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The Green Berets #1
Eyes of the Hammer
“ Exciting and authentic! Author Mayer, a Green Beret himself, gave me a vivid look at the world of the Army’s Special Forces. His portrayal of Green Beret operations and techniques takes you deep into the world of Special Operations. ” W.E.B. Griffin.
A US Special Forces team lead by Green Beret Dave Riley is on a top secret mission to take down drug traffickers in Colombia, but while doing so they are faced with betrayal by their own government.
The team is carrying sterilized weapons and unmarked uniforms and the operation is “off the books.” Of course, nothing is as it seems, especially once the CIA gets involved. Throw in an Israeli mercenary and betrayal, and Dave Riley and his team soon find themselves wondering what the real mission is and will they become collateral damage from all the double-dealing going on back in Washington.
Eyes of the Hammer is the first book in the bestselling Green Beret Series.
Stephen “A scorcher of a novel!”
A US Special Forces team lead by Green Beret Dave Riley is on a top secret mission to take down drug traffickers in Colombia, but while doing so they are faced with betrayal by their own government.
The team is carrying sterilized weapons and unmarked uniforms and the operation is “off the books.” Of course, nothing is as it seems, especially once the CIA gets involved. Throw in an Israeli mercenary and betrayal, and Dave Riley and his team soon find themselves wondering what the real mission is and will they become collateral damage from all the double-dealing going on back in Washington.
Eyes of the Hammer is the first book in the bestselling Green Beret Series.
Stephen “A scorcher of a novel!”
392 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
1102 people are currently reading
1435 people want to read
About the author
Bob Mayer
209 books47.9k followersBesides my own interests, I read whatever my wife tells me to read-- she's a voracious reader and has wide-ranging tastes as my reviews show (she also always has the TV remote and she's always right about what to watch). I read a lot of nonfiction, mostly for research. Some of my favorite books are Lonesome Dove, Mystic River, LOTR, and an array of science fiction classics including the Foundation series. Our house is covered with books, although I finally broke down and started reading eBooks, strangely enough on my iPhone. Since I carry it pretty much everywhere, it means I always have an entire library of books with me.
I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.
I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.
I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.
I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
November 14, 2023
There's an almost passable story here, but the format makes it more difficult to read. Almost a DNF.
September 23, 2015
A drug cartel’s assassination squad ambushes a Columbian judge and his U.S. Marshal bodyguards on an American street. The U.S. is powerless to respond until the Columbian president, eager to break the grip of the cartels on his country, secretly authorizes the U.S. to send covert forces into his country to destroy the cartels' biggest drug labs. A small force of Special Forces soldiers led by Chief Warrant Officer Dave Riley become the "eyes" for the covert air attacks – i.e., the "hammer" – sent to destroy the labs.
In Eyes of the Hammer, Bob Mayer's first entry in his The Green Berets series, the author proves his ability to write military thrillers laced not only with adventure, but with authentic detail, too. The thrills come from the writing talent processed by this best-selling multi-genre author (he also writes science fiction and political thrillers), but the authenticity comes straight from his own experience. A West Point graduate, Mayer served as a Green Beret officer, leader of an elite A-team, with a long career of missions under his belt.
Mayer takes the reader through the detailed process that goes into planning a covert mission from the original mission brief to the final mission back brief, and the amazing amount of inter-service and inter-agency organization needed to execute a minutely timed operation. He also shows how such a precisely planned operation can fall apart in minutes. Moreover, he shows how the compartmentalized nature of special operations can lead to misuse.
Of course, minute details do not a military thriller make. Plot and characters do. Mayer's plot is ripe with twists and turns, betrayals and failures, and enough action to satisfy the most ardent literary thrill-seeker. Best of all, his characters are not two-dimensional super heroes often found in this genre, but real human beings – highly trained and highly skilled people, true – but humans nonetheless.
In Eyes of the Hammer, Bob Mayer's first entry in his The Green Berets series, the author proves his ability to write military thrillers laced not only with adventure, but with authentic detail, too. The thrills come from the writing talent processed by this best-selling multi-genre author (he also writes science fiction and political thrillers), but the authenticity comes straight from his own experience. A West Point graduate, Mayer served as a Green Beret officer, leader of an elite A-team, with a long career of missions under his belt.
Mayer takes the reader through the detailed process that goes into planning a covert mission from the original mission brief to the final mission back brief, and the amazing amount of inter-service and inter-agency organization needed to execute a minutely timed operation. He also shows how such a precisely planned operation can fall apart in minutes. Moreover, he shows how the compartmentalized nature of special operations can lead to misuse.
Of course, minute details do not a military thriller make. Plot and characters do. Mayer's plot is ripe with twists and turns, betrayals and failures, and enough action to satisfy the most ardent literary thrill-seeker. Best of all, his characters are not two-dimensional super heroes often found in this genre, but real human beings – highly trained and highly skilled people, true – but humans nonetheless.
January 13, 2018
Just finished a book for those who enjoy covert operations--this is a book you'd want to pick up. Unfortunately for me, it was published in the early 90s and I just discovered it now. WELL, i WILL BE reading the second in his series.
September 27, 2022
A fast-paced, suspenseful story of Army Special Forces. At the request of the Columbian government, several U. S. government agencies and military branches joined forces to cripple the Columbian drug cartel. Even though the mission is dubious from the beginning, the brave men of the SF team accept the mission.
Chief Warrant Officer Dave Riley, the MC and leader of Alpha Team is a likeable guy. At 5 ft. 7 and 145 pounds he isn’t the typical larger-than-life special forces MC. An intelligent, well-spoken man, Riley has a conscience, and is physically capable of taking out much larger men.
CIA Agent Kate Westland is intelligent and capable. She serves as an asset to Riley, rather than a damsel in distress in need of rescuing which is refreshing.
As is typical of these type of novels, each of the government agencies and branches of service look out for their own interests and when missions go wrong, they claim the missions never happened.
Mayer provided a lot of weapons, aircraft, and technical detail, that I found interesting.
I enjoyed the book and will read others by the author.
Chief Warrant Officer Dave Riley, the MC and leader of Alpha Team is a likeable guy. At 5 ft. 7 and 145 pounds he isn’t the typical larger-than-life special forces MC. An intelligent, well-spoken man, Riley has a conscience, and is physically capable of taking out much larger men.
CIA Agent Kate Westland is intelligent and capable. She serves as an asset to Riley, rather than a damsel in distress in need of rescuing which is refreshing.
As is typical of these type of novels, each of the government agencies and branches of service look out for their own interests and when missions go wrong, they claim the missions never happened.
Mayer provided a lot of weapons, aircraft, and technical detail, that I found interesting.
I enjoyed the book and will read others by the author.
March 18, 2013
nook book This one was marked 817 pages, but the numbers jumped--still a long read. It is military suspense. The idea is that a special unit, with the permission of the president of Columbia, is going to execute a number of raids on the cocaine labs and trade there. The personnel have to do low parachute jumps, perform the mission, and get exfiltrated before the cocaine thugs can kill them. What sounds good on paper, doesn't always work out that way. All of this is supposedly secret, so how does the word get out? Hammer is the code word for the operation. It sounds as though this would be a way to stop the cocaine trade--but there are always others waiting in the wings to take over. This is a good action read.
August 9, 2013
While this was written over 20 years ago, the story holds up pretty well. Army Special Forces against Colombian drug cartels. I would guess that the military, CIA, Department of State "political dancing" has not changed, either.
Rather disappointing that the author, not once but twice, placed Colombia on the Gulf of Mexico as opposed to the Caribbean. I guess there were not World Atlases before Google Maps.
Rather disappointing that the author, not once but twice, placed Colombia on the Gulf of Mexico as opposed to the Caribbean. I guess there were not World Atlases before Google Maps.
April 10, 2020
Not a rambunctious action read
Very heavy going. Over a third of the book devoted to outlining the mission. Very little thought or time devoted to characterisation. I tried very hard to stick with the story but had to give up. Not quite sure what the author was trying to demonstrate. Very thin storyline. See through characters and far too much in the way of technicalities.
Very heavy going. Over a third of the book devoted to outlining the mission. Very little thought or time devoted to characterisation. I tried very hard to stick with the story but had to give up. Not quite sure what the author was trying to demonstrate. Very thin storyline. See through characters and far too much in the way of technicalities.
August 31, 2012
Mayer is reliable. I always enjoy him.
September 25, 2014
Special forces teams are sent to Columbia to destroy drug processing facilities. They get the idea there is a leak somewhere when they see so much action when they arrive.
February 5, 2016
I loved it,once I started to read it I couldn't stop,it had action all the way though it,can't wait to get book 2 in this series
August 20, 2018
As a rule I struggle when it comes to rating books but rating Eyes of the Hammer (The Green Berets, #1) was as easy as rolling off a loge, it a five-star read all the way. What I'm having a hard time believing is that it has only earned a 3.9 star rating here on Goodreads. What's the matter with all you people who have read this nonstop, action-packed, thriller that have rated it less than a solid five stars? I'm a very critical reader and go out of my way to find technical errors in every book that I read, but Eyes of the Hammer (The Green Berets, #1) is an exciting story about Green Beenies, written by a Green Beenie and his real world knowledge of being a Green Beret's life and and service shows clearly through his characters' lives in this face paced, page burner.
Move over Dale Brown, David Baldachi, Brad Thor, Stephen Coonts, there's a new sheriff in town. Bob you're the man. I, for one will be reading and rating many more of your books!
June 20, 2021
This was a fantastic story, with believable action and a story line that fit in with things happening today in the fight against the drug cartels in today's society. The author had realistic story settings and action that didn't stop from the beginning to the end. I will make an attempt to read more of this authors books as I was completely captured by this story and want more of the same kind of action in another book to read. I highly recommend this author to anyone who doesn't mind being held in the authors grasp as the story unfolds in his books.
March 15, 2019
Well written & apparently very well researched. Moden day Green Berets are tasked with a seemingly impossible task. They resourcefulness that is a hallmark of Special Ops operators was foremost in the entire book as I read it. Being a former GB from the Viet Nam War I was interested to see if the trite GB mythos was going to ruin this book but it was never brought into play and for that I am grateful! I eagerly look forward to the rest of the books in this series!
August 25, 2020
When Colombia secretly requests U.S. aid against the drug cartel, a Special Forces A-Team becomes the ``eyes'' guiding gunships and helicopters--the ``hammer''--against jungle cocaine-processing labs. Then treachery leaves four Green Berets dead and one in the hands of the ``Ring Man,'' deadliest of the drug lords. Special Forces warrant officer Riley and CIA agent Kate Westland are sent in to kill t
May 2, 2020
I was blown away by this book!
The way this author provided a detailed look into the realistic world of one group of the most trained warriors of our country. This story ensures the reader is a part of the action and turmoil, giving us a reason to appreciate and recognise their tremendous contribution to our country. U am anxious to continue reading the rest of this series!
The way this author provided a detailed look into the realistic world of one group of the most trained warriors of our country. This story ensures the reader is a part of the action and turmoil, giving us a reason to appreciate and recognise their tremendous contribution to our country. U am anxious to continue reading the rest of this series!
November 12, 2020
Worth reading
A lot of technical information , but the story line is packed with action, and the characters portray the distrust of each other's organizations. CIA, Air force , Delta Force, the Army, and political figures compete for the roles of incompetence, self interest, and laziness.
A lot of technical information , but the story line is packed with action, and the characters portray the distrust of each other's organizations. CIA, Air force , Delta Force, the Army, and political figures compete for the roles of incompetence, self interest, and laziness.
July 7, 2021
Good and interesting
The book is like a text book the first 40%, then it turned into a novel. You get more info in this book about what goes on to plan a mission that other books. The characters are well developed and easy to follow. You feel like your part of the story. Easy to read and easy to understand. Read and enjoy.
The book is like a text book the first 40%, then it turned into a novel. You get more info in this book about what goes on to plan a mission that other books. The characters are well developed and easy to follow. You feel like your part of the story. Easy to read and easy to understand. Read and enjoy.
