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Jason Trapp #2
False Flag
The gripping second instalment in the Jason Trapp thriller series!
They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
But Jason Trapp is losing his taste for it. For six months, his personal crusade has taken him around the world, mopping up the last of the Bloody Monday conspirators. There's only one left, and after the crooked financier Emmanuel Alstyne meets his maker, Trapp's debt will be paid in full. He vows he's done with the business of death.
Unfortunately, it isn't done with him.
After a simple kill mission goes sideways in Macau, leaving a CIA spy kidnapped, half a dozen Chinese agents dead, and America's satellites burning in the skies, Trapp is propelled back into the game. Eliza Ikeda was taken on his watch, and he's determined to get her back–no matter the cost. The problem is, he has no idea who took her, why, or what they plan to do next.
Trapp knows he's being played. And with the world's only two superpowers hurtling toward the precipice of war, time is running out...
Retirement will have to wait.
Trapp is back in action. And this time, it's personal.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
But Jason Trapp is losing his taste for it. For six months, his personal crusade has taken him around the world, mopping up the last of the Bloody Monday conspirators. There's only one left, and after the crooked financier Emmanuel Alstyne meets his maker, Trapp's debt will be paid in full. He vows he's done with the business of death.
Unfortunately, it isn't done with him.
After a simple kill mission goes sideways in Macau, leaving a CIA spy kidnapped, half a dozen Chinese agents dead, and America's satellites burning in the skies, Trapp is propelled back into the game. Eliza Ikeda was taken on his watch, and he's determined to get her back–no matter the cost. The problem is, he has no idea who took her, why, or what they plan to do next.
Trapp knows he's being played. And with the world's only two superpowers hurtling toward the precipice of war, time is running out...
Retirement will have to wait.
Trapp is back in action. And this time, it's personal.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2019
4446 people are currently reading
798 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 358 reviews
September 13, 2019
An absolutely fantastic, thrilling , action adventure with Jason Trapp,ex-Black Op agent! The story is clear and concise, the author's writing improved in this second book, and you are on the edge of your seat as you quickly travel through every emotion as Jason attempts to keep the USA and China from being drawn into a war that Nobody will win!
You feel as if you are right there with the characters, who are all well-defined and very realistic, as the prospect of a nuclear war looms..President Nash has only been in office for 6 months, but the situations he has already been through have his whole head of hair graying very quickly, the evil Colonel Kim Youp-Min is seen at the beginning living as a child in a prison camp, eating bugs for protein and stealing anything he can..You Can understand the evil he has grown with,but the person he is now exceeds anything imaginable!
Jason has an agent to assist him in China, Eliza Ikeda, and he grows to be quite impressed with her skills as an agent, so when she is captured and he can't stop the actions, although he still has his country to fight for, to find the computer set to destroy America's satellites, he still feels responsible for the lost agent and vows to find her!
A breath-taking story that will keep you turning pages from start to the last word,an intriguing 'fight to the finish', with an end result that could change our world Forever...
You feel as if you are right there with the characters, who are all well-defined and very realistic, as the prospect of a nuclear war looms..President Nash has only been in office for 6 months, but the situations he has already been through have his whole head of hair graying very quickly, the evil Colonel Kim Youp-Min is seen at the beginning living as a child in a prison camp, eating bugs for protein and stealing anything he can..You Can understand the evil he has grown with,but the person he is now exceeds anything imaginable!
Jason has an agent to assist him in China, Eliza Ikeda, and he grows to be quite impressed with her skills as an agent, so when she is captured and he can't stop the actions, although he still has his country to fight for, to find the computer set to destroy America's satellites, he still feels responsible for the lost agent and vows to find her!
A breath-taking story that will keep you turning pages from start to the last word,an intriguing 'fight to the finish', with an end result that could change our world Forever...
September 13, 2019
Jason Trapp is back.
He's still chasing after one last bad guy from the previous book.
We're in Hong Kong now to kill that man and to retrieve the USB stick with all the super important secrets he stole. But Trapp needs help from local CIA agent Eliza.
Together they try to kill this bad guy undetected - which won't be easy on Chinese soil!
Plus there's another bad guy who is after the secrets the first bad guy is selling.
Lots of bad people to stop for Trapp and his new female colleague! Unfortunately she won't be with him for very long ... another thing for Trapp to fix until we can ride off into our happily ever after sunset! ☺
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I really loved this 2nd book!
It starts with a bit of a heartbreaking prologue.
And then it's one Race-Against-Time-Blockbuster-Action-Scene after the other.
Jason Trapp is verrry busy saving the world! And I loved being by his side through it all - not really there with him - it's way too dangerous, but, you know, with him via kindle. ☺
You just have to keep on reading - we want him to succeed. He needs to save the girl and the world!
I even had to cry a bit a few times!!!!
Great Spy-Action Thriller! Amazing research job by the author!
Can't wait to see where Jason Trapp & Jack Slater will take us in the third adventure!
♡
♡
December 12, 2022
This is book 2 in Jack Slater’s Jason Trapp series. While this stands well on its own – there are spoilers to book 1, Dark State, and events in that book launched many of Jason’s actions in this one, so they’re best enjoyed in order.
Again, Slater does a great job with world building, pacing, and character development. He has this knack for making seemingly unrelated incidents entertaining and then tying them all together.
Jason isn’t in this alone and Slater writes another strong female lead in Eliza. She may be captured, but she’s not completely helpless or giving up. The insight into the political aspects and ramifications is also compelling. I enjoyed the banter between the SEALs as well.
I also like that Slater includes the perspective of the antagonists. It doesn’t take anything from the suspense though as the true motivations are still a secret for most of the story. We’re discovering them right along with Jason, Eliza, Mitchell, and the President. False Flag is the title for a reason as there are lots of twists and turns to uncover layers of nefarious plans.
A great listen.
Narration:
Mark Garkusha continues to be impressive. There are a LOT of characters in this book of different ages, backgrounds, and from numerous countries. Garkusha is wonderful at bringing them all to life consistent with Slater’s writing including numerous accents and emotions. Fantastic job. I’ll continue to seek out his work.
I borrowed the ebook via Kindle Unlimited but received a copy of the Audiobook from the narrator and am leaving an honest review.
Again, Slater does a great job with world building, pacing, and character development. He has this knack for making seemingly unrelated incidents entertaining and then tying them all together.
Jason isn’t in this alone and Slater writes another strong female lead in Eliza. She may be captured, but she’s not completely helpless or giving up. The insight into the political aspects and ramifications is also compelling. I enjoyed the banter between the SEALs as well.
I also like that Slater includes the perspective of the antagonists. It doesn’t take anything from the suspense though as the true motivations are still a secret for most of the story. We’re discovering them right along with Jason, Eliza, Mitchell, and the President. False Flag is the title for a reason as there are lots of twists and turns to uncover layers of nefarious plans.
A great listen.
Narration:
Mark Garkusha continues to be impressive. There are a LOT of characters in this book of different ages, backgrounds, and from numerous countries. Garkusha is wonderful at bringing them all to life consistent with Slater’s writing including numerous accents and emotions. Fantastic job. I’ll continue to seek out his work.
I borrowed the ebook via Kindle Unlimited but received a copy of the Audiobook from the narrator and am leaving an honest review.
June 19, 2025
I’m getting to where I like this character. He’s growing on me, this one is a step up from first book.
May 18, 2020
3 Stars for effort-
This is Slater's 2nd book and I hoped he had learned something from the first Trapp exercise. And it appeared he had - for about the first 1/4 of the book. Then it was back to more blah-blah-blah empty and unnecessary words and phrases, like in the first. Makes it easy to read when you can skip pages at a time and miss nothing. But it was still better than his first Josua Trapp attempt. As to the blah-blah-blah feature, I found, reportedly, that Amazon pays these e-book writers pretty much by the word - $4 to $5 per 1000 pages "read." I guess this is why there is so much chaff and so little wheat in these e-books. Apparently, major book publishers don't allow their books, at least recent ones, to be offered on Kindle Prime or Unlimited giving rise to a whole bunch of new e-book "authors." It would be nice if we could at least get a complete biography on them.
This story involves Josua Trapp, all by himself, invading the DPRK, and with only a pistol and a knife! OMG! No more Trapp for me. I'll stick to Rapp instead [Flynn's Mitch Rapp that is]. But as bad as this is, it is still better than most of the Kindle e-book authors I've read so far writing in this genre. Sad.
This is Slater's 2nd book and I hoped he had learned something from the first Trapp exercise. And it appeared he had - for about the first 1/4 of the book. Then it was back to more blah-blah-blah empty and unnecessary words and phrases, like in the first. Makes it easy to read when you can skip pages at a time and miss nothing. But it was still better than his first Josua Trapp attempt. As to the blah-blah-blah feature, I found, reportedly, that Amazon pays these e-book writers pretty much by the word - $4 to $5 per 1000 pages "read." I guess this is why there is so much chaff and so little wheat in these e-books. Apparently, major book publishers don't allow their books, at least recent ones, to be offered on Kindle Prime or Unlimited giving rise to a whole bunch of new e-book "authors." It would be nice if we could at least get a complete biography on them.
This story involves Josua Trapp, all by himself, invading the DPRK, and with only a pistol and a knife! OMG! No more Trapp for me. I'll stick to Rapp instead [Flynn's Mitch Rapp that is]. But as bad as this is, it is still better than most of the Kindle e-book authors I've read so far writing in this genre. Sad.
November 6, 2019
A chillingly believable scenario
What A book! Jack Slater is quickly on his way to become the hottest new name in the genre this year. First DEEP STATE and now another mesmerizing tale with non-stop action, rich characters and a complex plot with twists at every turn. I can’t wait for the next wild ride.
What A book! Jack Slater is quickly on his way to become the hottest new name in the genre this year. First DEEP STATE and now another mesmerizing tale with non-stop action, rich characters and a complex plot with twists at every turn. I can’t wait for the next wild ride.
May 23, 2023
Great book. Suspenseful and entertaining.
May 6, 2021
Second Jason Tripp thriller. Compelling read that involves a Chinese/American/North Korean nexus. In this novel, as we spiral towards a possible nuclear war, the two weapons I have not encountered before are a biological weapon that only ID's certain genotypes and a parasitic satellite that can attach to GPS satellites and disable them. Both are key elements in this story.
A female character is introduced (probably a continuing one), that becomes Jason Tripp's fascination, but leaves the reader befuddled as Jason risks everything to save someone he hardly knows...more to come.
I will move on to the third book in this series.
A female character is introduced (probably a continuing one), that becomes Jason Tripp's fascination, but leaves the reader befuddled as Jason risks everything to save someone he hardly knows...more to come.
I will move on to the third book in this series.
May 2, 2025
Intenseeee thriller. Amazing. Time for book #3
January 10, 2024
Great followup to the first Trapp book!!!
June 2, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️
Another great installment of this series that has Jason Trapp involved with some crazy events concerning China and North Korea. Based on certain events happening - the US and China are on the fast track to nuclear war. It looks like things are happening that the US would have no choice but to retaliate before it is too late.
Then, Trapp is on an assignment in Asia that just might have a connection to these events, and he is given carte blanche to hurry and try to figure out what is really happening.
As usual, this is an extremely fast paced, action packed drama with non stop events and a tension build up that takes you to the very brink.
Another winner.
Another great installment of this series that has Jason Trapp involved with some crazy events concerning China and North Korea. Based on certain events happening - the US and China are on the fast track to nuclear war. It looks like things are happening that the US would have no choice but to retaliate before it is too late.
Then, Trapp is on an assignment in Asia that just might have a connection to these events, and he is given carte blanche to hurry and try to figure out what is really happening.
As usual, this is an extremely fast paced, action packed drama with non stop events and a tension build up that takes you to the very brink.
Another winner.
July 29, 2025
I'm hooked on Jason Trapp. Reliable action and intriguing plots. I know there will be a happy ending and another crisis will arise for the next in the series. What's not to enjoy?
May 31, 2021
A fantastic action thriller!! Never a dull moment and an enjoyable read..
July 4, 2024
I do not understand the 4 and 5 star ratings. The story is unbelievable. The writing is no show and all tell. I quit because at 60% there had been no on-page action. The entire story is the inner musings of the MCs.
November 26, 2019
With "False Flag," the second in the series about CIA operative Jason Trapp, author Jack Slater solidifies his character as one of the more explosive and intriguing in the thriller genre. Trapp doesn't necessarily want to do what he's good at. In the first novel, he was done. His friend and compatriot had died in botched operation, and he's not getting younger. But things change. Trapp found himself in the midst of an operation to destabilize the U.S. government in the previous episode, finding a solution to what would have torn the country asunder. In this novel, Trapp teams with fellow agent Eliza Ikeda to eliminate a loose end from his previous adventure. But everything that can go wrong does go wrong. In the extreme. Slater uses the opportunity to address real world intelligence concerns. And what he describes sounds plausible and frighteningly so. Slater has a way of bringing that potential geopolitical calamity to life, and he animates his characters with solid dimension. Suffice to say the plot heads in directions that nobody wants but likely all Pentagon brass already have addressed with contingency plans. His descriptions of what his protagonists endure and the choices they must make bring the story to a personal level. I had to put the book down a number of times. And when I finished, I was thinking how the experience reminded me of tearing through Vince Flynn's novels. Heightened paranoia and a big dose of adrenaline. And I recommend reading the author's notes. Otherwise, I'd be looking some information up. I've got the next book on pre-order. Looking forward to it.
January 20, 2025
Rating: 3.0
Mode of Reading: Audio Book
How did I pick this up: Second in a Series that I found in Libby as a Ready to Borrow Audiobook (random setting) - Only Series I've read via Graphic Audio
Short Yet Sweet Review: I put this book on hold immediately after I finished the first Jason Trapp Graphic Audiobook last year, and honestly was excited to continue the story as I found the first one interesting and attention grabbing. However, this time around, I decided that the Graphic Audio version of this story might have actually made me less excited as I was listening as there's too much background audio that actually deters from the story. This time, Jason Trapp is working on a foreign interest and trying to prevent WWIII between China and the USA (and someone else?!). I did enjoy the addition of CIA Agent Eliza and the continual fights that exist for Trapp. I want to give book #3 a chance still because I do enjoy the high energy but I will be moving to a different method of reading this series!
Mode of Reading: Audio Book
How did I pick this up: Second in a Series that I found in Libby as a Ready to Borrow Audiobook (random setting) - Only Series I've read via Graphic Audio
Short Yet Sweet Review: I put this book on hold immediately after I finished the first Jason Trapp Graphic Audiobook last year, and honestly was excited to continue the story as I found the first one interesting and attention grabbing. However, this time around, I decided that the Graphic Audio version of this story might have actually made me less excited as I was listening as there's too much background audio that actually deters from the story. This time, Jason Trapp is working on a foreign interest and trying to prevent WWIII between China and the USA (and someone else?!). I did enjoy the addition of CIA Agent Eliza and the continual fights that exist for Trapp. I want to give book #3 a chance still because I do enjoy the high energy but I will be moving to a different method of reading this series!
March 20, 2023
This is a good story and would make a great screenplay. It is certainly poignant and addresses the scary possibility that we could enter WWIII very easily.
Unfortunately, the writing is horrible. It is juvenile and full of clichés. It just doesn't flow at all. Maybe some 2o year old jock would like this, but for someone whose favorite authors are Nelson DeMille, David Baldacci and Daniel Silva, whose prose is smooth and captures the reader, this narrative makes me (I am a copywriter) want to scream. He obviously doesn't have a good editor, if he has any at all.
After reading the first book, which was also poorly written, I hoped Mr. Slater would polish his skills. However, this is worse than the first. He says things similar to {the rushing water rushed} or {the clear message clearly meant ... } It just doesn't read well at all. Sorry for the harsh critique, but this author needs to learn how to write.
Unfortunately, the writing is horrible. It is juvenile and full of clichés. It just doesn't flow at all. Maybe some 2o year old jock would like this, but for someone whose favorite authors are Nelson DeMille, David Baldacci and Daniel Silva, whose prose is smooth and captures the reader, this narrative makes me (I am a copywriter) want to scream. He obviously doesn't have a good editor, if he has any at all.
After reading the first book, which was also poorly written, I hoped Mr. Slater would polish his skills. However, this is worse than the first. He says things similar to {the rushing water rushed} or {the clear message clearly meant ... } It just doesn't read well at all. Sorry for the harsh critique, but this author needs to learn how to write.
August 10, 2020
I felt the first Jason Trapp book, Deep State, was better than this one. This book was less compelling and I caught more errors. In chapter 48 there's a phrase "was he describing meaning to something that deserved none?". I'm certain the word "ascribing" should have been used instead of "describing". Otherwise the phrase makes no sense. In chapter 50 "Kim...fired three times. The shots ripped through the door". In the next chapter the author writes "two gunshots had ripped through the door". Lastly, I find the author's use of words with ghostly connotations to describe Jason's eyes ("spectral eyes", and "the eyes of a wraith") as odd.
These may be minor problems/errors but I find them distracting. I would think someone who has been paid to write a book would be more professional.
These may be minor problems/errors but I find them distracting. I would think someone who has been paid to write a book would be more professional.
May 5, 2023
a waste of time
This book sucked so hard it could leave a hickey. The action was non existent and horribly paced the only good character was the main bad guy and at The end he just said “screw it” and gave up. This whole book was a waste of time and I actually hate myself for actually reading it all the way through. Ps. Jack stop talking about how handsome and god like the main character is, it’s actually kinda odd when you write more about this man’s looks then you do about any type of action in a book genre that’s supposed to be about action.
This book sucked so hard it could leave a hickey. The action was non existent and horribly paced the only good character was the main bad guy and at The end he just said “screw it” and gave up. This whole book was a waste of time and I actually hate myself for actually reading it all the way through. Ps. Jack stop talking about how handsome and god like the main character is, it’s actually kinda odd when you write more about this man’s looks then you do about any type of action in a book genre that’s supposed to be about action.
October 12, 2023
Did not finish. Far too many convenient coincidences and every body was “the best of the best” and “going to the limits of their capabilities” then went beyond.
April 11, 2024
SeeWhen I finished the Mitch Rapp saga, I wasn't sure if I was going to find other spy thrillers of its caliber until I got a hold of this series featuring Jason Trapp. I will say this, if you like Mitch Rapp, you'll definitely enjoy this series because it's totally in the same vein. This series is so high energy, suspenseful and intense, you would've thought this was a Mitch Rapp (and in some instances) a Jack Reacher novel. Jason Trapp is a likable character who has a different background, drive and perspective than Mitch Rapp, but the motivations to do the right thing and save the world from those who wish to harm it remain the same. They're both are linked to the CIA so Mitch Rapp fans will elements of the stories familiar. The character development goes more in depth along the way in this book especially about his childhood trauma involving his abusive dad.
This story's intensity about two of the last superpowers are finding themselves at the brink of war because of a false flag operation by another country plotting behind the scenes makes this a fantastic read and a quick one. Seeing the president being placed in an impossible position and making some of the hardest decisions of his life adds to the intensity. He has Trapp out in the field finding the proof on who is behind the plot and if Trapp is unable to deliver, the world as they know it will be good and 100s of millions of lives will be lost. That's how spy thrillers are done and it's exactly what I enjoy about this series. This novel is highly recommended and I am off to the next book.
This story's intensity about two of the last superpowers are finding themselves at the brink of war because of a false flag operation by another country plotting behind the scenes makes this a fantastic read and a quick one. Seeing the president being placed in an impossible position and making some of the hardest decisions of his life adds to the intensity. He has Trapp out in the field finding the proof on who is behind the plot and if Trapp is unable to deliver, the world as they know it will be good and 100s of millions of lives will be lost. That's how spy thrillers are done and it's exactly what I enjoy about this series. This novel is highly recommended and I am off to the next book.
November 10, 2019
False Flag (2019) is the second in Jack's Slater's Jason Trapp series. I found the first in the series very serviceable and looked forward to the new entry. It's nice to find a new author who can build the tension that a good thriller requires and keep you from putting the book down.
Good news! The third in the series is about to be published. Slater has a business model that works: blitz the reader with books and hook him.
In the first book, Deep State, America suffers a coordinated series of horrific terrorist attacks on "Bloody Monday;" they range from attacks on transcontinental trains to attacks at sports arenas. It turns out that the motive is not terrorism as we know it. Rather, the Vice President of the U. S. had organized an elaborate ruse to assassinate the President and take his place.
But President Charles Nash, former Marine and straight shooter, taps Jason Trapp to save American democracy. Trapp is a former Marine and CIA special ops agent, codename HANGMAN. He resigned from the CIA after a mission in Yemen went wrong: the mission was a setup in which Trapp's longtime partner was killed. He now operates as an independent contractor, to be called in when America needs to be saved.
It's 1981. Our Google Earth zeros in on North Korea's Labor Camp 15, a prison camp where "undesirables" of any texture are bundled together to be worked and starved for the country's benefit. We drill down to a fifteen-year old boy named Kim Youp-Min, who is grubbing for insects when a convoy of new prisoners arrives. Kim is starving, as is his mother, and his prime source of food is picking the pockets of incoming prisoners. But this time he is observed by a North Korean Lieutenant Colonel who admires Kim's skill and makes him an offer: he will be placed in a military academy and groomed for a well-fed Army career if he murders his own mother. Food trumps love—she would have died anyway!
In now-time Trapp is hooked up with a Japanese-American CIA agent named Eliza Ikeda on a mission to bring Emmanuel Alstyne to "justice." Alstyne is the man who financed the entire Bloody Monday coup, and the last of the cabal still free. Alstyne has also stolen a thumb drive of American military secrets the Ikeda and Trapp are to retrieve. The CIA team goes to Macau—an "independent" province of China, like Hong-Kong—where Alstyne is on a gambling and sex trip. Trapp and Ikeda, with a small CIA Special Ops backup team, go to the Macau Ritz-Hilton to kill Alstyne and retrieve the thumb drive.
The plan is for Ikeda to play a whore while wearing extremely toxic lipstick. It works (though we wonder how she remains impervious). But as Alstyne slips into a coma, the hotel 's power goes out and Ikeda hears the sounds of a firefight in the halls outside the hotel suite. It's Alstyne's goons against . . . who? Not the Americans, who know that the Trapp-Ikeda team is in place; not China, which has no motive. It must be a third party! When a series of explosions occurs we know that whoever it is, they mean business and we suspect that their goal is to get Alstyne's thumb drive.
The scene ends with the assailants taking both a drugged Ikeda and Alstyne's comatose body with them. Trapp is left at the Macau Ritz Carlton with two dead CIA agents, blood and destruction everywhere, and no idea what's going on—a feeling we share. But he does find Ikeda's purse, and inside it is Alstyne's thumb drive filled with U. S. secrets—or is it the fake thumb drive that Alstyne created as a decoy?
Immediately after this debacle a nuclear strike takes out all of America's space satellites in the Pacific region: America's eyes and ears in Asia are gone; she is both deaf and blind. The source is unknown but only China has the necessary technology. The satellite destruction is interpreted by the Pentagon as preparation for a Chinese nuclear attack on America; President Nash is advised by the Pentagon to initiate a nuclear attack on China, but he senses something is fishy—a nuclear exchange would destroy China as well as America. What would China gain? And even if the attack used Chinese technology, was it actually initiated by China or by some other nation that had acquired the technology? The President knows that Jason Trapp is on the job, so he waits to see if Trapp can put the toothpaste back in the tube.
The key figure in all of this mayhem is now-Colonel Kim Youp-Min, once a starving teenager at Camp 15 but now the leader of Unit 61, North Korea's version of Delta Force. Kim has done well since shooting his mother, and his loyalty to the Supreme Leader is unquestioned, as is his lack of any moral compass. The Supreme leader's instructions have placed him at the Macau Ritz Carlton as instigator of the power outage and the attack on Alstyne's suite. He arrived there soon after stealing some super-secret weapon called "Operation Songbird" from a Chinese military research facility; we suspect that this had something to do with American satellites.
After the Ritz-Carlton fiasco, Macau is on lockdown. How is Trapp going to escape to do his job? Well, a submarine has been sent to pick him up—all he has to do is get to it. Luckily it is Macau Yacht Week and a number of large boats are anchored just off the coast. Trapp identifies one yacht owner and decides to steal his 76-foot yacht. To do this, he has to have the owner along to clear the path, and this owner objects—he's the General Secretary of the Communist Party for the City of Shenzhen, and he's not used to following orders. Still, Trapp's Glock is persuasive and the yacht is used to take Trapp to a submarine positioned for exfiltration.
False Flag is a kaleidoscope of tense action involving a confrontation bew=tween Chines and U. S. carrier groups, infiltration of a fatal virus into China, the compromise of America's satellite system, and an internal struggle for leadership in North Korea. America and China will go to DEFCON 1. Nuclear war is on the horizon, and nobody knows why. Neither will you, unless you read this nonstop, whirlwind of a geopolitical thriller. I, for one, am glad Jason Trapp is on our side!
Good news! The third in the series is about to be published. Slater has a business model that works: blitz the reader with books and hook him.
In the first book, Deep State, America suffers a coordinated series of horrific terrorist attacks on "Bloody Monday;" they range from attacks on transcontinental trains to attacks at sports arenas. It turns out that the motive is not terrorism as we know it. Rather, the Vice President of the U. S. had organized an elaborate ruse to assassinate the President and take his place.
But President Charles Nash, former Marine and straight shooter, taps Jason Trapp to save American democracy. Trapp is a former Marine and CIA special ops agent, codename HANGMAN. He resigned from the CIA after a mission in Yemen went wrong: the mission was a setup in which Trapp's longtime partner was killed. He now operates as an independent contractor, to be called in when America needs to be saved.
It's 1981. Our Google Earth zeros in on North Korea's Labor Camp 15, a prison camp where "undesirables" of any texture are bundled together to be worked and starved for the country's benefit. We drill down to a fifteen-year old boy named Kim Youp-Min, who is grubbing for insects when a convoy of new prisoners arrives. Kim is starving, as is his mother, and his prime source of food is picking the pockets of incoming prisoners. But this time he is observed by a North Korean Lieutenant Colonel who admires Kim's skill and makes him an offer: he will be placed in a military academy and groomed for a well-fed Army career if he murders his own mother. Food trumps love—she would have died anyway!
In now-time Trapp is hooked up with a Japanese-American CIA agent named Eliza Ikeda on a mission to bring Emmanuel Alstyne to "justice." Alstyne is the man who financed the entire Bloody Monday coup, and the last of the cabal still free. Alstyne has also stolen a thumb drive of American military secrets the Ikeda and Trapp are to retrieve. The CIA team goes to Macau—an "independent" province of China, like Hong-Kong—where Alstyne is on a gambling and sex trip. Trapp and Ikeda, with a small CIA Special Ops backup team, go to the Macau Ritz-Hilton to kill Alstyne and retrieve the thumb drive.
The plan is for Ikeda to play a whore while wearing extremely toxic lipstick. It works (though we wonder how she remains impervious). But as Alstyne slips into a coma, the hotel 's power goes out and Ikeda hears the sounds of a firefight in the halls outside the hotel suite. It's Alstyne's goons against . . . who? Not the Americans, who know that the Trapp-Ikeda team is in place; not China, which has no motive. It must be a third party! When a series of explosions occurs we know that whoever it is, they mean business and we suspect that their goal is to get Alstyne's thumb drive.
The scene ends with the assailants taking both a drugged Ikeda and Alstyne's comatose body with them. Trapp is left at the Macau Ritz Carlton with two dead CIA agents, blood and destruction everywhere, and no idea what's going on—a feeling we share. But he does find Ikeda's purse, and inside it is Alstyne's thumb drive filled with U. S. secrets—or is it the fake thumb drive that Alstyne created as a decoy?
Immediately after this debacle a nuclear strike takes out all of America's space satellites in the Pacific region: America's eyes and ears in Asia are gone; she is both deaf and blind. The source is unknown but only China has the necessary technology. The satellite destruction is interpreted by the Pentagon as preparation for a Chinese nuclear attack on America; President Nash is advised by the Pentagon to initiate a nuclear attack on China, but he senses something is fishy—a nuclear exchange would destroy China as well as America. What would China gain? And even if the attack used Chinese technology, was it actually initiated by China or by some other nation that had acquired the technology? The President knows that Jason Trapp is on the job, so he waits to see if Trapp can put the toothpaste back in the tube.
The key figure in all of this mayhem is now-Colonel Kim Youp-Min, once a starving teenager at Camp 15 but now the leader of Unit 61, North Korea's version of Delta Force. Kim has done well since shooting his mother, and his loyalty to the Supreme Leader is unquestioned, as is his lack of any moral compass. The Supreme leader's instructions have placed him at the Macau Ritz Carlton as instigator of the power outage and the attack on Alstyne's suite. He arrived there soon after stealing some super-secret weapon called "Operation Songbird" from a Chinese military research facility; we suspect that this had something to do with American satellites.
After the Ritz-Carlton fiasco, Macau is on lockdown. How is Trapp going to escape to do his job? Well, a submarine has been sent to pick him up—all he has to do is get to it. Luckily it is Macau Yacht Week and a number of large boats are anchored just off the coast. Trapp identifies one yacht owner and decides to steal his 76-foot yacht. To do this, he has to have the owner along to clear the path, and this owner objects—he's the General Secretary of the Communist Party for the City of Shenzhen, and he's not used to following orders. Still, Trapp's Glock is persuasive and the yacht is used to take Trapp to a submarine positioned for exfiltration.
False Flag is a kaleidoscope of tense action involving a confrontation bew=tween Chines and U. S. carrier groups, infiltration of a fatal virus into China, the compromise of America's satellite system, and an internal struggle for leadership in North Korea. America and China will go to DEFCON 1. Nuclear war is on the horizon, and nobody knows why. Neither will you, unless you read this nonstop, whirlwind of a geopolitical thriller. I, for one, am glad Jason Trapp is on our side!
August 14, 2023
Who doesn’t love a good, fast-paced action thriller?
His second book improves a few of the flaws in the first, and I loved the first.
I enjoyed every minute reading this book even recognizing some of the editing failures.
Jason Trapp is a strong action hero and he’s got an attractive, quirky, determined female side-kick, Eliza Ikeda, who gets captured and embodies the never-give-up spirit.
Slater’s writing is clear with lots of action and tension. Oh, and that plot, so real and yet so unreal.
America’s satellite network gets wiped out by a weapon that attaches itself and then disables. And then we learn that a bio-weapon targets only genetically Chinese is about to be released. Ah, World War III is in sight.
That’s the maybe-real part.
But eventually, we get Jason Trapp armed only with a combat knife and a handgun invading North Korea by himself.
Add a villain, a Korean general who, when a child, was forced to shoot his mother in the head, is all grown up and about as brutal as needed to be a threat to Jason.
Finally, the author’s note at the end is worth reading.
His second book improves a few of the flaws in the first, and I loved the first.
I enjoyed every minute reading this book even recognizing some of the editing failures.
Jason Trapp is a strong action hero and he’s got an attractive, quirky, determined female side-kick, Eliza Ikeda, who gets captured and embodies the never-give-up spirit.
Slater’s writing is clear with lots of action and tension. Oh, and that plot, so real and yet so unreal.
America’s satellite network gets wiped out by a weapon that attaches itself and then disables. And then we learn that a bio-weapon targets only genetically Chinese is about to be released. Ah, World War III is in sight.
That’s the maybe-real part.
But eventually, we get Jason Trapp armed only with a combat knife and a handgun invading North Korea by himself.
Add a villain, a Korean general who, when a child, was forced to shoot his mother in the head, is all grown up and about as brutal as needed to be a threat to Jason.
Finally, the author’s note at the end is worth reading.
September 14, 2020
A great read
Can’t wait for the next Jason Trapp book! This one I read far too quickly because of not being able to put it down. This author has a great grip on the use of military while under the pressure of stressful events plus the courage of a lion but with great heart. And, one thing I find more and more of as I read these military thrillers, is the mindset of the authors that allows for the thinking of a President who not only supports a secret group of under cover agents who take care of the nastiest kinds of individuals such as Kim that keep them from our prisons and court systems. I support that belief. Anyone who intends such harm against our nation should quite simply be taken out with the garbage, so to speak.
But you read this book. Will not regret it a bit.
Can’t wait for the next Jason Trapp book! This one I read far too quickly because of not being able to put it down. This author has a great grip on the use of military while under the pressure of stressful events plus the courage of a lion but with great heart. And, one thing I find more and more of as I read these military thrillers, is the mindset of the authors that allows for the thinking of a President who not only supports a secret group of under cover agents who take care of the nastiest kinds of individuals such as Kim that keep them from our prisons and court systems. I support that belief. Anyone who intends such harm against our nation should quite simply be taken out with the garbage, so to speak.
But you read this book. Will not regret it a bit.
April 23, 2023
Good book, bad premise
I do not like to tell people how to write their books, but the premise in this is not believable.
In the first book the author wrote about Hollywood movie portrayals of military stuff. He then unfortunately writes the most unrealistic portrayal of a spy, action hero novel. It is a good, well-written book, it is marred by the protagonist doing something and going somewhere that is just laughable.
Trying not to give too many spoilers but imagine a big heavy set man putting on a maternity gown and trying to pass off himself as a pregnant woman about to give birth in an obstetric hospital. The above is an analogy but the ridiculous nature holds true.
It is common sense that instead of sending a man to infiltrate the 'hospital' that at a minimum at least send a woman even if not pregnant she could pretend a lot better than a man.
I do not like to tell people how to write their books, but the premise in this is not believable.
In the first book the author wrote about Hollywood movie portrayals of military stuff. He then unfortunately writes the most unrealistic portrayal of a spy, action hero novel. It is a good, well-written book, it is marred by the protagonist doing something and going somewhere that is just laughable.
Trying not to give too many spoilers but imagine a big heavy set man putting on a maternity gown and trying to pass off himself as a pregnant woman about to give birth in an obstetric hospital. The above is an analogy but the ridiculous nature holds true.
It is common sense that instead of sending a man to infiltrate the 'hospital' that at a minimum at least send a woman even if not pregnant she could pretend a lot better than a man.
September 8, 2023
Very poor editing
I really liked Jack’s first book introducing the character Jason Trapp. That’s why I was so excited to read his second book with the same character. I figured I knew Jason’s background and now would be able to get into the story right away. However, I was not prepared for all the errors in the book. I’m talking about dumb mistakes that trip you up while you are reading. Like leaving out prepositions or the plurals of words. Even not knowing that Jason hurt his “rotator” cuff not “rotat” cuff. Now I’m not going to challenge the technical jargon or military information because that is not my area of expertise, but general reading comprehension is, and whatever you are paying your final editors, save it. Send me the draft, pay me and you will have a much better end product.
I really liked Jack’s first book introducing the character Jason Trapp. That’s why I was so excited to read his second book with the same character. I figured I knew Jason’s background and now would be able to get into the story right away. However, I was not prepared for all the errors in the book. I’m talking about dumb mistakes that trip you up while you are reading. Like leaving out prepositions or the plurals of words. Even not knowing that Jason hurt his “rotator” cuff not “rotat” cuff. Now I’m not going to challenge the technical jargon or military information because that is not my area of expertise, but general reading comprehension is, and whatever you are paying your final editors, save it. Send me the draft, pay me and you will have a much better end product.
May 23, 2025
Another well-planned, original story
The author has done a lot of work coming up with original ideas that make the book a thrilling read.
Most experienced readers of this genre will find some fun ideas here. I will read the next one and see where this goes. It is nice to read something that doesn't seem like a copy & paste of parts of several
other similar books and protagonists. Many other authors seem to read each others' books and draw large parts of ideas from each of several and merely merge them around their main character, Jack Slater is doing a very high quality, original job with his story, character, and development of each part. Of course, certain tropes are always there and we know there is a book 3, so he must have lived (not really a spoiler, I hope), but I am sure readers will enjoy this addition to their thriller library.
The author has done a lot of work coming up with original ideas that make the book a thrilling read.
Most experienced readers of this genre will find some fun ideas here. I will read the next one and see where this goes. It is nice to read something that doesn't seem like a copy & paste of parts of several
other similar books and protagonists. Many other authors seem to read each others' books and draw large parts of ideas from each of several and merely merge them around their main character, Jack Slater is doing a very high quality, original job with his story, character, and development of each part. Of course, certain tropes are always there and we know there is a book 3, so he must have lived (not really a spoiler, I hope), but I am sure readers will enjoy this addition to their thriller library.
September 6, 2025
Jason Trapp is an absolute Badass! An ordinary man with a horrific childhood, trained by Uncle Sam to be the Ultimate combat ready weapon put into extraordinary situations!
Even with years of experience as a CIA Special Operations, Tier 1 Operator hasn’t prepared him for the evil and deceptive plan the diminutive Korean General has initiated!
America and China are at the absolute brink of Nuclear annihilation! CIA Operative Trapps mission is to avoid that at all cost, including the safety and livelihood of a female operator he cares for very much.
The storyline is intricate but very well thought out, the plot is devious and clever. The descriptions, characters and technical analysis are absolutely top notch.
Slater has fast become one of my favorite writers!
I’m excited about what the next books will bring!
Highly recommended for military and espionage enthusiast’s
Even with years of experience as a CIA Special Operations, Tier 1 Operator hasn’t prepared him for the evil and deceptive plan the diminutive Korean General has initiated!
America and China are at the absolute brink of Nuclear annihilation! CIA Operative Trapps mission is to avoid that at all cost, including the safety and livelihood of a female operator he cares for very much.
The storyline is intricate but very well thought out, the plot is devious and clever. The descriptions, characters and technical analysis are absolutely top notch.
Slater has fast become one of my favorite writers!
I’m excited about what the next books will bring!
Highly recommended for military and espionage enthusiast’s
June 12, 2020
Another really great read. This is book number 2 in the Jason Trapp series. I will not give away any of the story line but suffice it to say I am truly amazed at the thought given to all the detail. The action is non stop, from beginning to the very end. The author, Jack Slater, has an uncanny ability to give you an insight into so many other characters who appear throughout the book. Also, the detail around the tactical deployment of various assets throughout the book is quite frankly fascinating as well as thought provoking. My next book will be False Flag which is the third in the Jason Trapp series. A big thank you to the author for producing such high quality work. Another very well deserved 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 4, 2020
Thank you Jack Slater
Wow, I just spent four days on the edge of my couch and treadmill readingthe adventures of Jason Trapp.
I’ve only read books 1 & 2 , and I’m starting book three as soon as I finish this review.
Jason’s adventures begin at an 80mph clip and at one point reached 200mph. I was so engrossed that I hadn’t even realized I’d walked four miles . When False Flag concluded, I was exhausted. It wasn’t the walk but the adventure taking place with me at his side.
I’ve read many excellent novels and Jack Slater’s are at the top. Lastly, Thank You Jack, for your Authors notes. I enjoyed learning about history rarely known by Americans.
Dr. C. 💞💞🍷🍷🍷🎊🎉
Wow, I just spent four days on the edge of my couch and treadmill readingthe adventures of Jason Trapp.
I’ve only read books 1 & 2 , and I’m starting book three as soon as I finish this review.
Jason’s adventures begin at an 80mph clip and at one point reached 200mph. I was so engrossed that I hadn’t even realized I’d walked four miles . When False Flag concluded, I was exhausted. It wasn’t the walk but the adventure taking place with me at his side.
I’ve read many excellent novels and Jack Slater’s are at the top. Lastly, Thank You Jack, for your Authors notes. I enjoyed learning about history rarely known by Americans.
Dr. C. 💞💞🍷🍷🍷🎊🎉
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