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Sam Archer #4
Silent Night
On a cold December morning in New York City, a man is found dead in Central Park. There are no knife or gunshot wounds to his body and no signs of violence. But beside the body is a box containing a cracked vial. Suspecting he died from some sort of biological attack, a lab team screen the body.
What they find is deeply unsettling and terrifying.
Seven months after he left the ARU, Sam Archer is now a 3rd Grade Detective in the NYPD's Counter Terrorism Bureau. However, not everything has gone as expected. Most of his new squad have welcomed him. Others haven't. But when he and the rest of his team are called in urgently and told of the situation all personal differences need to be put aside. It's been confirmed the man in Central Park was killed by an unknown strain of a toxic pneumonic virus. Once inhaled, there is no chance of survival. The victim dies quickly, violently and in agonising pain. There is no antidote. No one knows where it has come from, who planted it in the Park and why. No ransom demands or threats have been received. Archer and his team are ordered to find out who was responsible, and to locate and secure any other strains of the virus that may exist.
However, they are already almost out of time.
Someone is intending to release more of the virus into the city within the next ninety minutes.
As they desperately search for answers, Archer and the rest of his team quickly discover that the cracked vial in the Park was just the start. They are also not alone in wanting to get their hands on the virus. There are others, people with far more sinister motives who are desperate to acquire the virus and who will kill anyone who gets in their way.
As people around him start going down, Archer must battle to stay one step ahead in the race to find the toxic weapon before it is used again. When he and his team finally realise the full horrifying extent of what they’re dealing with and the potentially devastating effects of its release, Archer must do everything he possibly can to stay alive and secure the lethal virus before many more people die.
However, he is already too late.
What they find is deeply unsettling and terrifying.
Seven months after he left the ARU, Sam Archer is now a 3rd Grade Detective in the NYPD's Counter Terrorism Bureau. However, not everything has gone as expected. Most of his new squad have welcomed him. Others haven't. But when he and the rest of his team are called in urgently and told of the situation all personal differences need to be put aside. It's been confirmed the man in Central Park was killed by an unknown strain of a toxic pneumonic virus. Once inhaled, there is no chance of survival. The victim dies quickly, violently and in agonising pain. There is no antidote. No one knows where it has come from, who planted it in the Park and why. No ransom demands or threats have been received. Archer and his team are ordered to find out who was responsible, and to locate and secure any other strains of the virus that may exist.
However, they are already almost out of time.
Someone is intending to release more of the virus into the city within the next ninety minutes.
As they desperately search for answers, Archer and the rest of his team quickly discover that the cracked vial in the Park was just the start. They are also not alone in wanting to get their hands on the virus. There are others, people with far more sinister motives who are desperate to acquire the virus and who will kill anyone who gets in their way.
As people around him start going down, Archer must battle to stay one step ahead in the race to find the toxic weapon before it is used again. When he and his team finally realise the full horrifying extent of what they’re dealing with and the potentially devastating effects of its release, Archer must do everything he possibly can to stay alive and secure the lethal virus before many more people die.
However, he is already too late.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2012
1401 people are currently reading
1231 people want to read
About the author
Tom Barber
41 books151 followersBorn in Sydney, Australia and raised in England and Brunei, Tom Barber has always had a passion for writing and story-telling. It took him to Nottingham University, England, where he graduated in 2009 with a 2:1 BA Hons in English Studies. Post-graduation, Tom moved to New York City and completed the 2 Year Meisner Acting training programme at The William Esper Studio, furthering his love of acting and screen-writing.
Upon his return to the UK in late 2011, Tom set to work on his debut novel, Nine Lives, which has since become a five-star rated Amazon UK Kindle hit. The following books in the series have been equally successful, garnering five-star reviews in the US, UK, France, Australia and Canada. The Sam Archer series has had over a million books downloaded worldwide and each title is currently being adapted into audiobook format.
Tom spends most of his time back and forth between the US and the UK. He can be contacted at http://www.tom-barber.co.uk/
For info on all upcoming releases: http://tom-barber.us6.list-manage1.co...
Upon his return to the UK in late 2011, Tom set to work on his debut novel, Nine Lives, which has since become a five-star rated Amazon UK Kindle hit. The following books in the series have been equally successful, garnering five-star reviews in the US, UK, France, Australia and Canada. The Sam Archer series has had over a million books downloaded worldwide and each title is currently being adapted into audiobook format.
Tom spends most of his time back and forth between the US and the UK. He can be contacted at http://www.tom-barber.co.uk/
For info on all upcoming releases: http://tom-barber.us6.list-manage1.co...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
March 17, 2025
Much Appreciated
Our man Sam Archer is a beloved man. Admired, honored and valued. He has been the best inspiration for the inferred, inferential and implied. He works hard to keep the criminals away.
Like him or not he has a long list of ugly men and women who are cruel and evil and are the reason that he is a great killer.
He is with his team when a virus is stolen, and the world is in danger because the people of Earth don’t have a clue about what is going on.
The virus is a threat to many people and it has been proven to be deadly for all who are nearby when it is set off. Archer and his team are on the hunt for the virus and they are trying desperately not to let the public know that they are being exposed to it.
The virus is a real threat to humanity and the people who are hunting for it. I hope that they are not being too exposed to the virus.
Will they collect the virus samples? I hope so. I do.
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
Our man Sam Archer is a beloved man. Admired, honored and valued. He has been the best inspiration for the inferred, inferential and implied. He works hard to keep the criminals away.
Like him or not he has a long list of ugly men and women who are cruel and evil and are the reason that he is a great killer.
He is with his team when a virus is stolen, and the world is in danger because the people of Earth don’t have a clue about what is going on.
The virus is a threat to many people and it has been proven to be deadly for all who are nearby when it is set off. Archer and his team are on the hunt for the virus and they are trying desperately not to let the public know that they are being exposed to it.
The virus is a real threat to humanity and the people who are hunting for it. I hope that they are not being too exposed to the virus.
Will they collect the virus samples? I hope so. I do.
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
August 6, 2018
Absolutely Thrilling Story , the Best from the Sam Archer Series
What a fantastic ride you take with Archer and his team in the NYPD Counter Terrorism Bureau! A man is found dead in Central Park at the start of the Christmas season, no noted injuries save for blood. As officers look they see a shoebox with a cracked vial inside beside the man. Brought to the lab, the deadly results show a toxic form of virus which once inhaled kills quickly, with no antidote!
Looking for answers the team discovers that there is more of the virus out there and desperate people want to use it for harm. The story has many amazing scenes as we go to the lab the virus was stolen from, where evil men have murdered any who were there or had shown up. Bodies are dragged and stacked in a room...
The team members have many of their own problems to deal with along with this mission, the team leader just back from a serious heart-ache, losing a family member. This is fascinating story that flows along quickly, so much is happening that you cannot stop reading!
What a fantastic ride you take with Archer and his team in the NYPD Counter Terrorism Bureau! A man is found dead in Central Park at the start of the Christmas season, no noted injuries save for blood. As officers look they see a shoebox with a cracked vial inside beside the man. Brought to the lab, the deadly results show a toxic form of virus which once inhaled kills quickly, with no antidote!
Looking for answers the team discovers that there is more of the virus out there and desperate people want to use it for harm. The story has many amazing scenes as we go to the lab the virus was stolen from, where evil men have murdered any who were there or had shown up. Bodies are dragged and stacked in a room...
The team members have many of their own problems to deal with along with this mission, the team leader just back from a serious heart-ache, losing a family member. This is fascinating story that flows along quickly, so much is happening that you cannot stop reading!
September 16, 2015
I liked the book and would recommend it to readers who like thrillers and mysteries. The ecopy of the book had errors that were computer generated. The author's other writing mechanics were good. The book was very easy to read. Despite having numerous characters, I was never lost in a flood of names. The book was about some nasty people who stole killer gas from a research laboratory located in NYC. The author did an excellent job of showing how different policing entities shared responsibilities in trying to locate and destroy the gas and send the thieves up on charges.
I rated the book three stars because the writing was not as serious as the subject. Was the book about terrorism or greed? Did Sam Archer not have a penchant for getting his person and the person standing next to him into dire situations?
Thank you , dear author, for keeping the language relatively clean and for keeping sex in some bedroom hidden from the reader's view. In reading this kind of book, I am not offended by some *language.* It goes with the territory. But I always like a writer who is clever in his choice of words.
Thank you, Mr. Barber, for a good read.
I rated the book three stars because the writing was not as serious as the subject. Was the book about terrorism or greed? Did Sam Archer not have a penchant for getting his person and the person standing next to him into dire situations?
Thank you , dear author, for keeping the language relatively clean and for keeping sex in some bedroom hidden from the reader's view. In reading this kind of book, I am not offended by some *language.* It goes with the territory. But I always like a writer who is clever in his choice of words.
Thank you, Mr. Barber, for a good read.
March 27, 2013
When a body is found a few days before Christmas with no apparent cause of death other than the blood splattered face of the deceased in Central Park, Sam Archer and his team set to solve this mystery but what unfolds is a potentially catastrophic turn events that keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the last word.
Brilliant just like All of Tom Barbers previous book in the series.
Brilliant just like All of Tom Barbers previous book in the series.
April 16, 2016
Very good book.
This story takes place in and around New York city, but you'll come across some British English words. While trying to find a cure for the lung cancer, one experiment resulted in deadly virus. One person full of revenge and another one to make money, friends with the devil. Interesting, suspenseful story.
This story takes place in and around New York city, but you'll come across some British English words. While trying to find a cure for the lung cancer, one experiment resulted in deadly virus. One person full of revenge and another one to make money, friends with the devil. Interesting, suspenseful story.
December 27, 2018
Well it seems pretty obvious that Dr Krueger is in on it. I bet if he had let the NYPD medic open his shirt (he very conspicuously stopped her from doing so) she would have found the damning swastika. Game then would have been over. Hence i am declaring it over on my own. In addition, the writing was stiff and stilted. I generally like a lot of detail. The detail in this book was overwhelming. Last but not least get your science straight. Chemotherapy does not equal radiation therapy for cancer. Chem = chemical.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2018
Gripping
Great read, action takes off like a speeding bullet. Archer is a great leading character, he and NYPD partners chasing around the city to thwart a deadly plot . A deadly virus has been stolen from a lab, and bodies are stacking up. It's a race you will enjoy.
Great read, action takes off like a speeding bullet. Archer is a great leading character, he and NYPD partners chasing around the city to thwart a deadly plot . A deadly virus has been stolen from a lab, and bodies are stacking up. It's a race you will enjoy.
April 8, 2017
Silent Night by Tom Barber (No. 4 in the Sam Archer Series)
4 stars
Amazon description
On a cold December morning in New York City, a man is found dead in Central Park. There are no knife or gunshot wounds to his body and no signs of violence. But beside the body is a box containing a cracked vial. Suspecting he died from some sort of biological attack, a lab team screen the body. What they find is deeply unsettling and terrifying.
Seven months after he left the ARU, Sam Archer is now a 3rd Grade Detective in the NYPD's Counter Terrorism Bureau. However, not everything has gone as expected. Most of his new squad have welcomed him. Others haven't. But when he and the rest of his team are called in urgently and told of the situation all personal differences need to be put aside. It's been confirmed the man in Central Park was killed by an unknown strain of a toxic pneumonic virus. Once inhaled, there is no chance of survival. The victim dies quickly, violently and in agonising pain. There is no antidote. No one knows where it has come from, who planted it in the Park and why. No ransom demands or threats have been received. Archer and his team are ordered to find out who was responsible, and to locate and secure any other strains of the virus that may exist. However, they are already almost out of time.
Someone is intending to release more of the virus into the city within the next ninety minutes.
As they desperately search for answers, Archer and the rest of his team quickly discover that the cracked vial in the Park was just the start. They are also not alone in wanting to get their hands on the virus. There are others, people with far more sinister motives who are desperate to acquire the virus and who will kill anyone who gets in their way.
As people around him start going down, Archer must battle to stay one step ahead in the race to find the toxic weapon before it is used again. When he and his team finally realise the full horrifying extent of what they’re dealing with and the potentially devastating effects of its release, Archer must do everything he possibly can to stay alive and secure the lethal virus before many more people die.
However, he is already too late.
My review
As with the previous books in the series, this cracks along at a frightening pace, with a truly frightening scenario depicted. People can and do get very greedy, wanting to make as much money as possible without any thoughts for the consequences. A number of characters in this book would fit that description. Rather than want to ensure that a deadly virus is either destroyed or kept somewhere very safe, they simply want to sell it to the highest bidder. Fortunately most of these people lack the intelligence to really carry out their intentions, but their efforts nearly thwart the efforts of Sam Archer and his team. The virus itself, violently destroying life within thirty seconds, is bad enough, but the thought that there are people who are prepared to make money out of such a weapon, is truly disturbing. Recommended.
4 stars
Amazon description
On a cold December morning in New York City, a man is found dead in Central Park. There are no knife or gunshot wounds to his body and no signs of violence. But beside the body is a box containing a cracked vial. Suspecting he died from some sort of biological attack, a lab team screen the body. What they find is deeply unsettling and terrifying.
Seven months after he left the ARU, Sam Archer is now a 3rd Grade Detective in the NYPD's Counter Terrorism Bureau. However, not everything has gone as expected. Most of his new squad have welcomed him. Others haven't. But when he and the rest of his team are called in urgently and told of the situation all personal differences need to be put aside. It's been confirmed the man in Central Park was killed by an unknown strain of a toxic pneumonic virus. Once inhaled, there is no chance of survival. The victim dies quickly, violently and in agonising pain. There is no antidote. No one knows where it has come from, who planted it in the Park and why. No ransom demands or threats have been received. Archer and his team are ordered to find out who was responsible, and to locate and secure any other strains of the virus that may exist. However, they are already almost out of time.
Someone is intending to release more of the virus into the city within the next ninety minutes.
As they desperately search for answers, Archer and the rest of his team quickly discover that the cracked vial in the Park was just the start. They are also not alone in wanting to get their hands on the virus. There are others, people with far more sinister motives who are desperate to acquire the virus and who will kill anyone who gets in their way.
As people around him start going down, Archer must battle to stay one step ahead in the race to find the toxic weapon before it is used again. When he and his team finally realise the full horrifying extent of what they’re dealing with and the potentially devastating effects of its release, Archer must do everything he possibly can to stay alive and secure the lethal virus before many more people die.
However, he is already too late.
My review
As with the previous books in the series, this cracks along at a frightening pace, with a truly frightening scenario depicted. People can and do get very greedy, wanting to make as much money as possible without any thoughts for the consequences. A number of characters in this book would fit that description. Rather than want to ensure that a deadly virus is either destroyed or kept somewhere very safe, they simply want to sell it to the highest bidder. Fortunately most of these people lack the intelligence to really carry out their intentions, but their efforts nearly thwart the efforts of Sam Archer and his team. The virus itself, violently destroying life within thirty seconds, is bad enough, but the thought that there are people who are prepared to make money out of such a weapon, is truly disturbing. Recommended.
May 6, 2016
First a confession - I really tried because all sorts of people rated this a 4.5 - but I had to stop at the halfway point.
Terrible book. Plot moves from one shoot em up to another with too little in between. Author goes off on tangents to describe pieces of weaponry. Bad guys waste ammunition constantly - pumping additional bullets into clearly dead people just so author can show how thoroughly bad (and wasteful) they are. Bad science - won't even start on the author apparently thinking chemotherapy is the same as radiation therapy - or at least the radiation therapy is a form of chemotherapy. Bad dialogue. Occasionally bad grammar - and additionally awkward phraseology probably due to the author's non U.S. origins. Despite his having lived in the US a while he clearly did NOT have an ear for the language here.
Terrible book. Plot moves from one shoot em up to another with too little in between. Author goes off on tangents to describe pieces of weaponry. Bad guys waste ammunition constantly - pumping additional bullets into clearly dead people just so author can show how thoroughly bad (and wasteful) they are. Bad science - won't even start on the author apparently thinking chemotherapy is the same as radiation therapy - or at least the radiation therapy is a form of chemotherapy. Bad dialogue. Occasionally bad grammar - and additionally awkward phraseology probably due to the author's non U.S. origins. Despite his having lived in the US a while he clearly did NOT have an ear for the language here.
March 25, 2014
Yet another great book in the Sam Archer series, if you like fast paced, unputdownable stories with a great lead character then these are the books for you!
June 28, 2018
To be honest I've become a little bored with cop thrillers lately, I tried reading a couple of cosy mysteries but they are not for me, but when I received this download for free I decided to give it a go. It's more of a national security story than than a murder whodunnit, and while it is similar in a lot of ways to the kind of stories I've been trying to avoid it is one of the better ones and I read it in a couple of days.
August 1, 2018
Well done
This story is about putting together terrorists, police, and a few twists and turns. As virologists and all those mentioned are working toward what seems to be competing goals. The idea that an individual would deliberately use an extremely powerful and deadly virus to create murder and mayhem is the epitome of terrorist activity. Definitely a worthwhile read and one that is very quick.
This story is about putting together terrorists, police, and a few twists and turns. As virologists and all those mentioned are working toward what seems to be competing goals. The idea that an individual would deliberately use an extremely powerful and deadly virus to create murder and mayhem is the epitome of terrorist activity. Definitely a worthwhile read and one that is very quick.
March 5, 2020
Viral Nightmare!
Sam Archer now firmly ensconced with the New York counter terrorism team faces a race against time to stop a biological attack. As the body count rises Sam and his new teammates must use all their training to bring the bad guys to justice and stop the carnage. Another fast paced, seriously scary action packed thriller by author Tom Barber. Immerse yourself in the next chapter of our heroes life. Roll on the next book!
Sam Archer now firmly ensconced with the New York counter terrorism team faces a race against time to stop a biological attack. As the body count rises Sam and his new teammates must use all their training to bring the bad guys to justice and stop the carnage. Another fast paced, seriously scary action packed thriller by author Tom Barber. Immerse yourself in the next chapter of our heroes life. Roll on the next book!
October 29, 2025
3.5 midway but it wraps up as a 4
Interesting and dynamic plot with several twists that keep it less than boring but somehow less than real. Thus the 3.5. I would elaborate but it would spoil the book and it is a worthwhile read. Characters are a bit shallow but adequate for the time invested and the storyline. Wraps up well with only a couple of gaps as to how it was resolved or why it was even covered in the book.
Interesting and dynamic plot with several twists that keep it less than boring but somehow less than real. Thus the 3.5. I would elaborate but it would spoil the book and it is a worthwhile read. Characters are a bit shallow but adequate for the time invested and the storyline. Wraps up well with only a couple of gaps as to how it was resolved or why it was even covered in the book.
September 6, 2017
The books keep getting better!!!!
Since I read the first Sam Archer book, I've been hooked. I enjoy reading them immensely. They are full of action and fast paced. There is never a dull moment. I can't wait to finish reading the rest of the books that are currently in the series and possibly any new books from the author in the future.
Since I read the first Sam Archer book, I've been hooked. I enjoy reading them immensely. They are full of action and fast paced. There is never a dull moment. I can't wait to finish reading the rest of the books that are currently in the series and possibly any new books from the author in the future.
May 28, 2020
Bad guys who were once good guys, but deathly ugliness got in the way and they became derailed. Good guys trying to do something good that turned out to be a horror story. Bad guys who were just plain bad people with their own demented plots. And good guys just trying to figure it all out and trying to keep the knife edge of catastrophe from happening. “Happy” reading.
June 24, 2021
Silent Night
Although story occurs during Christmas holidays it is not very holiday which is goo for an action packed story! Complex, surprising end component and best of all, no romance! I had to read this slowly to savor the action!story line as good or better than a anything Bruce Willis ever did!
Although story occurs during Christmas holidays it is not very holiday which is goo for an action packed story! Complex, surprising end component and best of all, no romance! I had to read this slowly to savor the action!story line as good or better than a anything Bruce Willis ever did!
January 20, 2024
You Can't go wrong.
Tom Barber does it again. This man knows how to write a story. I love the Sam Archer series and have read a lot of them, although not necessarily in the order they were written. This is a highly dramatic and action filled story which highlight snot only Sam Archer but the other members of the team. You just have to read it.
Tom Barber does it again. This man knows how to write a story. I love the Sam Archer series and have read a lot of them, although not necessarily in the order they were written. This is a highly dramatic and action filled story which highlight snot only Sam Archer but the other members of the team. You just have to read it.
January 18, 2018
Well Worth Reading
What a suspense -filled thriller!!! The number of characters was overwhelming at times. It was hard to keep track of who the good guys and bad guys were. On the plus side, the story flowed and ended with the good guys winning.
What a suspense -filled thriller!!! The number of characters was overwhelming at times. It was hard to keep track of who the good guys and bad guys were. On the plus side, the story flowed and ended with the good guys winning.
March 1, 2018
An intriguing twist on biological warfare. It kept my interest, the main characters were well developed and story line was fast paced. Even though this was book 4, there was no problem figuring out the relations between the characters.
August 5, 2018
Wow. What a story. Silent night? More like 4th of July
Lots of action. Lots of great cops and doctors. Many heroes. A lot of caring and compassion for others. That included even more sacrifice
Lots of action. Lots of great cops and doctors. Many heroes. A lot of caring and compassion for others. That included even more sacrifice
September 24, 2018
A fast moving read,believable characters with a surprising bad guy. I have not read the earlier books but this one stood alone
A fast moving story with believable characters and a surprise bad guy. I have not read the earlier books but this one stood alone.
A fast moving story with believable characters and a surprise bad guy. I have not read the earlier books but this one stood alone.
October 6, 2018
For The Love OF MONEY
Another award winning chapter of the battles of Sam Archer. As expected Tom Barber has done a magnificent job in crafting this story while giving honor to our public servants. Great Writing, with a storyline which flows with a smooth steady flow. Great Read
Another award winning chapter of the battles of Sam Archer. As expected Tom Barber has done a magnificent job in crafting this story while giving honor to our public servants. Great Writing, with a storyline which flows with a smooth steady flow. Great Read
November 25, 2018
Sam Archer (book 4.) Silent Night
This was a good book. Enjoyable to read with lots of plots & sub plots. Very clear good and bad guys n girls. Set in New York. I would recommend it without hesitation.
This was a good book. Enjoyable to read with lots of plots & sub plots. Very clear good and bad guys n girls. Set in New York. I would recommend it without hesitation.
April 10, 2019
Only two stars
I liked the first of his that I read, but when this one started in on right Nationalists, neonazi bullshlt as being the most violent, most dangerous to our country BS, I called it enough, stopped reading and deleted the entire thing.
I liked the first of his that I read, but when this one started in on right Nationalists, neonazi bullshlt as being the most violent, most dangerous to our country BS, I called it enough, stopped reading and deleted the entire thing.
November 21, 2019
I would rather not die today
Archer in NYC at Christmas time, what could go wrong? Interesting characters, good visuals and the pace is steady clip. Another joy ride by Mr. Barber. Makes me want to read the next one, pronto.
Archer in NYC at Christmas time, what could go wrong? Interesting characters, good visuals and the pace is steady clip. Another joy ride by Mr. Barber. Makes me want to read the next one, pronto.
December 3, 2020
Eye opener
Sounds like something similar could happen in today's political climate, with so many hate groups tolerated by the administration without condemnation at the highest level of government. Sure hope these things don't happen here. A great book, but scary.
Sounds like something similar could happen in today's political climate, with so many hate groups tolerated by the administration without condemnation at the highest level of government. Sure hope these things don't happen here. A great book, but scary.
December 28, 2021
Silent Night
Wow. This book is full of action! There is almost too much going on. As soon as one event Is wrapped up, another one has already begun. There is a lot of killing and death in this story.
Wow. This book is full of action! There is almost too much going on. As soon as one event Is wrapped up, another one has already begun. There is a lot of killing and death in this story.
May 22, 2022
Can't hardly breathe
Another great read. I found myself holding my breath as I was reading. Then I would blow it out after I finished the sentence. Action all the way through. Outstanding Mr Barber.
Another great read. I found myself holding my breath as I was reading. Then I would blow it out after I finished the sentence. Action all the way through. Outstanding Mr Barber.
October 18, 2022
Hold on to your hats for another thrilling ride.
This is another superb story by Tom Barber that will have you reading through the night.
Great characters left me enthralled.
I could not put it down.
This is another superb story by Tom Barber that will have you reading through the night.
Great characters left me enthralled.
I could not put it down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews