The Shield of Darius

Unit 1 #1

by Allen Kent

While vacationing with his family in Europe, businessman Benjamin Sager is assaulted and abducted, awakening in a small cell occupied only by another captive American. Ben’s senses send him reeling into his own past; to a place both exhilarating and terrifying. As Sager struggles to determine where he is and why he and his cellmate are being held, Christopher Falen, a covert agent of the CIA offshoot, Unit 1, uncovers a disturbing pattern of unexplained American tourist disappearances, seemingly vanishing without a trace.

Two paths cross as Falen’s investigation and Sager’s desperate will to survive draw them both into the deadly web of the Shield of Darius. A timely and relevant thriller, The Shield of Darius takes the reader on a journey through the maze of international espionage and politics between the United States and the Middle East and poses the question: Who can be trusted?

Genres: Amazon

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2012

About the author

Allen Kent is the author of the popular “Unit 1” thriller series, the Whitlock Trilogy in historical fiction, and a number of other mysteries and action novels. His books are published in electronic form by Kindle Press and in paperback by AllenPearce Publishers. He lives and writes in rural southwest Missouri.

Kent is a former Air Force pilot and educator who spent four years of his early life living in Iran and England. He has traveled and worked extensively in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia – experiences that are often reflected in his writing.
Writing as Kent Farnsworth, Kent has also published two works of non-fiction: “Grassroots School Reform” and “Leadership as Service.”

He and his wife Holly are avid travelers, gardeners, and conservationists, and live in an eco-friendly home near the community of Neosho.

See: https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Kent/e/B...

Reviews

[J.A. Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a new fan of Allen Kent. This is not my usual kind of reading (fave genre is romantic suspense), but my husband loved this and insisted I read it. Wow, it’s terrific! It’s a very clever spy story, but also an extremely good thriller. An ordinary businessman named Benjamin Sager is vacationing with his family in Europe when he’s assaulted, kidnapped, and thrown into a cell with another kidnapped American. Two paths cross as a CIA agent named Christopher Falen investigates a pattern of American tourists who have vanished without a trace.

Sager’s desperate will to survive and Falen’s investigation lead to a nightmare scenario where Iran plans to use kidnapped Americans as shields against attacks on their nuclear development sites. Falen may not be the hero he pretends to be, but what’s special about this story is the portrayal of Benjamin and his wife who, during their months of separation, reveal their strength and resilience. Also noteworthy are some likeable Russians and a striking Mossad operative avenging the death of his family.

The Shield of Darius is a sensational thriller. It’s minutely researched, beautifully written and will keep your heart pounding, rooting for the good guys. Highly recommended. Five stars!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. The intricate detailing of places of their past politics was educational and insightful. This book gripped me from page one til the end. The storyline was very interesting. If mystery, suspense and espionage is your thing than pick up this book. I will definitely listen/read other books by this author.

The narrator Theo Copeland did an outstanding job. It was easy to follow along with his narration. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unit 1 is an off the books organization run by a man confined to a wheel chair and a woman who assists and cares for him. Known only to the President an a couple others they recruit single agents to do things that the Government can't. In this tale the assigned agent is looking into the case of a missing head of a company who has gone missing while in England with his wife and son. While on an outing he is suddenly gone without a trace and his wife is not about to give up until she gets and explanation and when her inquiries reach the government the agent is assigned to investigate in the course of which he discovers that there have been quite a few disappearances in similar circumstances. The story follows the agent's search and the adventures of the missing man from England. I am not giving any more information, find out for yourself by reading the book. A good tale and an interesting premise, hope it doesn't give any one any ideas.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Kent has done an amazing job of giving us a story that we know comes from his imagination but is told in such a way that it could be taken from newspaper headlines! As you get to know Ben, the main character, your heart will become entangled in the mess that is his life. You will stand on the sidelines as you read or in my case listen to the atrocities that happen to him. Your heart will break as you listen to his wife plead for someone to help her. Although I know this book is fiction, it is so much like something that I believe could or has happened that I couldn't help but keep going to learn the outcome. Mr. Kent has never disappointed me when I have read or listened to one of his books. The narrator for this book Theodore Copeland has done an excellent job of bringing it to life. I totally recommend this wonderful book and look forward to reading more about this secret Unit 1!
I received a free code for this book from Audiobooks Unleashed and I thank them for it. This review is totally my own honest opinion.

[Al Gritten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of the Unit 1 novels that Kent wrote and I would suggest it is as well written as any of the others with an intricate plot that keeps the reader engaged and guessing. There are quite a few twists and turns and the plot is certainly realistic considering the state of our world. I thought it was a great read, but I didn't like the Chris Falen character as much as the other characters in the other Unit 1 novels. Perhaps that was intended considering the plot resolution. Nevertheless my inability to empathize with Falen detracted from an otherwise excellent book. Still a good read and a page turner that moves briskly from start to finish.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shield of Darius (Unit 1, #1), my fourth outstanding read from author Allen Kent. Outstanding thriller with well-written characters & plot you can buy into with unexpected twists & turns. Theodore Copeland's narration adds to the pleasure of a well-written book. I look forward to reading more from this author and since I own a total of 19 books by him I eagerly look forward to reading more! “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[John Daleske · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second Allen Kent book, my first being "Second Son".

I have found that Kent has a wonderful way with description, detailing a place so well, yet concisely, that I can see it in my head. Most books do not evince that crystal clear vision in my head.

The characters are intriguing and the plot twists surprise. All good things.

Another favorite. I'm definitely becoming a fan!

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed emotions

This book leaves you with mixed emotions about the characters, the subjects of the story and the final out come of the story. The development of the story was long and drawn out. The last third of the story didn’t fit together. The book was like a lot of short stories put together and changed to make work.

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO well crafted

One thing I like about Kent's stories is that the hero or supposed hero is not a Superman. (S)he gets hurt, gets shot, gets dumped, has some 'feel good' moments, just like a real and flawed human. And, so far, whatever the story is could be real. 5 typos. (Sorry, that's what I do.)

[Deborah L · Rating 1 out of 5]

don't read this book


Do not read this book. It is horrible it paints the US as more evil than Iran. I won't say more on that so as not to spoil it should you choose to read this crack

L

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this tale of adventure and danger and the struggle for escape. It held me captivated and in suspense. I’m super excited for more of this series. The audio was very engaging and well done.

[John Cawlfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great character development. You care about the individuals in this book, well done by the author. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. As soon as you think you have the plot figured out, the author takes the reader in a totally unexpected direction.

Highly recommended.

[Joan]

dnf at 2%


Ouch. Did anyone proofread this for basic Britishisms? Some painful errors that made me lose confidence in the rest of the book.

Not rating.

[Michael Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleverly Believable Spy Story Satisfies And Disappoints Only Briefly
Ben Sager’s life tailspins into a nightmare when as chance makes him an unsuspecting victim. The Shield of Darius by Allen Kent sets out a very interesting and defensible premise. The book quickly moves from one believable event to another. The backdrop and back story keep the reader interested. Well-written prose dominates the full development of the complex, well-managed plot. Characters possess convincing flaws and strengths. The reader cheers the hero on and hates the antagonist for trying to steal the captive protagonist’s wife while manipulating a scenario right out of today’s newspapers. Even happenstance seems credible. Really a great read that delivers everything an international intrigue should, including a healthy amount of well-described, minutely researched and cleverly elaborated conspiracy theory. The Shield of Darius remains a consistent, exciting international thriller until the final pages when the author succumbs to naive patriotism. His previously intense and critical characters suddenly forget reality and believe that the dominant institutions of the USA would not be subjugated by the all powerful and outside the law offshoots of military power he has spent the whole book describing in their full blown insidiousness. Absolute power always corrupts absolutely.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is full of political intrigue and adventure. The author's familiarity with Iran are evident in the desctiptions of people and places. The quick plot line keeps the reader wanting to know what might come next and for the most part is very believable. The story and the style reminds me of Dan Brown's novels, and I found it an enjoyable read.

[Karen Pulliam]

This book was perfectly written! From the very first page, I wanted to read more. Didn't disappoint!

[Nev Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely good thriller novel.Well writen and fast paced. About government duplicity and cover up.Recommended.