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Deep Black #6
Conspiracy
A Secret Service agent is dead, an apparent suicide. A presidential candidate narrowly escapes an assassin’s bullet. And Desk Three, a convert branch of the NSA, is searching for a chilling connection deep inside The Republic of Vietnam. Once, Charlie Dean was a Marine sniper in Quang Nam Province. Today he’s a Deep Black operator, returning to Vietnam to find the source of some threatening e-mails. Instead, he comes face to face with a man he had once hunted down…and thought he had killed. Back in the U.S., Deep Black agent Lia DeFrancesca has uncovered the trail of a killer in Dean’s path. Now, with every asset, weapon, bug and high-tech magic wand Desk Three can wave, the agents enter a terrifying global race against time. Because ghosts of the past have risen to life…to strike a death blow into the heart of the U.S.A.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 3, 2008
108 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Coonts
181 books756 followersStephen Coonts (born July 19, 1946) is an American thriller and suspense novelist.
Coonts grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia, a small coal-mining town and earned an B.A. degree in political science at West Virginia University in 1968. He entered the Navy the following year and flew an A-6 Intruder medium attack plane during the Vietnam War, where he served on two combat cruises aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). He accumulated 1600 hours in the A-6 Intruder and earned a number of Navy commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he served as a flight instructor on A-6 aircraft for two years, then did a tour as an assistant catapult and arresting gear officer aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68). His navigator-bombardier was LTjg Stanley W. Bryant who later became a Rear Admiral and deputy commander-in-chief of the US naval forces in Europe.
After being honorably discharged from duty as a lieutenant in 1977, Coonts pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at the University of Colorado, graduating in 1979. He then worked as an oil and gas lawyer for several companies, entertaining his writing interests in his free time.
He published short stories in a number of publications before writing Flight of the Intruder in 1986 (made into a movie in 1991). Intruder, based in part on his experiences as a bomber pilot, spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists in hardcover and launched his career as a novelist. From there he continued writing adventure-mysteries using the character from his first book, Jake Grafton. He has written several other series and stand-alone novels since then, but is most notable for the Grafton books.
Today Coonts continues to write, having had seventeen New York Times bestsellers (out of 20 books), and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and son.
Taken from Wikipedia
Learn more about Stephen Coonts on the Macmillan website.
Coonts grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia, a small coal-mining town and earned an B.A. degree in political science at West Virginia University in 1968. He entered the Navy the following year and flew an A-6 Intruder medium attack plane during the Vietnam War, where he served on two combat cruises aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). He accumulated 1600 hours in the A-6 Intruder and earned a number of Navy commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he served as a flight instructor on A-6 aircraft for two years, then did a tour as an assistant catapult and arresting gear officer aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68). His navigator-bombardier was LTjg Stanley W. Bryant who later became a Rear Admiral and deputy commander-in-chief of the US naval forces in Europe.
After being honorably discharged from duty as a lieutenant in 1977, Coonts pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at the University of Colorado, graduating in 1979. He then worked as an oil and gas lawyer for several companies, entertaining his writing interests in his free time.
He published short stories in a number of publications before writing Flight of the Intruder in 1986 (made into a movie in 1991). Intruder, based in part on his experiences as a bomber pilot, spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists in hardcover and launched his career as a novelist. From there he continued writing adventure-mysteries using the character from his first book, Jake Grafton. He has written several other series and stand-alone novels since then, but is most notable for the Grafton books.
Today Coonts continues to write, having had seventeen New York Times bestsellers (out of 20 books), and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and son.
Taken from Wikipedia
Learn more about Stephen Coonts on the Macmillan website.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 21, 2012
I'm usually a Coonts fan, but this book was a disappointment. First of all I think the title is overblown as a reflection of the story. Some of the plot line is a bit far-fetched. But most of all I found the book plodding - tedious. Most of the time when I start one of his books, I can't put it down until I finish it. This book lasted for over 2 weeks. Lots of short chapters (some less than a half page in length) that jump back and forth from one locale or character to another. No real intense tension. And all of it tracing back to an improbable chain of events more than 40 years ago that we are to believe would lead a Police Chief to unhesitatingly kill a Secret Service agent and try to assassinate a Presidential candidate, decades later. Hmmmmm. Apparently they haven't heard of the Statutes of Limitation. If you are looking for a good read, I don't agree with those who wrote in these reviews that this was a 4 or 5 star outing. A weak Coonts' contribution. One man's opinion....
September 19, 2015
I have arranged my thoughts into a haiku:
"Throwing weight around,
Accomplishing so little,
Making fake threats real."
"Throwing weight around,
Accomplishing so little,
Making fake threats real."
January 28, 2020
A man who apparently is more comfortable shooting people than mountain lions is attacked by a mountain lion.
A Secret Service Agent is found dead, apparently suicide. His girlfriend investigates.
A U.S. Senator running for president is shot at.
Two government agents go to Vietnam to investigate something. They uncover a situation from 50 years earlier.
Somewhere in there is the plot to this story. It is scattered around and mixed up so that I was nearly finished with the book before I could determine what it was about.
If this were the first Stephen Coonts book I were to read, I'd never read another one.
A Secret Service Agent is found dead, apparently suicide. His girlfriend investigates.
A U.S. Senator running for president is shot at.
Two government agents go to Vietnam to investigate something. They uncover a situation from 50 years earlier.
Somewhere in there is the plot to this story. It is scattered around and mixed up so that I was nearly finished with the book before I could determine what it was about.
If this were the first Stephen Coonts book I were to read, I'd never read another one.
June 27, 2017
Another Exciting zStephen Coonts Novel
If you enjoy action adventure, you'll love reading this book. Deep Black is new to me. It's a great adventure with interesting characters. The story revolves around a missing payoff to village elders during the Vietnam War and repercussions 40 years later.
This book kept me interested all the way. You'll enjoy it.
If you enjoy action adventure, you'll love reading this book. Deep Black is new to me. It's a great adventure with interesting characters. The story revolves around a missing payoff to village elders during the Vietnam War and repercussions 40 years later.
This book kept me interested all the way. You'll enjoy it.
March 3, 2018
This was my first time to read or, in my case, listen to a book by Stephen Coonts. It turned out to be well-worth the time. I especially liked some of the high-tech equipment the government agents used to track down the killers.
February 16, 2022
Good author. Interesting storyline. I did not like the ending in regarding the secret service agent killing himself. This was an intentional red herring to throw the reader off and even at the end of the book it still made no sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
A Secret Service/NSA action procedural
A good story that keeps you wondering what it is really about. The details of the ending are nothing but a surprise, which on reflection, you know that you should have known how bad the "bad" guy really was!
A good story that keeps you wondering what it is really about. The details of the ending are nothing but a surprise, which on reflection, you know that you should have known how bad the "bad" guy really was!
April 12, 2025
High three stars. The last part almost gave a fourth star as it had the standard explosive last chapter action. Because otherwise, the main plot point was okay but not great. I longed for a few more set pieces. Nonetheless it was still a nice read.
August 10, 2018
Not hard to follow but the story just seemed to plod along. I didn't see any real surprises in the book. I probably won't read anymore of this series.
September 18, 2019
Twists & turns, and enetertaining... Page turner.... can't say more though... :)
November 9, 2020
This series continues to entertain
Read
July 13, 2023Good
March 5, 2025
Great story teller
So many characters
And 3 story lines running parallel ... lots of action. So we'll written. Engrossing. I'll read more Coonts.
So many characters
And 3 story lines running parallel ... lots of action. So we'll written. Engrossing. I'll read more Coonts.
March 8, 2025
awesome book
This is one of the best books I have every read. It will keep you guessing until the very end.
This is one of the best books I have every read. It will keep you guessing until the very end.
January 14, 2010
Secret Service agent is found dead in a hotel room and they think it is suicide. There is a botched assassination attemp on a Senator that is a presidential candidate. The Republic of Vietnam is blamed for the botched assassination. A female Secret Service Agent that was having an affair with the agent found dead does not believe he commited suicide and starts her own inverstigation.
Agents of the National Security Agency investigate and find that there was a theft money during the Vietnam war. The presidential candidate was the Comanding Officer of the unit that was in charge of securing the money. He was part of the plot to take the money, The chief of Police of a small town was part of the unit and took part in the theft. He murders the female SS Agent and goes out and finds the presidential candidate and tries to murder him wounding him but gets caught and killed.
Lots of short chapters and lots tech stuff.
Agents of the National Security Agency investigate and find that there was a theft money during the Vietnam war. The presidential candidate was the Comanding Officer of the unit that was in charge of securing the money. He was part of the plot to take the money, The chief of Police of a small town was part of the unit and took part in the theft. He murders the female SS Agent and goes out and finds the presidential candidate and tries to murder him wounding him but gets caught and killed.
Lots of short chapters and lots tech stuff.
July 19, 2015
A Secret Service agent is dead, an apparent suicide. A presidential candidate narrowly escapes an assassin’s bullet. And Desk Three, a convert branch of the NSA, is searching for a chilling connection deep inside The Republic of Vietnam.Once, Charlie Dean was a Marine sniper in Quang Nam Province. Today he’s a Deep Black operator, returning to Vietnam to find the source of some threatening e-mails. Instead, he comes face to face with a man he had once hunted down…and thought he had killed.Back in the U.S., Deep Black agent Lia DeFrancesca has uncovered the trail of a killer in Dean’s path. Now, with every asset, weapon, bug and high-tech magic wand Desk Three can wave, the agents enter a terrifying global race against time. Because ghosts of the past have risen to life…to strike a death blow into the heart of the U.S.A.
September 10, 2016
Enjoying my return to the Deep Black series. I like the blend of general espionage + high-tech.
Realized half-way through this one that I had previously read it. So maybe that's why it felt like a 3-star, rather than 4 this time. Or possibly it just felt a little too far-fetched in terms of the conclusion about who was responsible for the attacks on the presidential candidate ~ and how that character wrapped up the threat.
Realized half-way through this one that I had previously read it. So maybe that's why it felt like a 3-star, rather than 4 this time. Or possibly it just felt a little too far-fetched in terms of the conclusion about who was responsible for the attacks on the presidential candidate ~ and how that character wrapped up the threat.
April 7, 2013
Jerry Forester, Vietnam vet, political conspiracy, story takes us back to the Vietnam war and then on to modern day Vietnam. The plot seems to go on and on. It is important to me because I at one time was fascinated with the war. A girl in our Karaté dojo is Vietnamese. Min who fixed my stove is Vietnamese and does the same style of Karaté.
I finished the book a few months ago, I'm not certain of the date.
I finished the book a few months ago, I'm not certain of the date.
April 10, 2014
book on tape.
I like the idea of an Art Desk that has instant communication with the field agent and can
get a CPA or an interpreter instantly. very cool.
A Secret Service agent is dead, an apparent suicide. A presidential candidate narrowly escapes an assassin’s bullet. And Desk Three, a convert branch of the NSA, is searching for a chilling connection deep inside The Republic of Vietnam.
I like the idea of an Art Desk that has instant communication with the field agent and can
get a CPA or an interpreter instantly. very cool.
A Secret Service agent is dead, an apparent suicide. A presidential candidate narrowly escapes an assassin’s bullet. And Desk Three, a convert branch of the NSA, is searching for a chilling connection deep inside The Republic of Vietnam.
August 20, 2015
This was a book with no feelings for the main characters. I think the title is overblown as a reflection of the story. Most of all I found the book plodding and seems to go on and on and on and on and on. A mediocre novel that uses Stephen Coonts' name to help sell it. The narrator/performer is annoying. I've heard worse but not if I can help it. I gave up and did not finish. This is my second "Deep Black" and for the rest of the series--forget it!
December 19, 2008
This is the 6th book in the Deep Black series. I enjoy this series, but this one seemed to drag on. He writes in vert short chapters...which I like, but in this case, it was so broken up that I had to keep looking back to remember which character was which. Not my favorite, but will continue reading the series if more come out.
July 11, 2012
Way too far-fetched and fantastic. I am ok with plot driven books, but the instead of filling each new book with more twists and turns the previous one in the series, maybe some thought should be given to other elements that make an exciting thriller. This book just became absurd. A bad episode of the A-Team.
July 8, 2012
the Desk Three operatives get involved in investigating an attempted assassination of a presidential candidate...little do they know it will take them back into the recesses of the Vietnam War...a little more character development to tease us into the rest of the series...decent summer read
July 28, 2011
Ok, it's been a long time since I red a novel in english. Didn't lost too much. Anyway, traditionnaly coonts is more a military writer (air force infact) on this one it looks on the Clancy' opcenter side.
Fine novel but red some much better ones by him (flight of the intruder, ...)
Fine novel but red some much better ones by him (flight of the intruder, ...)
September 29, 2016
This was my first time to read or, in my case, listen to a book by Stephen Coonts. It turned out to be well-worth the time. I especially liked some of the high-tech equipment the government agents used to track down the killers.
June 25, 2009
Keep in mind this is nothing earth-shattering, just one of the best 'airport fiction' books I've read in a while. It's been a perfect read while I've been a little sick the last few days.
November 18, 2009
Lots of action- keeps you thinking!
December 29, 2025
Work commute listen.
January 30, 2013
The 6th book in the Deep Black Series. I found it dragged on a bit but I'm a Coonts fan and will continue reading all of his books.
March 14, 2013
I didn't realize that I was reading the 6th book. The book was alright, nothing to amazing. Good thing was that it was short and kept my attention enough that I will look for the first 5 books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews