by Stephen England
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BOOK DESCRIPTION
A terrific read from a great new author. Highly recommended."--Brad Thor, author of Full Black An American president who will do anything to win reelection. . .
An Iranian leader who will stop at nothing to bring about apocalypse. . .
An ancient evil, only waiting to be reborn. . .
"A balanced narrative. . .thoroughly believable."--Suspense Magazine
"A thriller novel in every sense."--Linda Hawley, author of The Prophecies Trilogy
"Stephen England has the potential to be this generation's Alistair MacLean."--Shawn Lamb, author of The Huguenot Sword
"A glimpse into the world of espionage."--Eric Swett, My Writer's Cramp
High in the Alborz Mountains of northwestern Iran, an archaeological team disappears. American citizens are among the missing. . .
Days later, imagery from U.S. spy satellites reveals detachments of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps descending upon the site. . .
With the presidential election only months away, President Roger Hancock authorizes a covert CIA mission into the mountains of Iran. Their objective: rescue the archaeologists and uncover the truth.
"Vivid and realistic"--Collette Scott, author of If We Dare to Dream
"I recommend this to all readers--get out of your comfort zone and welcome a stunning new author."--Sandra Bruney, author of Angels Unaware
With fifteen years in the Clandestine Service, paramilitary operations officer Harry Nichols is unquestionably the man for the job. He's a tough, ruthless veteran operator. He's led his men into harm's way time and again. For him, it's all about the mission. It's all about the team. He's never seen anything like this before. . .
Drawn into a web of conspiracy that reaches half-way around the world and into the highest levels of the U.S. government, he soon finds that nothing is as it seems. The mission itself is suspect. His team can no longer be trusted. And a misstep means world war. . .
"Has the making of another thriller series of political and international intrigue--with a hero as appealing as Scot Harvath or Mitch Rapp"--Mary Shlauter, Amazon reviewer
"You won't find a better Middle Eastern spy novel out there"--DEConservative, Amazon reviewer
"The type of novel you'll pick up and read, even if you only have fifteen seconds to spare. . .Comparable to Clancy(sans the overly technical filler) or Ludlum(without the superhuman heroes"--Claude Bouchard, author of Vigilante
"A story equal to the thrillers of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor. . .will keep you turning the pages till it's done."--Doug Dorow, author of The Ninth District
"Reads like a cross between Clancy and 24."--Bob Jarvis, Amazon reviewer
AUTHOR BIO
Stephen England is the author of the bestselling Shadow Warriors thrillers, including Amazon’s #1 Bestselling Political Thriller, Pandora’s Grave, and its long-awaited sequel, Day of Reckoning—a novel hailed as “the perfect spy thriller for today—chaotic, cynical, with only a few good men keeping the barbarians from the gate.”
Drawing upon nearly a decade of research into the nature of Islam, the Middle East, espionage and counterterrorism operations, England’s work has drawn praise for breathing new life into the genre with the hard-edged, unsparing realism of his portrayal of the war on terror, the people who wage it, and the moral and psychological costs exacted of those who take the war to the enemy where he lives. Soldiers without uniforms. Fighting a war without end. Shadow warriors
REVIEWS
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute treasure of a thriller April 26, 2012
Format:Paperback
In the interest of full disclosure, the author of this book, Stephen England, provided a free copy in return for a review. Now, normally when this happens, I can't help but be a little skeptical and, indeed, downright picky when I start to read the book. It's rare for a new author, particularly one that has written a spy/military/anti-terrorist thriller to rise above the vast ocean of such books that hit the market each year. I tend to expect the formula recipe that such novels tend to follow, along with cliched characters and the obligatory military jargon that many authors use to impress the reader with their great knowledge of how things work.
I've read many many books in this sub genre, many fantastic reads that drive my need to keep searching for more treasures. I tolerate the also-rans because when I run across a treasure it is absolutely worth it. I am very pleased to say that this book is just such a treasure. This author is not afraid to take chances with the characters, let them out of the bag of cliches and let them roam the landscape. And there are many characters here; juggling their points of view and motivations and weaving that into the plot is not a job for an amateur author but Mr England has pulled it off with considerable success. I won't rehash the plot here as other reviewers have done that well, but I will say, that the complex layers of the plot and the setting, and the very nature of the threat that pervades this novel, provides massive intrigue. I will also add that pacing, something many newer authors struggle with, is right on target here leading up to the absolute edge-of-your-seat gotta-read-faster final 50 pages of the book.
I've read many many books in this sub genre, many fantastic reads that drive my need to keep searching for more treasures. I tolerate the also-rans because when I run across a treasure it is absolutely worth it. I am very pleased to say that this book is just such a treasure. This author is not afraid to take chances with the characters, let them out of the bag of cliches and let them roam the landscape. And there are many characters here; juggling their points of view and motivations and weaving that into the plot is not a job for an amateur author but Mr England has pulled it off with considerable success. I won't rehash the plot here as other reviewers have done that well, but I will say, that the complex layers of the plot and the setting, and the very nature of the threat that pervades this novel, provides massive intrigue. I will also add that pacing, something many newer authors struggle with, is right on target here leading up to the absolute edge-of-your-seat gotta-read-faster final 50 pages of the book.
Although this novel is complete in itself, it is the first in a series; I'll be first in line for the next one as I can't wait to see what happens next.
5.0 out of 5 stars The book I'd take heading into battle February 14, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I'm not a military guy. I've no interest in military things. I respect them and value what they do. I stand when those who serve or have served parade by and upon meeting them I, to paraphrase Prince Hal, hold my manhood cheap.
But if I was given short notice that I was being tossed into battle to fight forces aligned against my country I'd want to make sure I had Pandora's Grave loaded onto my Kindle. Re-reading it would give me a sense of what I was about to go up against. There's is such a profound sense of realism in this novel that I'm agog at the amount of research that must have went into it. We're accustomed to suspending belief when reading or watching fiction - especially in spy/thriller tales but not once did I feel Stephen England was asking me to. This felt like what those men tasked with covert ops must go through. That's not only a sign of respect to the soldiers England writes about but a deep sign of respect to the intelligence of his reader.
Other signs of respect to the reader? An original plot that reaches back into history and writing that is direct and vivid with an economy of words that is a reflection on the stoicism of the type of men he writes about.
The sign of a good book for me is one that sticks with you over time. I have a feeling this will be one of them. Whether I'm reading about an archaeological dig in the middle east or another report of another explosion in that region my thoughts will wander back to Pandora's Grave and the dangers the world faces and the men who silently thwart those dangers time and again.
But if I was given short notice that I was being tossed into battle to fight forces aligned against my country I'd want to make sure I had Pandora's Grave loaded onto my Kindle. Re-reading it would give me a sense of what I was about to go up against. There's is such a profound sense of realism in this novel that I'm agog at the amount of research that must have went into it. We're accustomed to suspending belief when reading or watching fiction - especially in spy/thriller tales but not once did I feel Stephen England was asking me to. This felt like what those men tasked with covert ops must go through. That's not only a sign of respect to the soldiers England writes about but a deep sign of respect to the intelligence of his reader.
Other signs of respect to the reader? An original plot that reaches back into history and writing that is direct and vivid with an economy of words that is a reflection on the stoicism of the type of men he writes about.
The sign of a good book for me is one that sticks with you over time. I have a feeling this will be one of them. Whether I'm reading about an archaeological dig in the middle east or another report of another explosion in that region my thoughts will wander back to Pandora's Grave and the dangers the world faces and the men who silently thwart those dangers time and again.
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