Vital Force

Jake Adams International Thriller #4

by Trevor Scott

When an old comrade and Cold Warrior from Russia asks Jake to observe the launch of their newest ICBM, Jake finds himself in the taiga of the Russian Far East. But the plan is thwarted; the Russians discover an American plane has shot down the missile with their new Airborne Laser System. This event sets a chain of events into motion that spans the U.S. Capitol, California, the Pacific Northwest, a remote Aleutian Island, and across the Pacific to China and South Korea.

As an undercover agent, Jake is recruited back into the Network and transported to China, where he battles with double agents and the Chinese Army, while struggling to decipher who his enemies are. In a harrowing finale, only one man can keep the highly desired laser system from the multiple factions of greed...Jake Adams!

Genres: Thriller, Espionage, Fiction, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Trevor Scott is the best selling author of more than 70 mystery/thriller novels in the Jake Adams International Espionage Thriller Series, the Karl Adams Series, and the Max Kane Series. He has sold more than 1.3 million copies of his books in a number of languages. He earned a master's in creative writing from Northern Michigan University, and a bachelor's in writing from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He served in the U.S. Navy as an ordnanceman on the flight deck of aircraft carriers, and as an officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War and the first Gulf War, where he retired as a captain. He previously worked as a writer and editor at a daily newspaper, and in the PR department at a small private college. He has traveled to more than 100 countries, all seven continents, and he currently resides in Nevada. He grew up in a small town near Duluth. He's a dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy.

Reviews

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vital Force by Trevor Scott is the second book by Scott I have read. He doesn't disappoint. There is plenty of action and country hopping to encourage all espionage fans. It makes you wonder if this is something all spooks do or if they're tiers of experience levels in real life. This starts out with a Russian friend Yuri, asking Jake to be a neutral observer in an IBM launch in Russia. The missile is shot from the skies stunning everyone. The United States acknowledged they did it. Everyone is flabbergasted that the UShas developed the technology. That night Jake gets kidnapped out of his room. In his underwear freezing in the Siberian snow he makes a break into the woods. He's picked up by CIA agent and given clothes to warm up. Then he meets Anderson in Bejing. He's in China. He's been drafted back into the Agency. Meets a Chinese double agent Chang Su. They're off to Manchuria to get photos of China's laser system. It switches back to the US where a guy named Cliff is getting ready to sell out his country for a piece of tail and money. This is just the beginning of this thrilling tale.

[Jim A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book that would have been better if the author didn't tend to end most chapters with a cliffhanger. Way too many of those. Also, there were
a lot of subplots, some of which were brought to conclusion, and a couple left hanging. I had to wonder if the author just forgot about the characters and where he was taking that portion of the novel.

As with any good action thriller involving espionage, not everything is as it seems.

This is book four of the Jake Adams series picked up as a freebie from Amazon's promotions. It accomplished what it was intended to do as I will go back to the beginning and purchase a couple of the earlier novels.

[GW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vital Force

I have mixed feelings about this book. Parts of it are pleasant reading and moved along well, parts of it are awkward and stumble in places, and parts of it are convenient and unrealistic.

[vito v. gentile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing

great read. Book moved smoothly and swiftly. There was not a lot of fluff, so it really held my attention

[JACKIWARD9 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non stop action

I loved this action packed thriller able to stay focused. Many turns worth reading for anyone who loves Spy thrillers

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-stop Action

Jake Adams is a very busy man. The action starts and never seems to end. I had a very hard time putting this book down and forcing myself to go to sleep each night. A very fun read.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This plot was full of twists and turns along with the action; a keep-the-pages-turning read.

The story begins when our hero, kicked out of the British army and sleeping on a friend's couch (a friend who really wants to see him gone), is called to a meeting with the Foreign Office that turns out to be some kind of intelligence group. They say he's exactly the kind of man they need: intelligent, quick-thinking, able to react to changing circumstances. They want to put him on payroll as an assassin. In the nation's best interests, of course.

Our hero agrees. He's killed in the course of his career for his country so this can't be much different. And the money is an incentive, too.

So he's given a man's name--Geoffrey Button--and location while his new employers make travel arrangements. But when he reaches Geoffrey, he's surprised to discover that in fact, his employers want him to protect Geoffrey. What's more, there may be a traitor close to his employers.

From there, the story goes in all directions as he and Geoffrey dodge Russian assassins, a Chinese assassin, the local cops, and their own countrymen.

I really wanted to give this read four stars. But (and I'm discounting my aversion to the hero who seems too full of himself for my tastes) the need for a good editor kept intruding. If this were polished up, I would definitely have given it four stars.

But it's still a nice read.

[Hayley Shaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. This book is full of twists and turns. If you like a real espionage thriller, this book is for you. I intend to read more of the series when I have more money to actually buy books. This book was, in fact, a free one on either Kindle Buffet or Bookbub. Those are both places where they offer great free or discounted books you can download through obviously, Amazon, or various other sites.

[Walt Mccluskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vital Force

Confusing to read in all the subplots that were developed slowly at first. As I got into it during the chase sequences it started to come together but the final sequence raced to the end as though Scott had tired of the summary and needed to end it all. I thought it would have been more believable with an expanded fight at the end. Still recommended.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is always good action in the Jake Adams books. I have read three and they have all been fun quick reads. Some are written better than others..this was one of the better written ones. I always enjoy these books and would recommend them to anyone looking for a quick action packed suspense type book.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spy thriller with a number of twists and turns in the plot.

Apparently the main character is a continuing character in the series of which this is Number 4.

We have the love interest. The Chinese, the Russians and the Koreans as the "bad" guys and a variety of CIA and other agencies as the good guys. More than our share of high technology and travel over a great portion of the world.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I have not read any other books in this series.

Vital Force is a fine CIA thriller with fine characters and a fine but predictable storyline. It is a very easy quick read if you need something mindless. If the rest of the series comes up free or cheap for Nook I'll probably grab a few more of the books, but I wouldn't pay the listed price for them.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake Adams used to work for The Agency, now he freelances and works when he is asked to step into a situation. In this case he is asked to follow-up on a missile launch that he witnessed and finds himself in all kinds of hot water.

An interesting story but a little hard to follow at times. I liked Jake though and will read more in the series eventually.

[Hugh T. Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tale of modern day espionage.

Fast action among the intelligence sources of
world super powers as multiple nations vie to
obtain top secret weapons information.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similarly good

It had all the right ingredients,mystery,intensity,characters and intrigue. Probably my age and etc, but I personally could have done without the explicit sex

[Marcia Sherrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

So tired of waiting idly for Kerr, Kanin and Cummings to come out with international thrillers that I happened on this series. Great read. Want to read them all.

[James llewellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the book.

The book was a little beyond average, but not as good as other novels that I have read by this same author.