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Scot Harvath #16
Use of Force
As a storm rages across the Mediterranean Sea, a terrifying distress call is made to the Italian Coast Guard. Days later, a body washes ashore.
Identified as a high value terrorism suspect (who had disappeared three years prior), his name sends panic through the Central Intelligence Agency.
Where was he headed? What was he planning? And could he be connected to the “spectacular attack” they have been fearing all summer?
In a race against time, the CIA taps an unorthodox source to get answers: Navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism operative, Scot Harvath.
Hired on a black contract, Harvath will provide the deniability the United States needs, while he breaks every rule along the way.
Packed with pulse-pounding action, fascinating characters, and electrifying intrigue, Brad Thor does it again and proves why he is known around-the-world as the “Master of Thrillers.”
360 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2017
3754 people are currently reading
4374 people want to read
About the author
Brad Thor
44 books7,272 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 805 reviews
July 6, 2017
Brad Thor is back with another thrilling Scot Harvath piece, sure to add new layers to the War on Terror and the clandestine nature that has kept readers hooked for fifteen previous novels. When an ill-equipped boat full of refugees sinks off the Italian coast, many die or are lost at sea. One significant body that turns up is a mid-level ISIS member with chemistry experience. After Harvarth breaks-up a potentially dangerous terror plot in Nevada, clues lead him to Libya, where a larger terror cell is plotting a significant attack. This is substantiated when a laptop found in the raid has a hidden drive, showing extensive chemical weapon attacks and options that could be used across Europe. There is a buzz inside the CIA Director’s Office, where there are whispers that senior members of the Agency are leaving to join the Carlton Group, where the eponymous head has been suffering issues of mental acuity. This may be the time to bring the Group down, or at least sully them to the point of no longer leeching Agency powerhouses. However, Reed Carlton will not go down with a few tricks of his own, unsure why his largest contractor has turned its back on him. All eyes turn to Paris when it is hit with a significant bombing. ISIS quickly claims responsibility, while a high-level Tajik operative behind the attack is plotting something even larger and more devastating at the heart of yet another Infidel stronghold. When Harvath is able to extract enough information in Libya, he leads his team into Italy, where the aforementioned refugee vessel becomes highly important. Might ISIS be smuggling some of its own into refugee camps, only to lay the groundwork for key strikes in the future? Could ISIS be teaming up with organized crime families in Italy to bring down significant portion of the population, led by a man with the odd moniker of La Formícula, or ‘the ant’. Prepared to do everything in their power to squash La Formícula before he leads a devastating strike, Harvath has little time to ponder his next move. A well-balanced piece that keeps the reader guessing as they flip pages until the explosive climax. Brad Thor fans will not be disappointed with this one, though those not familiar with the series might find it quite tech heavy.
I have long been a fan of Brad Thor and all his novels, which offer the great mix of Vince Flynn grit and Steve Berry off-beat humour. As his no-nonsense protagonist, Thor leads Scot Harvath into many an adventure without fully knowing where things will end up by the novel’s completion. Thor continues to construct a powerful backstory for Harvath, taking even more time than usual to hash-out some of his characteristics while experimenting by pushing a new layer onto the man; a set of emotions that come to the surface. Gone are the days of the neutral Harvath where killing is at the heart of his being. A collection of secondary characters also play key roles in their own ways, both to support and conflict with Harvath. The story is central and poignant to the news coming out of the region today, making the plot not only believable, but also plausible at this point on the ISIS terror matrix. The attentive reader will see some of these things and wonder if there could be some foreboding of what is to come. Those who dabble with the audiobook version of this story are treated to an extra track by the author, where Thor delves into some of the deeper areas surrounding research, influences, character mapping, and ideas for the future. A definite treat for long-time fans such as me who are always hoping to take a little more away from each novel. Harvath is going strong, but certain choices in the narrative might hint of some new pathways to come for the entire series, should Thor follow these breadcrumbs. I cannot wait to see what awaits!
Kudos, Mr. Thor for not letting up in this wonderful novel. I can see many who will be well-pleased with what is insinuated here, as well as the non-stop action.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I have long been a fan of Brad Thor and all his novels, which offer the great mix of Vince Flynn grit and Steve Berry off-beat humour. As his no-nonsense protagonist, Thor leads Scot Harvath into many an adventure without fully knowing where things will end up by the novel’s completion. Thor continues to construct a powerful backstory for Harvath, taking even more time than usual to hash-out some of his characteristics while experimenting by pushing a new layer onto the man; a set of emotions that come to the surface. Gone are the days of the neutral Harvath where killing is at the heart of his being. A collection of secondary characters also play key roles in their own ways, both to support and conflict with Harvath. The story is central and poignant to the news coming out of the region today, making the plot not only believable, but also plausible at this point on the ISIS terror matrix. The attentive reader will see some of these things and wonder if there could be some foreboding of what is to come. Those who dabble with the audiobook version of this story are treated to an extra track by the author, where Thor delves into some of the deeper areas surrounding research, influences, character mapping, and ideas for the future. A definite treat for long-time fans such as me who are always hoping to take a little more away from each novel. Harvath is going strong, but certain choices in the narrative might hint of some new pathways to come for the entire series, should Thor follow these breadcrumbs. I cannot wait to see what awaits!
Kudos, Mr. Thor for not letting up in this wonderful novel. I can see many who will be well-pleased with what is insinuated here, as well as the non-stop action.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 12, 2022
USE OF FORCE is Brad Thor’s 16th installment in the Scot Harvath series. I have read the previous ones and they earned 4-5 stars from my reviews! Although I thoroughly enjoy reading Brad Thor's political thrillers, I didn't enjoy this one.
Scott Harvath is the featured protagonist, and is a dynamic, well developed character. However, the other characters are NOT well developed. At all. Therein lies one of the problems in Mr. Thor's newest installment. There are too many -WAY too many- characters. A cast of characters page would have been helpful. My keeping a log of WHO did WHAT to WHOM and WHERE would have been helpful. I didn't connect with the characters at all. Even the good guys are not engaging.
The pacing is slow and problematic as well. I became bored and could easily put the book down. And did. The storyline is complex, which is a good indicator of an interesting plot, but its complexity becomes convoluted and confusing. There are lots many actors with too many threads happening in too many venues. One subplot, based in D.C. has absolutely nothing to do with the storyline. It serves no purpose in driving the plot along, and is a distraction from the real storyline.
There is no tension building, nor any edge-of-your-seat, heart fluttering moments. Certainly not a thriller! I kept reading thinking surely the climax and denouement will redeem the book, but that doesn’t happen.
In fact, the ending is VERY rushed and abrupt. The resolution of all the threads are crammed into a few pages at the end. The epilogue is not satisfying, other than it marked the ending.
Bottom line? I'm disappointed. I thought Mr. Thor was on the caliber of other political thriller authors such as Tom Clancy, Nelson DeMille, Ben Coes, Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills. He is not; not even close if USE OF FORCE is the standard bearer. This is a different Brad Thor … I wonder if Brad really wrote this. It is not his style. I certainly hope it is not a precursor of a new style.
Scott Harvath is the featured protagonist, and is a dynamic, well developed character. However, the other characters are NOT well developed. At all. Therein lies one of the problems in Mr. Thor's newest installment. There are too many -WAY too many- characters. A cast of characters page would have been helpful. My keeping a log of WHO did WHAT to WHOM and WHERE would have been helpful. I didn't connect with the characters at all. Even the good guys are not engaging.
The pacing is slow and problematic as well. I became bored and could easily put the book down. And did. The storyline is complex, which is a good indicator of an interesting plot, but its complexity becomes convoluted and confusing. There are lots many actors with too many threads happening in too many venues. One subplot, based in D.C. has absolutely nothing to do with the storyline. It serves no purpose in driving the plot along, and is a distraction from the real storyline.
There is no tension building, nor any edge-of-your-seat, heart fluttering moments. Certainly not a thriller! I kept reading thinking surely the climax and denouement will redeem the book, but that doesn’t happen.
In fact, the ending is VERY rushed and abrupt. The resolution of all the threads are crammed into a few pages at the end. The epilogue is not satisfying, other than it marked the ending.
Bottom line? I'm disappointed. I thought Mr. Thor was on the caliber of other political thriller authors such as Tom Clancy, Nelson DeMille, Ben Coes, Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills. He is not; not even close if USE OF FORCE is the standard bearer. This is a different Brad Thor … I wonder if Brad really wrote this. It is not his style. I certainly hope it is not a precursor of a new style.
April 18, 2018
I hate to disappoint author Brad Thor and his agent who feel this may be his best work, but I disagree. If I hear the word, "Murphy," one more time in this story, I will go ballistic. Can you say, "irritating?" I knew you could. On the other hand, there is an excellent post script by Brad at the end of this that is worth a listen. 6 of 10 stars
August 17, 2017
Every time the author churns out a new Scot Harvath thriller, I have second thoughts about reading it. That's because settings in hot, dirty, far-off countries where war and strife are facts of daily life really don't have much appeal to me. Then too, I know I'll be subjected to a dose or two - sometimes hefty - of the author's opinions about what the United States ought to be doing about it (with which sometimes I agree but more often don't).
But every single time, all that fades into the background once I start reading - and I've been reading for quite some time (according to Amazon, this is the 17th book featuring Harvath, now a covert counterterrorism operative who does a lot of work for a private company and its aging owner and Harvath's mentor, Reed Carleton). As this one starts, Harvath has left the love of his life in Boston and is chasing a suspected suicide bomber - which turns out to be three - at the Burning Man Festival.
It is also learned that a man thought to be up to his Bunsen burners in weapons of mass destruction was on a boat that went down in the Mediterranean Sea. Too bad, so sad, on the surface - but his death raises the question of what he was doing there, where he was headed and what he was planning after he arrived. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency wants answers to those questions, but they don't have the reach (i.e., permission to run clandestine operations) to get the them. For that, they turn to Harvath; whether or not he's successful - and there's every reason to believe he will be - there won't be any blowback on the CIA.
As if that weren't enough, it seems someone once close to Carleton may now be his worst enemy - out to get the old man along with any or all of his team members. The ensuing pages are stacked with plenty of intrigue, torture, murder and razor-close calls, with all the story lines coming together for a satisfying ending (plus one that's sure to carry over to the next book in the series). For sure I'll be in line to get it!
But every single time, all that fades into the background once I start reading - and I've been reading for quite some time (according to Amazon, this is the 17th book featuring Harvath, now a covert counterterrorism operative who does a lot of work for a private company and its aging owner and Harvath's mentor, Reed Carleton). As this one starts, Harvath has left the love of his life in Boston and is chasing a suspected suicide bomber - which turns out to be three - at the Burning Man Festival.
It is also learned that a man thought to be up to his Bunsen burners in weapons of mass destruction was on a boat that went down in the Mediterranean Sea. Too bad, so sad, on the surface - but his death raises the question of what he was doing there, where he was headed and what he was planning after he arrived. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency wants answers to those questions, but they don't have the reach (i.e., permission to run clandestine operations) to get the them. For that, they turn to Harvath; whether or not he's successful - and there's every reason to believe he will be - there won't be any blowback on the CIA.
As if that weren't enough, it seems someone once close to Carleton may now be his worst enemy - out to get the old man along with any or all of his team members. The ensuing pages are stacked with plenty of intrigue, torture, murder and razor-close calls, with all the story lines coming together for a satisfying ending (plus one that's sure to carry over to the next book in the series). For sure I'll be in line to get it!
July 7, 2017
Wow...finished late last night, could NOT put it down! Will review shortly!!
Our favourite counterterrorism operator is Back!! Scott Havarth returns in a thrilling story involving ISIS, with terrorism in acts all around the world. This book kept me up all night, the realism with which Thor writes is amazing, I could feel myself right beside our hero as he attempts to stop a serious event. I am very excited about things happening in the covert agency he used to work for, as from what happens at the end could lead to some exciting reading in the future! Any person who likes thrillers really must take time to read this author, you can thank me when you do!
Our favourite counterterrorism operator is Back!! Scott Havarth returns in a thrilling story involving ISIS, with terrorism in acts all around the world. This book kept me up all night, the realism with which Thor writes is amazing, I could feel myself right beside our hero as he attempts to stop a serious event. I am very excited about things happening in the covert agency he used to work for, as from what happens at the end could lead to some exciting reading in the future! Any person who likes thrillers really must take time to read this author, you can thank me when you do!
October 7, 2019
Real Rating: 2.5* of five
Look, I know I'm not a Brad Thor demographic denizen. I'm so far left of the Democrats that hailing frequencies frequently fail to open, while Thor is a darling of Aynholish people with whom I share nothing but the right to trial by a jury of my peers. His politics appall me. His writing, though, isn't bad. He crafts a sentence that leads to another in an agreeable and steady way.
Well, gawddam if he shouldn't, since this is his SEVENTEENTH Scot Harvath novel. The appeal of shoot-'em-ups is they draw lines and fill in borders with clear, dark colors. People Thor doesn't like are "the Tajik" or "the street thug." Depersonalizing those one wishes to deprive of complexity and therefore humanity is effective. The reader isn't troubled to learn pesky things like names, only labels applied for the brief moment that construct is allowed to exist before dying at some noble American's skilled and dextrous hands or lushly described armaments.
