitely “bad guys”; basically, total world-wide corruption and I really got into it! I am glad to see this series regaining some of my interest. Hopefully the next one will continue the trend. To be honest, until I see a few books in a row of this, I will remain skeptical!
- Manly, tough guy behavior
- Disgust for terrorists and extremists
- Torture
- 70s Funk music
But, as of late, I have not been able to expect a good novel/story. The last few book kind of fell flat for me – including the lowest rating I had ever given one of his Scot Harvath books. I was starting to wonder if the Harvath storyline had jumped the shark? Lost its luster? Should I keep going?
Well, I was this far in to the series and committed, so I had to keep going!
When this book first started, I thought it was going to be like the recent ones. It felt a bit slow and forced. For the first third, there is a lot of running around the African jungle without a lot of content or story progression to keep me interested. I was starting to fade again.
However . . . after the first third, things started to pick up and it felt a bit more like the old Harvath titles!
Stakes were raised, the plot line became apocalyptic and suspenseful, seemingly “good guys” were revealed as definitely “bad guys”; basically, total world-wide corruption and I really got into it! I am glad to see this series regaining some of my interest. Hopefully the next one will continue the trend. To be honest, until I see a few books in a row of this, I will remain skeptical!
July 3, 2020
“One word kept going through his mind. It started with F and rhymed with truck”. As a reader, one was going through mine too, it starts with S and rhymes with grit.
The narrative here is all over the place as per my example above. The full F word is used a number of times in the books, so why the occasional reference as if you were speaking to an eight year old? Bizarre and distracting.
Brad Thor is an inconsistent writer, he has written some pacy, solid and enjoyable thrillers and then he pops up with some real duds. This is one of the duds.
The book’s main character Scot Harvath is an ex special forces type asked to look into an incident in Africa. What he discovers is something that will impact on the entire world, and he may be unable to stop it. This is a pathogen thriller linked into a conspiracy story, but the pace is wrong in the book. It kicks in during the last quarter but the flow just didn’t work for me, neither did the fact that the book, through the voice and views of Harvath, preaches to the audience about what it is to be American, along with life, love and liberty.
An author that is very inconsistent and so you never know what his next book will be like. It’s very frustrating for the potential reader, I am a natural fit for these books and they should be picking up where (sadly) Vince Flynn left off, but this falls way short of the mark.
The narrative here is all over the place as per my example above. The full F word is used a number of times in the books, so why the occasional reference as if you were speaking to an eight year old? Bizarre and distracting.
Brad Thor is an inconsistent writer, he has written some pacy, solid and enjoyable thrillers and then he pops up with some real duds. This is one of the duds.
The book’s main character Scot Harvath is an ex special forces type asked to look into an incident in Africa. What he discovers is something that will impact on the entire world, and he may be unable to stop it. This is a pathogen thriller linked into a conspiracy story, but the pace is wrong in the book. It kicks in during the last quarter but the flow just didn’t work for me, neither did the fact that the book, through the voice and views of Harvath, preaches to the audience about what it is to be American, along with life, love and liberty.
An author that is very inconsistent and so you never know what his next book will be like. It’s very frustrating for the potential reader, I am a natural fit for these books and they should be picking up where (sadly) Vince Flynn left off, but this falls way short of the mark.
November 4, 2015
Most of the other people reviewing this book really enjoyed it. I just found it very long-winded in explaining everything and confusing. Very preachy about God and country, too. Some kind of negative agenda with the UN, too, that wasn't clear. I do like these kind of books normally, but didn't work for me.
However it's #14 in the series, and maybe I needed to read the series from the beginning. He's a very popular author. But when you start skimming at page 150, then at 200 you start flicking through chapters, I can't call it an engaging book.
Sorry for the negativity. Probably if like Brad Thor, just ignore me.
However it's #14 in the series, and maybe I needed to read the series from the beginning. He's a very popular author. But when you start skimming at page 150, then at 200 you start flicking through chapters, I can't call it an engaging book.
Sorry for the negativity. Probably if like Brad Thor, just ignore me.
October 5, 2015
Thor returns with his fourteenth Scot Harvath novel, tackling an angle readers have yet to see in the rough and tumble former Navy Seal. After an anonymous video makes its way to America, what is depicted is nothing short of devastating. An entire African village destroyed by fire, purposely torched for reasons unknown. Harvath is dispatched as a favour, finding himself in the jungles of Congo as he tries to decipher what's been going on. What begins as a suspected rebel slaughter of a village turns into something far more deadly, which could encapsulate the world, if not properly handled. Simultaneously, an Undersecretary at the United Nations, one Pierre Damien, is leading a plan to deal with the world's burgeoning population issue, with complete immunity and full backing of his superiors. As Harvath links Damien to the Congo situation, he realises that there is a group on American soil working to ensure this pandemic reaches all corners of the planet, while infecting Washington's political elite as well. Thor keeps the action high and uses his cast of regular characters to show a different side to Harvath, a softer and more compassionate one, while still holding firm to his promise to rid the world of evil.
As I read this novel, I could not help but see strong plot parallels with a series by another favourite author of mine, under the Covert-One heading. While some readers may complain that Thor has steered Scot Harvath away from his traditional international tough-guy persona, I felt this turn showed the versatility of the character, while also appealing to my interest in the aforementioned other series. The ideas were sound, the premise a tad far-fetched, but delivered in a realistic fashion, and the cast of regular characters made this book a highly interesting read. While not on my top five all-time in theBrad Thor collection, it did serve to offer the reader a break from the Bond-esque battles and exemplify that Harvath has a softer and more compassionate side to him.
Kudos, Mr. Thor for your wonderful addition to the series. Detractors are simply too ensconced in their rough and tumble Scot Harvath, but I applaud the versatile nature of the character and plot line.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
As I read this novel, I could not help but see strong plot parallels with a series by another favourite author of mine, under the Covert-One heading. While some readers may complain that Thor has steered Scot Harvath away from his traditional international tough-guy persona, I felt this turn showed the versatility of the character, while also appealing to my interest in the aforementioned other series. The ideas were sound, the premise a tad far-fetched, but delivered in a realistic fashion, and the cast of regular characters made this book a highly interesting read. While not on my top five all-time in theBrad Thor collection, it did serve to offer the reader a break from the Bond-esque battles and exemplify that Harvath has a softer and more compassionate side to him.
Kudos, Mr. Thor for your wonderful addition to the series. Detractors are simply too ensconced in their rough and tumble Scot Harvath, but I applaud the versatile nature of the character and plot line.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 25, 2016
The worth of a culture, in his opinion, could be boiled down to one thing -- how well that culture took care of its weakest members, particularly its women and children." Great societal commentary from Brad Thor, early in the 14th Scot Harvath novel. Dispatched by the Old Man to determine why a village and mobile hospital were torched, Scot battles African warlords followed by fanatics intent on eradicating much of the world's population by , taking the battle home to America. Meanwhile, the Israelis happen upon the same evil plan from another angle, and they join forces to thwart absolute disaster. Fast-paced and scary. Quality effort.
August 3, 2015
First read Brad Thor book. A new fan, can't wait for the next one!
July 27, 2015
What did I just read? Was that seriously written by Brad Thor?
Usually with these types of books, (political thrillers), I do not weigh in on the character development, or the author's writing style, or how believable the plot is. It usually boils down to: was I entertained?
With Code of Conduct, I couldn't get past how disjointed the novel read. I felt like I was reading a story that a high school jock submitted to his English teacher for a fiction assignment. If I was reminded one more time in the first 150 pages that "anything can happen in the Congo" - I thought I would chuck the book in my pool. And come on Brad, all of a sudden you have a problem with Scot saying the word "fuck?" We're all big kids here, it's ok.
If the whole book read like it did when Scot Harvath was in Africa, then this book would have gotten one star from me. Thankfully Thor switched gears and the book become infinitely easier to read when Harvath returned to the US.
I know that these novels have a very alpha-male, God bless America feel to them, and that's great -that's why I read them. I do find it a bit obnoxious when the author blatantly inserts his political views into the inner workings of the main character's thought process though. It was so painfully obvious that it pissed me off. Yes, Thor, we get that you believe most of the American public is a general idiot when it comes to politics, please excuse us for not knowing the name of the Directory of Homeland Security off the top of our head.
In all sincerity, where was the climax? I looked at my boyfriend when I had 50 pages left and literally said, "there's no way... where's the rest of the book?!"
Overall, I just felt disappointed. If I wasn't 14 books invested in the series, I probably wouldn't pick up another Harvath book. But alas, that isn't so.
Usually with these types of books, (political thrillers), I do not weigh in on the character development, or the author's writing style, or how believable the plot is. It usually boils down to: was I entertained?
With Code of Conduct, I couldn't get past how disjointed the novel read. I felt like I was reading a story that a high school jock submitted to his English teacher for a fiction assignment. If I was reminded one more time in the first 150 pages that "anything can happen in the Congo" - I thought I would chuck the book in my pool. And come on Brad, all of a sudden you have a problem with Scot saying the word "fuck?" We're all big kids here, it's ok.
If the whole book read like it did when Scot Harvath was in Africa, then this book would have gotten one star from me. Thankfully Thor switched gears and the book become infinitely easier to read when Harvath returned to the US.
I know that these novels have a very alpha-male, God bless America feel to them, and that's great -that's why I read them. I do find it a bit obnoxious when the author blatantly inserts his political views into the inner workings of the main character's thought process though. It was so painfully obvious that it pissed me off. Yes, Thor, we get that you believe most of the American public is a general idiot when it comes to politics, please excuse us for not knowing the name of the Directory of Homeland Security off the top of our head.
In all sincerity, where was the climax? I looked at my boyfriend when I had 50 pages left and literally said, "there's no way... where's the rest of the book?!"
Overall, I just felt disappointed. If I wasn't 14 books invested in the series, I probably wouldn't pick up another Harvath book. But alas, that isn't so.
June 7, 2022
Not my favorite.
July 21, 2015
It's always interesting to see what political hot buttons will set author Brad Thor on a conservative roll in his books featuring counter-terrorism operative Scot Harvath - this is the 15th in the series. Sure enough, expressed mostly through Harvath's musings, he hits a bunch of them here, ranging from the United Nations and CIA to the government's penchant for spying on citizens to the belief that what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander (i.e., if our enemies do it to us, why shouldn't we return the favor?) But agree with his philosophies or not - for me, it's more often not - he sure can write a heck of a story.
Just about ready to head out for a long-awaited, relaxing vacation with his girlfriend (well, as much as the adventure-loving former SEAL is able to relax), Harvath gets called back into action by the private firm for which he's now employed. He loves his work here because the company is able to color outside the lines when necessary; they get jobs done that those who must follow rules and regulations and function within official channels can't (such as torture and murder), and he's exceptionally good at what he does.
Initially, the job involves a trip to a clinic deep within the Congo, where it appears there's been a cover-up of a mass murder. That leads to the realization that countries of the world - most notably the United States and Israel - are the targets of a terrorism plot involving the spread of a deadly disease. At the center of the plot is a secret committee whose members are beyond reach of the law of the land. Harvath and his team, however, are well acquainted with ways to circumvent such boundaries; still, learning the identity of those plotting to revamp and take over the world, tracking them down and ending the threat of human extinction puts Harvath's nearly super-human skills (as well as some pretty nifty technology) to the test.
Yes, the whole thing is a little over the top in the believability department, but hey, it probably could happen (and besides, who today doesn't worry at least a little bit about bioterrorism)? If ever that were to come to pass for real, I just hope there'll be somebody like Harvath in our corner!
Just about ready to head out for a long-awaited, relaxing vacation with his girlfriend (well, as much as the adventure-loving former SEAL is able to relax), Harvath gets called back into action by the private firm for which he's now employed. He loves his work here because the company is able to color outside the lines when necessary; they get jobs done that those who must follow rules and regulations and function within official channels can't (such as torture and murder), and he's exceptionally good at what he does.
Initially, the job involves a trip to a clinic deep within the Congo, where it appears there's been a cover-up of a mass murder. That leads to the realization that countries of the world - most notably the United States and Israel - are the targets of a terrorism plot involving the spread of a deadly disease. At the center of the plot is a secret committee whose members are beyond reach of the law of the land. Harvath and his team, however, are well acquainted with ways to circumvent such boundaries; still, learning the identity of those plotting to revamp and take over the world, tracking them down and ending the threat of human extinction puts Harvath's nearly super-human skills (as well as some pretty nifty technology) to the test.
Yes, the whole thing is a little over the top in the believability department, but hey, it probably could happen (and besides, who today doesn't worry at least a little bit about bioterrorism)? If ever that were to come to pass for real, I just hope there'll be somebody like Harvath in our corner!
January 9, 2019
Code of Conduct is a great adventure novel. So fast paced that you won't put it down until you've finished it. Brad Thor does a masterfull job of mixing action and science, although his overly "down in the weeds" details about military equipment and operations was a bit too much. The action takes you from Alaska, to DC, Israel, The Alps, but much if it happens in the Congo.
This is my first Scot Harvath book, but it's the 14th in the series. Definitely interested in reading the others. But particularly looking forward to the next one, as Code of Conduct leaves you with quite a cliffhanger, even while providing a satisfying ending.
This is my first Scot Harvath book, but it's the 14th in the series. Definitely interested in reading the others. But particularly looking forward to the next one, as Code of Conduct leaves you with quite a cliffhanger, even while providing a satisfying ending.
May 23, 2016
My first Brad Thor book - and I really enjoyed it. I found it to be well written and quite realistic in its description of firearms and special ops tactics - and I'm a real perfectionist when it comes to accuracy in these areas. Very compelling story, very readable, a real page turner. Now I'm going to read more of the Scot Harvath series!
January 21, 2025
Creepy...the number of parallels between this book and what has actually come to pass during the pandemic. While the book focuses on a much more virulent disease than COVID, the similarities are still uncanny. Special operator Scot Harvath is once again called upon to save the world from trouble. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. A very good effort and well worth reading.
February 3, 2016
This was a very good political thriller. Thor is an excellent story teller and this book reestablishes his skill but I do have concerns. I criticized his last couple of books for allowing his personal politics to seep into the speeches of his characters. As far as I was concerned this book was a make it or break it challenge to my continuing my readership. It seems that there is more writer and less ideologue evidenced in this work. Nevertheless there are problems, correctable problems, but still problems. This is a work of fiction and an exercise of the author's imagination. In this book practices of the federal government and the United Nations are stated as facts. As a work of fiction the reader can assume these facts are not true. Unfortunately, we live in a time when readers may not be that enlightened and may take these matters as truth. Other thriller writers have taken the courtesy to inform their readers in an author's note what in their book was fact and what was fiction to allay this result. It would be nice if Mr. Thor started doing this before his fictions start being used as authority for the misconceptions of the unenlightened. I enjoy a good political thriller and this book had me recalling for first experience with this genre when I read "Seven Days in May" back in the '60's. I hope Thor remembers his fans read his books for entertainment and not for political insights.
June 17, 2015
This book was given to me for free. I got it from Goodreads First-Reads. This book is a great thriller. It starts with Harvath going to check if anyone survived an attack on one of CARE's clinics in the Congo. When the team Harvath is with gets there, they find everyone is gone and the place has been sanitized thoroughly. There is a large trench nearby and jet fuel fumes. Near the trench are human bones. Harvath starts on a journey around the world finding out why someone would do such a thing, and what he finds out terrifies him and he finds the world is at risk of almost complete obliteration. Will he stop the person who plans to almost destroy the world? Or will he be too late? I recommend this book.
September 20, 2016
This was the first book I ever read by Brad Thor, and I was completely blown away. Thor's writing style is incredible. It's detailed, but not so detailed that it loses your attention. It's formal, but the formality only adds to the suspense of the plot and doesn't make it boring in any way. I think Thor is truly brilliant to be able to create the plots, and all the exciting twists and turns in between, that he does. He also develops characters beautifully so that by the end of the book you feel like you've made new friends-or enemies. If you are interested in thrillers and action-packed stories at all, this is the book, and the author, for you!!!
April 23, 2016
Not sure how this has a 4-star rating on Goodreads. The tone is preachy - somehow our Navy Seal hero is such an upstanding citizen that he can't bring himself to say the "word that starts with F and rhymes with truck". The writing is inconsistent and the story itself is essentially an "America!!! and apple pie" version of James Bond. That is to say... not so good. The characters are all pretty unbelievable and I can't say I'm a fan of Thor's politics either. I'm out.
August 27, 2015
This doomsday plot finds Harvath out of his niche and wanes the entire first half. Nicholas is the only interesting character and Helena's character is wasted by Mr. Thor. Too bad. Even the end fails to make up for all the muck in this story with the hero deteriorating into drunkenness. 4 of 10 stars
July 23, 2015
Brad Thor is the king of “faction” – which is the combination of fact, mixed with fiction. His stories have captivated readers since 2002, when he first introduced his protagonist, Scot Harvath, to the world in his debut novel Lions of Lucerne.
When summer rolls around it means one thing in my house: the annual tug-of-war match between my wife and I, over who gets to read Brad Thor’s latest book first, is about to take place. This year I finally won!
My expectations were high, as I really enjoyed last year’s Act of War. As good as Brad Thor is, I wasn’t sure he could top his last thriller.
Two things: First, I was wrong – Brad Thor does once again top himself, somehow. Secondly, Code of Conduct might be his best novel yet!
I actually finished reading it two days ago, but was hesitant to write a review because I don’t want to spoil anything about the plot. I thought I knew what the book was about when I opened it, but a few chapters in things get taken to another level. It’s better that way, trust me! So if you’re someone who avoids reviews for that very reason, fear not! I’ll keep things pretty vanilla, and just tell you why you should buy this book as soon as possible.
The story opens with Scot Harvath set to go on vacation with the beautiful Lara Cordero, who fans of the series will remember from Thor’s 2014 novel, Hidden Order. The two planned a romantic week in New England, where they would stay in a private cabin surrounded by the fall colors, enjoying a case of their favorite wine. Sounds nice, right?
Four terrifying seconds of a leaked video changes everything…
The United Nations has a secretive, small committee that nobody knows about. Together, they have a devastating agenda. When a few seconds of a highly classified video, showing a team of gunman entering a medical treatment center in Africa, is leaked, Harvath is called upon to go investigate.
Traveling with a few hired guns, and a female doctor with a hot body, named Decker, Harvath makes his way to the small medical facility – encountering some trouble along the way. Once they arrive things only get worse, as Harvath eventually uncovers an unthinkable evil plot of epic proportions.
Lots of familiar faces appear in Thor’s fifteenth novel, but I won’t ruin any surprises. Just know that most of the normal gang makes an appearance at some point. As for new characters, it’s a woman working with the Israelis, named Helena, who steals the show.
Separate from Harvath’s investigation, an Israeli agent named Mordechai is hot on the trail of a man named Pierre Damien. Damien, who happens to be one of the members of the United Nations’ secret committee, also poses a direct threat to Israel – which is why Mordechai was sent to kill him. A little snooping in Damien’s hotel room provided some fruitful intel, but ultimately raised more questions that needed answers. The mission was aborted, for now.
To start getting some of the answers they sought, Mordechai sent in Helena Pestova, a thirty-seven-year-old Czech national, to get cozy with Damien. Using her good looks, she manages to get close to him. However, Helena’s loyalty to Israel is questioned, as are her motives. Could she have her own agenda on the side?
Decker, the doctor with the hot body, is a fun character. Women will by annoyed with her natural beauty and her constant desire to always appear sexy, even in the middle of the jungle. Men, however, will love her because of her natural beauty and constant desire to always appear sexy, even in the middle of the jungle.
With Decker’s help, Harvath sneaks into the medical facility and has a look around. If you’re a married man, or a guy with a steady significant other, I know what you’re thinking. “Harvath had to cancel a vacation with his girlfriend, to go rough it in the jungle with a sexy, intelligent woman?” Scot’s life isn’t perfect though, fellas. Decker might be attractive, but she’s as equally difficult and stubborn.
It’s in the deserted medical facility that Harvath begins fitting the puzzle pieces together, and realizes that the bad guys’ plan is far more sinister than he’d originally thought. From there he finds himself racing against the clock in what is certainly his most dangerous mission yet!
The plot moves at the speed of a rocket fueled by Red Bull, building to a climatic ending that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and unable to put the book down.
A word of advice: since the book comes out Tuesday, July 7, get plenty of sleep Monday and clear your schedule for Wednesday. Once you start reading Code of Conduct, you won’t be able to stop.
I’ve seen (on social media) Thor’s new book be compared to several other novels already written. Don’t listen to the people making those comparisons, there is nothing quite like this book. If I had to think of a way to describe it, it would be this… Code of Conduct is like Dan Brown’s Inferno, mixed with an action movie on steroids, but even that doesn’t do it justice.
For Harvath, the stakes have never been higher. Code of Conduct is Thor at his absolute best, complete with everything from frightening conspiracies to a Star Wars reference. I cannot praise this book enough. Make sure you grab a copy as soon as your local bookstore opens on Tuesday!
When summer rolls around it means one thing in my house: the annual tug-of-war match between my wife and I, over who gets to read Brad Thor’s latest book first, is about to take place. This year I finally won!
My expectations were high, as I really enjoyed last year’s Act of War. As good as Brad Thor is, I wasn’t sure he could top his last thriller.
Two things: First, I was wrong – Brad Thor does once again top himself, somehow. Secondly, Code of Conduct might be his best novel yet!
I actually finished reading it two days ago, but was hesitant to write a review because I don’t want to spoil anything about the plot. I thought I knew what the book was about when I opened it, but a few chapters in things get taken to another level. It’s better that way, trust me! So if you’re someone who avoids reviews for that very reason, fear not! I’ll keep things pretty vanilla, and just tell you why you should buy this book as soon as possible.
The story opens with Scot Harvath set to go on vacation with the beautiful Lara Cordero, who fans of the series will remember from Thor’s 2014 novel, Hidden Order. The two planned a romantic week in New England, where they would stay in a private cabin surrounded by the fall colors, enjoying a case of their favorite wine. Sounds nice, right?
Four terrifying seconds of a leaked video changes everything…
The United Nations has a secretive, small committee that nobody knows about. Together, they have a devastating agenda. When a few seconds of a highly classified video, showing a team of gunman entering a medical treatment center in Africa, is leaked, Harvath is called upon to go investigate.
Traveling with a few hired guns, and a female doctor with a hot body, named Decker, Harvath makes his way to the small medical facility – encountering some trouble along the way. Once they arrive things only get worse, as Harvath eventually uncovers an unthinkable evil plot of epic proportions.
Lots of familiar faces appear in Thor’s fifteenth novel, but I won’t ruin any surprises. Just know that most of the normal gang makes an appearance at some point. As for new characters, it’s a woman working with the Israelis, named Helena, who steals the show.
Separate from Harvath’s investigation, an Israeli agent named Mordechai is hot on the trail of a man named Pierre Damien. Damien, who happens to be one of the members of the United Nations’ secret committee, also poses a direct threat to Israel – which is why Mordechai was sent to kill him. A little snooping in Damien’s hotel room provided some fruitful intel, but ultimately raised more questions that needed answers. The mission was aborted, for now.
To start getting some of the answers they sought, Mordechai sent in Helena Pestova, a thirty-seven-year-old Czech national, to get cozy with Damien. Using her good looks, she manages to get close to him. However, Helena’s loyalty to Israel is questioned, as are her motives. Could she have her own agenda on the side?
Decker, the doctor with the hot body, is a fun character. Women will by annoyed with her natural beauty and her constant desire to always appear sexy, even in the middle of the jungle. Men, however, will love her because of her natural beauty and constant desire to always appear sexy, even in the middle of the jungle.
With Decker’s help, Harvath sneaks into the medical facility and has a look around. If you’re a married man, or a guy with a steady significant other, I know what you’re thinking. “Harvath had to cancel a vacation with his girlfriend, to go rough it in the jungle with a sexy, intelligent woman?” Scot’s life isn’t perfect though, fellas. Decker might be attractive, but she’s as equally difficult and stubborn.
It’s in the deserted medical facility that Harvath begins fitting the puzzle pieces together, and realizes that the bad guys’ plan is far more sinister than he’d originally thought. From there he finds himself racing against the clock in what is certainly his most dangerous mission yet!
The plot moves at the speed of a rocket fueled by Red Bull, building to a climatic ending that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and unable to put the book down.
A word of advice: since the book comes out Tuesday, July 7, get plenty of sleep Monday and clear your schedule for Wednesday. Once you start reading Code of Conduct, you won’t be able to stop.
I’ve seen (on social media) Thor’s new book be compared to several other novels already written. Don’t listen to the people making those comparisons, there is nothing quite like this book. If I had to think of a way to describe it, it would be this… Code of Conduct is like Dan Brown’s Inferno, mixed with an action movie on steroids, but even that doesn’t do it justice.
For Harvath, the stakes have never been higher. Code of Conduct is Thor at his absolute best, complete with everything from frightening conspiracies to a Star Wars reference. I cannot praise this book enough. Make sure you grab a copy as soon as your local bookstore opens on Tuesday!
July 29, 2015
In "Code of Conduct" ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath is sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo to learn what happened to a WHO health clinic..
He and his team discover that the health clinic is empty but has been sanitized. Further investigation shows that there had been a blood bath. They search the area and come upon a father and his blind son and learn what transpired.
In a linked story, we learn of a beautiful woman who was trapped in a sex slave operation and what happens when she's had too much to bear.
As the action continues to fire up the pages, a billionaire maniaz feels the world's population is too vast and will destroy the world. He conspires to set up a plan to drastically lower the population of the world.
With nervous hands turning the pages I feared for the world and follow as the plot moves to the United States. People begin to become sick and die.
An African fever -African Hemorrhagic Fever- (in the Ebola family) is set loose and more and more people become affected.
How will anyone stop the virus from wiping out large segments of the world? Then a twist that couldn't be foreseen changes the direction of the story...
Sounds terrifying....let me catch my breath.
He and his team discover that the health clinic is empty but has been sanitized. Further investigation shows that there had been a blood bath. They search the area and come upon a father and his blind son and learn what transpired.
In a linked story, we learn of a beautiful woman who was trapped in a sex slave operation and what happens when she's had too much to bear.
As the action continues to fire up the pages, a billionaire maniaz feels the world's population is too vast and will destroy the world. He conspires to set up a plan to drastically lower the population of the world.
With nervous hands turning the pages I feared for the world and follow as the plot moves to the United States. People begin to become sick and die.
An African fever -African Hemorrhagic Fever- (in the Ebola family) is set loose and more and more people become affected.
How will anyone stop the virus from wiping out large segments of the world? Then a twist that couldn't be foreseen changes the direction of the story...
Sounds terrifying....let me catch my breath.
July 15, 2015
Thrilling and frightening because it's possible--a fantastic book.
You know it's going to be great when the book starts out with the population of Washington D.C. desperately trying to escape the city at all costs. Flashback a few months to the origin of the panic. A short video hints at a potential incident of the kind that only Scot Harvath can combat and he is dispatched halfway around the world to investigate.
A worldwide conspiracy is slowly revealed that involves some at the highest levels of government, industry, and international diplomacy. The plot is already set in motion and the clock is ticking...
You may also imagine that the conspiracy is unfolding in an all-too plausible manner and maybe you should think about stocking up on supplies for the apocalypse.
Although there is plenty of action, the book also reveals a little more of Harvath's psyche and that is an interesting side benefit.
An excellent effort all the way around. Bravo!
You know it's going to be great when the book starts out with the population of Washington D.C. desperately trying to escape the city at all costs. Flashback a few months to the origin of the panic. A short video hints at a potential incident of the kind that only Scot Harvath can combat and he is dispatched halfway around the world to investigate.
A worldwide conspiracy is slowly revealed that involves some at the highest levels of government, industry, and international diplomacy. The plot is already set in motion and the clock is ticking...
You may also imagine that the conspiracy is unfolding in an all-too plausible manner and maybe you should think about stocking up on supplies for the apocalypse.
Although there is plenty of action, the book also reveals a little more of Harvath's psyche and that is an interesting side benefit.
An excellent effort all the way around. Bravo!
September 8, 2023
Why Aborted: I don't like Decker. It annoyed me to no end that the author portrayed her as a stereotypical male fantasy: beautiful, smart and irresistible - even to Harvath who had just cancelled a romantic vacation with his girlfriend to go on this mission. Decker may be a doctor but her reaction to Harvath's order to follow his rules during that mission was predictable but also way too irritating. Just to build sexual tension?
Puhlease. Stick to the suspense/thriller thread and leave out the sex until the mission is over.
This is why I stick to Brad Taylor's Pike Logan series. Pike & Jennifer are in a committed relationship and married in Book 16. Every book focuses on the mission at hand and Jennifer is capable team mate in her own inimitable way despite not being formally trained as an operative. Compared to Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series, the latter is an insult to women.
Puhlease. Stick to the suspense/thriller thread and leave out the sex until the mission is over.
This is why I stick to Brad Taylor's Pike Logan series. Pike & Jennifer are in a committed relationship and married in Book 16. Every book focuses on the mission at hand and Jennifer is capable team mate in her own inimitable way despite not being formally trained as an operative. Compared to Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series, the latter is an insult to women.
July 28, 2015
The idea of an ebola threat is, literally, yesterday's news by now. Was it really just last year that we were all worried that disease was gonna spread throughout the country and kill us all? But trust Brad Thor to come up with a way to make it hit home once again, in a way that I'm pretty reasonably sure could never have happened for real. Seriously, Mr. Thor's got a talent for subjecting the US to serious catastrophes that should really bring all semblance of peaceful society to a permanent end, and yet it doesn't. Because this country has the uncanny ability to get back on its feet no matter what, and the action heroes who will do anything to defend it. Scot Harvath deserves a place in the pantheon along with Jack Bauer, Jethro Gibbs, G Callen (and incidentally, am I the only one who pictures Chris O'Donnell as Harvath?), and more.
July 11, 2015
As usual for Thor-THRILLING!
I can't link the title to the story, but suffice it to say that Scot is back with one hell of a mission all over the world. He starts by heading to Congo, and ends up finishing in.....tsk, tsk. I admire the team of characters that Scot works with, including his friends. The antagonists in this story are astoundingly by far the most evil characters even I couldn't imagine. Scot has a new girlfriend, but we don't really learn much about her. I highly recommend this book, as well as the whole series.
I definitely see Scot's new relationship going much further. So, I hope we get to read more about Lara and her son in the next book.
I can't link the title to the story, but suffice it to say that Scot is back with one hell of a mission all over the world. He starts by heading to Congo, and ends up finishing in.....tsk, tsk. I admire the team of characters that Scot works with, including his friends. The antagonists in this story are astoundingly by far the most evil characters even I couldn't imagine. Scot has a new girlfriend, but we don't really learn much about her. I highly recommend this book, as well as the whole series.
I definitely see Scot's new relationship going much further. So, I hope we get to read more about Lara and her son in the next book.
August 3, 2015
Harvath is the Angel of Death!
I could not wait for #15 in Brad Thor's series featuring Scot Harvath. Brads political leanings seem to be reflected in these stories. I think he fears for our country as I do and it's reflected in this novel. I hope we have people like Harvath within the services of the USA. This book was really different from any in the past. OUTSTANDING!!!! Buy it! You will not be disappointed! Can't wait for #16.
I could not wait for #15 in Brad Thor's series featuring Scot Harvath. Brads political leanings seem to be reflected in these stories. I think he fears for our country as I do and it's reflected in this novel. I hope we have people like Harvath within the services of the USA. This book was really different from any in the past. OUTSTANDING!!!! Buy it! You will not be disappointed! Can't wait for #16.
December 22, 2021
Once again Brad Thor delivers in a action-packed kickass thriller with superagent Scot Harvath!!
Scot Harvath begins what may be the deadliest assignment he's ever taken when he is sent to investigate a terrorist attack on a medical clinic in the Congo. What Harvath soon discovers is that it was no ordinary attack, but the beginning of a deadly plague unleashed by a madman and a secret organization that cannot be touched by the US Government, but that of course doesn't stop Harvath. Harvath along with Reed Carlton and some new unlikely allies, sets out for a dangerous mission entering a dark political web of corruption, and with the outcome, Harvath realizes things will never be the same for not only him and the US, but the whole world.
Brad Thor knows how to write an engaging spy/political thriller!
Scot Harvath begins what may be the deadliest assignment he's ever taken when he is sent to investigate a terrorist attack on a medical clinic in the Congo. What Harvath soon discovers is that it was no ordinary attack, but the beginning of a deadly plague unleashed by a madman and a secret organization that cannot be touched by the US Government, but that of course doesn't stop Harvath. Harvath along with Reed Carlton and some new unlikely allies, sets out for a dangerous mission entering a dark political web of corruption, and with the outcome, Harvath realizes things will never be the same for not only him and the US, but the whole world.
Brad Thor knows how to write an engaging spy/political thriller!
January 5, 2019
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Hidden deep within one of the world's most powerful organizations is a secret committee with a devastating agenda. Its members are afforded incredible protections-considered elites, untouchables.
But when four seconds of video is captured halfway around the world and anonymously transmitted to D.C., covert wheels are set in motion and counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is tapped to undertake the deadliest assignment of his career.
What begins as a favour will evolve into a globe-spanning drama of highly personal stakes played out against a backdrop of stunning international intrigue, duplicitous political gamesmanship and the darkest, most clandestine fears of the espionage world.
There isn't a lot to say about Brad Thor's novels. They speak for themselves. Well, at least the blurb does.
If you enjoy fast-paced action thrillers based on political intrigue, government conspiracies, espionage, and globe-trotting "fix-it" men, this this book (and series) is definitely for you. The main character is a counter-terrorism operative. I have always enjoyed his character and this book is no different (although I think the author should keep his personal political opinions out of the characters dialogue) - in fact, I think the action/thriller quotient is probably at its highest in this story. It is all go - and I really like that.
Always going to recommend Brad Thor - I am yet to find an average one, let alone a bad one.
Paul
ARH
Hidden deep within one of the world's most powerful organizations is a secret committee with a devastating agenda. Its members are afforded incredible protections-considered elites, untouchables.
But when four seconds of video is captured halfway around the world and anonymously transmitted to D.C., covert wheels are set in motion and counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is tapped to undertake the deadliest assignment of his career.
What begins as a favour will evolve into a globe-spanning drama of highly personal stakes played out against a backdrop of stunning international intrigue, duplicitous political gamesmanship and the darkest, most clandestine fears of the espionage world.
There isn't a lot to say about Brad Thor's novels. They speak for themselves. Well, at least the blurb does.
If you enjoy fast-paced action thrillers based on political intrigue, government conspiracies, espionage, and globe-trotting "fix-it" men, this this book (and series) is definitely for you. The main character is a counter-terrorism operative. I have always enjoyed his character and this book is no different (although I think the author should keep his personal political opinions out of the characters dialogue) - in fact, I think the action/thriller quotient is probably at its highest in this story. It is all go - and I really like that.
Always going to recommend Brad Thor - I am yet to find an average one, let alone a bad one.
Paul
ARH
July 8, 2015
I enjoy reading this series. Brad Thor is a great thriller writer. However, two summers ago he wrote a book titled HIDDEN ORDER that was about the Federal Reserve and conspiracy theories … and in telling that story, Thor included history lesson after history lesson and for good measure he mixed it all with a lot of supposition. He did very little to support the soapbox he’d created through credible literary means and despite the fact the book got many great reviews, I’ve maintained my opinion that it was a complete mess.
That being said … I loved ACT OF WAR last year and thought, great, Thor is back. And then comes CODE OF CONDUCT and I’m reading the product description and lo and behold Thor is on the conspiracy train wreck again. I was so annoyed, because it lowered my expectations for this book considerably.
But … this book starts fantastic. I mean it is flying from the opening pages. One of the best opening few pages I’ve read in a long time. Harvath is putting his girlfriend and her family on a plane to evacuate to Alaska because the US is in total collapse. It grabs you, and then immediately shifts to a week earlier when the events building up to the evacuation began. I mean, you have to read it at that point. You can’t not read it, because the opening pages are that good.
So I went from having low expectations to being really excited.
The plot shifts to Africa. The Congo. Harvath and a team are tracking down a health facility run by a US charity. There are a few silly moments with a female doctor that tags along. Some cliché caricatures that weren’t necessary, but okay, no big deal. A lot of action though, and Harvath doing what Harvath does best. And no mention of conspiracies. Not yet. This time around Thor really let the plot build before hitting readers with the conspiracy part. In other words he did a much better job with it this time.
Harvath and his team make some disturbing finds in Congo, however, and now he has to race back to the US to try and stop a truly devastating attack.
OK, that’s where the conspiracy parts come in. Two things, but I’ll do this without any spoilers: the insidious attack that’s being planned, as well as the rationale for the attack, has been done many times by many authors and it’s not exactly a new storyline; and the conspiracy part … it’s so convoluted, I just had to bear it and push through until Harvath started shooting people again.
This is a mix of mostly extremely good parts, a couple cliché caricatures, plus a silly conspiracy that requires a complete suspension of disbelief in order to get through the final third of the book.
I am glad I read it. I will look forward to the next book in the Harvath series. I will hope against hope that it’s not another conspiracy job.
I would recommend it to thriller fans: 3.5 / 5 stars.
That being said … I loved ACT OF WAR last year and thought, great, Thor is back. And then comes CODE OF CONDUCT and I’m reading the product description and lo and behold Thor is on the conspiracy train wreck again. I was so annoyed, because it lowered my expectations for this book considerably.
But … this book starts fantastic. I mean it is flying from the opening pages. One of the best opening few pages I’ve read in a long time. Harvath is putting his girlfriend and her family on a plane to evacuate to Alaska because the US is in total collapse. It grabs you, and then immediately shifts to a week earlier when the events building up to the evacuation began. I mean, you have to read it at that point. You can’t not read it, because the opening pages are that good.
So I went from having low expectations to being really excited.
The plot shifts to Africa. The Congo. Harvath and a team are tracking down a health facility run by a US charity. There are a few silly moments with a female doctor that tags along. Some cliché caricatures that weren’t necessary, but okay, no big deal. A lot of action though, and Harvath doing what Harvath does best. And no mention of conspiracies. Not yet. This time around Thor really let the plot build before hitting readers with the conspiracy part. In other words he did a much better job with it this time.
