GOTU

by Mike McNeff

When a drug cartel attacks a cop, the rules apply. When they attack a cop's family, there are no rules.

Sergeant Robin Marlette's special narcotics squad has killed a dangerous drug courier and the brother of a prominent Mexican drug overlord. When Marlette's daughter is kidnapped as an act of revenge, it's a race against time to save her. Marlette and his team are very good at what they do-but are they good enough to defeat a drug cartel on its own turf?

Written by a 40-year law enforcement veteran, GOTU puts you side by side with the law enforcement brotherhood as they battle the world's most vicious criminals. GOTU will have you rooting for the good guys and turning the pages well into the night.

Genres: Action, Ebooks, Thriller

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2012

About the author

I use my 40 years as a cop and a lawyer to write novels on subjects that interest me. I currently have three novels published by Booktrope Editions,

GOTU, an Amazon top 300 best seller http://amzn.to/14KYOmW;

Necessary Retribution, an Amazon top 50 best seller at http://amzn.to/19jMqv3;

Hard Justice, a western published this year http://amzn.to/1nPGmEy

Reviews

[Melissa Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was asked to review GOTU by Mike McNeff I thought it sounded pretty interesting. I like to expand on the genres I read, so I gave it a go. I am very happy that I did! GOTU was an action packed book that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Robin Marlette is a no nonsense kind of guy. McNeff did an amazing job of making Robin relate-able to readers. He didn't over do the character. Robin was very down to earth and did things I expect a brave sergeant up against a drug cartel would do. He was an entirely believable character for me.

The rest of the team of Guardians were great. Many times their witticisms added to the story so well. They all had a brotherly companionship that was refreshing to read about. I enjoyed all their back stories as McNeff worked to build the characters.

The Marlette family was also great to read about. Not being from a police, or even military family, I can imagine that they are probably pretty typical. They are a loving family, and I liked all their interactions with each other. I think that McNeff did a great job of showing what the family life of a busy officer would be like.

This plot was amazing! It was so fast paced and full of twists and turns. Something new was constantly happening and had me wondering what the Guardians would do. From Arizona to Mexico, from cartel compounds to military bases, this story is a wild ride.

I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who loves police thrillers. I am an Alex Cross fan usually, and I think I have found another favorite in Robin Marlette. Mike McNeff has created something great with Robin Marlette, and I will be very excited to see where things go. Especially after that ending!

[AJArndt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helicopters. Guns. Corruption. Explosions...

NON. STOP. ACTION. My first note I jotted down was on page 11, "begins with action immediately." I'm not kidding, it kept me on the edge of my seat (or edge of the bed) until the VERY LAST PAGE.

The GOTU (Guardians of the Universe) special narcotics squad is out to put an end to drug smuggling across the border, under the competent leadership of Robin Marlette. When they get a lead on a giant operation and end up killing the brother of the number one drug lord in Mexico, they uncover some serious corruption in not only their department, but also of prominent elected officials. The drug lord isn't very happy that his brother was killed and promises some sick-ass revenge.

We also get a peek into Robin's life as a devoted husband and father. He loves his family very much, and proves that he would do anything for them. Whereas he's a tough, but fair law enforcer, we get to see his gentler side with his family.

Some of the "cop-speak" in the book was unfamiliar to me, but then I thought that for those that read this genre, wouldn't want it dumbed-down. It wasn't enough to leave you clueless as to what was going on either. I used to work as a paramedic before my baby started school, and I certainly wouldn't want a diluted medical thriller.

Mike writes of what he knows. He is a cop, who then became a lawyer, and has now started his third career as a writer. GOTU is the debut novel of author Mike McNeff and is the first book in his Robin Marlette series.

He's working on the second in the series, Shadow, which is due out this summer according to an interview I read. Will I continue reading the series? Oh, HELL YEAH! It's that good.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