July 9, 2021
A never ending problem.
Columbia. Drug Cartels. A government week with corruption & complicity. A President trying to take control by using America to play the parties against each other. Enter Riley, the CIA with the help of Delta. What you get is action, action, action. An excellent, exciting read.
Columbia. Drug Cartels. A government week with corruption & complicity. A President trying to take control by using America to play the parties against each other. Enter Riley, the CIA with the help of Delta. What you get is action, action, action. An excellent, exciting read.
July 24, 2021
Good Read about Special Operations personnel being sent to Colombia to destroy Cartel drug labs with the approval of the Colombian President. The first mission goes off as planed. Subsequent missions, not so good. It was an exciting read with believable characters and a great story line. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book..
December 31, 2017
Pretty decent military suspense/thriller. It was suspenseful and action filled, not too much military jargon to be confusing to a non-military reader but enough to make it feel authentic. Interesting and entertaining. It was a bit too long for my liking though. Overall it was an okay, solid read.
April 1, 2019
Action packed with true heros
The author is writing with his heart of the love of soldiers, of their heroic actions, their sacrifices and their patriotism. The detail of military operates, the process of special operations, the adrenaline of fast pace action are page turning.
The author is writing with his heart of the love of soldiers, of their heroic actions, their sacrifices and their patriotism. The detail of military operates, the process of special operations, the adrenaline of fast pace action are page turning.
June 20, 2019
Green Berets 1
Mr. Mayer what a good story. I have heard stories from younger people dealing with this story. Seems like we have bigger things to do. Great book, great characters.
Mr. Mayer what a good story. I have heard stories from younger people dealing with this story. Seems like we have bigger things to do. Great book, great characters.
July 30, 2019
A pretty entertaining and fairly realistic (as far as I know) story with believable characters. It dragged briefly with pre-mission planning but that's really the only negative I found. I will likely seek out the second in the series to continue.
December 30, 2019
Intense action and intrigue. Mostly realistic technically, but the complex characters and story will keep you reading long after your bedtime. Looking forward to enjoying reading the next book in the series.
January 8, 2020
POS
Looks good, can’t figure how to read the book just the teaser.
Thought I bought the whole book, some time ago.
This system is to confusing, I just enjoy a read, this system frustrates me.
Looks good, can’t figure how to read the book just the teaser.
Thought I bought the whole book, some time ago.
This system is to confusing, I just enjoy a read, this system frustrates me.
January 14, 2020
In the world of espionage, politics etc. lot of things happen , which the common does not know. In this book , one comes across all those things and in the end some of the big fellows some how escape and that is reality. On the whole a good book.
May 23, 2020
Great author
I have read three of Bob Meyer's books. Thoroughly enjoyed each of them. Fast action, sounds believable, not like the stereotype super soldiers in many many books of this genre. Highly recommend for people who like action thrillers.
I have read three of Bob Meyer's books. Thoroughly enjoyed each of them. Fast action, sounds believable, not like the stereotype super soldiers in many many books of this genre. Highly recommend for people who like action thrillers.
September 1, 2020
A great read
Was hooked from the first page to the last, no dull moment with how the plot began with a simple power play to how it changed when a mission failed and how it ended for rescue and revenge- so thrilling. Not to mention the perfect happy ending. Truly enjoyed this.
Was hooked from the first page to the last, no dull moment with how the plot began with a simple power play to how it changed when a mission failed and how it ended for rescue and revenge- so thrilling. Not to mention the perfect happy ending. Truly enjoyed this.
May 30, 2017
Eyes of the hammer
I liked the realistic action which I am familiar with. Bravo Mr Mayer.I can hardly wait to start your next book.
I liked the realistic action which I am familiar with. Bravo Mr Mayer.I can hardly wait to start your next book.
July 2, 2018
Great Read
Fast moving action, good characters and an interesting storyline.
Looking forward to reading my way through this exciting action series.
Fast moving action, good characters and an interesting storyline.
Looking forward to reading my way through this exciting action series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews