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Badge of Honor #2
Special Operations
In the Badge of Honor series, W.E.B. Griffin reveals a city police force with all the authentic detail and drama that made The Corps series a phenomenal bestseller. Here is an explosive novel of the men and women behind the badge -- a unique brotherhood of courage, loyalty and trust. Facing a desperate public, a hostile press and reluctant witnesses, they must stop a new reign of violence. A terrifying spree and kidnapping and rape has plunged the entire city in fear.
"Tough, authentic. . .police drama at its best!" --Dale Brown
"Tough, authentic. . .police drama at its best!" --Dale Brown
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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533 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 10, 2023
Special Operations is the second book in the Badge of Honor series and is really the jumping off point. Book one, Men in Blue merely sets the stage. You could almost start with the second book.
I loved Special Operations, a solid five stars for me. I read it back in the mid-80’s and remembered loving it then. The book still holds up today. I finished it in two sittings. I then ordered all the rest of the series. That’s how good this book is. I’ve also read twice the Brotherhood of War by the same author. Reading them twice should tell you all you need to know.
Special Operations really captures the time period when there wasn’t cell phones or computers. Cops had to call in and leave messages. They didn’t have handheld radios. When they left the radio car they were on their own. There is great tension in all of these books and the author really points up the personal life of the police. He humanizes them.
I loved Special Operations, a solid five stars for me. I read it back in the mid-80’s and remembered loving it then. The book still holds up today. I finished it in two sittings. I then ordered all the rest of the series. That’s how good this book is. I’ve also read twice the Brotherhood of War by the same author. Reading them twice should tell you all you need to know.
Special Operations really captures the time period when there wasn’t cell phones or computers. Cops had to call in and leave messages. They didn’t have handheld radios. When they left the radio car they were on their own. There is great tension in all of these books and the author really points up the personal life of the police. He humanizes them.
March 21, 2020
I never reviewed this when I added it to my goodreads shelf
As of March 2020 I wouldn't give it 5 stars but probably 3 1/2 or 4
Now for folks with modern sensibilities this isn't a book for you. Set in the 'City of Brotherly Love' in the early 1970s it is chock full of homophobia, casual racism and sexism. Which is about spot on for Philly in the 70s.
My appreciation is rooted firmly in personal ties
Mickey's mother is a member of Good Shepherd Church, where I made my first holy communion and confirmation.
She is a resident at Cobb's Creek Nursing home, where my friends and I used to visit the elderly
Mickey's lawyer stays at the Bellevue-Stratford, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bel... where my great uncle was the manager until the Legionnaire's Disease outbreak.
The procedure is still heavy handed but by the end there is a decent plot going.
As of March 2020 I wouldn't give it 5 stars but probably 3 1/2 or 4
Now for folks with modern sensibilities this isn't a book for you. Set in the 'City of Brotherly Love' in the early 1970s it is chock full of homophobia, casual racism and sexism. Which is about spot on for Philly in the 70s.
My appreciation is rooted firmly in personal ties
Mickey's mother is a member of Good Shepherd Church, where I made my first holy communion and confirmation.
She is a resident at Cobb's Creek Nursing home, where my friends and I used to visit the elderly
Mickey's lawyer stays at the Bellevue-Stratford, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bel... where my great uncle was the manager until the Legionnaire's Disease outbreak.
The procedure is still heavy handed but by the end there is a decent plot going.
April 6, 2023
Cop drama set in 1970s Philadelphia.
The story involves the police investigation of serial rapist case, while a major reorganization of the department is taking place. Of the two main plots, the restructuring of the department and creation of a Special Operations branch is actually the more interesting of the two, as Inspector Wohl has to juggle the career ambitions and department politics to get his new division up and running fast.
There are also a surprising number of romantic subplots, especially considering that the overall tone is macho-and-then-some. An additional storyline involving a series of burglaries seems to be a weak attempt at comic relief that leans into a lot of casual homophobia.
The interaction between the characters is handled well, and the dialogue is full of rapid-fire quips.
Unfortunately, the big resolution owes a lot more to coincidence than police work, and the villain ends up feeling like an afterthought.
The story involves the police investigation of serial rapist case, while a major reorganization of the department is taking place. Of the two main plots, the restructuring of the department and creation of a Special Operations branch is actually the more interesting of the two, as Inspector Wohl has to juggle the career ambitions and department politics to get his new division up and running fast.
There are also a surprising number of romantic subplots, especially considering that the overall tone is macho-and-then-some. An additional storyline involving a series of burglaries seems to be a weak attempt at comic relief that leans into a lot of casual homophobia.
The interaction between the characters is handled well, and the dialogue is full of rapid-fire quips.
Unfortunately, the big resolution owes a lot more to coincidence than police work, and the villain ends up feeling like an afterthought.
December 22, 2017
Another great entry in this series...even better than the first one.
November 6, 2016
Special Operations is the second entry in W.E.B. Griffin's Badge of Honor series and the sequel to Men in Blue. The series focuses on the Philadelphia Police Department.
Being a sequel, Special Operations builds upon a lot of what is established in Men in Blue, the first installment in Griffin's Badge of Honor series. It is also the book in which we see Matthew M. Payne, now a rookie police officer assigned to the newly formed Special Operations Division of the Philadelphia Police Department, assume the role of protagonist for the first time. In subsequent entries in the series, Payne goes on to serve as the protagonist of the series as a whole, and a great deal of focus is placed on his career and his growth as a person and a law enforcement officer.
This is the book that introduces readers to the basic format that all future entries in the series would adopt. The titular (and fictional) Special Operations Division herein is the glue that holds a large portion of the cast of characters together until Final Justice, and this book sees Inspector Peter F. Wohl, its commanding officer, and his staff pitted against a dangerous malefactor dubbed by the press "the Northwest Philadelphia Serial Rapist." In order to identify the "doer" and bring him to justice, Wohl enlists ace detectives Jason Washington and Anthony "Tony" Harris of Homicide. Their investigation is tedious and, at times, downright boring, which reveals one of the major themes of the Badge of Honor series: that police work is not always a glamorous affair of car chases and shootouts. However, at least one person is killed in a hail of bullets before the book is over and done with.
I am aware of the fact that many people disparage Griffin and his writing ability, targeting the Badge of Honor series in particular, for his apparent tendency to jam-pack his books with lots of "filler," and I do understand where they're coming from. There is a significant focus on detailing the histories of characters and settings, backstories, and previous events in the series itself. My response to that, though, is that none of these books are exceptionally long; most of the Badge of Honor series is less than five hundred pages, usually closer to three hundred or so. It has never taken me more than a week or two - tops! - to finish one of these books, even with the boring parts. I shudder to think of what some readers would say upon being confronted with a doorstopper of the likes that Tom Clancy or George R.R. Martin have produced.
The bottom line is that I enjoyed Special Operations and find it a pleasant change of pace when compared to the vast majority of crime fiction. It's a no-nonsense, very down-to-earth police procedural in novel format. I would recommend it for those with an interest in police work looking for a quick read.
Final Rating: I really liked it.
Being a sequel, Special Operations builds upon a lot of what is established in Men in Blue, the first installment in Griffin's Badge of Honor series. It is also the book in which we see Matthew M. Payne, now a rookie police officer assigned to the newly formed Special Operations Division of the Philadelphia Police Department, assume the role of protagonist for the first time. In subsequent entries in the series, Payne goes on to serve as the protagonist of the series as a whole, and a great deal of focus is placed on his career and his growth as a person and a law enforcement officer.
This is the book that introduces readers to the basic format that all future entries in the series would adopt. The titular (and fictional) Special Operations Division herein is the glue that holds a large portion of the cast of characters together until Final Justice, and this book sees Inspector Peter F. Wohl, its commanding officer, and his staff pitted against a dangerous malefactor dubbed by the press "the Northwest Philadelphia Serial Rapist." In order to identify the "doer" and bring him to justice, Wohl enlists ace detectives Jason Washington and Anthony "Tony" Harris of Homicide. Their investigation is tedious and, at times, downright boring, which reveals one of the major themes of the Badge of Honor series: that police work is not always a glamorous affair of car chases and shootouts. However, at least one person is killed in a hail of bullets before the book is over and done with.
I am aware of the fact that many people disparage Griffin and his writing ability, targeting the Badge of Honor series in particular, for his apparent tendency to jam-pack his books with lots of "filler," and I do understand where they're coming from. There is a significant focus on detailing the histories of characters and settings, backstories, and previous events in the series itself. My response to that, though, is that none of these books are exceptionally long; most of the Badge of Honor series is less than five hundred pages, usually closer to three hundred or so. It has never taken me more than a week or two - tops! - to finish one of these books, even with the boring parts. I shudder to think of what some readers would say upon being confronted with a doorstopper of the likes that Tom Clancy or George R.R. Martin have produced.
The bottom line is that I enjoyed Special Operations and find it a pleasant change of pace when compared to the vast majority of crime fiction. It's a no-nonsense, very down-to-earth police procedural in novel format. I would recommend it for those with an interest in police work looking for a quick read.
Final Rating: I really liked it.
June 27, 2020
Although this book was definitely a product of the times, it was a really fun read. It was interesting to see Matthew Payne before he was a hotshot cop in the department. It was nice to see that he started off just like everyone else, new and not having any idea what they are doing. There were a lot of funny moments that made me laugh, and it was interesting to see how all of the different relationships started out. I thought the way Pekach got together with his lady was adorable, although a bit like a soap opera. It was disappointing that the act of actually catching the bad guy took such a small part of the book, but it was definitely a satisfying end. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
November 17, 2017
I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the story it told and the characters in it were really interesting. I've liked most of what I've read (or listened to) by this author. The reader did a very good job. Also, the sex was not explicit and the violence was not graphic. On the other hand, there is a lot of profanity and I thought having both couples who had barely met hop right into bed was a bit incredible.
October 27, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It shows many types of personalities that make up the police. The story is well written and I like the characters that make up this book. I enjoy getting to “know” the people in the book from the top of the police department to the rookie at the bottom of the chain. Well written page turner.
March 16, 2018
Good series
I like detective stories so this held my interest, also a good series to follow. Characters are interesting but I'm going to try and warm up to Matt. Not sure about him yet.
I like detective stories so this held my interest, also a good series to follow. Characters are interesting but I'm going to try and warm up to Matt. Not sure about him yet.
August 12, 2018
As with all W.E.B. Griffin books, this book is very detailed. A well-written police procedural in the story and the characters are very good. as with other series, I wish I had done this one in order and will go back and start from the beginning
May 24, 2022
A good book. I always like the Griffin has an ongoing character or two that runs all through his series. In this series he has the Philadelphia P.D. as home base. The story takes place in the early 1990's and seems way out of date to us in the present time. A good thriller anyway.
December 25, 2022
WEB Griffin is one of my favorite authors. I have read every one of his series except for this one. Having just finished this book #2 in the Badge of Honor series “Special Operations”. I am greatly enjoying the series, the stories and characters.
July 27, 2017
I liked this one a lot better than the first book in the series. I'm glad I stuck with it.
August 23, 2017
Quick easy read but still struggling w the sexism and blatant racism
July 13, 2019
continuing story of Matt Payne rookie
August 27, 2019
10 out of 10 stars. Another great read by Griffin in the 'Badge of Honor' series. He gives enough detail to make the books interesting.
December 21, 2019
Possibly one of the greatest series of all time. My father read this and passed it down to me. Great reading.
February 13, 2020
Great series, I’ll try to read the rest of the “badge of honor” books
February 13, 2020
It read more like a tv script than a novel, but at least there was some character development along the way.
February 17, 2020
Enjoyed this book. It had a good story line.
March 5, 2021
Great book and carries on where the first one left off.
March 13, 2021
Definitely dated, but the series is growing on me.
February 15, 2022
I was a little disappointed, I didn't feel the book was up to what I am used to from Mr. Griffin.
January 6, 2023
Griffin has an uncanny ability to tell a story and be correct with the details of how a Police Force works, esp. in this series
February 16, 2023
Really enjoyed all the Philly stuff
February 28, 2023
Facing a desperate public, a hostile press, and reluctant witnesses, they must stop a new reign of violence--a terrifying spree of kidnapping and rape that has plunged the entire city in fear...
October 17, 2025
See my comments on Men in Blue in this series.
October 8, 2023
Excellent second installment of this series.
What I love about this author (and this series) is he clearly spent an immense amount of time developing his characters before he wrote a word. The characters in this book, and in this series, are fully-developed characters with their own unique voice. No easy task with a cast as large as in this series.
What I love about this author (and this series) is he clearly spent an immense amount of time developing his characters before he wrote a word. The characters in this book, and in this series, are fully-developed characters with their own unique voice. No easy task with a cast as large as in this series.
February 22, 2017
My 2nd W. E. B. Griffin novel - very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews