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Jack Hatfield #1
Abuse of Power
Abuse of Power Michael Savage Former war correspondent Jack Hatfield rose to national prominence for his insightful, provocative commentary. But after being smeared as a bigot and extremist by a radical leftist media-watchdog group, his career came crashing down. Now an obscure freelance news producer in San Francisco, Hatfield is going about his business one afternoon when, during a ride-along with the SFPD bomb squad, a seemingly routine carjacking turns deadly. When police find several pounds of military-grade explosives in the jacked car―and the FBI urges Hatfield to look the other way―he knows he's onto his next, big story… Soon Hatfield finds himself following a shadowy trail that will take him across the globe, from Tel Aviv to London and Paris and back again, as he works with a stunning Yemeni intelligence agent and a veteran Green Beret to expose a powerful Islamist terrorist group with a plot to rival 9/11 and whose goal is nothing less than total political control―no matter what the cost…
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 13, 2011
110 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Michael Savage
64 books228 followersDr. Michael Savage is a multimedia icon in the conservative movement. The Telegraph in the U.K. ranked him as one of the most influential conservatives in the United States, and with 10 million weekly listeners, the Berkeley Ph.D. is the third most listened to conservative talk show host. Recently featured in The New Yorker and Playboy, Dr. Savage is the author of many books, including the political thriller Abuse of Power and four New York Times bestsellers. His media presence and profile earned him the coveted Freedom of Speech Award from Talkers magazine in 2007.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Dr. Savage holds a master's degree in medical botany and a second in medical anthropology. Additionally, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in epidemiology and nutrition sciences. He is an ardent conservationist, is dedicated to his family, and is a proud patriot of his country.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/michae...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Dr. Savage holds a master's degree in medical botany and a second in medical anthropology. Additionally, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in epidemiology and nutrition sciences. He is an ardent conservationist, is dedicated to his family, and is a proud patriot of his country.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/michae...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 11, 2018
A reporter who gets the SJW treatment is on a ride-along with the SFPD, when a carjacking turns deadly, and is linked to a terrorist cell.
Of course, the FBI wants it covered up, due to PC, but he investigates anyway, and finds a world spanning conspiracy.
Not bad, but it is very difficult to to suspend disbelief in a reporter hero these days.
Of course, the FBI wants it covered up, due to PC, but he investigates anyway, and finds a world spanning conspiracy.
Not bad, but it is very difficult to to suspend disbelief in a reporter hero these days.
May 26, 2013
Michael Savage’s is well known for both his controversial politics and behavior. His histrionics aside, he is an intelligent person and author. I enjoy reading the works of controversial people, as it provides a perspective I would not ordinarily get if I shunned their views. For those who would, you probably shouldn’t read any further.
This is the second novel from Savage. I read his second novel, “A Time For War”, first, and now this his first novel, second. Despite his public reputation for having the ability to make Genghis Khan blush, I enjoyed this book. As he did in his second novel, Savage weaves an exciting, cogent story, providing descriptive character development. I dare say that this book lends itself to becoming an interesting film
Sara Ghadah is a former member of Interpol, working with other, now-independent operatives to usurp the Hand of Allah, a radical Islamist group. Her cover is working in a small office at the College of Islam in London. Her role is quite interesting in this story, eventually evolving into Jack Hatfield’s (the main character’s and Savage’s alter-ego) love interest. Given Savage’s public position on all things Islam, I found his choice of Hatfield falling in love with a woman with Sara’s background, to be particularly interesting. Could it be that behind his rough, gruff public persona, that Savage actually has a soul? Or is he just a man who can’t resist the attraction of a beautiful, alluring woman?
At a critical point in the story, Savage introduces Senator Wickham (he reminded me of a more masculine version of the war mongering, chicken-hawk, Senator Lindsay Graham) and Lawrence Soren (a thinly disguised version of George Soros), at a meeting on a small island, north of San Francisco’s Bay Bridge. There, Jack and Sara meet Wickham, Soren, and a roomful of men from both ends of the political spectrum that “…put aside their’ differences and come together for a common cause.” This group reminded me of both the private, invitation-only Rockefeller sponsored “Council on Foreign Relations” and its international equivalent, “The Trilateral Commission”.
Savage weaves a story detailing how the Oligarchs play one side against the other, describing how it was actually the Zionists that caused the initial unrest in the Middle East, while Wickham and Soren channel money into The Hand of Allah, to decrease the Zionists’ control. It is at this juncture that Savage departs from the perspective of the Middle East depicted in today’s main stream media, and it gives him credibility to explore a differing view of how the world might actually work.
This novel takes place in San Francisco and in Europe. It has a wide cast of characters and never disappoints in where the story line leads you to. I enjoyed this suspense novel – perhaps you will too.
This is the second novel from Savage. I read his second novel, “A Time For War”, first, and now this his first novel, second. Despite his public reputation for having the ability to make Genghis Khan blush, I enjoyed this book. As he did in his second novel, Savage weaves an exciting, cogent story, providing descriptive character development. I dare say that this book lends itself to becoming an interesting film
Sara Ghadah is a former member of Interpol, working with other, now-independent operatives to usurp the Hand of Allah, a radical Islamist group. Her cover is working in a small office at the College of Islam in London. Her role is quite interesting in this story, eventually evolving into Jack Hatfield’s (the main character’s and Savage’s alter-ego) love interest. Given Savage’s public position on all things Islam, I found his choice of Hatfield falling in love with a woman with Sara’s background, to be particularly interesting. Could it be that behind his rough, gruff public persona, that Savage actually has a soul? Or is he just a man who can’t resist the attraction of a beautiful, alluring woman?
At a critical point in the story, Savage introduces Senator Wickham (he reminded me of a more masculine version of the war mongering, chicken-hawk, Senator Lindsay Graham) and Lawrence Soren (a thinly disguised version of George Soros), at a meeting on a small island, north of San Francisco’s Bay Bridge. There, Jack and Sara meet Wickham, Soren, and a roomful of men from both ends of the political spectrum that “…put aside their’ differences and come together for a common cause.” This group reminded me of both the private, invitation-only Rockefeller sponsored “Council on Foreign Relations” and its international equivalent, “The Trilateral Commission”.
Savage weaves a story detailing how the Oligarchs play one side against the other, describing how it was actually the Zionists that caused the initial unrest in the Middle East, while Wickham and Soren channel money into The Hand of Allah, to decrease the Zionists’ control. It is at this juncture that Savage departs from the perspective of the Middle East depicted in today’s main stream media, and it gives him credibility to explore a differing view of how the world might actually work.
This novel takes place in San Francisco and in Europe. It has a wide cast of characters and never disappoints in where the story line leads you to. I enjoyed this suspense novel – perhaps you will too.
October 30, 2011
not bad for savage's first work at fiction. good, quick read. probably not for everyone due to the conservative views expressed. Lawrence Soren is an obvious reference to George Soros and is the main villian in the book.
October 27, 2011
Clearly written as a polemical exercise. Stretches credulity (mine, anyway) beyond the breaking point. Good guys too heroic, caricatures of real people too thinly disguised. I haven't read any of the author's nonfiction, but I suspect it's more suitable for his purposes.
January 2, 2013
Rating: 3.7 / 10
This is my second attempt at writing this review. The first one wound up rambling on for three pages before I got so bored of my own writing I had to scrap it. The book itself is a thinly veiled polemic, and instead of focusing on the novel, I found myself tearing apart Mr. Savage's far rightwing worldview. I'm going to try and curb that this time around.
One of the things I enjoy doing is reading things I hate, by which I mean reading things I strongly disagree with. Previously I've read one of the “Left Behind” books, “Fifty Shades”, and Glenn Beck's statedly fiction book “The Overton Window.” Next on this list is Michael Savage's novel. And boy is this a goldmine....
For those of you that don't know who Michael Savage is, he's a conservative radio talk show host based out of San Francisco. To give you a long story short, he's one of about twenty some odd people banned from entering the United Kingdom, alongside supporters/members of Hamas, Hezbollah, Tamil Tigers and so on. He was banned on the grounds that his fervency might incite violence.
The story itself is about the most common regurgitated Islamic terrorist sleeper cell story we're all familiar with. It opens with a Muslim radical en route to a bombing in San Francisco. He gets carjacked by a black teenager with a racial chip on his shoulder, who then crashes the car. The bomb becomes apparent and the bomb squad shows up. The terrorist remotely detonates, killing one.
We are introduced to Jack Hatfield, a former war correspondent that went on to become a commentator. He's since fallen from grace with some insensitive comments and has to take freelance journalism jobs. He had become friends with the SFPD officer that died in the blast. He was also the only reporter on the scene and therefore the only civilian to hear the report that the car had been stolen from “an Arab.”
From there, the story follows Jack as he tries to get to the bottom of what actually happened that night. The FBI eventually announces the arrest of a homegrown terror cell of rightwing gun nuts in a small town with circumstantial evidence linking them to the bombing, and mocks Jack when he asks about the Arab. From there, Jack becomes the target of an assassination campaign, and people around him and people connected to the bombing (such as the carjacker) mysteriously wind up dying.
Interspersed in the prose is long rambling exposition that fills the majority of this polemic. Mostly I don't like endless unjustified exposition, but it didn't bother me here. I suppose that's because it's the commentary that I read it for, and because the Islamic terror cell storyline is about the most blase and formulaic of all storylines these days. I was so bored with the story itself that on multiple occasions I wanted to give up on the novel, and had to put it down for a while. But it's Savage's exposition that I enjoyed, because it revealed the depth of his worldview. Here is a sampling of what we learn:
1) Islamic terrorists are everywhere.
2) Not having children immediately into adulthood results in sexual perversion as a result of daddy issues.
3) George Soros is multinational leftwing conspirator with his hands in many pies and orchestrating many puppets. Furthermore, all or most media is leftwing and, along with the White House and the federal government, are intent on denying Islamic connections to terrorist attacks in favour of homegrown rightwing extremism when the opportunity presents itself.
4) Savage's faux pas quote about killing 100 million Muslims was justified and he's doubling down on it.
5) It is a shame and a sign of the downfall of America that regulations would prevent such speedy construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in today's world.
6) In San Francisco, women resort to lesbianism because “straight men were as rare as eagles.”
7) “[H]onourable institutions of faith” are the cornerstone of America, society and the family and it is okay not to go to them so long as one believes that. The decline of these institutions has nothing to with lack of attendance, but rather nasty thoughts from secularists, atheists, Muslims, leftists...etcetera.
8) Rightwing conspiracy theorism is at least somewhat justified despite all evidence to the contrary.
9) Apparently, Iranians are now racially Arab and not Persian.
10) Black neighbourhoods in the city are so dangerous that few police will even go there anymore. One is advised to carry a concealed weapon when visiting these neighbourhoods, and to whip it out at the first sign of a less than polite conversation with black youths. However, the death of a white upper middle class man (as reported on the news) being contributed to a drug dealer related mugging, it's merely liberal media scare tactics to terrify citizens of “the big bad city” and should be dismissed as such.
11) The “Ground Zero” “mosque” is a serious threat to America and peaceable imams shouldn't focus on building new mosques at all until they've thoroughly and publicly and continuously denounced bin Laden and his ilk.
The assassination campaign against Jack is being orchestrated by the British (surprise, surprise – the country he's banned from). It was at this point I became so bored with it, and bored with my own refutations of his views on the feminisation of America, the inability of the free market to self regulate against a Soros monopoly and so on that I had to give up on the book. I made it about halfway through.
The prose was not horrible, but it was nothing to write home about. The Islamic terror plot was about as regurgitated and predictable as a prince on a white horse romance. The structure went off on long rambling tangents into exposition, but it did maintain an attachment to Jack (minus a few interludes following the antagonist) as a viewpoint character. The themes (I'm trying to remain unbiased in my assessment here) were poorly explored. Most of them came out as jabs here and there. Not everyone would pick up on them if they weren't familiar with who Savage is.
In the end, I couldn't even enjoy this as something I hate. It's primary problem was the overly formulaic Islamic terror plot.
This is my second attempt at writing this review. The first one wound up rambling on for three pages before I got so bored of my own writing I had to scrap it. The book itself is a thinly veiled polemic, and instead of focusing on the novel, I found myself tearing apart Mr. Savage's far rightwing worldview. I'm going to try and curb that this time around.
One of the things I enjoy doing is reading things I hate, by which I mean reading things I strongly disagree with. Previously I've read one of the “Left Behind” books, “Fifty Shades”, and Glenn Beck's statedly fiction book “The Overton Window.” Next on this list is Michael Savage's novel. And boy is this a goldmine....
For those of you that don't know who Michael Savage is, he's a conservative radio talk show host based out of San Francisco. To give you a long story short, he's one of about twenty some odd people banned from entering the United Kingdom, alongside supporters/members of Hamas, Hezbollah, Tamil Tigers and so on. He was banned on the grounds that his fervency might incite violence.
The story itself is about the most common regurgitated Islamic terrorist sleeper cell story we're all familiar with. It opens with a Muslim radical en route to a bombing in San Francisco. He gets carjacked by a black teenager with a racial chip on his shoulder, who then crashes the car. The bomb becomes apparent and the bomb squad shows up. The terrorist remotely detonates, killing one.
We are introduced to Jack Hatfield, a former war correspondent that went on to become a commentator. He's since fallen from grace with some insensitive comments and has to take freelance journalism jobs. He had become friends with the SFPD officer that died in the blast. He was also the only reporter on the scene and therefore the only civilian to hear the report that the car had been stolen from “an Arab.”
From there, the story follows Jack as he tries to get to the bottom of what actually happened that night. The FBI eventually announces the arrest of a homegrown terror cell of rightwing gun nuts in a small town with circumstantial evidence linking them to the bombing, and mocks Jack when he asks about the Arab. From there, Jack becomes the target of an assassination campaign, and people around him and people connected to the bombing (such as the carjacker) mysteriously wind up dying.
Interspersed in the prose is long rambling exposition that fills the majority of this polemic. Mostly I don't like endless unjustified exposition, but it didn't bother me here. I suppose that's because it's the commentary that I read it for, and because the Islamic terror cell storyline is about the most blase and formulaic of all storylines these days. I was so bored with the story itself that on multiple occasions I wanted to give up on the novel, and had to put it down for a while. But it's Savage's exposition that I enjoyed, because it revealed the depth of his worldview. Here is a sampling of what we learn:
1) Islamic terrorists are everywhere.
2) Not having children immediately into adulthood results in sexual perversion as a result of daddy issues.
3) George Soros is multinational leftwing conspirator with his hands in many pies and orchestrating many puppets. Furthermore, all or most media is leftwing and, along with the White House and the federal government, are intent on denying Islamic connections to terrorist attacks in favour of homegrown rightwing extremism when the opportunity presents itself.
4) Savage's faux pas quote about killing 100 million Muslims was justified and he's doubling down on it.
5) It is a shame and a sign of the downfall of America that regulations would prevent such speedy construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in today's world.
6) In San Francisco, women resort to lesbianism because “straight men were as rare as eagles.”
7) “[H]onourable institutions of faith” are the cornerstone of America, society and the family and it is okay not to go to them so long as one believes that. The decline of these institutions has nothing to with lack of attendance, but rather nasty thoughts from secularists, atheists, Muslims, leftists...etcetera.
8) Rightwing conspiracy theorism is at least somewhat justified despite all evidence to the contrary.
9) Apparently, Iranians are now racially Arab and not Persian.
10) Black neighbourhoods in the city are so dangerous that few police will even go there anymore. One is advised to carry a concealed weapon when visiting these neighbourhoods, and to whip it out at the first sign of a less than polite conversation with black youths. However, the death of a white upper middle class man (as reported on the news) being contributed to a drug dealer related mugging, it's merely liberal media scare tactics to terrify citizens of “the big bad city” and should be dismissed as such.
11) The “Ground Zero” “mosque” is a serious threat to America and peaceable imams shouldn't focus on building new mosques at all until they've thoroughly and publicly and continuously denounced bin Laden and his ilk.
The assassination campaign against Jack is being orchestrated by the British (surprise, surprise – the country he's banned from). It was at this point I became so bored with it, and bored with my own refutations of his views on the feminisation of America, the inability of the free market to self regulate against a Soros monopoly and so on that I had to give up on the book. I made it about halfway through.
The prose was not horrible, but it was nothing to write home about. The Islamic terror plot was about as regurgitated and predictable as a prince on a white horse romance. The structure went off on long rambling tangents into exposition, but it did maintain an attachment to Jack (minus a few interludes following the antagonist) as a viewpoint character. The themes (I'm trying to remain unbiased in my assessment here) were poorly explored. Most of them came out as jabs here and there. Not everyone would pick up on them if they weren't familiar with who Savage is.
In the end, I couldn't even enjoy this as something I hate. It's primary problem was the overly formulaic Islamic terror plot.
December 21, 2020
This drips with cliche dialogue, action sequences and plot development.
As others have mentioned, this is also a political polemic, with Savage using the book as a platform for his politics.
So, you’ll get his perspective of an America in moral and political decline, where soft and corrupt politicians are leaving the country open to the predations of Islamic terrorists. Savage also seems to use it as an apologetic for things he’s said that led to his downfall as a pundit on cable news.
And this leaves contradictions. Savage, and his characterJack Hatfield, think that America’s sexual mores are too loose, yet we see Savage putting several steamy sex scenes in the novel to spice it up. They’re graphic enough to make me wonder if they aren’t Savage’s own fantasies. But he occasionally intersperses out of context Biblical quotes, because Jack Hatfield, for all his randiness, is quite devout.
He knows on which side his bread is buttered. He’s writing this for that Christian conservative slice of America that reviles gay marriage, fears Muslim terrorists and urban blacks, and think that George Soros (who appears in here as a “Soren”) is manipulating the strings of the Deep State. Conspiracy theorists will love this. In fact, they’ll probably claim is really happened.
As others have mentioned, this is also a political polemic, with Savage using the book as a platform for his politics.
So, you’ll get his perspective of an America in moral and political decline, where soft and corrupt politicians are leaving the country open to the predations of Islamic terrorists. Savage also seems to use it as an apologetic for things he’s said that led to his downfall as a pundit on cable news.
And this leaves contradictions. Savage, and his characterJack Hatfield, think that America’s sexual mores are too loose, yet we see Savage putting several steamy sex scenes in the novel to spice it up. They’re graphic enough to make me wonder if they aren’t Savage’s own fantasies. But he occasionally intersperses out of context Biblical quotes, because Jack Hatfield, for all his randiness, is quite devout.
He knows on which side his bread is buttered. He’s writing this for that Christian conservative slice of America that reviles gay marriage, fears Muslim terrorists and urban blacks, and think that George Soros (who appears in here as a “Soren”) is manipulating the strings of the Deep State. Conspiracy theorists will love this. In fact, they’ll probably claim is really happened.
October 5, 2011
ABUSE OF POWER, the debut novel by conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage, is an intriguing thriller that might just surprise you.
Jack Hatfield, a hardened war correspondent, has been fired from his job for controversial statements. He’s even banned from entering the UK. Jack takes a job in San Francisco as a freelance news producer.
A carjacking turns deadly one afternoon when military-grade explosives are found after the car wrecks. Jack, riding with the SFPD bomb squad, arrives at the scene. Within minutes the bomb explodes as his friend attempts to disarm it. Jack begins to question about the car’s owner and is told to stay out of it. When a quick arrest is made, Jack knows there’s much more to the story and begins to dig.
The story follows a mysterious trail through London, Tel Aviv, and Paris. Jack discovers there’s a terrorist group known as the Hand of Allah with a very real threat to the safety of the country.
This is an action-packed adventure that starts slow then explodes into suspense. Like most books of this type, ABUSE OF POWER is filled with political views.
The wonderful narration by Peter Larkin brings Jack’s emotions and concerns to the surface. This will keep you guessing and surprising you right up until the end.
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Jack Hatfield, a hardened war correspondent, has been fired from his job for controversial statements. He’s even banned from entering the UK. Jack takes a job in San Francisco as a freelance news producer.
A carjacking turns deadly one afternoon when military-grade explosives are found after the car wrecks. Jack, riding with the SFPD bomb squad, arrives at the scene. Within minutes the bomb explodes as his friend attempts to disarm it. Jack begins to question about the car’s owner and is told to stay out of it. When a quick arrest is made, Jack knows there’s much more to the story and begins to dig.
The story follows a mysterious trail through London, Tel Aviv, and Paris. Jack discovers there’s a terrorist group known as the Hand of Allah with a very real threat to the safety of the country.
This is an action-packed adventure that starts slow then explodes into suspense. Like most books of this type, ABUSE OF POWER is filled with political views.
The wonderful narration by Peter Larkin brings Jack’s emotions and concerns to the surface. This will keep you guessing and surprising you right up until the end.
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
March 24, 2013
This is an average espionage thriller written by an above average intellect. If you are at all familiar with Dr. Savage's political writings, be assured that this book is more ideologically balanced then you might assume. Set in San Francisco, Dr. Savage, a long time resident, colors the book with insider's knowledge of the city's social and historical atmosphere. The aspects of the plot based on this theme are the best in the narrative. Placed during the Wars in Iraq/Afghanistan, the main antagonist is a fanatical Muslim terrorist cell. There are, however, also characters patterned after the average non-violent Muslim, who speak strongly against the terrorist's agenda. These characters do a good job showing the full spectrum of intentions humans can attribute to this religion. A quick read, I would recommend this to fellow book devourers. If you need a fast political suspense fix, this will get it done.
October 3, 2011
Abuse of Power by Michael Savage is his first novel. Doctor Savage is a conservative radio talk show host and a very prolific non-fiction writer, focusing on conservative politics and natural healing. Abuse of Power is a very credible first novel focusing on the possible harm that political correctness may result in with regards to Muslim extremist terrorism. Any conservative or independent reader should enjoy this action-packed thriller but liberals may dislike his digs at the government and prominent liberals. It is probably difficult to write a book about the dangers of political correctness without criticizing certain governments and prominent individuals, but if the political posture taken doesn’t offend you, you will enjoy this novel. Four stars out of five.
December 23, 2014
This is a thriller from the right...a bit like a Tom Clancy novel but with less techno-porn. The bad guys are Muslim terrorists and the target is an America that has lost its way, too soft, dismissive of the values that made it great. The real enemies of the George Soros of the world, a thinly described George Soros I might add. A truth telling journalist, Jack Hatfield, uncovers a vicious plot to slam San Francisco with a 9/11 style attack, but much worse. He has to penetrate several layers of badness and double dealing to make it home to the real truth but even then....well that would be telling. Savage can build a plot, but is characterization is a bit weak...but the story moves...
April 2, 2020
Michael Savage - one of the voices of reason in the USA. I thought this was a non-fiction book and bought it with Audible credit. I LISTENED to this book - a fiction book. Pretty good. I enjoyed it. I recommend it because the book is good; I also recommend it because the Left and Right keep their distance from Savage and Great Britain won't allow him in their country.
April 23, 2022
Politics aside, riveting! I am from the San Francisco Bay Area. I am familiar with all these locations described and very much enjoyed that aspect in particular.
The author unashamedly includes a few fairly prejudiced comments which one must overlook in order to enjoy this work. I did.
The author unashamedly includes a few fairly prejudiced comments which one must overlook in order to enjoy this work. I did.
Want to read
September 1, 2011Oh boy! Oh boy oh boy oh boy!
October 17, 2011
This book would have benefitted from an editor doing a better job of trimming and keeping the book on track. Otherwise, it just struck me as just another mediocre predictable thriller.
February 5, 2013
Interesting with some very good excitement. 8 of 10 stars
June 18, 2018
Fast paced and exciting. Definitely relevant to what is going on in the world currently. Well done Mr Savage.
February 8, 2020
Not sure why I listened to this a second time.
October 8, 2022
Abuse of Power is semi-autobiographical or suggests the type of hero Michael Savage would like to perceive himself as. Both the author and the protagonist, Jack Hatfield were conservative talk show hosts, both live in San Francisco, both have some Jewish parentage, and both are persona non grata in the United Kingdom due to their right wing views. Portraying the British Home Office and MI6 in particular as rife with corruption and harboring Islamic terrorists is, I believe, pay back for Savage’s ban on visiting England.
Despite being a platform for Savage’s ultra conservative views, this thriller is an exciting and fun read. Yet it often pushes the bounds of credulity.
There are some thinly disguised portrayals of famous personalities. Reb Neershum could be Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach who founded the House of Love and Prayer in San Francisco and ran a moshav in Israel. Austrian billionaire Lawrence Soren could be modeled after Hungarian billionaire George Soros, a major philanthropist and contributor to left wing causes.
Despite being a platform for Savage’s ultra conservative views, this thriller is an exciting and fun read. Yet it often pushes the bounds of credulity.
There are some thinly disguised portrayals of famous personalities. Reb Neershum could be Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach who founded the House of Love and Prayer in San Francisco and ran a moshav in Israel. Austrian billionaire Lawrence Soren could be modeled after Hungarian billionaire George Soros, a major philanthropist and contributor to left wing causes.
January 26, 2018
I can count the number of books I haven’t finished on one hand. This is among them.
I didn’t know anything about this book before borrowing it, I went off the description.
It quickly became clear that this is a thinly-veiled Republican wet dream. The protagonist is an unapologetic alpha-male, a throwback, and it wasn’t long before we’d hit my limit of flag waving and chest pounding (I tried not to judge too early but by chapter 6 enough was enough).
If you’re saying or showing racist and sexist things, even if you’re claiming otherwise, they’re still offensive.
Do yourself a favour and avoid it.
I didn’t know anything about this book before borrowing it, I went off the description.
It quickly became clear that this is a thinly-veiled Republican wet dream. The protagonist is an unapologetic alpha-male, a throwback, and it wasn’t long before we’d hit my limit of flag waving and chest pounding (I tried not to judge too early but by chapter 6 enough was enough).
If you’re saying or showing racist and sexist things, even if you’re claiming otherwise, they’re still offensive.
Do yourself a favour and avoid it.
November 20, 2023
Very exciting, good guys/bad guys, spies, terrorists, twists and turns. The multiple long distance flights would be enough to do me in! I've never been to San Francisco. I had to stop reading to look up some of the historic sites that I'd never heard of. Very interesting; a nice side benefit of a well-written book.
I like how the author brought bits of current events and public figures into the story, more so because I agree with a lot of his views. But the story is so well crafted that one could still enjoy the ride if you don't agree.
I used to listen to his talk show on the radio. Good show.
I like how the author brought bits of current events and public figures into the story, more so because I agree with a lot of his views. But the story is so well crafted that one could still enjoy the ride if you don't agree.
I used to listen to his talk show on the radio. Good show.
June 18, 2017
Michael Savage is typically known for his conservative talk show. This novel is his debut into nonfiction. Jack Hatfield is a war correspondent and freelance journalist. Jack has many key friends throughout the military.
Jack investigates a terrorism attack in San Francisco. The story jumps between europe, israel and the USA. Savage keeps the reader on the edge of his seat in suspense. The audio book was narrated well and really draws the listener into the scene.
Jack investigates a terrorism attack in San Francisco. The story jumps between europe, israel and the USA. Savage keeps the reader on the edge of his seat in suspense. The audio book was narrated well and really draws the listener into the scene.
November 20, 2024
This was basically set in San Francisco and mentioned places I had never heard of before. Had to check them out to see if they were for real. I had never heard of the Legion of Honor building but it is there along with other landmarks. They mention an underground bunker under Lincoln Park, I wonder if that is really there, it's possible. The story was good regarding a plot to destroy some of America. Of course it gets saved in the very last seconds. Pretty good though.
January 18, 2021
Overall, I enjoyed the reading by Peter Larkin. Michael Savage certainly wrote about San Francisco where he lives and tells us about it on his radio show. As a thriller, the plot had some twists that I didn't see coming. Some of the action at the end seemed a jumble but it all worked out in the end. This book was a good distraction.
November 25, 2024
This book is so full of political and religious posturing, I had to put it down after the first 75 pages. The author kept side-barring about his protagonist’s conservative views that it was distracting and unenjoyable to keep reading.
May 15, 2020
So - So
September 22, 2021
A fun flick - I wouldn't call this the most ... Mind turning; but fun, yes. If you know the author's politics, you can figure how the story goes. Fun nonetheless
June 24, 2023
I have heard Michael Savage on the radio as a commentator but had no idea he had written novels. This thriller makes you thing it could really be happpening.
February 3, 2024
This was an ok read. I enjoyed parts
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January 8, 2025Right Wing Propaganda
The plot was fine and this might have been a decent story if he had left out the right wing angle. Unfortunately it comes across as propaganda / grooming.
The plot was fine and this might have been a decent story if he had left out the right wing angle. Unfortunately it comes across as propaganda / grooming.
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