Brian Andrews (3)

I am not the biggest fan of thrillers. While they are almost always very exciting, and while I frequently find myself blazing through the pages at an alarming pace I inevitably find them unsatisfying upon completing them. A common exclamation after reading the final page is something along the lines of "That's it? It's over? That is how it ended?" Like riding a nauseating roller coaster at an amusement park, it's thrilling for a bit but it ends before you know it and it will probably leave show more you with an urge to vomit that lasts longer than the duration of the ride itself.

A few things will make me take the plunge however. Ones set during a epidemic, dealing with bioterrorism, or with a strong foundation built with biology or science in general will pique my interest. Okay fine, I'll also admit that I'll read pretty much anything with a biohazard symbol slapped on it. Seriously. So, as far as thrillers go The Calypso Directive was right up my alley, and as it turns out it was a thoroughly enjoyable read!

I'm always hesitant to summarize books of this sort. Thrillers are to be experienced, and having foresight into the story lessens the experience for the reader of the summary. So, basically, the book is about a man named Will Foster who is being quarantined against his will by a shady medical research institute. He escapes with a vial of yersinia pestis and another of some unknown substance and so begins the obligatory high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse.

I naturally found myself with a dubious raised eyebrow a few times while reading the novel as there are numerous unlikely improbables, but I associate this trope with the thriller genre itself. The science in this novel is both solid and intriguing, which is what I cared about most. I liked the characters, the story had me hooked, and the ending is fairly well done for a first book in a series. The reader will make you desperate for a new installment as the plot is left wide open, but it's not a cliffhanger and is conclusive enough to feel satisfying.

Overall The Calypso Directive was a very enjoyable read for me. Exciting, science-y, what's not to like? 4 stars. show less

The first chapter of "Tier One" is filled with action and immediately caught my attention. I learned about the different characters and felt close to these Tier One Navy Seals, and cheered them on during a mission to eliminate a group of global terrorist leaders who were meeting in the Middle East for an emergency meeting. The mission looked like it was going to be a success, when suddenly, the seal team is massacred in a single explosion and their ToC group - in another country - were also show more murdered at the same time. My jaw dropped...the story was over? There was a sole survivor, but suffered burns over much of his body. After completing his many surgeries and therapy, he is asked by his former boss to join a new clandestine group to find those responsible for the killings. Here, the story loses its momentum and gets bogged down while a new team is formed and training commences.

During this time, readers learn about Seal practices, planning, and the organization, but not too much about these new characters that flesh out the rest of the story. There were excessive acronyms and technical descriptions of weaponry, seemingly, every time a character chose a weapon. I did, however, find it interesting how the authors presented the perspective and plans of the terrorist leadership, and how they brainwash followers.

I also found it interesting on how this group managed to collect intel about their adversaries and how they continued to piece a puzzle together from scratch. The team was then able to ID a mole within the US that fed the terrorist leader confidential info which allowed for the Seal massacre, and also exposed the next planned terrorist activity in the US. This book could be a stand alone, but the ending leaves it open for another installment as the Special Group's mission was not completed as planned.

The story was interesting but I feel it was too long. There are two more books available in the series, but I'll pass on continuing this read. Other potential readers may find this book intense and chose to follow up on the teams' mission to kill every terrorist responsible for the Seal murders. show less

Jack Ryan, who we were introduced to in Patriot Games, is back in the 19th installment in the Jack Ryan series. Now 40 years later, Jack is President of the United States, and his youngest daughter Katie has followed in his footsteps as a senior analyst for Russian threats. Like her father in more ways than one, she is as well-suited for the position as her father was, being knowledgeable and willing to do just about anything to get the job done, intuitive and honorable.

Like its earlier show more predecessor The Hunt for Red October (THFRO), the US is on alert to a threat from the Russians. And, like its earlier predecessor, there is a Ryan working the case!

First, let me say that I know The Hunt for Red October. I have to have watched the movie at least 40-50 times...very possibly more! I kid you not! I could recite the dialogue for half of the movie. I was married to a Fire Control Tech stationed on a nuclear submarine, and I would watch THFRO on repeat every patrol in order to feel close to him. I even went out on a day patrol on the USS Ben Franklin SSBN 640. We did different maneuvers like dives and emergency blows whereby the submarine rushes to the surface like a super-sonic elevator and pops out of the water. So, can you see how I would have a bit of a personal connection to this story?

This is like a modern day Hunt for Red October. I mean, very obviously so. This is almost like a parallel story right down to a submarine captain going rogue around the anniversary of his wife's death. If you followed a timeline of THFRO, this would basically coincide with the high points with just minor twists to make it different. Women are now much more prominent to reflect the changing times, but even things that are said tend to be similar to THFRO (i.e. "One ping... One ping only."). I can connect the characters to their equivalents in THFRO. "This guy is the equivalent of that second in command on the aircraft carrier that didn't like Jack Ryan in THFRO!"

But in this modern day retelling, it is Katie Ryan that takes on the role of competent and beleaguered analyst attempting to prevent WWIII.

My final word: Well, I think I've already established that I am partial to the movie The Hunt for Red October (the third book in this series), so this book is right up my alley. I think that the author is a talented storyteller. His experience in submarines make the submarine scenes feel particularly authentic. The writing really flows. It is easy, comfortable and enjoyable. The characters are rather one-dimensional, but that isn't really surprising for this genre. I think that my only real complaint is that it was too much like its predecessor THFRO. It became a distraction for me. I was constantly picking up on all of the similarities. But for someone not suffering from the same affliction as me, this is a fun, on-the-edge-of-your-seat ride! show less

This is not a book for the faint-hearted. It is violent, forceful, gut-wrenching, and paints a picture of a world virtually nobody knows. My own personal military world crossed paths with the world described in Tier One. This gives me some insight into the character and make-up of the heroes who populate this world. This story is not just about heroism, however. It also tells the true story of Militant Islam and the role Iran (Persia) is even now playing behind the scenes. More than show more anything, Tier One is a wake-up call to our leaders that if we don’t take appropriate action now, we may forever lose the chance to do so.

Tier One is a no-holds-barred, no-pulled-punches look at the best of America’s Special Operations Forces. It is very well written, giving the reader insight into the minds and thoughts of not only bad-ass field operators, but also the men calling the shots from the TOCs. Pick a weekend to read it, because you will not want to stop reading! show less