Harvath and his team make some disturbing finds in Congo, however, and now he has to race back to the US to try and stop a truly devastating attack.
OK, that’s where the conspiracy parts come in. Two things, but I’ll do this without any spoilers: the insidious attack that’s being planned, as well as the rationale for the attack, has been done many times by many authors and it’s not exactly a new storyline; and the conspiracy part … it’s so convoluted, I just had to bear it and push through until Harvath started shooting people again.
This is a mix of mostly extremely good parts, a couple cliché caricatures, plus a silly conspiracy that requires a complete suspension of disbelief in order to get through the final third of the book.
I am glad I read it. I will look forward to the next book in the Harvath series. I will hope against hope that it’s not another conspiracy job.
I would recommend it to thriller fans: 3.5 / 5 stars.
September 27, 2016
I am writing a book- report for english IV with mrs.Orona as my teacher. Of a thriller Code of Conduct by Brad Thor, there are 356 and one publisher Emily Bestler Books.The reason I choose this book because it look good and I had no book to read that day so I got one off my teacher’s book shelf and that one was the only one that didn't look boring I like the cover of the book it has color color on it and the author is the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
The main character are Scot Harvath this is a series of books from this one character. Harvath is important because he is like a spy navy seal that works for a company like a private contract or something like that and the author describe him as a good looking man with muscles and is smart . Another character is Jessica Decker is used to be a reporter then she change her career to become a doctor and help people in three world country and the author describe as a very good looking women with a nice body and she is on this mission with harvath that is in Congo.
This book is a thriller/ action book it takes place in Democratic Republic of Congo in the jungle and Geneva, Switzerland and the time is the 21st century. It is in the jungle and in the city of Geneva. The book is slow but there is a lot of action and killing in it which I like about it and the main character is trying to see what is happening at one of their clinics. They figure out what is happening.
I liked the book it was good but to me it is a long read you really have to have time to read it if you are a weak reader like me then you shouldn't read this book because it will take you longer to finish the book then a it would with a easy read. But if you like spy books/killing/hero book this is your book 100% , I like it because it was like a tv show with different events in it with is always good that there is a lot that is happening, the good points about it was that it wanted you to read more and more as you go and that it make sense the weak points that it's a long read and that it's mostly for high reader level people, like your teacher.
What I learned that what this book is over really happen not from event to event but it was close to it and I thought that was pretty cool and that Harvath is a bad a-- and if i wanted to be a fiction character I would want to be him. But this a book I would recommend to anyone that has time to read everyday and like action and thrillers books. Brad Thor is a great author and probably would read more of his books.
The main character are Scot Harvath this is a series of books from this one character. Harvath is important because he is like a spy navy seal that works for a company like a private contract or something like that and the author describe him as a good looking man with muscles and is smart . Another character is Jessica Decker is used to be a reporter then she change her career to become a doctor and help people in three world country and the author describe as a very good looking women with a nice body and she is on this mission with harvath that is in Congo.
This book is a thriller/ action book it takes place in Democratic Republic of Congo in the jungle and Geneva, Switzerland and the time is the 21st century. It is in the jungle and in the city of Geneva. The book is slow but there is a lot of action and killing in it which I like about it and the main character is trying to see what is happening at one of their clinics. They figure out what is happening.
I liked the book it was good but to me it is a long read you really have to have time to read it if you are a weak reader like me then you shouldn't read this book because it will take you longer to finish the book then a it would with a easy read. But if you like spy books/killing/hero book this is your book 100% , I like it because it was like a tv show with different events in it with is always good that there is a lot that is happening, the good points about it was that it wanted you to read more and more as you go and that it make sense the weak points that it's a long read and that it's mostly for high reader level people, like your teacher.
What I learned that what this book is over really happen not from event to event but it was close to it and I thought that was pretty cool and that Harvath is a bad a-- and if i wanted to be a fiction character I would want to be him. But this a book I would recommend to anyone that has time to read everyday and like action and thrillers books. Brad Thor is a great author and probably would read more of his books.
August 16, 2015
This book started off with a bang. I was so excited . However it got really convaluted and bogged down in the whole plot. While the action scenes were well written there were few obstacles that Harvard encounters during the fights. One of the characters jokingly called Scot superman and I felt that it was fitting because there was no feat too great or dangerous that could test him. While I like to suspend reality a little in this genre it felt almost like Harvath was getting cocky. I'd like to see a wounded vulnerable completely cutoff Harvath battle his way back with limited resources. That would show a new dimension to thr character instead of him being brilliant the whole way through.
My other complaint would be the ending felt incomplete. I'm wondering if Mr. Thor ran out of time because his last few books the endings have felt rushed and incomplete. I would have appreciated Scot having a conversation with Damien just to figure out his mindset a little as to why he would do what he did. I also would have liked some closure with Helena and Mordechai.
I will continue to read Brad Thor although his books have been related to get it from the library status. I was happy that Thor kept thr political rhetoric to a minimum this time around although he did get a little preachy in some areas. All in all an ok book.
My other complaint would be the ending felt incomplete. I'm wondering if Mr. Thor ran out of time because his last few books the endings have felt rushed and incomplete. I would have appreciated Scot having a conversation with Damien just to figure out his mindset a little as to why he would do what he did. I also would have liked some closure with Helena and Mordechai.
I will continue to read Brad Thor although his books have been related to get it from the library status. I was happy that Thor kept thr political rhetoric to a minimum this time around although he did get a little preachy in some areas. All in all an ok book.
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