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Gerrit O'Rourke #1
Off the Grid
Murders, bombings and a cryptic message force police detective Gerrit O’Rourke to live Off the Grid for his own survival—and that of the nation.
MIT educated and Force Recon trained, Gerrit joined the Seattle police department seven years ago after his parents perished in a car bomb in that city. A government-sanctioned coalition recruits Gerrit to retrieve information vital to U.S. interests, where he discovers the murdered body of a scientist dumped in a Vienna, Austria, hotel room. This discovery—coupled with an intercepted message about a covert operation called Project Megiddo—hurls Gerrit into an international thriller that forever changes his world.
Others emerge to aid in Gerrit’s fight. Alena Shapiro, a former Mossad agent—whose parents fled their Russian homeland to resettle in Israel—seems to watch over Gerrit like a guardian angel. Joe Costello, a cyber security specialist who promises to unlock the secrets of Gerrit’s tragic history. Hank “Redneck” Riley, a reformed Aryan racist—making amends for his past—uses his unusual skills to give these crusaders an edge against an unyielding foe. Finally, Willy Williams, former banger from San Francisco, elevates his street skills to become a formidable computer hacker.
Facing overwhelming odds, Gerrit and his small band of fighters struggle within the shadows of a global conflict. Advanced technologies are the tools; global supremacy the goal. Gerrit must learn to fight and survive in an Orwellian future that begins today.
MIT educated and Force Recon trained, Gerrit joined the Seattle police department seven years ago after his parents perished in a car bomb in that city. A government-sanctioned coalition recruits Gerrit to retrieve information vital to U.S. interests, where he discovers the murdered body of a scientist dumped in a Vienna, Austria, hotel room. This discovery—coupled with an intercepted message about a covert operation called Project Megiddo—hurls Gerrit into an international thriller that forever changes his world.
Others emerge to aid in Gerrit’s fight. Alena Shapiro, a former Mossad agent—whose parents fled their Russian homeland to resettle in Israel—seems to watch over Gerrit like a guardian angel. Joe Costello, a cyber security specialist who promises to unlock the secrets of Gerrit’s tragic history. Hank “Redneck” Riley, a reformed Aryan racist—making amends for his past—uses his unusual skills to give these crusaders an edge against an unyielding foe. Finally, Willy Williams, former banger from San Francisco, elevates his street skills to become a formidable computer hacker.
Facing overwhelming odds, Gerrit and his small band of fighters struggle within the shadows of a global conflict. Advanced technologies are the tools; global supremacy the goal. Gerrit must learn to fight and survive in an Orwellian future that begins today.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2011
31 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Mark Young
5 books41 followersMark Young is a former police officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department in California for twenty-six years; an award-winning journalist; and a Vietnam combat veteran. He served with several law enforcement task force operations, including the presidential Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force targeting major drug traffickers, and the federal Organized Crime Task Force charged with identifying and prosecuting prison gang leaders. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his family. Visit www.MarkYoungBooks.com for more information about Mark Young and his writing. Readers may also connect with him at http://hookembookem.blogspot.com/ where mystery readers, writers and law enforcement connect.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 12, 2012
I read half of this book and had to give up. Absolutely nothing happened and the story that finally started to unfold had so many holes and bad information in it, I finally had to just put it down. I don't do it often, but in this case there was no other choice. The characters had such unbelievable talents, that you wondered why they had to wait 7 years to begin their objective. The technological information was slapdash and contributed even more to a story that just shouldn't be.
March 9, 2012
Neither the promise nor premise delivered. I looked for the "unexpected word," the life-blood of a good author....and it's cousin, the unexpected turn. Neither emerged. I feel I've read this book five or six times. The story promised innovative use and/or perspective of technology. Were writing a battle, one paragraph of Lisbeth's (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) use of broadband technology would shamefully defeat, shame, and banish this offering. Authors......don't write if you don't have anything to say. Engage your audience with something new and unexpected (it may even take some [gasp!] research)so you don't leave them with the feeling that time spent writing a review could better be used cleaning out the garage. I give it three stars because he pulled together a cohesive thriller. Unfortunately, Mark Young is off my grid.
unfinished
February 24, 2012I made it not quite half-way through this book. I kept ending up falling asleep as I tried to read this throughout the day, and I finally figured out it was because it was boring me to sleep. I just couldn't connect with any of the new characters and the problem wasn't that interesting to me.
June 2, 2017
Good read
Thank you Mr. Young for a good read. I love books with twists and turns, and great characters, great setting too.
Thank you Mr. Young for a good read. I love books with twists and turns, and great characters, great setting too.
June 20, 2017
I liked this book very much. Gerrit is a likable character and the stage is set for the next book as well.
