Rising Tiger

Scot Harvath #21

by Brad Thor

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER

Deadly operative Scot Harvath faces down democracy’s most powerful enemy in #1 New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brad Thor’s white-knuckle thriller.

High in the Himalayas, armed with a host of barbaric, improvised weapons, Chinese troops ambush a contingent of highly decorated Indian soldiers. The brutal, hand-to-hand combat lasts for over six hours, destabilizing the already tenuous relationship between the two nuclear neighbors.

Fearful of the global consequences of engaging Beijing head-on, countless United States administrations have passed the buck. But when a covert American diplomat tasked with negotiating an Asian version of NATO is murdered on the streets of Jaipur, doing nothing is no longer an option. It is time to unleash Scot Harvath.

Thrust into a completely unfamiliar culture, with few he can trust, the danger begins to mount the moment Harvath lands in India. Amidst multiple competing forces and a host of deadly agendas, it is nearly impossible to tell predator from prey. With democracy itself hanging in the balance, Harvath will risk everything to untangle the explosive plot and bring every bad actor to justice.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Espionage, Spy Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook

325 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2022

About the author

BRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five thrillers, including EDGE OF HONOR, SHADOW OF DOUBT, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).

EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Glad I read the blurb before I posted my review. I'm not sure if the setting would be a spoiler but wow the synopsis is very vague with no clues at all... I'll delete! 😿

Now, what to write ...

The tension between these two countries is new to me then add Scot Harvath to the mix, I think Rising Tiger has a very original plotline. It's new territory for Harvath also. I enjoy learning about the culture while Harvath unleashes his action goodness (not enough in this department Mr. Thor). Harvath gets local sidekicks to join this adventure.

I love the soon-to-be father Nicholas', "The Troll" storyline more, both personal and the threats he's facing (more vagueness). He's a small person but smart as hell. You'd be sorry to mess with him and his two Caucasian Ovcharka dogs, Argos and Draco.

Armand Schultz's narration was very good. He's very talented with "the accent" which is A LOT in this book. The highlight for me was chapter 48, where all the cussing is in a foreign language alternating with the translations, a laugh-out-loud and entertaining moment. 🙊

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scot Harvath M.I.A. is nearly invisible in sinking Tiger, stinking Tiger, or rotting Tiger. Falling Tiger would be more apt. 3 of 10 stars

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to novels in the thriller genre, one need look no further than Brad Thor. Always keen to pluck out some struggle on the international scene, Thor proves insightful and highly entertaining as he presents his novels in a no holds barred manner. Pushing away from the over-flogged Russia and ISIS angles, Thor turns to China and India as new domains, where democracy and international safety hang in the balance. With operative Scot Harvath on the scene, the reader can be assured of something intense and full of action. Another Thor winner, sure to keep series fans quite content.

After a US operative is killed in India, the Americans are not ready to turn the other cheek, but must retaliate with some subtlety. Sending Scot Harvath into the region seems the most propitious way to handle things, though it will require much coordination to ensure things go smoothly. Harvath has not spent much time in India, but is ready for a new and difficult challenge.

After arriving in country, Harvath is paired up with a rugged former cop, whose job is not only to show him around, but also help tease out information from locals who may not be as happy to speak with a westerner. Harvath and his host learn a little more about the Indian underworld, in hopes of targeting a gangster who is said to have ruthless ways of dealing with his enemies. Harvath sets his sights on the man and hopes that a little cat and mouse play will lead to a quick capture, or extermination.

All the while, China is raising the stakes with a new and terrifying weapon. Using members of the Indian Army as test subjects, the Chinese hope to create new wave technology, blasting their enemies into submission, while doing a number on physiological aspects of the body as well. Harvath knows all too well what threat the Chinese hold and is sure that this is only the beginning. Working to catch a killer is but one aspect of the mission, but Scot Harvath cannot do it alone. He will need the help of a few locals to harness learning the ropes in a country whose rulebook differs greatly from American covert operations. Thor does a masterful job with this novel to keep the story fresh and the angles sharp.

While series fans have seen a great deal of transformation in Scot Harvath and the stories, there is something familiar with this piece that ties it all together. Well-paced and full of action, Thor painters a picture of a new 21st century threat and how conventional means will not work to solve the problem. Brad Thor is an author like no other, leaving the reader to dazzle in his abilities throughout this high-octane piece.

