The Oshkosh Connection

Max Fend #2

by Andrew Watts

A Pakistani intelligence officer secretly communicates with a Mexican drug cartel. A lobbyist is assassinated in the suburbs of Northern Virginia. A US Senator receives death threats from a shadowy group. There is a connection. And Max Fend has only days to discover what it is. The chase leads CIA asset Max Fend from the Pacific coast of Mexico to the plains of Wisconsin, home of the largest air show in the world - Oshkosh. Beneath the drone of old warbirds and sleek aerobatics aircraft, Max and his partner Renee uncover clues that point to a global conspiracy. A conspiracy that traces back to the start of the war in Afghanistan, that explains the explosive growth of opioid use around the world, and creeps into the highest halls of power. With the clock ticking down on an ambitious assassination plot, Max and Renee must uncover the truth, before it's too late... This lightning-paced espionage thriller that will have you racing through the pages.

Genres: Fiction, Espionage, Thriller, Book Club

280 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2018

About the author

Andrew Watts graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2003 and served as a naval officer and helicopter pilot until 2013. During that time, he flew counter-narcotic missions in the Eastern Pacific and counter-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa. He was a flight instructor in Pensacola, FL, and helped to run ship and flight operations while embarked on a nuclear aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East.

Today, he lives with his family in Ohio.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had almost forgotten about this series but I'm glad I found this one. The Oshkosh Connection by Andrew Watts is the second book about Max Fend. This is a well written series and there's more on the way which is great news. If you like suspenseful thrillers this is something to try. Well written with a good plot and great characters. Now it's just a waiting game until the third one releases.

[Jim Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book

I am enjoying this series. This plot was good and the characters were interesting. I like the action and the sneaking around

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Oshkosh and am familiar with the EAA airshow. This spy thriller is set partly at the EAA. Max Fend, DIA agent and girl friend Renee Canadian agent are on the trail of masters of opioid dealing in the middle East and Mexico. The good, and the bad end up in Oshkosh at the EAA where we learn who the really evil guy is. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say that it was an exciting story and I loved the EAA involvement, especially the Ford Trimotor. I've watched that old plane fly over my house for many years.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Oshkosh Connection combines current events, nonstop action, intrigue and political corruption into a story that is near impossible to put down. Max and Renee are back as a near unstoppable team. If you have read the previous Max Fend books, this is a must read, if you are new to Andrew Watts’ Max Fend books The Oshkosh Connection will provide a super introduction to Max and his adventures. I received an advance reader copy and chose to review this book.

[Steven Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a taut spy thriller with an intricate plot centering around drugs and political corruption. The hero, Max Fend, is a private pilot, son of an aviation magnate, and an intelligence operative. Unlike James Bond, he is not flamboyant and means to be a family man once he marries his girlfriend, Renee, whom he met on an earlier case. There are a few regrettable errors (on p. 6, Renee grips the yoke white-knuckled as she tries to fly Max's SR-22; like all Cirrus aircraft, the SR-22 has a side stick, not a yoke, as I can personally testify, having flown one myself!) Likewise, at Oshkosh, an aerobatic pilot is killed when her airplane has a structural failure in flight, while all aerobatic maneuvers must be flown with a parachute (that's the FAA's rules). That scene would be far more poignant had the victim scrambled to bail out and been prevented because of the inertial forces of the tumbling aircraft after the in-flight breakup. On the other hand the author clearly has a good general familiarity with aviation and his description of the Oshkosh convention is compelling and vivid. The action is fast and suspenseful.
This book is an entertaining read and I thought the author good enough that I started one of his other books, finding it equally good.

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed the first in this series. So, when the climatic events of this story occur in my own backyard, I had to give this story a look. This would probably be fall into the techno thriller genre associated with Tom Clancy stories. There is definitely a lot of action, some of it bordering on grisly. There is an espionage element. But there is the use of technology, computer and gadgets, as part of the strategy in addition to brute force.
I enjoyed the fast pacing, the globe hopping action, and, as I indicated earlier, the setting of the final action. The supporting characters are well developed and contribute well to the efforts, because the main character, while being an agent for the government, is ridiculously well known everywhere he goes. The opponents are very black and white, ranging from bad, to worse, to most vile. There was not much gray area as to who I, as the reader, was supposed to be rooting for and against.
As a fan of the genre, I will read another in the series. It was an easy read, unless you tend to be squeamish.

[Neelabh Pratap Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started really well. The story picks up right from the first chapter. A Pakistani ISI agent is conspiring with Mexican cartel which leads Max Fend and his team down to Mexico to fetch a cartel boss. The action was edge of sear, smart tradecraft utilised, the stakes were higher. Then the story moved to Oshkosh air show and the author turned everything around aircrafts (he's a former Navy pilot, so I can see his love of flying). However we are here for a spy novel but the author spends most of the second half around airplanes and flying which becomes boring after a while. The climax was a saviour though and the conspiracy was interesting. Will try Wall Planner series too.

[David Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I have read the second installment, I have a better feel for the developing character and I liked the direction. I think my higher rating is still based on Mr. Watts writing style. I like his story telling and story development, the max character is growing on me but not to a 5 star rating. Its a good read and you should buy the series if you have not or your on the fence. It is absolutely worth the read.

[Eric Cousineau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters and story line that will keep you guessing until the end. This is the second Max Fend novel and it's just as good or better than the first. Like the first book, this moves along quickly, so it is an easy read. The action is good and the story itself is quite believable and certainly current. Andrew Watts continues to impress. Nice job!

[Nigel Ashworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the Max Fend series this one was better than the first this one revolves around a simple extraction in Mexico of a person from one of the cartels but as with all his books nothing is simple. Big problem with the security of the CIA they have a mole and info is pouring out like a sieve please read on

[P J Van Benthusen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting scenario!

This book pulls you in pretty quickly. If you read "Glidepath" then you were already familiar with Max and Renee. You'll like these characters and their interactions. They are ordinary and get brilliant. The premise of this book is believable and frightening. You really get a front row seat at greed in its purest form.

[Andrew Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking storyline

Just when I thought I'd read enough storylines about clandestine operations the author comes up with a character in the same mould as Bourne or Bond and relates him in such a way that you feel better thinking of how the world needs people like him to fight for justice and make you feel safer.

[Denny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced... An exciting page turner, this second Max Fend book is well written, topical to today's political climate and realistically believable. Excellent job in simplifying the opiate trade and the cartels running it.

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Oshkosh resident and one who has attended the EAA, I really liked this book. A spy story dealing with evil people dealing in opium. Even a senator from Wisconsin whose daughter does aerobatics. This is the second Max Fenn story by Andrew Watts.

[Ev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max

An interesting character, good story line, and lots of action. Who could want anything more. Reading the book you can see the characters in your mind and the mix of history makes it believable.

[David B. Drath · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the plot absurd, the characters shallow and super hero like, and the criminals all too willing to fill in plot gaps with timely information. Definitely several steps down from the first Fend novel which in itself was engrossing for the first 80% of the book.

[Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second better than the first

I enjoyed the first Max Fend novel. The Oshkosh Connection tops it for me. Good action; believable plot; interesting characters. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

[Bill Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary and disgusting. Excellent

Makes you stop and wonder how much fiction could actually be true. Politicians are a breed apart. It's a me first and then somewhere back in the dim last was a sense if duty. Politics is a powerful drug and more addictive than opiods.

[Rosemary Dreyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing in this book was so bad, I can’t believe the higher ratings. It was juvenile and filled with cliches. The plot was far fetched, often times bogus, and the lead characters unbelievable. The characters, in general, were all one-dimensional and flat. Really did not like this novel.

[Samantha Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can freaking tastic!

Andrew Watts is an anomoly! His books are every bit as good as Vince Flynn, Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy. He writes from the heart and uses personal experiences along with such great characters! Highly recommend and am anxiously awaiting the next ones!

[Richard Cowart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reading

In this second book Max finds himself fighting the drug cartels and recruits a former special forces soldier to join him and Renee. Trying to tell the good guys from the bad is always difficult especially with politicians thrown in. Fast paced and great reading

[Ichiban Mayekawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drugs epidemic

Sheds light on our opioid problems and that we need to fix it. Yes would recommend it. Great action book.

[Jan M. Lilac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

Author makes Oshkosh real and navigation experience comes through in a fun way

Recommended by another aviator

Enjoyed all his books

[Randy Massicotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of my seat.

I have read each and every one of his books and they just seem to get better and better. I had a hard time putting this one down. Can’t wait for the next adventure.

[Mr a Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK.

Very formulaic, very predictable and totally non real. If it didnt say on the cover who the author was you could guess at a 100 or more

[Paul J. Petersen · Rating 1 out of 5]

A comic book plot

Well researched but the plot parallels comic book heros. So improbable it is annoying to a serious "adult" reader. I guess I am not a Max Fend f a n.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent fantasy read

A little bit over the top of a believable story, but interesting enough to be enjoyed. Not cluttered up with questionable language and sex.

[Walt Mccluskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Oshkosh connection

Good use of events from the heads of today to spin a mystery that keeps you looking for the next step in the tale.

[Nicole Oberembt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the first

Loved this one, The charities continue to develop and the plot was believable and the story moved fast. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Gus Philpott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, fast-moving thriller. Pilots will enjoy the flying. The good guys win again.