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Task Force Cobra: Strategic Risk: Strategic Risk
Special Forces, Rangers, Recon, SEALS, oh my!
Court-martialed for a crime they did commit, an elite special operations unit was disbanded and scattered to the winds. Now the veterans of Task Force Cobra have reformed as a private military company — guns for hire to governments, corporations, and billionaires. Assembled by the CIA to fight ISIS across Iraq and Syria, Task Force Cobra spent years in the shadows.
Scarred by twenty years of war and haunted by PTSD, Jason Priest and his mercenaries for hire are cut loose from Syria after killing too many Russians. Their next recover a missing CIA asset in war-torn Libya. But what begins as a one-day mission explodes into a savage fight for survival when Sudanese slavers and the Muslim Brotherhood get in their way. Everyone assumes Task Force Cobra is easy prey. But it’s blood for money when you’re facing the deadliest mercs that ever wrecked a country for pay.
Court-martialed for a crime they did commit, an elite special operations unit was disbanded and scattered to the winds. Now the veterans of Task Force Cobra have reformed as a private military company — guns for hire to governments, corporations, and billionaires. Assembled by the CIA to fight ISIS across Iraq and Syria, Task Force Cobra spent years in the shadows.
Scarred by twenty years of war and haunted by PTSD, Jason Priest and his mercenaries for hire are cut loose from Syria after killing too many Russians. Their next recover a missing CIA asset in war-torn Libya. But what begins as a one-day mission explodes into a savage fight for survival when Sudanese slavers and the Muslim Brotherhood get in their way. Everyone assumes Task Force Cobra is easy prey. But it’s blood for money when you’re facing the deadliest mercs that ever wrecked a country for pay.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 9, 2023
Hardcore, violent mercenary/special ops thriller packed full of crude, colorful, damaged characters, and intense, authentic combat scenes, as well as touches of humor. The author's knowledge of weapons, military units, and global hot spots is seemingly encyclopedic while the detail concerning the inner workings and management of a private military company and the politics behind securing government contracts add a further touch of realism that's often lacking in PMC books. This was one of the most entertaining novels of this type that I've read in a while and a promising beginning to what I hope will be a long-running series. If you like old Bolan novels, Marcinko's Rogue Warrior series, and movies like Extraction or Expendables, this is an absolute must read. Now onto book 2 in the series for me.
May 25, 2025
A blend of pulp, grit, and authenticity
A friend strongly recommended Jon Peak's Task Force Cobra to me. As I do with most recommendations, I took my time getting to it until I found myself wanting a fiction read before I delved into non-fiction again
The first book, STRATEGIC RISK, is a very entertaining read. It follows Jason Priest, a former Force Recon Marine who once led a top secret task force and has gone mercenary to conduct deniable ops. They receive a contract to extract an asset in Libya and things go pear shaped with a quickness.
I think the strength of Peak's writing is that he knows he's getting pulpy and he leans into it. The humor and the eclectic collection of characters were strongly reminiscent of the action-adventure novels that had their heyday in the 80s and 90s, with a little A-Team mixed in for good measure. Sometimes it gets a little over the top, but once I got used to it I mostly enjoyed it.
At the same time, he tackles PTSD with the gravitas the topic deserves, which is contrasting but not in a bad fashion. I felt the scenes that focused on that were really well done.
I am definitely interested in the characters and I'll be reading the next installment soon. Recommended reading for folks who like their vintage-style turbo murder.
A friend strongly recommended Jon Peak's Task Force Cobra to me. As I do with most recommendations, I took my time getting to it until I found myself wanting a fiction read before I delved into non-fiction again
The first book, STRATEGIC RISK, is a very entertaining read. It follows Jason Priest, a former Force Recon Marine who once led a top secret task force and has gone mercenary to conduct deniable ops. They receive a contract to extract an asset in Libya and things go pear shaped with a quickness.
I think the strength of Peak's writing is that he knows he's getting pulpy and he leans into it. The humor and the eclectic collection of characters were strongly reminiscent of the action-adventure novels that had their heyday in the 80s and 90s, with a little A-Team mixed in for good measure. Sometimes it gets a little over the top, but once I got used to it I mostly enjoyed it.
At the same time, he tackles PTSD with the gravitas the topic deserves, which is contrasting but not in a bad fashion. I felt the scenes that focused on that were really well done.
I am definitely interested in the characters and I'll be reading the next installment soon. Recommended reading for folks who like their vintage-style turbo murder.
September 27, 2025
What an action packed military thriller and the series only gets better. I will definitely be reading the series.
February 28, 2023
Oustanding
Best book ever for this genre! If you like your heroes flawed, profane, broken and deadly deadly. Get this book. Non-stop action.
Best book ever for this genre! If you like your heroes flawed, profane, broken and deadly deadly. Get this book. Non-stop action.
April 28, 2026
Steady Hold,
This prequel maintained the standard. It was good to get some more background information on some of the characters. Well paced but intense action and technically spot on. Peak does a good job of explaining acronyms for readers who might not know them and has developed an almost standard load-out of gear for the Cobra team. That allows readers to remain comfortable with the equipment the characters are using and stays true to the fact that most operators consistently use the same gear if works for them.
This prequel maintained the standard. It was good to get some more background information on some of the characters. Well paced but intense action and technically spot on. Peak does a good job of explaining acronyms for readers who might not know them and has developed an almost standard load-out of gear for the Cobra team. That allows readers to remain comfortable with the equipment the characters are using and stays true to the fact that most operators consistently use the same gear if works for them.
November 6, 2023
Really enjoyed this all action book & just about to download the next in the series!
December 21, 2024
Very interesting
It was a very interesting read. I enjoyed it a lot look forward to reading more of task force Cobra.
It was a very interesting read. I enjoyed it a lot look forward to reading more of task force Cobra.
April 2, 2026
Excellent story!
Okay, bring out the adjectives. This author can damn well write a super story line. Yeah I recommend it; bring on the sequels!
Okay, bring out the adjectives. This author can damn well write a super story line. Yeah I recommend it; bring on the sequels!
December 19, 2025
Chock full of action and good character development. Going to read more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews