Hunter of Gunmen

by Cliff Happy

Weaponized anthrax. So deadly a mere gram has over 100 million lethal doses, and terrorists are now in possession of it. When the world's intelligence agencies are unable to locate the extremists before they unleash their pandemic, governments turn to the Friends From Damascus. This rogue counterterrorist team will go anywhere and take any risk to deliver their form of justice to extremists. But this time the team faces an unexpected challenge from within its own elite ranks.
Their newest member, Katya Petrova, has lost all faith in humanity - the world's and her own. Her bleak and ravaged past as a Russian agent has destroyed her sense of self-worth. Before the team can hunt down the terrorists and the toxin, Petrova must learn to believe in herself again. Then she must earn the trust of the team's sniper, Joe Proffitt.
Outcast, mercenary, convict and founding member of Friends From Damascus, Proffitt's brutal life has taught him that all people are either hunter or prey. This former Marine and lone wolf trusts no one - so why should he trust scarred and hardened Katya Petrova?

432 pages, ebook

First published June 9, 2012

About the author

Cliff was born in 1963, and joined the Marine Corps right out of high school where he spent twenty-two years with the infantry. He served all over the world in a variety of billets including five years with the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team where he participated in operations in Central America, West Africa, and Europe. He has a master’s degree in History and Political Science and currently teaches both at a National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science, and Technology high school for academically gifted students. He currently lives in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas with his wife. They have three children.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adventure with the Friends From Damascus a private group of ex-military who are hunted by the law and governments, but also used by them as they hunt down and eliminate terrorists worldwide. In this case they are the trail of a bio chemist who has stolen a sample of a super deadly anthrax virus and wants to release it in Pakistan as revenge for the deaths of his family in the attack in Mumbai, He is being helped by a deadly woman terrorist who plays on his need for revenge but plans to also sell the weaponized virus to the highest bidder. The Friends have also recruited an ex Russian agent and sniper who is slow to fit in to the group and also to learn to trust anyone but herself. Fast paced international action for a quick read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rogue counter-terrorist team, The Friends from Damascus again put everything on the line to try and track down a terrorist with a source of supply for weaponized anthrax. The chase leads from steamy jungles of Africa to an arid desert in India. Adding to the problems is the integration of a new operative into the team. Katya is being groomed as a "utility player", with the ability and training to fill any one of several roles. However, an injury to a member of the team forces her to assume an active role she may or may not be ready for. The Friends from Damascus continue to add team members, but it is becoming more difficult to stay below the radar of a lot of countries that would like control their operations.

[Jim Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and well researched with an excellent story line. I'm off to the next Cliff Happy book.