As the title alludes, this is a black ops novel with a very familiar Brad Thor character named Scot Harvath. The Chinese had determined that China could not win a war with the United States so they developed a plan to take down our country from within. That plan was stolen, computers, where it was stored, were wiped, and all those who worked on or knew of it were killed. The plan called for the staging of numerous terrorist incidents in the US to make the Country feel vulnerable and to lead to a loss of confidence in US leadership. This plan was initiated but, with the CIA bogged down by congressional oversite and paperwork, Scot Harvath and his employer, The Carlton Group, set out to uncover the plan’s details and to stop it. Succeeding meant that they had to find and stop the plan’s financier and then close down the terrorist cells that would be used to implement the plan’s strategic steps.

This book was typical ‘Brad Thor’ in that there is plenty of action characters that see everything as either black or white, good or bad. I read the book as an audiobook during morning walks. Due to Armand Schultz’s excellent narration, the high-action story served the purpose of taking my mind off the arduousness of my exercise. A book that takes me to another place and keeps me there is a good book from my point of view. ( )

A psychopath business leader in the U.S. working with a master spy and a terrorist organization seeks to orchestrate a series of attacks on domestic U.S. targets to destabilize the U.S. Scot Horvath, operating within Carlton Group, has to go deep to thwart the audacious plan. Meanwhile, the psychopath hires a Russian Spetnaz team to kill a Hollywood film guy, who is doing an expose. The two plots come are integrated well, and Scot has to marshal resources to take down the guilty parties. ( )

I don't think I've ever made a discovery like this before but Chapter 61 of this Brad Thor novel has instantly become a surprising and giggling moment in reading…Giggling while reading a Brad Thor novel? Who does that? Let me explain…
“It was early Monday morning and Robert Ashford was taking his breakfast at his tidy little row house at number 22 Portobello Road in London's Notting Hill.”

What is so special about Robert Ashford, MI5 Agent, and his breakfast activities? It's not about breakfast but the reveal of his home address. As a cozy mystery reader of Jenn McKinlay's novels and the especially loved Hat Shop Mystery Series, I smiled and giggled to myself thinking of Robert's neighbors, Vivian Tremont, Scarlett Parker, Nick Carroll, and Andre Eisel. Mim's Whims is located on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, London. Nick and Andre's photography/studio is a few shops down Portobello Road from Viv and Scarlett.

“He (Robert Ashford) had been with Britain's domestic intelligence service for more than thirty years. MI5 was responsible for national security, counterterrorism, and counterespionage within the United Kingdom. It was similar to America's FBI and was often confused with its sister organization, MI6, which was like the American CIA.”

For those not familiar with the series by Jenn McKinlay, I would introduce you to Vivian Tremont and cousin Scarlett Parker owners of Mim's Whims, a millinery business started by their beloved grandmother Mim. The business is on the first floor and the apartment is upstairs. Or, perhaps Robert's immediate neighbors are Nick Carroll and Andre Eisel. Nick is a dentist by day and his partner Andre the photographer but they run the gallery together.

Now, as Robert has been in domestic service for more than thirty years, it's also possible that he interacted with Scarlett and Viv's grandmother Mim.

Oh, the imaginations of an author you say but then there are also the imaginations of their readers. ( )

Amazing fast paced thriller. Believable storyline that never fails to keep you reading. Brad Thor is a mainstay in my library. ( )

I'm Hooked

This is my first Brad Thor book and I'm hooked. It had a good combination of character and plot. The extent of the plot is impressive as well as well as the depth of character. Can't wait to start the next one! ( )