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Deckard #2
Target Deck
As a former Special Operations soldier, Deckard freelanced as a mercenary and got more than he bargained for. Now, as the commander of a Private Military Company called Samruk International, Deckard finds work as Mexico begins its final descent into chaos. Hitting the ground with a small recon element, he will first have to rescue a newly minted police chief named Samantha from the clutches of a drug cartel before blitzing across southern Mexico. However, he can't do it alone. His success hinges on forging an unlikely alliance between Samruk International, Zapatista rebels, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
The Stewmaker. Captain Nemo. The Beast. These are a few of the human savages that Deckard and his mercenaries will have to trade fire with as they service one target after the next. But in the background, watching and waiting, is a far more dangerous threat. The Arab works behind the scenes, instigating conflicts and initiating one crisis after the next.
As Deckard follows The Arab's bloody trail, he finds that it leads north, into the very heart of America.
The Stewmaker. Captain Nemo. The Beast. These are a few of the human savages that Deckard and his mercenaries will have to trade fire with as they service one target after the next. But in the background, watching and waiting, is a far more dangerous threat. The Arab works behind the scenes, instigating conflicts and initiating one crisis after the next.
As Deckard follows The Arab's bloody trail, he finds that it leads north, into the very heart of America.
392 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 2012
27 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 4, 2021
The drug war. Gun-running. An alarming fusion of the private sector with the government apparatus. Strange bedfellows. All of these are hot-button topics in politics at large and specifically in regards to foreign policy. As an action writer, I can testify first-hand that hot-button topics are what make our plots flow. Our curiosity makes us wonder, "What if X or Y were to happen? How would this go down?" We pick a topic or two, combine fact and speculation to come up with a narrative that entertains and, if the writer is worth their salt, makes the reader wonder which is which.
That is, of course, unless you're Jack Murphy.
Murphy takes all four of those touchy subjects, gives each of them enough research to put a modern journalist to shame, and links them together through brutal, gruesome action in his sophomore print novel, Target Deck. The amount of action in this outing puts his first novel, Reflexive Fire, to shame, which anybody who read it would assure you that they would find the notion impossible. The novel starts with a daring hostage rescue inside a drug lord's compound and literally does not let up until the final third of the book…at which point, Murphy generously allows the reader to catch their breath long enough to prepare for the barrage of twists and action that await them in that final section. From relentless house-to-house fighting against cartel bad boys to sneak-and-peek ops that resemble real-life versions of certain stealth action franchises (including an appearance by technology I was unaware existed outside one of those franchises!) and beyond, Murphy again plays to his strengths as a former Ranger infantryman and Special Forces soldier. The authenticity is there in spades, and for the uninitiated, he even includes a glossary of military jargon.
With the action, Murphy has also done a better job with adding a little more depth to the characters. Where it was strongly hinted in Reflexive Fire that Deckard was a highly principled man, Target Deck definitely puts it out there, both in deed and through words. Despite being war-weary and in a profession dominated by those with money signs in their eyes, Deckard is definitely motivated by justice. There are several incidents throughout the book where Deckard is justice incarnate, delivering comeuppance to those who perpetrate heinous acts. It makes for an incredibly satisfying read when Deckard encounters something that seems so strange and wrong that one would think it does not exist outside the realm of fiction, and then he terminates said thing with extreme prejudice. Perhaps that is something within the reader acknowledging that such things happen everyday without that delivery of justice and we have to settle for a fictional tale of righting wrongs?
I digress, though. To touch on the opening line of this review, Murphy entwines all those controversial subjects: the drug war, private sector infiltration of government, gun-running, and the fallacy that the enemy of our enemy is our friend. A lesser author might have dropped the ball, made the transitions less smooth, made the connections seem convoluted. However, through a combination of research and a creatively analytical mind, Murphy takes the fruits of his research and presents a narrative that forces the reader to wonder about what is being presented, and even spurs the more curious readers to go forth and seek out that information for themselves. Every time somebody Target Deck, I'm sure there are those in the Beltway who get worried somebody might learn more about the gun-running, about the drug war, about cronyism, about the bedfellows we keep, than they are comfortable with.
There were grammatical errors that needed addressing, but that's so minor and I only caught them on the basis that I'm a grammar fascist. Target Deck was so enjoyable that I can't even bring myself to dock points from Murphy over that. All I can do is bring it up so that when the next Deckard book is released, it's the perfect action thriller novel.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill post-9/11 action thriller, though. No, this is a new genre. This is a novel that spares no detail about the brutality of war. It does not shelter the reader from the evils of the world. It refuses to turn a blind eye to the corruption that runs rampant, on both sides of the border. To steal Murphy's term for it, this is the full auto military action genre.
Kit up and lock and load, because Target Deck is one hell of a ride!
That is, of course, unless you're Jack Murphy.
Murphy takes all four of those touchy subjects, gives each of them enough research to put a modern journalist to shame, and links them together through brutal, gruesome action in his sophomore print novel, Target Deck. The amount of action in this outing puts his first novel, Reflexive Fire, to shame, which anybody who read it would assure you that they would find the notion impossible. The novel starts with a daring hostage rescue inside a drug lord's compound and literally does not let up until the final third of the book…at which point, Murphy generously allows the reader to catch their breath long enough to prepare for the barrage of twists and action that await them in that final section. From relentless house-to-house fighting against cartel bad boys to sneak-and-peek ops that resemble real-life versions of certain stealth action franchises (including an appearance by technology I was unaware existed outside one of those franchises!) and beyond, Murphy again plays to his strengths as a former Ranger infantryman and Special Forces soldier. The authenticity is there in spades, and for the uninitiated, he even includes a glossary of military jargon.
With the action, Murphy has also done a better job with adding a little more depth to the characters. Where it was strongly hinted in Reflexive Fire that Deckard was a highly principled man, Target Deck definitely puts it out there, both in deed and through words. Despite being war-weary and in a profession dominated by those with money signs in their eyes, Deckard is definitely motivated by justice. There are several incidents throughout the book where Deckard is justice incarnate, delivering comeuppance to those who perpetrate heinous acts. It makes for an incredibly satisfying read when Deckard encounters something that seems so strange and wrong that one would think it does not exist outside the realm of fiction, and then he terminates said thing with extreme prejudice. Perhaps that is something within the reader acknowledging that such things happen everyday without that delivery of justice and we have to settle for a fictional tale of righting wrongs?
I digress, though. To touch on the opening line of this review, Murphy entwines all those controversial subjects: the drug war, private sector infiltration of government, gun-running, and the fallacy that the enemy of our enemy is our friend. A lesser author might have dropped the ball, made the transitions less smooth, made the connections seem convoluted. However, through a combination of research and a creatively analytical mind, Murphy takes the fruits of his research and presents a narrative that forces the reader to wonder about what is being presented, and even spurs the more curious readers to go forth and seek out that information for themselves. Every time somebody Target Deck, I'm sure there are those in the Beltway who get worried somebody might learn more about the gun-running, about the drug war, about cronyism, about the bedfellows we keep, than they are comfortable with.
There were grammatical errors that needed addressing, but that's so minor and I only caught them on the basis that I'm a grammar fascist. Target Deck was so enjoyable that I can't even bring myself to dock points from Murphy over that. All I can do is bring it up so that when the next Deckard book is released, it's the perfect action thriller novel.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill post-9/11 action thriller, though. No, this is a new genre. This is a novel that spares no detail about the brutality of war. It does not shelter the reader from the evils of the world. It refuses to turn a blind eye to the corruption that runs rampant, on both sides of the border. To steal Murphy's term for it, this is the full auto military action genre.
Kit up and lock and load, because Target Deck is one hell of a ride!
April 10, 2013
Jack Murphy is a unique study as thriller authors go: He's done much of what he writes about, giving him incredible insight and adding astounding realism to his writing, he puts in hard hours researching to give his writing scope and accuracy, but most incredibly, he has a natural feel for pace and knows just how to keep a reader engaged. This is something many soldiers-turned-novelists struggle with, making Murphy's work all the more outstanding.
Target Deck reads exactly as you would expect after looking at its cover—relentlessly face paced and brimming with action. Though it's number two in the Deckard series (excluding Deckard Sr. in the PROMIS series), it reads well as a standalone novel. It takes a while to identify who's who (with so many leaders and men comprising Samruk—the mercenary team Deckard leads—it can be a lot to remember), but that's hardly a distraction; you're too busy scraping your jaw off the floor as they roll into Mexico, kicking ass and taking names. The storyline may seem incredible by real-world standards (not at all out of character for a thriller novel), yet Murphy sold me on it completely. He imparted a real sense of conspiracy, and blended it so well with the fighting scenes and the brutal reality of modern-day Mexico that it didn't make me even blink with incredulity.
Another positive: Murphy recognizes that not all his readers are military experts. The pseudo-language of military acronyms could really bog down an otherwise engaging read, but the author makes sure to give brief descriptions as necessary to keep us civilians up to pace without needing to stop to look up terms.
Now, no book is without downsides, even if they're few in number. Murphy knows what his readers want—battle. As such, he doesn't waste much time with developing love interests (Samantha—the smoking-hot Latina cop introduced early in the novel drops in at the novel's conclusion as more of a sexual afterthought than a pertinent character). Also, there were a couple grammatical errors that I noticed in the writing—not enough to distract, necessarily, but something I picked up on.
In summary, this book is worth every penny. I expect Murphy to only further refine his style as he continues to write, and you can bet I'll be one of those lining up to purchase the next of his books.
Target Deck reads exactly as you would expect after looking at its cover—relentlessly face paced and brimming with action. Though it's number two in the Deckard series (excluding Deckard Sr. in the PROMIS series), it reads well as a standalone novel. It takes a while to identify who's who (with so many leaders and men comprising Samruk—the mercenary team Deckard leads—it can be a lot to remember), but that's hardly a distraction; you're too busy scraping your jaw off the floor as they roll into Mexico, kicking ass and taking names. The storyline may seem incredible by real-world standards (not at all out of character for a thriller novel), yet Murphy sold me on it completely. He imparted a real sense of conspiracy, and blended it so well with the fighting scenes and the brutal reality of modern-day Mexico that it didn't make me even blink with incredulity.
Another positive: Murphy recognizes that not all his readers are military experts. The pseudo-language of military acronyms could really bog down an otherwise engaging read, but the author makes sure to give brief descriptions as necessary to keep us civilians up to pace without needing to stop to look up terms.
Now, no book is without downsides, even if they're few in number. Murphy knows what his readers want—battle. As such, he doesn't waste much time with developing love interests (Samantha—the smoking-hot Latina cop introduced early in the novel drops in at the novel's conclusion as more of a sexual afterthought than a pertinent character). Also, there were a couple grammatical errors that I noticed in the writing—not enough to distract, necessarily, but something I picked up on.
In summary, this book is worth every penny. I expect Murphy to only further refine his style as he continues to write, and you can bet I'll be one of those lining up to purchase the next of his books.
June 12, 2014
Way too confusing. The main character, Deckard, is all over the place in this one. Hard to tell what the plot was about. He never takes a break and it was like reading a condensed version of "24".
It did not capture my attention like the PRIMAL books by Jack Silkstone do, example: PRIMAL Unleashed. I just could not get involved in the story or the characters. The characters were never developed, I felt nothing for them.
It did not capture my attention like the PRIMAL books by Jack Silkstone do, example: PRIMAL Unleashed. I just could not get involved in the story or the characters. The characters were never developed, I felt nothing for them.
August 15, 2021
This is the second book in the series, and it's not bad, but it's also not good.
Deckard and the mercenaries of Samruk International arrive in Mexico to destroy the cartels in Oaxaca. They defeat one cartel almost immediately, and set out to gather intelligence on the other one. While doing so, they discover a deeper conspiracy, and after finally defeating the other cartel, they follow the trail of US military weapons back to the US, and discover someone is using a group of Iraqi terrorists to create a larger war between the largest two cartels. After defeating the Iraqis, they send a message that they are now looking for the people in command.
While the book is fine, there is a little handwavium going on both during the firefights and with their intel operations. Deckard especially is impossible to kill, or even seriously wound, despite him taking a shotgun shell to the chest, and getting shot several times even when his armour saves him. While nameless Samruk mercs get killed at regular intervals, and a couple of the named characters get wounded, they seem to be able to continue right on regardless.
Then there is the seemingly never-ending supply of ammo the mercenaries seem to have. They have machine-guns mounted on their vehicles, they all carry AK-103's and they get into several running fire-fights with the cartel where it seems like they are firing non-stop, and yet no-one ever seems to ever run out of ammo, except when it's convenient for the story. It's a minor thing, but it's still something that not many writers get right.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I just hope they manage to recruit more personnel, or soon it will be just Deckard working on his own.