The world of espionage and covert operations requires constant tweaking to remain relevant without getting too technical. The reader needs to feel as though they are in the middle of the action, but also understand what is going on around them. Brad Thor’s narrative pace is such that things are ever-evolving, but at least not to the point that the reader feels left behind. A handful of returning characters help connect this piece to many of the others, while new faces help add a flavouring not seen in past Harvath novels. There is great character development, such that I want to know more about some of the newcomers, which I hope means they will be back soon. Plot twists emerge throughout, but things stay relatively true to current goings-on in the world, allowing the reader to feel as though they are part of the current international operative network and can trade the threats presented as real and potential in the coming years. I am eager to see how much more Scot Harvath has left in him, though am not tiring of his presence or how Brad Thor is developing the series.

Kudos, Mr. Thor, for another winner in this collection of intense novels. I wait to see what’s next in your arsenal and trust you will dazzle once more.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[A P · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILERS!

I spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out what I would say regarding this installment of Brad Thor's latest Scot Harvath thriller. Thor is the author that introduced me into the world of political thrillers, so his books are always my favorite when they are released each year. However, the last three books in Thor's collection (Near Dark, Black Ice, and Rising Tiger) have been very low in quality and direction, which is rather disappointing considering his reputation and talent. With Rising Tiger, the only word that I can come up with to describe my experience reading Rising Tiger is "rushed." I typically watch YouTube interviews that authors have after a book is released to get a feel for what went through their minds while writing the book and with Rising Tiger, Thor mentioned he really put the "action" in "faction." (Faction being the phrase he uses where you don't know where the facts end and the fiction begins.) In Rising Tiger I failed to see where this held true. The action was extremely short lived and the outcomes very predictable. There just simply wasn't as much as I was expecting going into it. I may have gotten my hopes up so i cant necessarily blame Brad for this, but I do feel there was more action and mystery in his previous thriller, Black Ice, than there was in Rising Tiger... Take that for what its worth though.

SETTING:
The setting was extremely interesting for this book and I felt Thor did a great job at setting the tone of what India is like both physically and politically. I had no idea India was such a powerhouse from a military standpoint. China on the other hand I always knew was a thorn in the side of the United States for several reasons, and Thor did a great job at providing factual evidence to support this. He focuses a lot of the plot around Diwali, which was a nice touch and gave the setting a vibrancy that could have easily been missed. Thor really did a great job on this portion of it.
Oftentimes where I feel authors miss the mark is when they try to intertwine the setting into the story instead of the story into the setting. The best stories dont focus on the setting much but capitalize on the overall plot AND THEN weave in the setting to match. I feel that Thor capitalized on the setting almost too much and then tried to weave the story between that. This made the storyline very choppy and almost boring or expected in certain areas.

CHARACTERS:
I really wish Thor would get rid of Nicholas or the "troll" as he is called in the book. His character is getting really boring and repetitive. If you know where the "troll" came from then you'll know that he is an extremely unrealistic character. He arises in the 5th book; TakeDown, and was 100% considered the antagonist in that storyline. Its annoying that he somehow managed to escape imprisonment despite what he had done in that novel and is now arguably the second-most important character in the series. I dont find that realistic at all. Anyone who wasn't considered physically handicapped would have been placed in prison in Guantanamo. In that book, this little guy can blow up bridges in New York and nearly kill the President's daughter, yet escape with nothing more than a slap on the wrist? Mmmmkay. Not to mention the overuse of his two dogs, Draco and Argos is almost cringe-worthy if you have read all of the other books where Nicholas is present. Thor uses the same phraseology when introducing them EVERY SINGLE BOOK. His storyline in Rising Tiger was very rushed and seemed like an afterthought to the entire plot. Of all things for the Chinese to go after from a political standpoint, they choose to go after a 3ft dwarf and his two dogs... I dont know, but I feel the Chinese are a bit more interested in the bigger picture than something as insignificant as "the Troll."

The addition of Asha was a nice touch despite her character line being completely unnecessary. She seems like a solid female lead that I would like to see come up in the future, but she wasnt needed in this book at all. It really drew away from Harvath and the entire reason I started reading the books to begin with. I want the tactical bad-assery that comes with Scot Harvath, not some secondary female protagonist that just happens to cross paths with him. This is what made The Lions of Lucerne so great; it was focused around Harvath's storyline and no one else's. The playful banter/flirting between the two of them seemed really unnecessary as well, especially since Harvath is engaged in this book. These conversations would have made me feel like I was cheating on my fiance, so it was a little awkward to read through those passages with Harvath and Asha.

VERDICT:
As previously mentioned, the storyline could have used a little work and it definitely felt rushed towards the end finding out that the main antagonist who was responsible for the assassination of Eli Ritter was killed-off in just a single paragraph. Thor's last three installments ended in ways similar to this, where he spends 40-50 chapters building up a storyline with somewhat useful information, just to have it end in a matter of 3 chapters. I dont feel this is fair to the reader and I really hope his next thriller will correct this. This book clocks in at 320 pages, but it should have been close to 450-500 given the loose ends that needed to be tied up. It was a good idea for a story, albeit a tad overused, but could have just been executed better with more focus in certain areas of the story in comparison to others. I love your stories Brad, but please give us more than just a 3 chapter ending if we are spending time and money on your material. Here's to next year!

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another action-packed Scot Harvath thriller. A friend of Scot's, Eli Ritter, seeking to secretly negotiate a NATO-type arrangement with India, is assassinated by silenced shot in the back of his head. Then a helicopter carrying the head of the Indian Army crashes for no reason. And Scot's close friend Nicholas and his dogs are attacked in his Virginia home, subjected to excruciating pain, similar to Indian troops on maneuvers in the Himalayan mountains. The Indian secret service dispatches an operative (Asha Patel) to investigate the crash while Scot is sent to India to exact retribution for the execution of his friend. Scot is joined by a retired policeman, Vijay, employed by the CIA, who turns out to be a major asset, as they have to track the thin trail back through the criminal underworld. Just when it seems they will be killed, Asha saves them as she too wants to interrogate their quarry to determine who wants to undermine the proposed American-Indian alliance. Political theater, and a bit formulaic.

[Tumpi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heard this as an audiobook. The story was engaging but the rendition for Indian characters were horrible and off putting

[Tom Manning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Enjoyed the Indian vs china plotline and the exposure to a bit of Indian culture. But it feels like the overall plots are getting lazier

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is better than the last two Scot Harvath thrillers, but it's hard not to feel like Thor has either lost a step, phoning it in, or both. I have no idea how the average rating is so high here. Harvath feels like a side character in his own book for almost the entire thing. The conflict between India and China and the Indian setting is a good idea, but if you're writing a thriller it should have some tension, great action from your main character, and a compelling villain. The book doesn't really deliver on any of those. There are some action scenes, but they are pretty low effort compared to what other authors in the genre are doing. Also instead of Harvath doing badass stuff he's relegated to secondary character status as he wanders around India doing investigating that was all in all pretty boring. Instead the Asha character felt more like the lead, and the book felt like a backdoor pilot for her series. If you're out of ideas, Brad Thor, just do something else. The villains and the tension were completely forgettable and absent respectively. Just a milquetoast entry from an author and series who feels like it's past its prime.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part James Bond, part John le Carre, part Tom Clancy, this book really gets it done. The author brings up an intriguing scenario; what if a foreign power developed a directed energy weapon, similar to that allegedly used against US government workers at the Cuban embassy? The story may seem far fetched, but something similar did occur down in Cuba in 2016. In this book, it's referred to as Havana Syndrome. The thrills keep on rolling in this epic page-turner. One of the better books I've read this year. A worthy effort on the author's part.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always grateful when a new Scot Harvath novel is released. I sleep a little easier knowing there are people like him doing whatever it takes to defend our freedom. In RISING TIGER, the latest installment in Brad Thor’s outstanding series, Harvath shares equal billing with one of America’s allies, India, as much of the book is devoted to their anti-terrorist efforts.

The action opens in the Galwan Valley of the western Himalayas. It is a barbaric, mostly hand-to-hand battle done medieval style that lasts nearly six hours. The Chinese soldiers who have perpetrated this surprise attack are eventually defeated by the Indian band known as the Snow Warriors, one of the most decorated regiments in all of India. However, it comes at a cost as 20 members lose their lives defending their territory from China.

Knowing they have been beaten, China activates an energy device against India. This heats up the water molecules beneath the skin of the Indian warriors, causing them excruciating pain while the remaining Chinese flee. India has stood strong this time but knows that China will stop at nothing to destroy them. Will they be prepared?