GOTU is a thrilling and action-driven police drama that moves at a surprisingly fast pace, including frequent violent clashes, family drama and much more. At the heart of the novel is Robin Marlette, a maverick sergeant of the special narcotics squad and someone who everybody respects and looks up to. After the shooting of the brother of one of Mexico's leading drugs lords, things start to get a bit sticky.
From the first page, the novel is littered with technically sound language recreating the action and gun fights between Marlette's crack team and the Mexican drugs barons. As someone who doesn't read this type of literature often, it did make the beginning quite hard to get through but once I got into it, it improved significantly. The power of McNeff's work is the fact that Robin is not only a fantastic worker and policeman, we're given a hint to his background, his family life and it makes him a much more rounded character.
The only element of the novel that did not work for me in the slightest was the events that occurred between Robin and Angie, an agent on his squad. It detracted a little from the character I felt I had come to know and made me slightly disappointed. This element could have been left out and the novel would have remained thoroughly enjoyable.
The climax of this novel was fantastic, it felt like I had been drawn into a Hollywood blockbuster movie and as the story concludes, the reader is left in no doubt that there is more to come from Marlette and his squad. A thriller that packs a whole lot of punches and really captivates once you're in the thick of it.

Beth Townsend - The Kindle Book Review

[Tara Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by giving you two disclaimers. First: Do not read this book if you suffer from any kind of heart condition. Second: It’s worth the risk.

McNeff grabs you from the first page with action and imagery straight off the silver screen. It reads like a film and moves like a film. I could easily see this being adapted into a screenplay.
And then I would pay money to go see it.

The main character in this police procedural/drama/thriller/tome of excitement, Robin Marlette, is reminiscent of familiar action heroes and fills out this novel in excellent detail.

The storyline is timely for today’s current climate, yet accessible to readers of all genres. Die-hard thriller fans will be right at home; those not as friendly with the police drama jargon may get a bit lost in all the descriptions and acronyms. Stick with it, I promise there’s a payoff.

While I enjoyed the entire cast of characters, I have to say there were a lot of them. Once or twice, I had to flip back and clarify my grasp of who was who.

McNeff’s background in law enforcement enables him to offer a thrilling and satisfying read that moves at a breakneck pace. The action sequences are tense and heartpounding. The dialogue is snappy and natural. Nothing ever feels forced or awkward.

What I liked was the realism of the plot. Yes, it was worthy of Hollywood, but nowhere did the plot veer into “that would never happen in real life” territory. Cartels are dangerous. And the men that run them are ruthless. When pushed, they will take exactly the kind of action that McNeff describes so crisply.

Hard-hitting and engaging, I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

[Vonda Norwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the men gonna love this one!!!
The excitement from the moment you click on the page is VERY WELL CRAFTED to carry over to all the conflicts and relationships, giving the reader a great feel of who these officers are, what they are capable of - all while showing us what they are up against!!! I love how GOTU shows MEGA police ACTION without distracting us with silly drama! I actually hate silly drama! This story stays true to it's excitement and the adventures of being Robin Marlette, the police officer!!! Even when his daughter is taken. With that, this story could have gone so many ways and I believe all would have been a let down for me, but author Mike McNeff didn't stray from his story or his character's personalities by adding and padding with more drama... Which totally made the whole story brilliant!!! I'm gonna say BRILLIANT, because I tell ya, at the end of this MEGA ACTION PACKED - filled with violence and more and more ACTION... you click out of the story still knowing and wanting to continue knowing the people AKA characters involved. :-D

TONS OF FUN!!! Action Action Action, but also a story perfect for this exciting adventure!!!

Oh, and the Angie/Robin thing, really? Men and women working together.. high stress.. polar tension of emotions.. STRONG friendships... That's totally normal and if no mention of such a thing, I'd be like OH YEA RIGHT!!! :-/ LOLOLOL

WONDERFUL STORY!!! Thank you for scaring me, entertaining me and for the heartwarming smile!!!

:-D

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guardians of the Universe (GOTU) makes this book sound like some graphic novel starring Captain America and his ilk when it is nothing more than a superb smash-and-grab police procedural starring protagonist Robin Marlette, a true blood and guts super hero.
McNeff, a forty-year veteran of law enforcement draws upon his intimate knowledge of how to combat drug smuggling on the Arizona/Mexico border. He introduces us to a squad of DPS officers that is reminiscent of The Dirty Dozen, the washed up, down-and-out degenerates that are about to be frog-marched out of law enforcement only to be salvaged by a great leader and turned into an elite unit.
When Marlette and his men roust a smuggling ring, seizing millions of dollars and killing the drug cartel boss’ little brother, the retaliation is fast and furious. The cartel strikes at Marlette personally; not only by sending soldiers to shoot up his house and family but to kidnap his eldest daughter too.
With his daughter in the hands of the bad guys south of the border, Marlette does what any father would, he violates every known international law to rescue his child. With all his men recklessly following his lead, he charges into danger, guns blazing, consequences be damned.
Full of hard-hitting details and realistic action scenes, McNeff leads us into the middle of a no-rules fight where the hard-charging victors wear a white hat and experience wins out every time.

[Darlene Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

AN ACTION THRILLER WITH CHARACTER

Mike McNeff is an author you will want to follow.

His protagonist, Robin Marlette, is fully developed. McNeff has flushed out Robin's flaws, his expertise in law endorsement, and his fearlessness in curtailing drug trafficking. One of the aspects I particularly liked is that Robin Marlette is a likeable character who cares deeply for his family. He is someone whom you'd feel comfortable about inviting into your home. As a matter of fact, you like him so much that you want to believe everything he believes. When his daughter is kidnapped by members of a drug cartel, you want to trust Robin's instincts even when the facts are working against him. McNeff writes the kind of novel I like to read--one where you feel you are getting insider information about things you've heard and read about. In the non-stop action of GOTU, McNeff's background is evident. You learn about what goes on behind the scenes in taking down a drug cartel. McNeff is a talented writer who captures the action so vividly that you feel a part of it. My only criticism is that the heart pounding action began four chapters before I got to know Robin as a three-dimensional character and nearly put the book down. Don't make that mistake. GOTU is a very good read.

[C.C. Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOTU: A Robin Marlette Novel” is about local law enforcement sergeant Robin Marlette, unwavering in his devotion to crime fighting, devotion to his group, and devotion to his family. His fearless approach to taking out the drug trade leads to a cascade of events that lead to the endangerment of his family requiring rescue and risk above and beyond the rule of law; the rule of love and friendship. The action rarely stops for a few adult level scenes and some developmental dialogue, making the novel an entertaining and fast read. While the book contains a fair number of clichés, it’s not to the point that makes the story predictable; instead it adds to the story by creating an almost perfect heavy action crime drama. Great work, five stars!

[Dennis Dupuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I stumbled across it while searching for something else and struck it lucky. McNeff really brings the characters to life, and the stories line rocks with self-described action, although a good editor could really make it a better read. There are enough word omissions and grammatical mistakes to make even me twitch. Hey Mike, give me a call or drop me a line if you decide to write another one, I'll do it for free! I'm looking forward to reading the second in this series. Dennis (Pap) Dupuis,

[T.W. Dittmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. McNeff certainly knows what he's talking about.

He put together a solid plot, with plenty of action and enough human interaction to satisfy those that look for that.

He changes point of view frequently, and though I have no problem with that, I think a break between the views would be helpful for those that do.

The ending was good, and opened the door for a sequel.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read.

[Preston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I begin to wonder if the author of this book had all of his family & friends review it for it to have such a high average before I rated it. I think it's great that the author is a prior cop/lawyer so he has the knowledge to write about this genre of literature, however his attempts are hamstrung by his lack of writing ability. The only somewhat interesting aspect of this novel was that clearly the author was from Arizona as he references several known locations around Tucson/Phoenix.

[Timely Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking for a good thriller? Give GOTU a try. This is a book written by a law enforcement professional with 40 years of experience. That being said this book gives you insight into the lives of those who defend the US border. Reading about the families of Robin Marlette and his crew, this book has way more depth than cop shows on TV.

[Brian Charles Short · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical tough-guy stuff. It is a story about bad-asses and the stuff they get up to, but told with a warmth of character that is unexpected. With a tight plot and a level of technical, tactical detail that lets me know that the author really knows what he's describing, this is a fun read, both on-the-ground believable and educational.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOTU

Welcome to the world of specialty teams fighting drug cartels, human rights and the environment involving the international space and all of the country's borders. A dedicated team of officers trained and experienced in the plot to get drugs and weapons into our country. Thanks for letting us know how the best of the action is not a dream. Great reading and writing.

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. Fast-moving, great characters, lots of action. Couldn't put it down. I give this one 4.8 stars. Highly recommend it. Jim read this and finished it on 6-14-14; gave it 4.8 stars.

[Charity Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know why - I read the sample but then had no interest in purchasing the book. Not sure why, can't quite put my finger on the reason. Might be something I come back to in the future maybe.

[Rbjumbob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good action, some what realistic. I would recommend if you want a fast action read good guys vs bad drug guys.