December 2, 2021
Good read and plot line
The story started slow but pick up quickly. The plot was good and well thought out. Will definitely read another of his stories
The story started slow but pick up quickly. The plot was good and well thought out. Will definitely read another of his stories
April 30, 2012
Gerritt O'Rourke was serving in the military when he got word that his parents had been killed by a car bomb back home in Seattle. Since then, he has worked as a police detective in the city, trying to uncover who was behind the murder so he can avenge their deaths. But when a government-sanctioned coalition enlists his help with a top-secret new project, he soon finds himself running for his own life.
Off the Grid by Mark Young is an international thriller with an interesting assortment of characters. Gerritt becomes enmeshed in a group of people who are living off the grid, ready to pick up and leave behind their entire lives whenever it becomes necessary to do so. They work together to try to stop a group that is essentially trying to take over the world ~ and kill Gerritt in the process.
I enjoyed being reacquainted with some of the characters from Mark Young's novel Revenge, which I read last year. But Off the Grid didn't engage me quite as much as that one. It was an easy read, and the characters were interesting, but they were a bit cliched. This made it harder to really connect with them.
There were some definite surprises throughout the story, though, which kept the pages turning. And while the storyline was a bit farfetched at times, it did keep my interest from beginning to end. Young left it open at the end for a follow-up, which I would definitely be interested in reading. Overall, if you're looking for an easy-to-read thriller with an oddball assortment of characters, check out Off the Grid.
Off the Grid by Mark Young is an international thriller with an interesting assortment of characters. Gerritt becomes enmeshed in a group of people who are living off the grid, ready to pick up and leave behind their entire lives whenever it becomes necessary to do so. They work together to try to stop a group that is essentially trying to take over the world ~ and kill Gerritt in the process.
I enjoyed being reacquainted with some of the characters from Mark Young's novel Revenge, which I read last year. But Off the Grid didn't engage me quite as much as that one. It was an easy read, and the characters were interesting, but they were a bit cliched. This made it harder to really connect with them.
There were some definite surprises throughout the story, though, which kept the pages turning. And while the storyline was a bit farfetched at times, it did keep my interest from beginning to end. Young left it open at the end for a follow-up, which I would definitely be interested in reading. Overall, if you're looking for an easy-to-read thriller with an oddball assortment of characters, check out Off the Grid.
August 20, 2012
Latest book being read by our family book club!
I really enjoyed this book - and our book club did as well! Each of us are eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series.
This technological thriller taps into our fears and hopes about what could be done with technology. The author is able to maintain suspense and action through-out the book.
My parents and sister found the technological descriptions a little overwhelming and confusing, but I think the detail is needed (much like in medical or other scientific thrillers) to provided that hook into reality.
Some great characters (although I personally thought that occassionally the dialogue got a little stiff and/or repetititve).
All-in-all, a good read that was enjoyed by multiple generations!!
I really enjoyed this book - and our book club did as well! Each of us are eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series.
This technological thriller taps into our fears and hopes about what could be done with technology. The author is able to maintain suspense and action through-out the book.
My parents and sister found the technological descriptions a little overwhelming and confusing, but I think the detail is needed (much like in medical or other scientific thrillers) to provided that hook into reality.
Some great characters (although I personally thought that occassionally the dialogue got a little stiff and/or repetititve).
All-in-all, a good read that was enjoyed by multiple generations!!
January 12, 2017
I got this book as a gift from Amazon in 2012 but just read it. Like so many books that I get, it got 'lost' on my Kindle. I loved the book. The writing style is very good and Gerrit is a very likable hero. The whole book grabs you and moves you around the world without the reader realizing how many places and sub-plots are being discussed. It is easy to see how Mark Young got some of his backstories given his career experience and it certainly brings reality to his book. This is as good as any espionage books I've read. So, if you like intrigue and lots of suspense, give this book a try. There is a 2nd novel in this short series but anything written by Mark Young will be a grabber.
April 7, 2012
Beach read for sure! Stilted, cardboard predictable characters. This is your basic ex-military turned cop to revenge parents death with lots of resources, guns and technology to get the bad guy. Too predictable and a little boring. Good thing it only took me two nights to read. 5 hours I'll never get back in my life.
February 12, 2013
Another Amazon freebie, "Off The Grid" was a great read.
Following Gerrit through betrayal, we learn his military background and MIT training are nothing compared to his real world survival skills. From Iraq to Washington state, this book doesn't lag for a moment!
With novels like this, we can be okay with Robert Ludlum being gone. Bring us more, Mr. Young! I'll be waiting!
Following Gerrit through betrayal, we learn his military background and MIT training are nothing compared to his real world survival skills. From Iraq to Washington state, this book doesn't lag for a moment!
With novels like this, we can be okay with Robert Ludlum being gone. Bring us more, Mr. Young! I'll be waiting!
February 27, 2012
I am not one for word order conspiracies, so I knocked this one down a peg. However, Young did manage to keep everything suspenseful until the end. He had several bad guys and while we knew one from the beginning, the others were kept hidden until the final chapters.
May 26, 2012
Great book. Good up and coming indie author worth keeping up with. Looking forward to his next releases!
March 8, 2016
Jim gave this one 4.5 stars, I gave it 5.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews