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Deep Black by Stephen Coonts and Jim de FeliceFirst in the Deep Black series, in this tale, an NSA spy plane gathering intelligence through an incredibly sophisticated process that gleens data from hard drives from miles above, is shot down. The team sent in to verify that the spy stuff was blown up and the crew killed, discovers that one of the crew members is alive. A plot to assassinate the Russian President is also exposed and the Deep Black team is sent to keep this from happening. It turns out that the one survivor from the plane crash is actually a Russian mole and the assassination plot isn’t quite what it seems. This book proves why Coonts and DeFelice are one of the best writing duos in this genre. Almost two stories in one, the recovery team sent into Russia and the Art Room team at the NSA, both with subplots and twists galore. Some of the most likable and annoying characters I have encountered. The Last Spymaster by Gayle Lynds I finally got around to reading Gayle Lynds latest masterpiece The Last Spymaster. Definitely not a run of the mill political thriller, this story has more twists and turns than anyone would expect. Jay Tice is our spymaster, recently discredited as a double agent spying against us for the Russians. The cold war changes things and a former lover from his past reappears, Reina Manshardt, after the death of their child. Elaine Cunningham, a CIA agent, who has a stalled career, is tasked with finding Tice after his escape from an escape proof facility with no evidence that he actually escaped. Everything about Tice is not as we learn and the story must be followed through to the end to reveal all. This is the latest of Gayle Lynds spy novels, which include The Coil, and Mesmerized. All are evidence that Lynds definitely earns her spot amont the top writers in this genre, and the only woman in the bunch. She has also authored some Robert Ludlum's Covert One novels which are among my favorite.By Dawns Early Light by Philip Shelby, published by Pocket Books I was first acquainted with Philip Shelby with Robert Ludlums The Cassandra Compact, and enjoyed it so much, I decided to try one of his other books, By Dawns Early Light. The hero in this story is financial analyst Sloane Ryder, which makes sense to me being an accountant. Sloane had a rather unusual background in investigations and performs her own undercover investigation regarding some wrongdoings be her employer. The Handyman, one of the worlds foremost assassins, is hired to assassinate the first female President of the United States. Going into the story further than this would be unfair to the reader, as it has many twists and turns and Sloane goes to work for a rather secret agency of the U.S. government, but one you would not expect in a techno-thriller. Philip Shelby proves once again that he is one of the premier techno-thriller authors today. Northern Thunder by Andy Harp, published by Bancroft Press Andy Harps' first attempt at writing, Northern Thunder provides a plot involving North Korean dictators and assasins and corrupt American bureaucrats. A very plausible story combines with Andy's experience in the Marine Corps Reserves. His hero ia a reservist co-opted into taking on a suicide mission, although he doesn't know that at the time, in North Korea. An excellet first attempt at a techno-thriller, I guess my biggest complaint is that the ending seems a little rushed. Good insight into the kinds of training and dedication that reservists take-on to serve their country. I urge readers to check this book out and hopefully encourage Andy to take on more writing projects. Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn Vince Flynn’s protaganist, Mitch Rapp, faces one of his toughest challenges yet, when his friend, mentor, and boss, CIA Director Irene Kennedy gets kidnapped by a key member of Hezbollah during a secret meeting. An Iranian nuclear reactor becomes the target of an Israeli plot, years in the making, which finally pays off as the Israeli agent working undercover as a janitor sets of a series of bombs that causes the building housing the reactor to implode. The Iranians, of course, blame the Americans even though evidence suggests otherwise. The President of Iran, a master of media manipulation within his country, uses the opportunity to condemn America and stage other events that he can use to whip up Anti-American fervor. This is the kind of novel that is hard to read, not because of its writing, but because it brings us to terms with the current state of the world and one possible extreme for our reaction to it. Mitch Rapp lives out things that many of us have thought about, performing torture on kidnapping suspects, despite the possible reaction in the world press. A very hard edge, but the kind of plot that needs to be talked about. Secret Servant by Daniel SilvaGabriel Allon and Eli Lavon working anonymously in Amsterdam, get dragged into one of the most gripping intrigues ever performed against the Western world by Islamist antagonists, dragging in Gabriel and many other characters from previous stories. Terrorist bombs exploding across Europe, the daughter of the American ambassador to Great Britain kidnapped, and an incredibly intricate plot that points to a very realistic portrayal of the terrorist mind. As Europe becomes increasingly Muslim and our European allies due to political pressures in their own countries grow increasingly hostile to the United States, what will become of our relationships and how will we as a country deal with the increased isolationism? Will it draw us closer to our friends in Israel due to our mutual interests, Body of Lies by David Ignatius, published by WW NortonBody of Lies, is a little different from your average Techno-Thriller, David Ignatius writes editorials for the Washington Post, and his novel has an incredible amount of detail when visiting the cities in Europe and the Middle East that are interwoven in the story. The main character, CIA Chief of Station in Jordan, Roger Ferris, also gets involved in a major subplot involving his ultra-sexy wife, a Washington DC attorney, whom he wants to divorce and his new girlfriend, a do-goody liberal working in Jordan. The most interesting character encountered in this story, though, is the head of Jordanian intelligence, who plays the other characters like a well tuned violin, it is a good thing he is on our side. In fact, I would like to see another book focusing more on this character. A little bit too much focus for me on the subplot, but the intricate detial and lush explanations made it a good read none the less. Not quite as hard edged as a Vince Flynn book for example, it was more of a thriller for the intellectual set. David Ignatius is a columnist at the Washington PostThe Hades Factor (movie) The Hades Factor, part of the Robert Ludlum Covert One Series, this one written by Gayle Lynds, comes to life in movie form, originally airing as a CBS miniseries in 2006. Starring Mira Sorvino, Anjelica Huston, Stephen Dorff, Blair Underwood, Colm Meaney, and Danny Huston. Unlike some thrillers that get turned into movies, this one maintains the storyline from the book fairly well with small subtle changes to adapt to a 2 hr 40 min format for TV. The ending comes fairly though and doesn’t pull some pieces together; particularly the involvement of a major pharmaceutical company orchestrating a calamity of pandemic proportions, it is alluded to a couple of times during the movie but never really brought home. The climax of the movie is a chase scene in which the Covert One traitor is presumably killed. The storyline could have been integrated a little better, but an all-star cast brings it home. Typically with thrillers, I would also suggest reading the book first for comparison. The Covert One series is one of my favorites and Lt. Colonel Jonathan Smith one of the most likable techno-thriller heroes. Apocalypse Watch (movie) Robert Ludlum’s The Apocalypse Watch, turned into a motion picture in 1997. In this particular adaptation, the script seemed a little off, with Nazis trying to kill most of the population of Europe, Virginia Madsen, Patrick Bergin, and John Shea all pull off fine performances, but just doesn’t feel Ludlum quality. Stick with the original on this one, a good diversion of you have a couple of hours to kill. The Kingdom (movie) Probably better than most thrillers turned into films, but still some eccentricities. The cast: Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, and Ashrof Barhom. Arriving in the middle east to investigate a bombing in the American compound in Saudi Arabia, our cast sets out to discover the perpetrators of this horrific crime. They set out by blackmailing American officials into letting them conduct an FBI investigation in a foreign country, but with the intent of insulting the customs of their host country. The actual investigation though is very interesting and the participation of extremists within the Saudi government turn into an exciting gun battle in some isolated apartment complexes. For me, the story was made by Ashrof Barhom, who as Colonel Faris Al Ghazi is the official government liaison with the team, trying to keep them out of trouble while learning that he values their participation in the investigation. A very good action packed film for any lover of the genre. The Arctic Event, part of Robert Ludlum’s Covert One Series, by James Cobb The Covert One series are some of my favorites and this is one of the best. Again we have Colonel Jonathan Smith off to save the world from a major calamity, this one involving a planeload of Russian Anthrax that crashed close to the Arctic circle several years previously that has now been discovered and may fall into the wrong hands. The story has several interesting twists, without giving anything away, the Russians are not telling all and covering up with their new friends the Americans, Russian terrorists are trying to get hold of the illicit cargo, but the most interesting part of the story line is that Randi Russell finally finally comes to terms with her and Colonel Smith’s mutual attraction, even though Col. Smith was engaged to her sister (see The Hades Factor), just when a new love interest enters his life. Definitely recommend the entire Covert One series be read, and read in order of publication. 13 Days: The Pythagoras Conspiracy, by L.A. StarksOne of the few women to dare write in this genre, 13 Days is the story of manipulation of the oil industry by a French environmental group, but they are only being used by another group for another more deadly and monetary purpose. A complex plot, well written, a little too technical, some of the refinery jargon is a bit hard to follow at times, but well worth it. An excellent first thriller and self-published novel by L.A. Starks.The First Commandment by Brad Thor Scot Horvath has to deal with his girlfriend Tracy Hastings being shot at the end of Takedown and not yet come out of her coma, when the deadly terrorists begin getting released from Guantanamo. Scot discovers that his government and President that he as so faithfully served have committed the unpardonable sin and broken the first commandment of dealing with terrorists, never negotiate. Brad Thor always adds several real life elements of terrorism into his stories, and in this one comes the fact that terrorists have trained on dealing with American school buses and that various pieces of school bus equipment from around the country have mysteriously come up missing. Using the implications of this, a very intricate story of global proportions is woven as Scot Horvath once again has to take matters into his own hands and save our behinds.Days of Drums by Philip Shelby Once again reverting back to one the authors of my favorite series, Robert Ludlum’s Covert One, Philip Shelby wrote the Cassandra Compact. This is one of his earlier books, in which female Secret Service agent Holland Tylo is about to take the fall for the assassination of a powerful senator, one of the ‘Cardinals’ of the Senate. A female hero in a techno-thriller is unusual, but Shelby really got it right with this one, his hero is likable, the plot takes to many twists and turns to really go into without being a spoiler, and the story is well woven together. All this and an ending that comes out right in every respect.The Ghost War by Alex BerensonCIA agent John Wells is sent to Afghanistan to investigate a surge in Taliban activity. What he finds is an intricately woven plot of espionage and deception that leads him to the highest levels in the Iranian and Chinese governments – a likely scenario in todays geopolitical climate. John Wells is a likable and believable techno-thriller hero, after finishing this I intend to go back to Bernesons first book The Unfaithful Spy.The God of War by Chris StewartYes this is Chris Stewart the ex fighter pilot, not Chris Stewart the ex-hippie. As with all of his previous work, The God of War involves planes and fllying. Stewart’s other books include Shattered Bone, and The Third Consequence, all of which demonstrate why he has become one of my favorite authors. In The God of War, the U.S. newest fighter, the Ares, developed at the now famous SkunkWorks, is being given its inaugural demonstration at the Paris Air Show, when the pilot all of a sudden takes off with the plane. The Ares is designed to cruise at high altitudes, is super stealthy, and has a high energy laser system that is able to fire on multiple targets at once. As the story unfolds, Islamic terrorists are held responsible for the theft and the acts of unspeakable terror that the Ares unleashes. Without giving away any of the ending, all is not as it seems and President Abrams. Colonel Jesse James, deals with the French bureaucracy and of course falls for the beautiful Petrie Baha, the unwilling participant, whose father was one of the masterminds behind the whole scheme. I wait eagerly for each of Chris Stewart’s books and this was no let down. Though technically not a techno-thriller due to the futuristic nature of this new fighter. It is not totally out of the realm of possibility in a not to distant high tech world. Redeye by Richard AellenRichard Allen wrote five spy thrillers, I had previously read Flashpoint and the Cain Conversion, and decided to try his Classic, Redeye. Published in 1988, the story is now a little outdated, as it takes place primarily in East Germany and there are many references that are no longer pertinent in todays world. Our main character, a newspaperman for the Washington Post, has vivid dreams about murders in far away places. He turns murder victims into stories that are published in a pulp fiction type magazine. When approached by the CIA who is trying to find out why he is writing stories about real murders of CIA agents, we have a quandary. Through a little investigative work, he discovers a twin brother left behind in East Germany during the chaotic times after WWII. The brother had a terrible time growing up, including sexual abuse, and the more vivid of his experiences are transmitted to his twin brother in dreams. The end of the story is a little predictable and trite, not worthy of the plot development. The sexual encounters are a little too graphic for my tastes, but the story is well written but the work is a little disappointing compared to the two novels I had previously read and would still recommend.Larry Bond's First Team: Soul of the Assassin by Larry Bond and Jim DeFelice Two of my favorite authors together in one package. The story is great, the characters believable, the situation, suspenseful. Just one problem, the story drags on far too long. The first team is in Bologna, Italy looking for an assassin known only as T. Rex. Through a series of events they believe that a Russian scientist, Dr. Rostoslewitch is somehow implicated, most probably as the next target. The team is forced to deal with MI-5, FSB, Italian police and intelligence agencies, and a possible Iranian terrorist know as Atha. As our story unfolds, Rostislowitch has stolen biological material from a lab in Russia. He has been distraught ever since the death of his wife. Under the pretense of attending a conference in Bologna, he spirits the stolen material out of Russia to Italy to make the transaction with Atha. Rostislowitch, not being a spy himself and unfamiliar with the security procedures he should take, ends up having the material stolen from him. Our lead character, Ferguson, is in love with one of his team members, and she with him, and he has cancer that he has not divulged to anyone. Ferguson also has no qualms about using his charms to seduce women as the need arises. The team has to recover the biological material before Atha can use it to pull off one of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever. As mentioned, Larry Bond and Jim DeFelice are amongst the best authors in this genre, and this book is a little drawn out, the story too busy with extraneous material only incidental to the story. But still any book with either of their names on it is uaually a winner, better than most.