These books are covered by the right to free speech. They do not directly incite the reader to violence against those he is likely to see in his insular life. Instead they validate the less-than-humanity of groups, ethnicities, social outcasts that Thor knows his readers don't want to see as more substantial than paper targets at the shooting range. As such, they contribute to a national crisis of empathy among the lowest segments of society: The political conservatives, the white nationalists, the evangelical apologists for the crimes of the others.
I read it. I can't say that, as a plotting and writing example, it was any worse than most and considerably better than many books that fly off booksellers' shelves. But I feel defiled by the contemptuous, arrogant, and entirely unwarranted high opinion these characters and their readers have for themselves and each other.
Look, I know I'm not a Brad Thor demographic denizen. I'm so far left of the Democrats that hailing frequencies frequently fail to open, while Thor is a darling of Aynholish people with whom I share nothing but the right to trial by a jury of my peers. His politics appall me. His writing, though, isn't bad. He crafts a sentence that leads to another in an agreeable and steady way.
Well, gawddam if he shouldn't, since this is his SEVENTEENTH Scot Harvath novel. The appeal of shoot-'em-ups is they draw lines and fill in borders with clear, dark colors. People Thor doesn't like are "the Tajik" or "the street thug." Depersonalizing those one wishes to deprive of complexity and therefore humanity is effective. The reader isn't troubled to learn pesky things like names, only labels applied for the brief moment that construct is allowed to exist before dying at some noble American's skilled and dextrous hands or lushly described armaments.
These books are covered by the right to free speech. They do not directly incite the reader to violence against those he is likely to see in his insular life. Instead they validate the less-than-humanity of groups, ethnicities, social outcasts that Thor knows his readers don't want to see as more substantial than paper targets at the shooting range. As such, they contribute to a national crisis of empathy among the lowest segments of society: The political conservatives, the white nationalists, the evangelical apologists for the crimes of the others.
I read it. I can't say that, as a plotting and writing example, it was any worse than most and considerably better than many books that fly off booksellers' shelves. But I feel defiled by the contemptuous, arrogant, and entirely unwarranted high opinion these characters and their readers have for themselves and each other.
May 15, 2017
Read this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com
Following last year’s Foreign Agent, Brad Thor brings back Scot Harvath, the legendary counterterrorism operative, for his most action-packed novel to date.
When a raging storm rocks the Mediterranean Sea, a small vessel is forced to make a distress call to the Italian Coast Guard, blowing the cover on a smuggling operation in the process.
Meanwhile, Scot Harvath, who is now splitting his time between Boston and Washinton, D.C., heads up an operation just outside of Reno during the seven-day Burning Man event in Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Contracted through the CIA, though he is technically still employed by the Carlton Group–a private security firm that handles some of the Central Intelligence Agency’s darkest black ops–Harvath is on site to snatch a man named Hamza Rahim.
It’s believed that Rahim is scouting the area for a potential terrorist attack. Therefore, Harvath, along with a highly-trained extraction team, is sent to bring him in so that the CIA can interrogate Rahim with the hope of penetrating his terrorist cell. But almost as soon as the operation kicks off, things turn south. Ultimately, people in government view the outcome of the mission in two completely different ways.
In the aftermath of the Burning Man event, Harvath learns that among the washed-up dead bodies from the Mediterranean Sea-based distress call was Mustapha Marzouk, a known bomb maker with terrorist ties who’d been off the CIA’s radar for several years.
Marzouk’s body turning up sends shivers down the spines of both Bob McGee and Lydia Ryan, the Director and Deputy Director of the CIA, who have both felt like a large scale attack from ISIS is inevitable.
Officially, McGee and Ryan–along with the rest of the CIA–are handcuffed by the constraints of the federal government, as a growing number of politicians have vocalized their disdain for America’s foreign intelligence service. With the country split on how to handle ISIS, some even going so far as to suggest fighting back against the savage terror group only makes them stronger, McGee’s job becomes infinitely harder.
When an attack is thwarted, nobody knows about it. But when an attack is successful, the CIA is put under the microscope and their methods are questioned.
Now, with a potential major attack looming, both President Porter and Director McGee realize they need someone to slice through the bureaucratic red tape and get results, period. Their answer is to bring Scot Harvath in on a black contract, allowing the United States government plausible deniability, and to set him free to stop the terrorists from completing their objective at all costs.
As the bad guys will soon learn, Harvath, a former Navy SEAL, is the last person you want coming after you if you’re planning an attack on American soil. What follows is three-hundred high-speed, explosive pages of do-not-mess-with-Scot Harvath, who will stop at nothing to see his mission through.
One of the things that makes Thor, who was part of Homeland Security’s Analytical Red Cell Unit, so unique is that he’s constantly coming up with chilling new attack scenarios, adding nerve-wracking (and terrifying) suspense to his stories. Additionally, Thor incorporates newly-developed weapons and technology, including the use of drones, into his stories–adding another dynamic element to his already authentic-feeling battlefield sequences.
With action so real you can almost feel the recoil each time Harvath fires his rifle, one scene in particular, involving a ZU-2 antiaircraft gun, is bound to have readers’ fitness trackers fooled into thinking they’re doing cardio instead of just racing through the pages.
While newcomers can jump in and enjoy this book without having read any of the earlier novels, longtime fans will especially appreciate some of the side stories (especially one involving a disgruntled former spy seeking revenge against Reed Carlton) and emotional moments that Thor packs in behind the main storyline.
Along with delivering some of the best action scenes in print today, Thor continues to grow as a writer. Without giving anything away, Code of Conduct (2015) marked a change in Scot Harvath and Thor has developed his series protagonist brilliantly over his last three novels. Where most authors struggle to keep things fresh after turning in fifteen bestsellers, Thor keeps finding creative ways to take his series and characters to new heights. In fact, number sixteen might just be his best work yet–which is truly impressive when you consider his body of work.
Thor, who has long been known for beating headlines, masterfully combines current events with nonstop action, creating a captivating plot that feels a tad too real for comfort. Anyone paying attention to current headlines should agree, Scot Harvath is the hero America needs in today’s tumultuous political climate.
With his latest pulse-pounding adventure, Brad Thor puts the rest of the genre on notice–Use of Force is the thriller to beat in 2017.
Book Details
Author: Brad Thor
Series: Scot Harvath #16
Pages: 368 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 147678938X
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Order Now: http://amzn.to/2pLdH7E
Following last year’s Foreign Agent, Brad Thor brings back Scot Harvath, the legendary counterterrorism operative, for his most action-packed novel to date.
When a raging storm rocks the Mediterranean Sea, a small vessel is forced to make a distress call to the Italian Coast Guard, blowing the cover on a smuggling operation in the process.
Meanwhile, Scot Harvath, who is now splitting his time between Boston and Washinton, D.C., heads up an operation just outside of Reno during the seven-day Burning Man event in Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Contracted through the CIA, though he is technically still employed by the Carlton Group–a private security firm that handles some of the Central Intelligence Agency’s darkest black ops–Harvath is on site to snatch a man named Hamza Rahim.
It’s believed that Rahim is scouting the area for a potential terrorist attack. Therefore, Harvath, along with a highly-trained extraction team, is sent to bring him in so that the CIA can interrogate Rahim with the hope of penetrating his terrorist cell. But almost as soon as the operation kicks off, things turn south. Ultimately, people in government view the outcome of the mission in two completely different ways.
In the aftermath of the Burning Man event, Harvath learns that among the washed-up dead bodies from the Mediterranean Sea-based distress call was Mustapha Marzouk, a known bomb maker with terrorist ties who’d been off the CIA’s radar for several years.
Marzouk’s body turning up sends shivers down the spines of both Bob McGee and Lydia Ryan, the Director and Deputy Director of the CIA, who have both felt like a large scale attack from ISIS is inevitable.
Officially, McGee and Ryan–along with the rest of the CIA–are handcuffed by the constraints of the federal government, as a growing number of politicians have vocalized their disdain for America’s foreign intelligence service. With the country split on how to handle ISIS, some even going so far as to suggest fighting back against the savage terror group only makes them stronger, McGee’s job becomes infinitely harder.
When an attack is thwarted, nobody knows about it. But when an attack is successful, the CIA is put under the microscope and their methods are questioned.
Now, with a potential major attack looming, both President Porter and Director McGee realize they need someone to slice through the bureaucratic red tape and get results, period. Their answer is to bring Scot Harvath in on a black contract, allowing the United States government plausible deniability, and to set him free to stop the terrorists from completing their objective at all costs.
As the bad guys will soon learn, Harvath, a former Navy SEAL, is the last person you want coming after you if you’re planning an attack on American soil. What follows is three-hundred high-speed, explosive pages of do-not-mess-with-Scot Harvath, who will stop at nothing to see his mission through.
One of the things that makes Thor, who was part of Homeland Security’s Analytical Red Cell Unit, so unique is that he’s constantly coming up with chilling new attack scenarios, adding nerve-wracking (and terrifying) suspense to his stories. Additionally, Thor incorporates newly-developed weapons and technology, including the use of drones, into his stories–adding another dynamic element to his already authentic-feeling battlefield sequences.
With action so real you can almost feel the recoil each time Harvath fires his rifle, one scene in particular, involving a ZU-2 antiaircraft gun, is bound to have readers’ fitness trackers fooled into thinking they’re doing cardio instead of just racing through the pages.
While newcomers can jump in and enjoy this book without having read any of the earlier novels, longtime fans will especially appreciate some of the side stories (especially one involving a disgruntled former spy seeking revenge against Reed Carlton) and emotional moments that Thor packs in behind the main storyline.
Along with delivering some of the best action scenes in print today, Thor continues to grow as a writer. Without giving anything away, Code of Conduct (2015) marked a change in Scot Harvath and Thor has developed his series protagonist brilliantly over his last three novels. Where most authors struggle to keep things fresh after turning in fifteen bestsellers, Thor keeps finding creative ways to take his series and characters to new heights. In fact, number sixteen might just be his best work yet–which is truly impressive when you consider his body of work.
Thor, who has long been known for beating headlines, masterfully combines current events with nonstop action, creating a captivating plot that feels a tad too real for comfort. Anyone paying attention to current headlines should agree, Scot Harvath is the hero America needs in today’s tumultuous political climate.
With his latest pulse-pounding adventure, Brad Thor puts the rest of the genre on notice–Use of Force is the thriller to beat in 2017.
Book Details
Author: Brad Thor
Series: Scot Harvath #16
Pages: 368 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 147678938X
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Order Now: http://amzn.to/2pLdH7E
July 24, 2017
The book was a run of the mill adventure where you can lose yourself. There was nothing special about it that rang through my mind as I was reading it and wanted to make a note to pass on to my "reading friends".
If you want to just lose yourself in a search for "suicide bombers" (whom I just call murderers), this is a good book to read. Some things don't add up but then again, this is not a math book. Read and enjoy. You don't really need to read all the other books before to understand this one.
If you want to just lose yourself in a search for "suicide bombers" (whom I just call murderers), this is a good book to read. Some things don't add up but then again, this is not a math book. Read and enjoy. You don't really need to read all the other books before to understand this one.
August 29, 2017
Disappointing Ending
Another wonderful Brad Thor book, but the end was clunky and disappointing. It ended way too quickly when it seemed like the story should have continued a few more chapters.
Another wonderful Brad Thor book, but the end was clunky and disappointing. It ended way too quickly when it seemed like the story should have continued a few more chapters.
July 15, 2017
As usual, non-stop action, with no regard for laws. After stopping most of a terrorist attack on U.S. spoil, Scot is sent to exfiltrate an ISIS operative in Libya, when things go wrong and the bad guys almost win. Meanwhile, ISIS continues to mount escalating attacks in Europe, with rising death tolls. There is also treachery going on in Washington D.C. in the ranks of the CIA, forcing the intervention of Nicholas and the Carleton Group. Scot backtracks the Libyan terrorist to his contacts in Sicily/Italy, where he meets up with an old ally, from the Carabinieri, who seems to want to operate lawfully. I think there were too many plotlines and the ending seemed a bit abrupt.
June 15, 2017
I actually won an ARC of this book in Brad Thor's monthly drawing.
Scot Harvath is back! A terrorist from Tajikistan has a plan, and Scot has to figure out what it is, and stop it. Meanwhile, there's some backroom shenanigans going on in the corridors of power. Harvath goes to Libya and Italy tracking down the MacGuffin, while the terrorist smokes cigarettes and exults in death.
Great stuff!
Scot Harvath is back! A terrorist from Tajikistan has a plan, and Scot has to figure out what it is, and stop it. Meanwhile, there's some backroom shenanigans going on in the corridors of power. Harvath goes to Libya and Italy tracking down the MacGuffin, while the terrorist smokes cigarettes and exults in death.
Great stuff!
July 8, 2017
Lacks Pacing
There were times I got very bored and almost left it unfinished. The storyline was complex enough to keep me hanging on. I've enjoyed this Scott Harvard series but this one needed a good editing.
There were times I got very bored and almost left it unfinished. The storyline was complex enough to keep me hanging on. I've enjoyed this Scott Harvard series but this one needed a good editing.
July 26, 2022
I seriously contemplated dumping the book at the 1/2 way point, the 3/4 way point...but come on... this is about Scot Harvath! The sense of humor finally showed up, the pace picked up and the story was salvaged. The ending had it's good and bad points.
July 3, 2017
If you happened to ask me who my top two characters were in the thriller genre, it would hands down undoubtedly be Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp and Brad Thor's Scot Harvath. Just this past week Brad released his next Harvath installment titled Use Of Force! I could not find enough time in my day to finish it! I was reading while at home and listening to the audible version to and from work to ensure I stayed in the game.
Scot Harvath is never a man to mess around with and when he's out bringing the pain to the bag guys, everyone better be on the lookout! If you enjoy an action packed read with zero let down then this is the one for you! Thor rarely disappoints if at all!! But in this one, he covers everything from fully evolved gun battles and includes a ton of explosive moments that involve rpg's, grenades and reapers. Random compounds on the side of the road might even become the best hide for an onslaught of the bad guys!
Thor has always impressed with his writing and the ability to basically immerse you into the lives of his characters! If you've been with Scot for most of Thor's work then you know he's battled a lot with the internal battle of wanting to do what he wants versus what he needs to do! Thor brings to light some more regarding hat subject later on in the story.
I hate dropping too much and giving spoilers. We wait a year just to live vicariously though his main man for a day or two and then it's back to waiting for another year!
This is one you don't want to pass up and it sticks with everything Brad has continued to impress us with! If you need a full on review check out www.therealbookspy.com he has the best recommendations!
Scot Harvath is never a man to mess around with and when he's out bringing the pain to the bag guys, everyone better be on the lookout! If you enjoy an action packed read with zero let down then this is the one for you! Thor rarely disappoints if at all!! But in this one, he covers everything from fully evolved gun battles and includes a ton of explosive moments that involve rpg's, grenades and reapers. Random compounds on the side of the road might even become the best hide for an onslaught of the bad guys!
Thor has always impressed with his writing and the ability to basically immerse you into the lives of his characters! If you've been with Scot for most of Thor's work then you know he's battled a lot with the internal battle of wanting to do what he wants versus what he needs to do! Thor brings to light some more regarding hat subject later on in the story.
I hate dropping too much and giving spoilers. We wait a year just to live vicariously though his main man for a day or two and then it's back to waiting for another year!
This is one you don't want to pass up and it sticks with everything Brad has continued to impress us with! If you need a full on review check out www.therealbookspy.com he has the best recommendations!
July 2, 2017
Use of Force brings back Brad Thor’s counterterrorism expert Scot Harvath, with non-stop action from page one to the very end. It’s highly advised that you set aside a good weekend to punch through this thriller because it’s very difficult to put down once you’re in for the ride. From the very beginning, Scot is surrounded by his team of warriors, ranging from Mike Haney & Matt Morrison, two bad ass former Force Recon Marines. Tim Barton, a Navy Seal. Tyler Staelin, A Delta Force Operative. And, Jack Gage, a Green Beret.
As a former Marine, myself, I can appreciate their dialogue between each other, both in battle and off. When you become so close to a small group of people and you literally go through hell and back with them. Certain things, such as joking and throwing “the bird” to each other becomes a part of your regular vocabulary. Brad Thor did not disappoint in that aspect at all. It’s part of serving that builds brotherhood and camaraderie. Very few authors, such as Matthew Betley, who I am using as an example since he’s been there and done that, capture this with such a perfect balance of real and “no way” that’s out of line. It’s clear Brad Thor does his research and puts in work to be as accurate as possible in every detail possible.
Along with those characters, we have some new ones. A very capable and attractive CIA Specialized Skills Officer Deborah Lovett. Paolo Argento, the leader of an elite special unit in Italy tasked with taking down organized crime and terrorists’ networks. You quickly realize, Argento is as motivated as Harvath in taking down terrorists and making his country safe.
Some returning characters include, “the old Man” or Reed Carlton. Which I have very mixed feelings about in regard to his future. I will keep it spoiler free, but once you’ve read it, I look forward to your thoughts. Along with him, is Lydia Ryan & Bob McGee. Both are very competent and provide the right amount of support our counterterrorism expert needs to complete his mission. Finally, my favorite, Nicholas, aka “The Troll.” He is as formidable and bad ass as ever in his craft. Always surrounded by his two loyal companions and no task is too difficult when it comes to cyber espionage.
In conclusion, Use of Force is a MUST READ. If it’s not on your summer must read list, put it on and get it to the top asap. You will not be disappointed. I give this book a very solid five stars, if I could give more I would. It’s THAT good and Brad Thor once again delivers with non-stop, heart pounding action from beginning to end.
As a former Marine, myself, I can appreciate their dialogue between each other, both in battle and off. When you become so close to a small group of people and you literally go through hell and back with them. Certain things, such as joking and throwing “the bird” to each other becomes a part of your regular vocabulary. Brad Thor did not disappoint in that aspect at all. It’s part of serving that builds brotherhood and camaraderie. Very few authors, such as Matthew Betley, who I am using as an example since he’s been there and done that, capture this with such a perfect balance of real and “no way” that’s out of line. It’s clear Brad Thor does his research and puts in work to be as accurate as possible in every detail possible.
Along with those characters, we have some new ones. A very capable and attractive CIA Specialized Skills Officer Deborah Lovett. Paolo Argento, the leader of an elite special unit in Italy tasked with taking down organized crime and terrorists’ networks. You quickly realize, Argento is as motivated as Harvath in taking down terrorists and making his country safe.
Some returning characters include, “the old Man” or Reed Carlton. Which I have very mixed feelings about in regard to his future. I will keep it spoiler free, but once you’ve read it, I look forward to your thoughts. Along with him, is Lydia Ryan & Bob McGee. Both are very competent and provide the right amount of support our counterterrorism expert needs to complete his mission. Finally, my favorite, Nicholas, aka “The Troll.” He is as formidable and bad ass as ever in his craft. Always surrounded by his two loyal companions and no task is too difficult when it comes to cyber espionage.
In conclusion, Use of Force is a MUST READ. If it’s not on your summer must read list, put it on and get it to the top asap. You will not be disappointed. I give this book a very solid five stars, if I could give more I would. It’s THAT good and Brad Thor once again delivers with non-stop, heart pounding action from beginning to end.
February 17, 2018
When I retired and was able to return to reading for enjoyment Brad Thor was one of the first authors I started to follow and collect. I have a full set of all Thor's books all FE/FPs and all signed. Unfortunately, Mr. Thor is rapidly, very rapidly, loosing my interest and this may very well be the last of his books that I purchase and read.
While this book was a satisfactory addition to Thor's Harvath series and as such I give it three stars I have become tired of the apparent focus of Thor's efforts. When I began reading these books they were a fun entertainment. His hero, Scot Harvath, was an enjoyable combination of James Bond and John Wayne and the plots were an exciting international set of adventures to exotic locations. I do not know whether Thor has intentionally settled on a particular focus or if he has exhausted his imagination but the books have become tiresome and routine. All his latest books concentrate on Muslim terrorist plots to blow-up Western targets. They are long on violence and killing and dwell in intricate detail on the weapons and gadgets of warfare. If you have ever read the Ian Fleming Bond books or seen any of those movies then you understand the fascination with spyware gadgets. The difference between Bond's gadgets and Harvath's is that Harvath's are real while Bond's were fictional fantasies. Further, there seems to be an unsavory undertone to these recent efforts that all Muslims are evil and the enemies of Western cultures. In Thor's more recent books I have criticized him for putting what I perceived as personal political opinions in the mouths of his characters. I consider this a form of propaganda and promotion of a political agenda and resent it greatly. Like all Thor's readers I buy these books for entertainment and not their political insights. Thor seems to have dialed back on this practice but there are still traces of it in this book and that is a violation of the trust his readers have placed in him as an author.
Thor is a talented author and I doubt that his imagination has been exhausted. However, he seems to have decided to concentrate on Muslim terrorism to a degree that I find unfortunate and disturbing. Terrorism is a serious issue in the real world but books like this only exacerbate unrealistic fears among a readership that may not possess the ability to distinguish fiction and propaganda from fact and truth. The violence inflicted by the heroes in this book is enjoyed too much while rules, laws, and non-violent alternatives are held in contempt. All this is very macho but not terribly useful or healthy when the subject is one that is all too real in our world. I guess this wasn't the book to be reading while the Parkland tragedy was being played out in the news but that's what was happening when I finished this book.
While this book was a satisfactory addition to Thor's Harvath series and as such I give it three stars I have become tired of the apparent focus of Thor's efforts. When I began reading these books they were a fun entertainment. His hero, Scot Harvath, was an enjoyable combination of James Bond and John Wayne and the plots were an exciting international set of adventures to exotic locations. I do not know whether Thor has intentionally settled on a particular focus or if he has exhausted his imagination but the books have become tiresome and routine. All his latest books concentrate on Muslim terrorist plots to blow-up Western targets. They are long on violence and killing and dwell in intricate detail on the weapons and gadgets of warfare. If you have ever read the Ian Fleming Bond books or seen any of those movies then you understand the fascination with spyware gadgets. The difference between Bond's gadgets and Harvath's is that Harvath's are real while Bond's were fictional fantasies. Further, there seems to be an unsavory undertone to these recent efforts that all Muslims are evil and the enemies of Western cultures. In Thor's more recent books I have criticized him for putting what I perceived as personal political opinions in the mouths of his characters. I consider this a form of propaganda and promotion of a political agenda and resent it greatly. Like all Thor's readers I buy these books for entertainment and not their political insights. Thor seems to have dialed back on this practice but there are still traces of it in this book and that is a violation of the trust his readers have placed in him as an author.
Thor is a talented author and I doubt that his imagination has been exhausted. However, he seems to have decided to concentrate on Muslim terrorism to a degree that I find unfortunate and disturbing. Terrorism is a serious issue in the real world but books like this only exacerbate unrealistic fears among a readership that may not possess the ability to distinguish fiction and propaganda from fact and truth. The violence inflicted by the heroes in this book is enjoyed too much while rules, laws, and non-violent alternatives are held in contempt. All this is very macho but not terribly useful or healthy when the subject is one that is all too real in our world. I guess this wasn't the book to be reading while the Parkland tragedy was being played out in the news but that's what was happening when I finished this book.
September 17, 2017
I usually like Thor's work but this one felt like he ran out of time and had to turn something in to the publisher. The main plot line just suddenly ends between chapters with little discussion at all as to the resolution. The past few books spent a lot of time building up the story between Harvath and Lara. In this book she's mentioned briefly in the beginning and then doesn't appear til the second to last page. And what was the point of the subplot of the attempted hack of Olivia? I get that Thor was trying to devote more time to Scot but it came at the expense of the multiple plots and scenes that made me enjoy his books so much.
January 6, 2019
A solid read.
November 27, 2017
Another great instalment. Recommended.
July 29, 2024
Harvart and the crew are off to Italy to figure out who is behind the recent terrorist bombing in Paris and the USA.
Many twists and turns lead to an action-packed ending.
Many twists and turns lead to an action-packed ending.
June 20, 2017
A pulse-pounding, action-packed, explosive thriller of epic proportions.
Scot Havarth -- a navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism operative -- is assigned a mission so dangerous, that the government must deny any and all involvement. During a massive storm, the Italian Coast Guard receives a distress call that a smugglers ship carrying 150 men, women and children is sinking. Days later the body of a chemist that had expertly evaded authorities for three years washes up. His name is so deadly in the world of terrorism that it has everyone on high alert. The government fears that his reemergence may be the first step in the rumored deadliest terrorist attack in history. In a race against time, Harvarth must travel the world in search of clues to figure out what this man was planning, and try to prevent it -- no matter the cost. Ripped from the current headlines, Thor takes an intimate look at the war on terror from the mind of a dedicated fundamentalist. Each riveting scene is described in delicious detail. Not relying on his past successes, the author writes as if his livelihood depends on this book -- resulting in a pulse-pounding, action-packed, explosive thriller of epic proportions. USE OF FORCE proves once again that Brad Thor is the ultimate master of thrills. By far not only the best thriller of the summer, but the best of the year!
~ Kris Miller, certified TopShelf Reviewer. TopShelf Magazine does not offer 'paid review services’ and TopShelf Reviewers are not compensated for their reviews.
Scot Havarth -- a navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism operative -- is assigned a mission so dangerous, that the government must deny any and all involvement. During a massive storm, the Italian Coast Guard receives a distress call that a smugglers ship carrying 150 men, women and children is sinking. Days later the body of a chemist that had expertly evaded authorities for three years washes up. His name is so deadly in the world of terrorism that it has everyone on high alert. The government fears that his reemergence may be the first step in the rumored deadliest terrorist attack in history. In a race against time, Harvarth must travel the world in search of clues to figure out what this man was planning, and try to prevent it -- no matter the cost. Ripped from the current headlines, Thor takes an intimate look at the war on terror from the mind of a dedicated fundamentalist. Each riveting scene is described in delicious detail. Not relying on his past successes, the author writes as if his livelihood depends on this book -- resulting in a pulse-pounding, action-packed, explosive thriller of epic proportions. USE OF FORCE proves once again that Brad Thor is the ultimate master of thrills. By far not only the best thriller of the summer, but the best of the year!
~ Kris Miller, certified TopShelf Reviewer. TopShelf Magazine does not offer 'paid review services’ and TopShelf Reviewers are not compensated for their reviews.
August 12, 2017
A serviceable thriller. The chase doesn't make a whole lot of sense including its starting point - a valuable ISIS bomb maker is smuggled into Italy using a horrible human trafficker in Libya and the mafia? What could go wrong besides everything? If ISIS is as powerful as depicted surely they could arrange secure transportation? Just rent a car! Also why is it assumed that each link in this chain would know what would happen next so that it could be uncovered by the Good Guys??Compartmentalize! -- and there's a lot of fiddling around until the final scenes in Rome. These books would be better if Thor dialed back the good vs evil lectures he inserts about every 20 pages. As always I get a kick from the author having a more macho name than his main character. Unless Brad Thor is a pseudonym for Scot Harvath which would be v clever.
July 12, 2023
I enjoyed this book but I would disagree that this is the best one yet I was so happy that Nicholas and his dogs made an appearance but it seemed like they did just for the fans and not for the plot. It is very fast paced and action packed which is wonderful but I didn't fall in love with any of the secondary characters. Maybe if they make another appearance in a future book It was so touching that Reed s greatest weapon. Is now what is failing him.
Reread this book.... I fell behind on the series so trying to reread some to go in order. STill not my favorite... it seemed like Scot was feeling his age and it kept repeating that he had no recovered from some of his escapades so I don't understand how he wants to continue being in the field and why some of the younger guys are not surpassing him on physical feats.
Reread this book.... I fell behind on the series so trying to reread some to go in order. STill not my favorite... it seemed like Scot was feeling his age and it kept repeating that he had no recovered from some of his escapades so I don't understand how he wants to continue being in the field and why some of the younger guys are not surpassing him on physical feats.
July 4, 2018
So I never read any of the previous Scot Harvath books and it didn't bother me while reading this book. Though it is clearly part of a bigger picture, it stands well on its own. It was hard to stop reading the book, it's a thrilling ride and the different pieces of the puzzle will keep you glued to the book. It's not perfect and times its hard to follow specific events as it's written a bit unclear, but those moments are very few and far in between. If you feel like reading a good CIA suspense book, this is a great option.
July 17, 2017
This is my least favorite Brad Thor book BY FAR. I have read all previous books and novellas, and this one was NOT WORTHY of being called a Brad Thor novel.
I do not know if he has become complacent or just lost interest but, with all the time invested in plot/characters.... to have the climax, and falling action all happen within the last 10 pages is unacceptable.
I think Ben Coes and Brad Taylor have taken the baton from Brad Thor in the thriller genre and write much better novels.
I do not know if he has become complacent or just lost interest but, with all the time invested in plot/characters.... to have the climax, and falling action all happen within the last 10 pages is unacceptable.
I think Ben Coes and Brad Taylor have taken the baton from Brad Thor in the thriller genre and write much better novels.
July 22, 2017
I look forward to my time with SH every year. However I did not enjoy this much. Don't get me wrong, it had sections that were fast-paced and action packed as most of BT books are. However, this felt like I had read it before. It was very formulaic and a day after I read the book, I had to go back and review it to write this review as I had completely forgotten what this about. I will continue to hang with SH and look forward to next year's adventure, which will hopefully be more original.
December 8, 2017
This is the worst Brad Thor book I’ve read. It took a lot for me to even bother finishing it. Feels very phoned in - like he doesn’t really care anymore and just turns his main characters into caricatures. These books have always played second fiddle to the Vince Flynn novels, but this one was particularly lame.
July 27, 2017
SUBJECTIVE READER REVIEW FOLLOWS:
I've read all of Brad Thor's novels, and Scot Harvath is one of the protagonists I look forward to reading new tales about. Now in the grand scheme of things, Harvath ain't quite as ass-kicking as Mitch Rapp, more along the lines of Rapp's buddy Scott Coleman. But even that ain't bad considering the leeway Harvath's grudgingly granted to do what he must. I can't help but equate the Carlton Group with the Hendley Associates' Campus of Clancy's Ryan series. They're both fantasized as NGOs exempt from EO 12036, don't report to anyone on paper and ALWAYS do what's in the best interests of American survival in this world of diabolical enemies. Oh, I almost forgot, they're both funded from some bottomless pit of liquid assets.
I actually debated my rating for 'Use of Force' for a couple of days, unable to equate my reaction to it with the 4.36 average rating--which is close to an all time high! Shogun came in at 4.37 when the dust settled, and that's about as close to uniform praise as humans are capable of. In the end, 'Use of Force' was a good read but nothing in it gave me the admiration I felt when I finished reading Thor's 'Full Black' or 'Takedown.' A couple of series major events took place in 'Use of Force' and they involve Reed Carlton and the introduction of Deborah Lovett, a CIA Specialized Skills Officer who Harvath deemed 'stunning in a pantsuit' but 'dressed to party, unbelievably gorgeous.' I can't imagine that Deb won't play some key role in one or more future installments of the 'life and times of Scot Harvath.' I sure think 'Use of Force' is worth your money and time, but heck, don't take my word for it, the vast majority of readers have rated it 5 stars!
SPOILER PLOT SUMMARY FOLLOWS:
ISIS Delves Into Weapons of Mass Destruction. Disabused Tajik Ravsham Tursunov is selected by ISIS to export death & evil to the West, formerly restricted to the Middle East. Scot Harvath's part of the CIA SOG that luckily stymies the 1st suicide bomber attack on a Desert Festival in Nevada. Still the toll in death and blood is too high, as the team immediately sets off to track down the explosives link in Libya. They find their guy, but barely make it out of Libya alive. As their ISIS link is interrogated, news of the cataclysmic bombing of Saint James Cathedral, Santiago de Compestela in Spain reaches them. Tursunov's 2nd attack kills hundreds as there's no warning this time. Harvath takes what the Libyan gives up and heads to Calabria, linking up with Spec Skills Off Deborah Lovett, who's tall, blond and gorgeous. As they unravel the link to the Calabrian Mafia, a carnival in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris is hit by six suicide bombers, the toll massive and spawning panic and urgency. Even working with the Carabinieri, they cannot turn the corner until Nicholas the Troll gains access to CIA's MALICE program and begins locating bad guys down to coordinates. They learn that Tursunov's plan is to launch 6 mortars into St Peter's Square with sarin warheads. This time Harvath, Lovett & Argento find and kill the ISIS assault team before they can carry out their diabolical plan.
I've read all of Brad Thor's novels, and Scot Harvath is one of the protagonists I look forward to reading new tales about. Now in the grand scheme of things, Harvath ain't quite as ass-kicking as Mitch Rapp, more along the lines of Rapp's buddy Scott Coleman. But even that ain't bad considering the leeway Harvath's grudgingly granted to do what he must. I can't help but equate the Carlton Group with the Hendley Associates' Campus of Clancy's Ryan series. They're both fantasized as NGOs exempt from EO 12036, don't report to anyone on paper and ALWAYS do what's in the best interests of American survival in this world of diabolical enemies. Oh, I almost forgot, they're both funded from some bottomless pit of liquid assets.
I actually debated my rating for 'Use of Force' for a couple of days, unable to equate my reaction to it with the 4.36 average rating--which is close to an all time high! Shogun came in at 4.37 when the dust settled, and that's about as close to uniform praise as humans are capable of. In the end, 'Use of Force' was a good read but nothing in it gave me the admiration I felt when I finished reading Thor's 'Full Black' or 'Takedown.' A couple of series major events took place in 'Use of Force' and they involve Reed Carlton and the introduction of Deborah Lovett, a CIA Specialized Skills Officer who Harvath deemed 'stunning in a pantsuit' but 'dressed to party, unbelievably gorgeous.' I can't imagine that Deb won't play some key role in one or more future installments of the 'life and times of Scot Harvath.' I sure think 'Use of Force' is worth your money and time, but heck, don't take my word for it, the vast majority of readers have rated it 5 stars!
SPOILER PLOT SUMMARY FOLLOWS:
ISIS Delves Into Weapons of Mass Destruction. Disabused Tajik Ravsham Tursunov is selected by ISIS to export death & evil to the West, formerly restricted to the Middle East. Scot Harvath's part of the CIA SOG that luckily stymies the 1st suicide bomber attack on a Desert Festival in Nevada. Still the toll in death and blood is too high, as the team immediately sets off to track down the explosives link in Libya. They find their guy, but barely make it out of Libya alive. As their ISIS link is interrogated, news of the cataclysmic bombing of Saint James Cathedral, Santiago de Compestela in Spain reaches them. Tursunov's 2nd attack kills hundreds as there's no warning this time. Harvath takes what the Libyan gives up and heads to Calabria, linking up with Spec Skills Off Deborah Lovett, who's tall, blond and gorgeous. As they unravel the link to the Calabrian Mafia, a carnival in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris is hit by six suicide bombers, the toll massive and spawning panic and urgency. Even working with the Carabinieri, they cannot turn the corner until Nicholas the Troll gains access to CIA's MALICE program and begins locating bad guys down to coordinates. They learn that Tursunov's plan is to launch 6 mortars into St Peter's Square with sarin warheads. This time Harvath, Lovett & Argento find and kill the ISIS assault team before they can carry out their diabolical plan.
April 4, 2018
#16 in the Scot Harvath series. This 2017 entry in the series by author Thor is action packed as Horvath's anti-terrorism team follow threads to find the chemist being recruited by an ISIS bomber. There is a secondary plot concerning the organization of the CIA. My criticism of this novel is that the bombing plot reaches a conclusion and can be turned over to local authorities, the secondary plot and other dangling threads are summarily disposed of. This is a case where another 25-50 pages would help, even if it meant trimming some of the other sequences.
An ISIS bombing at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, sends covert counterterrorism operative, Scot Harvath and his crew on a breathless, nonstop mission to find the mastermind behind the attack, Tajikistan terrorist Ravshan Tursunov. The novel shifts from team Harvath, engaging in combat and advanced interrogation (including waterboarding) in locations such as Libya and Mafia-run Sicily, to Tursunov as he visits crowded tourist destinations like the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Paris's Tuileries gardens, where more bombs take many lives.
An ISIS bombing at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, sends covert counterterrorism operative, Scot Harvath and his crew on a breathless, nonstop mission to find the mastermind behind the attack, Tajikistan terrorist Ravshan Tursunov. The novel shifts from team Harvath, engaging in combat and advanced interrogation (including waterboarding) in locations such as Libya and Mafia-run Sicily, to Tursunov as he visits crowded tourist destinations like the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Paris's Tuileries gardens, where more bombs take many lives.
July 8, 2017
I first rated this as 4/5, but a few hours later, I changed it to 5/5.
Why? First, Thor always has the best plot lines. His stories are relevant, in depth, with plenty of twists and turns. It was another classic Thor novel.
Why then did I first give it 4 stars? Harvath is turning into a cliche for me. Maybe it's because of the number of interviews Thor does and how much press he does, but many catch phrases or lines of Harvath, I've actually heard Thor say before. One other things that Thor does that irks me is when he has a character from a foreign country say something like, "We are going to, as the Americans say, wipe the floor with them." It seems like a cheat-line that's also unbelievable. If someone says some random, colloquial term from another country, they don't state the country of origin.
Since Act of War, Thor's writing has become more and more directed at the extreme right sect of politics. That's not a problem for me, but I have noticed that his writing has taken quite a drastic, direct, right slant.
That all being said, I still think this book was great, and it was hard for me to give this a 5/5, because I didn't necessarily enjoy it as much as I enjoyed other 5/5 books, but this was another typical Thor - no surprises in that sense. The plot and story was amazing. I'm just enjoying Harvath less and less with each book.
Why? First, Thor always has the best plot lines. His stories are relevant, in depth, with plenty of twists and turns. It was another classic Thor novel.
Why then did I first give it 4 stars? Harvath is turning into a cliche for me. Maybe it's because of the number of interviews Thor does and how much press he does, but many catch phrases or lines of Harvath, I've actually heard Thor say before. One other things that Thor does that irks me is when he has a character from a foreign country say something like, "We are going to, as the Americans say, wipe the floor with them." It seems like a cheat-line that's also unbelievable. If someone says some random, colloquial term from another country, they don't state the country of origin.
Since Act of War, Thor's writing has become more and more directed at the extreme right sect of politics. That's not a problem for me, but I have noticed that his writing has taken quite a drastic, direct, right slant.
That all being said, I still think this book was great, and it was hard for me to give this a 5/5, because I didn't necessarily enjoy it as much as I enjoyed other 5/5 books, but this was another typical Thor - no surprises in that sense. The plot and story was amazing. I'm just enjoying Harvath less and less with each book.
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