Four months later in India, American diplomat and professional spy Eli Ritter is celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of light. As he heads to his hotel after a night of enjoyment, an assassin puts a suppressed pistol to his ear and takes his life. We then jump to Kabul, where Harvath and his team are on a mission in this failed state to extract a high-value Afghani asset by the name of Topaz. The Taliban and other groups like them had taken root like weeds inside Afghanistan, which necessitated Harvath’s presence.

China and Colonel Yang Xin are the primary enemies of focus in RISING TIGER. Yang’s division is Yaomo, which is Chinese for “demon,” and the attack on India in the Galwan Valley was his operation. A full blast of the directed-energy weapon was a product of his team’s partnership with the Science and Technology Commission in China.

Harvath is brought up to speed on the Chinese military strategy known as the String of Pearls, a maritime extension of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, but much more dangerous. He then finds out that Ritter was in Jaipur covertly negotiating an Asian version of NATO. The plan was to bring the United States, Australia, India and Japan together to counter the growing threat from China. Meanwhile, back in Northern Virginia, Harvath’s vital team member, the diminutive Nicholas, suffers what is later found out to be serous poisoning, which also has affected his wife and two dogs.

Asha, a top Indian operative, has struck out on her own to find out who killed Ritter and prevent war between China and India. She is shrewd, well-armed and certainly someone we would want as an ally. Using an assumed name, Harvath has teamed up with Vijay Chabra, an ex-Indian cop who knows all the players, as well as the ins and outs of Jaipur. These two missions meet at a particular point when they each land on the same suspect they target.

No one has their finger on the pulse of the world’s political spectrum quite like Brad Thor, and there is nothing like one of his novels to exemplify that. RISING TIGER is an intense, eye-opening thriller that is head and shoulders above anything else like it on the market. Scot Harvath is the closest thing we have to Captain America!

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[George P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently heard Brad Thor describe his novels as “faction,” a portmanteau of fact and fiction.

Rising Tiger begins with a factual battle between Chinese and Indian forces in the Galwan Valley of the western Himalayas, where China and India maintain a tense border. Thor ties the battle to China’s long-term Belt and Road initiative, started in 2013, the design of which is to strengthen China’s economic and military hegemony in that part of Asia.

The fictional part of Rising Tiger is everything else. It begins with the assassination of Eli Ritter, an American working deep under cover in India to form an Asian version of NATO—consisting of Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S.—to counter China’s rising threat. When Ritter is assassinated, the U.S. employs the Carlton Group, a security firm with deep ties to U.S. intelligence and military, to find and eliminate his killer. And the tip of this very sharp spear is Scott Harvath, former Navy Seal, now lead operator of the Carlton Group.

As Harvath investigates Ritter’s death, his path crosses with Asha Patel’s, an Indian intelligence officer investigating a suspicious helicopter crash involving key Indian military personnel. They discover that China is behind both acts and join forces. The only question is whether they will get to the Chinese spies behind these attacks before those spies get to them.

Rising Tiger is Brad Thor’s 21st novel featuring Scott Harvath, but the first I have read. I decided to read it after hearing John J. Miller interview Thor for National Review’s Bookmonger podcast . I read it on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It was a very entertaining read, and I plan to check out Thor’s other books from the library.

Book Reviewed
Brad Thor, Rising Tiger (New York: Emily Bestler Books/Atria, 2022).

P.S. If you liked my review, please click “Helpful” on my Amazon review page.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awkward novel with Scot fighting the Chinese in India, while a female Indian does the same. It has to do with the Havana Syndrome and some derring do, but seemed a bit out of whack.

[Deepu Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many new characters to know with their different backgrounds and all, but its been good.
At one time I didn’t know where it was going but in the end it doesn’t matter(Linkin Park) i mean in the end author finished it off with a Rajnikant style.
Good book and many info of asian subcontinent.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scot Harvath is hot on the trail investigating a murder in India of a US Diplomat. Teams up with a refreshing cast of characters while navigating the alleyways and neighborhoods of Jaipur and New Delhi while Red China’s nationalistic threats loom over all nations.

A fun adventurous thriller that has both rip from the headlines real world political theaters and creative scenarios that seem all too real.

[Brent Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brad Thor is one of my favorite authors but this is his weakest work by far. The book didn’t pull me in like all the others have. I got the distinct impression that Thor was just trying to add another title to the shelf. Very disappointed.

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the greatest book in the series. Disappointing in fact. My opinion. Now make yours.

[David Eppenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Thor's better books. It's a real page turner with an ensemble cast of supporting characters that are so fully developed that I wish they had their own book series like Scott Horvath does. My only negative about the book involves Thor's lapses into flag waving narrations and having his protagonist, Horvath, opine on a variety of subjects the scope of which goes from American social ills to its politics. Thor just can't seem to get in through his head that his readers buy his books for the opportunity they offer to escape these things. What the readers don't want is to have Thor's characters smack them in the face with the realities they are trying forget for awhile. I was sorely tempted to deduct a star or maybe a half star just for this unnecessary demonstration of poor judgment. However, the story was so good that I refrained. So what's the book about?

It seems that the U.S. is interested in creating a NATO like alliance in the Asian part of the globe. To begin discussions on this subject with the Indian government the U.S. sends an American businessman on a mission meet very secretly with an official of the Indian government in order to lay the ground work for future more formal discussions. Needless to say once they learn of the talk of an Asian NATO the Chinese government is adamantly opposed to such an agreement being realized. The American businessman is murdered in India before he has a chance to meet with the Indian government. The businessman is a friend of Scott Horvath's and he is sent alone to India to find the murderer. But the Chinese are not simply interested in killing this one man they want to cause turmoil within the Indian government and military leadership. In response to the Chinese the Indians establish a 3 person secret intelligence group that starts its own investigation. The Chinese are also interested in attacking Horvath's private intelligence group back in the U.S. These attacks involve a new weapon system the U.S. and the Indians know nothing about. There are three exciting storylines to follow and all three a fully engaging and easy to follow and all three converge for a more than satisfactory ending. This is a good so enjoy.

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good espionage novel but not Thor at his best, It stars in the States and goes to India where most of the action takes place. Harvath finds an ole indian. DetectWho has an old score to settle. Scott places his objective on hold while the old indian settles his score. He finds s beautiful Inian girl whomhelps him with hiscase(she is an Inian spy like him”. Back home his mentor is targeted by the CCP as his wife and unborn daughter.all works outnin the end. Not his best but a good read nevertheless .

[John of Canada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horvath or colleague gets beat up, gets revenge, fights to the death with supervillain. Standard storyline, and I never get tired of it. Nicholas and the dogs make an appearance. Really interesting political thoughts, and a little frightening. One of the parts I liked best, was that Brad Thor includes a play list of sorts of Funk/ R&B. Here it is :1) Let's Groove by Earth,Wind and Fire 2) Pick up the Pieces by Average White Band 3) You Dropped a Bomb on Me by The Gap Band 4) Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf) by Sly and the Family Stone . For classic rock lovers there is La Grange by ZZ Top(Zed Zed Top if you're Canadian - which I am), You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC, School's Out by Alice Cooper, American Pie by Don McLean, Sympathy for the Devil by the Stones, and Into the Mystic by Van Morrison. You're welcome. One of the things I liked about this is how Thor wrapped it up. No cliffhanger ending

[Andreas Tornberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this series but this was the weakest instalment in a long time.

[Roberto Di Fazio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love and always look forward to the next installment in Harvath's saga. After waiting a year this one left me underwhelmed. Some nice plot points but others seemed to chew up too many pages. Agree with other reviews citing not enough action in this go around.

[SteVen Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review – Rising Tiger – Brad Thor
In Brad Thor’s Book 21, “Rising Tiger,” main character Scot Harvath must use his unparalleled skills and talents to handle a very difficult assignment in Asia India. This fresh new storyline is a great geopolitical thriller. When an American government operative working deep undercover to India help form an Asian version of NATO – Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. — things get hectic when he is assassinated. The U.S. employs the Carlton Group/Scot Harvath to find and eliminate his killer and this is where the excitement begins. It’s obvious that Thor did some impressive location scouting that made me feel like I was actually there in India while reading the story. And his research on Indian culture and government was extremely thorough. His emphasis on sights, sounds, smells, and details was exhilarating! Thor has always been an expert on International Affairs, but this book is where and when his expertise was truly outstanding! The well written narrative describes the attitude of the Chinese regime and its terroristic actions and effects on countries like India, Pakistan, and Russia. Character development was robust as anticipated, especially with the two Indian characters Vijay Chabra (retired cop) and Asha Patel (Intelligence agent) and Nicholas’ presence – as well as Argos and Draco, his two Caucasian Ovcharka dogs – is always welcomed and appreciated. I also embraced Thor’s addition of little nuances like the music genre debate between Harvath and Vijay on whether the music group Earth, Wind, & Fire (my personal favorite music group) was an R&B band or a Funk group. I thought this was great dialogue and very relatable! Action-packed. Suspenseful. Thrilling, and Exciting, Rising Tiger is an excellent and entertaining read and probably one of Thor’s better stories. I highly recommend this book!

[Gerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has a difficult time rating this book; ended up with 3 weak stars. As a lover of Thor’s Harvath novels I wasn’t quite as thrilled or into the overall storyline as I normally would be. I found the background and history of India extremely interesting and well done and loved, as always, the storyline of Nicholas. Asha’s character was well developed and I enjoyed her story but felt the book became more about her than Harvath. Getting to the end was a long road only to find the ending to be a bit rushed and meh. So overall, I came away feeling a bit let down from this one by Thor.

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had listened to some podcast interviews with Brad Thor before reading this book. I was very interested in the backstory and I think he incorporated it very well. Rising Tiger is one of the best books in this series in my opinion and it feels like Scot Harvath is back in the game. There are some really good characters in this book and the setting is great. I'm glad everytime an author find a country and place that not everybody is using. I can really recommend this thrilling and inovative thriller.

[Steven Netter · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books



Make sure to check out the full review

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scot Harvath is back in the 21st book in Thor’s heart pounding series. And this book takes place in a new venue for him - India. Scot is sent to India to find out who killed Eli Ritter, his friend and deep undercover representative of the US who was negotiating to form an Asian NATO - India, Japan, Australia and the US - to fight the growing threat of China throughout the region. Vijay Chabra, a retired cop now working for the US embassy, is tasked to Scot to guide him through the idiosyncrasies of a nation where he has never worked before. Harvath’s investigation brings him in contact with Asha Patel, an Indian intelligence agent, who has been tasked with investigating the downing of a helicopter, one of whose passengers was the head of the Indian army. And then Scot’s good friend and tech wizard, Nicholas, is attacked in his home in Virginia. Are all these events connected in some way (of course, the answer is yes)? Thus begins an interesting, action packed and complex story. Brad Thor has the ability to incorporate current international affairs (tensions?) Into his stories, and this book is an eye opener for an American ally nation that hasn’t gotten much literary (fiction) attention, at least for me. I thought the last book in the series (Black Ice) indicated that the series was going downhill, but this book changes my mind. Thor is back on top of his game.

[Kevin B Chill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scot Harvath is a great character his wit and skills are awesome. I really enjoyed this book as my anger and worry was felt in so many chapters.
Very well written in the descriptions of India made it a tempting place to visit but clearly told the reader to stay out of the parts that had Scot doing his best work. But, if you are visiting from these descriptions, would you ever leave these hotels.
The supporting cast of this book were mostly new Indian citizens. Their personalities fit in with Scot so well and in no way clashed. Almost like they were partners for many books.
The Chinese involvement in these plots are very scary and the US plans are very reasonable.
I look forward to the next Scot Harvath book but wouldn’t mind reading more Asha or Vija stories.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chinese Communist Party is afraid they're losing their grip. There are skirmishes along the China/India border and attacks from some new technology, both in India and the US.
Harvath gets pulled from his current mission and sent to India when a friend of his is murdered there. Hooking up with a couple of locals he has to chase down those involved.
While a good story, I had a couple of issues with the delivery. The entire first half is basically just setting up the story. And it seems to wrap up overly quickly.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of the Brad Thor Scot Horvath series and "Rising Tiger" does not disappoint...An American diplomat is assassinated in India which brings his counterterrorism skill in collaboration with Indian officials in their hunt for the killer and the imposing threats of both Pakistan and China...As always Thor provides a concise geopolitical assessment of South Asia's issues as the thrilling storyline works its way to its denouement...Good fun!!!

[Michael Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Thor. This time India was the destination we were transported too. As always character development and cultural scene setting was on point. Enjoyed this one a bit better than the last. Nicolas has his best scene yet in this one...if you read it you know what I'm talking about. VJ was another fun, new character to read about. Quickly becoming one of my favorite book series.