Deckard and the mercenaries of Samruk International arrive in Mexico to destroy the cartels in Oaxaca. They defeat one cartel almost immediately, and set out to gather intelligence on the other one. While doing so, they discover a deeper conspiracy, and after finally defeating the other cartel, they follow the trail of US military weapons back to the US, and discover someone is using a group of Iraqi terrorists to create a larger war between the largest two cartels. After defeating the Iraqis, they send a message that they are now looking for the people in command.
While the book is fine, there is a little handwavium going on both during the firefights and with their intel operations. Deckard especially is impossible to kill, or even seriously wound, despite him taking a shotgun shell to the chest, and getting shot several times even when his armour saves him. While nameless Samruk mercs get killed at regular intervals, and a couple of the named characters get wounded, they seem to be able to continue right on regardless.
Then there is the seemingly never-ending supply of ammo the mercenaries seem to have. They have machine-guns mounted on their vehicles, they all carry AK-103's and they get into several running fire-fights with the cartel where it seems like they are firing non-stop, and yet no-one ever seems to ever run out of ammo, except when it's convenient for the story. It's a minor thing, but it's still something that not many writers get right.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I just hope they manage to recruit more personnel, or soon it will be just Deckard working on his own.
January 23, 2020
Real reality
Very seldom do you get a novel that exposes the hidden power structure that runs the world. Jack Murphy does just that in both his deckard novels. So refreshing to get real context along with the story. Also no screw ups with the mil spec side, wired tight.
If you want a dynamic read with no fkups, this series is the one to grab.
Very seldom do you get a novel that exposes the hidden power structure that runs the world. Jack Murphy does just that in both his deckard novels. So refreshing to get real context along with the story. Also no screw ups with the mil spec side, wired tight.
If you want a dynamic read with no fkups, this series is the one to grab.
April 12, 2018
Very good #2 in the Deckhard series
Great SOF-read! Jack Murphy has done well again as the series, plot-lines, and characters continue to develop well. A great way to understand the current and former worlds of U.S. SOF & SF guys.
Great SOF-read! Jack Murphy has done well again as the series, plot-lines, and characters continue to develop well. A great way to understand the current and former worlds of U.S. SOF & SF guys.
December 1, 2025
Another action packed book...Jack Murphy delivers another high octane thriller, on to book 4.
February 4, 2015
This series makes the Bourne series look like the Diaries of a Wimpy kid. For most books, whether they feature characters in the special forces or wanna be's they all struggle with a few bad guys. With this series: one guy? No problem. Two guys? No problem. Four guys? No problem. Eight guys? No problem. Twenty guys? Okay maybe a bit of struggle, but no problem.
This is like the ultimate series to read. Action and more action. It's bit like the the Gray man series, but more explosive and more violent. Or maybe it's like the protagonist character from the Joe Ledger series. ( yeah, that good)
Honestly, this is a proper kick-ass story. It's physically and emotionally draining to hear people drone about how characters in other series are brave, bad-ass and funny. However, they suck. Take for instance, The Zero series,( I know, it's exactly how the title sounds) a young boy who turns into a bullying, killing, pedophile, that people rave about... It was horrible, just horrible.
Anyway, this is series is for the good people out there, that love a good, clean, kosher book. This book has the tick of approval of the THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY.
This is like the ultimate series to read. Action and more action. It's bit like the the Gray man series, but more explosive and more violent. Or maybe it's like the protagonist character from the Joe Ledger series. ( yeah, that good)
Honestly, this is a proper kick-ass story. It's physically and emotionally draining to hear people drone about how characters in other series are brave, bad-ass and funny. However, they suck. Take for instance, The Zero series,( I know, it's exactly how the title sounds) a young boy who turns into a bullying, killing, pedophile, that people rave about... It was horrible, just horrible.
Anyway, this is series is for the good people out there, that love a good, clean, kosher book. This book has the tick of approval of the THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY.
January 16, 2015
Good mystery!
Tons of action and international intrigue and terrorism. Deckard and his crew are a tough bunch of guys. They are great at fighting cartels and figuring out who reach boss is at beach level, and it always seems to go higher. Highly recommend. Not for the squeamish.
Tons of action and international intrigue and terrorism. Deckard and his crew are a tough bunch of guys. They are great at fighting cartels and figuring out who reach boss is at beach level, and it always seems to go higher. Highly recommend. Not for the squeamish.
February 5, 2017
Quite good. But not first class like the first book on this series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews