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Dan Morgan #2
Silent Assassin
In this electrifying novel of relentless suspense, Black Ops veteran Leo J. Maloney unleashes an unthinkable conspiracy from the deepest corridors of power. . .
Code named Cobra, former CIA agent Dan Morgan is pulled in when every other option has failed. His mission: find Nikolai Novokoff, a ruthless KGB officer turned international arms dealer. Locate the weapons of mass destruction that the rogue terrorist is threatening to unleash on the world. And terminate with extreme prejudice...
In the world of clandestine ops, where the line between friends and enemies is constantly shifting, especially in the halls of Washington, Morgan must survive a merciless maze of deceit--and risk everything--to stop a madman.
Code named Cobra, former CIA agent Dan Morgan is pulled in when every other option has failed. His mission: find Nikolai Novokoff, a ruthless KGB officer turned international arms dealer. Locate the weapons of mass destruction that the rogue terrorist is threatening to unleash on the world. And terminate with extreme prejudice...
In the world of clandestine ops, where the line between friends and enemies is constantly shifting, especially in the halls of Washington, Morgan must survive a merciless maze of deceit--and risk everything--to stop a madman.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
175 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 1, 2020
I cannot believe that a year has gone by since my first book by LEO MALONEY but I read TERMINATION ORDER in October of 2019. That is the first book featuring Dan Morgan a for-hire black ops agent, formerly of the C.I.A. who is semi-retired.
Morgan has semi-retired in the Boston Massachusetts area in United States’ northeast corridor. He has a wife and a 17-year-old daughter. His civilian business involves buying and selling cars. Dan’s life story resembles that of the book’s author Leo Maloney. To put it mildly, Dan’s wife does not like his former profession, that of a black ops agent. His code name is Cobra and his adventures continue in the second book, SILENT ASSASSIN.
Morgan works for the Zeta Department of a nongovernmental antiterrorist organization. Zeta handles operations too “hot” for governments and others. Its new headquarters is located in the sub-basements of a high-rise office building in Boston. Zeta is so new that it is not fully staffed yet.
Among its employees, besides Morgan, are the following operatives and staff: Lincoln Shepard (computer genius), Bishop (former U.S. Navy Seal and tactical team leader), Spartan (former U.S. Army Special Forces, tac team member), Diesel (the team’s techie/explosives/break-in guy) and Rogue (the team’s sniper). Morgan worked with them in the first book.
Diana Bloch is the head of Zeta. Peter Conley (code named Cougar), Morgan’s former partner, has a cameo appearance. Karen O’Neal, a former Wall Street uber analyst helps Shepard. The mysterious “Mr. Smith” is the go between for those in Zeta and the unknown higher ups who fund the operations. Another Zeta staffer is Dr. Eugenia Barrett an engineering whiz. She creates a Shelby GT 500 Cobra outfitted like a James Bond car, for Dan (aka Cobra, how fitting!).
The main villain of the story is a Russian mad man named Novokoff who is a notorious arms dealer. He leads a team of terrorists in an attack on a governmental bio-weapons manufacturing site near Montauk Point, Long Island, New York (the eastern end of the island). He steals a weaponized fungus powder that first drives people to homicidal extremes and then kills the infected people. Morgan and his team must stop them from whatever evil plans they have for using the fungus. Cocaine smuggling is a major aspect of the plot.
The chase takes the reader to France, Turkey, Brazil, Boston and New York City. Along the way, Morgan‘s wife is taken hostage in Boston. His daughter learns to shoot and defend herself. She tells Dan she is ready to go into his “business”. There are shootouts and car chases. There are romantic interludes. There is one scene involving heights that is breathtaking.
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Maloney is among the best spy thriller writers in the world. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
GO! BUY! READ!
Morgan has semi-retired in the Boston Massachusetts area in United States’ northeast corridor. He has a wife and a 17-year-old daughter. His civilian business involves buying and selling cars. Dan’s life story resembles that of the book’s author Leo Maloney. To put it mildly, Dan’s wife does not like his former profession, that of a black ops agent. His code name is Cobra and his adventures continue in the second book, SILENT ASSASSIN.
Morgan works for the Zeta Department of a nongovernmental antiterrorist organization. Zeta handles operations too “hot” for governments and others. Its new headquarters is located in the sub-basements of a high-rise office building in Boston. Zeta is so new that it is not fully staffed yet.
Among its employees, besides Morgan, are the following operatives and staff: Lincoln Shepard (computer genius), Bishop (former U.S. Navy Seal and tactical team leader), Spartan (former U.S. Army Special Forces, tac team member), Diesel (the team’s techie/explosives/break-in guy) and Rogue (the team’s sniper). Morgan worked with them in the first book.
Diana Bloch is the head of Zeta. Peter Conley (code named Cougar), Morgan’s former partner, has a cameo appearance. Karen O’Neal, a former Wall Street uber analyst helps Shepard. The mysterious “Mr. Smith” is the go between for those in Zeta and the unknown higher ups who fund the operations. Another Zeta staffer is Dr. Eugenia Barrett an engineering whiz. She creates a Shelby GT 500 Cobra outfitted like a James Bond car, for Dan (aka Cobra, how fitting!).
The main villain of the story is a Russian mad man named Novokoff who is a notorious arms dealer. He leads a team of terrorists in an attack on a governmental bio-weapons manufacturing site near Montauk Point, Long Island, New York (the eastern end of the island). He steals a weaponized fungus powder that first drives people to homicidal extremes and then kills the infected people. Morgan and his team must stop them from whatever evil plans they have for using the fungus. Cocaine smuggling is a major aspect of the plot.
The chase takes the reader to France, Turkey, Brazil, Boston and New York City. Along the way, Morgan‘s wife is taken hostage in Boston. His daughter learns to shoot and defend herself. She tells Dan she is ready to go into his “business”. There are shootouts and car chases. There are romantic interludes. There is one scene involving heights that is breathtaking.
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Maloney is among the best spy thriller writers in the world. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
GO! BUY! READ!
October 24, 2013
Maloney returns with another high-impact story to keep the reader interested from the opening pages. When Morgan is approached by the Zeta Group, he takes his chances with this non-governmental agency contracted to do that which the CIA cannot. As the world is rocked by numerous acts of terror, Morgan and his group must find those responsible before more are killed. Discovering a financial tie to the acts, Morgan seeks to keep from letting others profit from the death of others. When Zeta Group discovers a plot that will devastate a swath of people on US soil, Morgan leads the charge to stop the actions of a madman. Will his act of courage come at the sacrifice of a personal investment? Filled with fast-paced action and a plot that keeps the reader hooked from the opening chapter, Maloney delivers another successful novel sure to please.
While the story is not unique, the pace at which it advances is one that cannot be denied. Strong dialogue and short chapters keep the reader forging ahead. Painting Morgan as a new Scot Horvath or Mitch Rapp. Maloney places his protagonist in great company. Making use of some great financial and biological research, Maloney educates and entertains simultaneously. Exciting and full of plot turns, Maloney is sure to rise amongst his colleagues with more novels of this calibre.
Kudos Mr. Maloney for this great novel. I see great things, given time and a strong reader base. I await your next literary installment.
November 13, 2020
Solid. A bit slow at the beginning but Maloney redeemed himself in the end. My hope is that Morgan is a 5 star character. Just hasn’t gotten there yet. The rest of the characters aren’t there yet either. This mystery did get better as the story went on. I’ll keep reading because the potential is there. Hopefully it all comes together in the third one.
January 3, 2014
Who or what is the silent assassin? You may begin to wonder as you get into this book. Maybe a unique unit of non-identities who miraculously come back alive...most of the time. Maybe the good one, maybe the bad one, maybe a conspiracy. Seat of the pants innovative methods of attack and rescue are consistently used or developed in this high, above top security, group of individuals as slick as a single entity. Country-jumping...or maybe not since they rarely have any idea where they are going, nor often where they are when they get there.
I was drawn in very quickly. The writing was great and kept me on my toes. If I stopped to backtrack to check something out I invariably got left behind in the action from which I had come. Such are the heroes and heroines and yes, often assassins who keep the country safe, the world on track, and on whose quick actions and snap decisions the reader can count on...if you can keep up. 'Cobra' is well-named.
If you like a book you won't want to put down, this is it! Spies in covert operations, cloak and dagger is only a cliche; innocent businesses that may or may not house something very dark and very deep, non-traditional inventions, technology breaking the limits of invention. CIA and FBI forget it, some groups have far surpassed their capabilities and with the hand-picked staff, tightly kept secrets, covert operators, and rife with tension this group kept me going full blast! Leo J. Maloney is an author to take the breath away.
I was drawn in very quickly. The writing was great and kept me on my toes. If I stopped to backtrack to check something out I invariably got left behind in the action from which I had come. Such are the heroes and heroines and yes, often assassins who keep the country safe, the world on track, and on whose quick actions and snap decisions the reader can count on...if you can keep up. 'Cobra' is well-named.
If you like a book you won't want to put down, this is it! Spies in covert operations, cloak and dagger is only a cliche; innocent businesses that may or may not house something very dark and very deep, non-traditional inventions, technology breaking the limits of invention. CIA and FBI forget it, some groups have far surpassed their capabilities and with the hand-picked staff, tightly kept secrets, covert operators, and rife with tension this group kept me going full blast! Leo J. Maloney is an author to take the breath away.
June 20, 2022
Middling second entry in the Dan Morgan series. This book is not as strong as Maloney’s debut novel. Pros: High intensity action series, more development of Mr. Smith’s character, and the reader is left wondering what will happen next for Morgan and especially for Alex, Morgan’s daughter, as she contemplates entering the world of espionage. Cons: storyline is packed with too much at times leaving the reader with a lack of pacing, especially at the beginning of the novel (and the pacing gets better as the novel goes on); too many unbelievable coincidences…such as the story of Dan rescuing a high school classmate at a crack house and that gets him a favor from a drug lord in Miami…Peter Conley just happens to be embedded in the exact place the tainted cocaine is from…Dan gets a James Bond car exactly when he needs it to chase down Charles Edmund and so on. I know that every spy thriller has otherworldly coincidences to push the plot along, but this novel just had too many to feel even close to being believable. I will keep reading the series, but I am not sure how many more if the other Dan Morgan books are this mediocre. I liked the books a lot better when there was the CIA tension…a black ops guy going to work for an unknown entity itself feels too unbelievable.
Quick plot summary: Dan Morgan joins Zeta Division and he doesn’t know who he is working for, but he is on a mission to find out who his boss (Bloch) and recruiter (Mr. Smith) answer to. He only has one clue - “Aegis” but Smith told him to try to stop finding out. In this book, he’s after an American terrorist (Edmund Charles) that uses a Russian to help make terrorist attacks worldwide to impact the market so that Charles can make money. Jenny, Morgan’s wife, is kidnapped by Novokoff (the Russian) to her back at Morgan, but Morgan succeeds in rescuing her. Morgan captures Smith, kills him (against the wishes of Bloch and Smith) and then proceeds to find and kill Novokoff in NYC as he’s looking to set off a bomb that will infect people with a fungus that turns them into rabid killers. Morgan kills him and the returns home to Jenny and Alex. Cliffhangers and unanswered questions: Who does Dan work for? Are Smith and Bloch good or bad? Will Chapman (works for CIA) come join Zeta? Who was Edmund Charles working for?
Quick plot summary: Dan Morgan joins Zeta Division and he doesn’t know who he is working for, but he is on a mission to find out who his boss (Bloch) and recruiter (Mr. Smith) answer to. He only has one clue - “Aegis” but Smith told him to try to stop finding out. In this book, he’s after an American terrorist (Edmund Charles) that uses a Russian to help make terrorist attacks worldwide to impact the market so that Charles can make money. Jenny, Morgan’s wife, is kidnapped by Novokoff (the Russian) to her back at Morgan, but Morgan succeeds in rescuing her. Morgan captures Smith, kills him (against the wishes of Bloch and Smith) and then proceeds to find and kill Novokoff in NYC as he’s looking to set off a bomb that will infect people with a fungus that turns them into rabid killers. Morgan kills him and the returns home to Jenny and Alex. Cliffhangers and unanswered questions: Who does Dan work for? Are Smith and Bloch good or bad? Will Chapman (works for CIA) come join Zeta? Who was Edmund Charles working for?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2020
Yes, I'm finished. Made to page 36 hoping it would get better, but . . . no hope of that. Purely amateurish writing and a dumb story up to that point. Life is too short to read junk like this. Okay, here's what happens on page 14 of the paperback (I should've quit then): "She leaned in closer, resting her weight on her right elbow on the counter." Then, a few lines later: "She reached down discreetly with her right hand and pushed the tiny button hidden on the underside of the counter." Hey, Leo, try to do that discreetly without breaking your arm, which, by the way, wouldn't be discreet. One more, on page 16: "... a squat and wide man who might have been mistaken by an ape if he weren't wearing such a dapper suit." "by" an ape?? FIRE YOUR EDITORS, LEO. But those two examples are mere typos and extremely poor editing. The rest of the novel is a disaster of poor writing. Think high school sophomore.
February 12, 2018
Dan Morgan returns as part of a off the books "private" intelligence agency. They are investigating a bunch of random terrorist attacks that appear to be being done for financial purposes. As they start to untangle the case they come up against a tough former KGB agents who will stop at nothing to reach his goal.
February 28, 2020
This was something of a hit and miss effort. Some good action and intrigue through the first half of the novel but then it became a little too formulaic. No resolution to what Aegis was or who was actually behind the Zeta organization.
March 1, 2023
I think this book was on the verge of being very silly. I would’ve gave it a rating of a two button gave it a three being that I finished the book. Way over the top and it is contradicting. At times it feels like I’m watching an old Scooby Doo mystery Inc. Show.
February 25, 2018
A great read. Excellent plot and dialogue. Highly recommended
December 4, 2018
Thriller
Action packed, suspenseful adventure. Main character, Morgan, is dynamic, humorous, no nonsense agent. Could not put this book down for a minute.
Action packed, suspenseful adventure. Main character, Morgan, is dynamic, humorous, no nonsense agent. Could not put this book down for a minute.
August 1, 2019
Action packed black ops with Cobra the main player. Fast reading from beginning to end.
October 1, 2019
Too much fantasy. A Shelby Mustang with lasers. Really?
Read
June 4, 2021Very action packed
September 4, 2022
Not the best and not the worst.
October 4, 2013
http://booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com/
This is an ARC from Goodreads.com, Silent Assassin by Leo J. Maloney is fantastic! This story does not disappoint. I did not read the first “Dan Morgan Thriller” but it did not affect my understanding or enjoying this story. Maloney’s writing is fast paced and inviting. The action unravels right before your eyes.
It would be interesting to know how much of Mr. Maloney’s real-life experiences were used in the writing of Morgan’s own adventures. There are bullets flying, bombs going off. Morgan is very James Bond meets Bourne Identity but the story has many smart and action packed scenes. I also like his humor. I liked Morgan’s motto: trust, but verify.
The story moves throughout all parts of the world and it’s very exciting. Nikolai Novokoff is the perfect villain. The whole idea of a “killer” fungus was interesting and not the least bit lame, I thought it was very original and creative.
Diana Bloch was a great female contrast to Morgan’s alpha- male-CIA character. I definitely plan on putting “Termination Orders” on my to-read list. This was my first spy-thriller and I really enjoyed. I would definitely re-read this book AND recommend it.
This is an ARC from Goodreads.com, Silent Assassin by Leo J. Maloney is fantastic! This story does not disappoint. I did not read the first “Dan Morgan Thriller” but it did not affect my understanding or enjoying this story. Maloney’s writing is fast paced and inviting. The action unravels right before your eyes.
It would be interesting to know how much of Mr. Maloney’s real-life experiences were used in the writing of Morgan’s own adventures. There are bullets flying, bombs going off. Morgan is very James Bond meets Bourne Identity but the story has many smart and action packed scenes. I also like his humor. I liked Morgan’s motto: trust, but verify.
The story moves throughout all parts of the world and it’s very exciting. Nikolai Novokoff is the perfect villain. The whole idea of a “killer” fungus was interesting and not the least bit lame, I thought it was very original and creative.
Diana Bloch was a great female contrast to Morgan’s alpha- male-CIA character. I definitely plan on putting “Termination Orders” on my to-read list. This was my first spy-thriller and I really enjoyed. I would definitely re-read this book AND recommend it.
August 6, 2014
Silent Assassin code name Cobra former CIA Agent Dan Morgan
is pulled in when all else fails. He has to find a ruthless
KGB officer turned international arms dealer named Nikolai
Novokoff. He has a bunch of weapons of mass destruction and
he is threatening to unleash them on the world. Morgan must
survive a merciless maze of deceit and risk everything to
stop this madman. This book has torture, assassination, and
double agents so Morgan must risk everything including his
family to catch this madman. A page turner that will keep
you entertained.
is pulled in when all else fails. He has to find a ruthless
KGB officer turned international arms dealer named Nikolai
Novokoff. He has a bunch of weapons of mass destruction and
he is threatening to unleash them on the world. Morgan must
survive a merciless maze of deceit and risk everything to
stop this madman. This book has torture, assassination, and
double agents so Morgan must risk everything including his
family to catch this madman. A page turner that will keep
you entertained.
March 15, 2015
The second outing for Dan 'Cobra' Morgan, back in the black ops game working for Zeta Division. Terrorists are causing mayhem, but not taking responsibility, is there a deeper more sinister reason? As Cobra rushes from one deadly situation to another, his family is again put in the line of fire. Can he save his family and stop the release of a deadly plague!! Good book, along the lines of the first, still enjoyable. It will be interesting to find out the true origins and purpose of Zeta Division.
May 16, 2014
Dan Morgan, code named "Cobra" works for a private sector intelligence company because he is addicted to the thrills. This causes friction in his marriage. His daughter wants to go into his life, and that causes more worries.
Meanwhile, Nikolai Novokoff wants to release some biological wepons into this country, and Morgan is trying to find him and stop him.
The two parts of his life collide at the end, in an explosion of action.
Pretty good stuff.
Meanwhile, Nikolai Novokoff wants to release some biological wepons into this country, and Morgan is trying to find him and stop him.
The two parts of his life collide at the end, in an explosion of action.
Pretty good stuff.
March 15, 2015
A cheesy comic book in print. Blah! The story may be worthy a Micheal Bay movie, but by no means a good read. No real plot, no character development, no real story other than that this guy went here and that guy went there. Most characters go by nicknames, e.g. Cobra, Spartan, etc. The book completely lacks any scent of realism, attention to detail, or educational value. Silly, stupefied, and boring.
July 16, 2015
It would have been very easy to fall into the thriller-formula mode: a super-secret spy agency; a former spec ops operator; his unknowing family; and, an elusive villain. Following the formula, the operator is redeemed and the agency welcomes him with open arms; the villain dies a horrible death; and, the family dies in some equally dramatic fashion. Not in this case, well, okay, except for the villain. A great read that I truly enjoyed. Definitely a series to follow.
August 9, 2016
Won through Goodreads First Reads.
This is not what I would normally read-- I would liken it to a Jason Bourne or James Bond adventure. Definitely a page-turner and kept me interested from the first chapter. All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised and would gladly read another of Mr. Maloney's novels.
This is not what I would normally read-- I would liken it to a Jason Bourne or James Bond adventure. Definitely a page-turner and kept me interested from the first chapter. All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised and would gladly read another of Mr. Maloney's novels.
December 11, 2014
Silent Assassin (a Dan Morgan thriller)
Meet Dan Morgan, a man who does what needs to be done, regardless of the situation! Morgan depends on the rest of his team, but won't hesitate to get to the action himself. He loves his wife and daughter, and is thrilled that both are behind him no matter the action. Thanks for another great read.
Meet Dan Morgan, a man who does what needs to be done, regardless of the situation! Morgan depends on the rest of his team, but won't hesitate to get to the action himself. He loves his wife and daughter, and is thrilled that both are behind him no matter the action. Thanks for another great read.
July 20, 2015
Another Fear
Leo J. Maloney is especially skilled at creating terrifying scenarios. And this book, like his others, really hit home. I only hope his solutions are also do-able.
Check out this book. You can count on a lot of action and suspense.
K Agle 7-20-15
Leo J. Maloney is especially skilled at creating terrifying scenarios. And this book, like his others, really hit home. I only hope his solutions are also do-able.
Check out this book. You can count on a lot of action and suspense.
K Agle 7-20-15
November 3, 2015
Getting good
This is the second Dan Morgan book I have read and I liked it better than the first. I got tired of books where the good guys have to fight the government as much as the bad guys. This is a refreshing change. Look forward to seeing how the third one goes.
This is the second Dan Morgan book I have read and I liked it better than the first. I got tired of books where the good guys have to fight the government as much as the bad guys. This is a refreshing change. Look forward to seeing how the third one goes.
December 23, 2015
Enjoyable Read
I enjoyed reading this book my second in the series. I'm looking forward to book three. I would recommend it and read in order to gain perspective on Cobra and the team.
I enjoyed reading this book my second in the series. I'm looking forward to book three. I would recommend it and read in order to gain perspective on Cobra and the team.
September 6, 2013
Pretty improbable in spots, but an entertaining and fast thriller.
September 9, 2013
Too busy. Read like a "b" action movie.
September 9, 2013
Very Good novel.
September 9, 2013
Very good, better then the first, hope there Is a third soon
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews