24 Declassified: Trojan Horse

24 Declassified #3

by Marc Cerasini

"The eyes of the world are watching"A powerful world leader is expected to join the Hollywood elite at a star-studded ceremony to be broadcast around the globe. But security has been severely compromised -- and a plot is already in motion to turn the Los Angeles Chamberlain Auditorium into a gruesome slaughterhouse.When an on-line "Trojan Horse" detected by the CTU cyber unit sends up red flags, rogue operative Jack Bauer is called into action. He has less than twenty-four hours to prevent an unthinkable act of death and destruction from occurring -- a televised massacre intended to topple a foreign government and bring terror into millions of American households.The countdown is on.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Action, Adult, The United States Of America

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Best-selling author, Marc Cerasini has spent time on the New York Times and USA Today best-seller's lists. His writing spans from children's picture books and young adult novels to adult mystery and military nonfiction. Along the way, he's managed to ghostwrite for Tom Clancy.

Reviews

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, so this isn't the most well-written book on the planet. If I were being absolutely honest I would say that it is not at all well-written... but I'm not being honest, because it's a 24 novelization and I kind of really liked it despite myself. Probably for the copious amounts of Tony. Okay, not probably, definitely. Oh, and Milo. I liked him here and in season 1, but when he shows up later he's just absolutely lame, so I guess I'm saying that this not so wonderful book is better than later seasons of the show.

So, it was a fun little diversion that helps to satisfy 24 cravings, and that was good enough for me to give it (a low) four stars.

[Trekscribbler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franchise books -- novels based on popular television and/or movie series -- are a hard sell. In one respect, readers want a return to the characters that make these franchises work, but, in another respect, readers want to be taken to a realm of imagination perhaps just beyond the reach of the franchise, being delivered a product that fits within the established continuity of the program BUT pushes the limits to show them something further.

The world of 24 has an even greater challenge, given that the premise of the show -- the real time ticking clock -- gets a touch lost in translation. The adrenaline drive fueling Jack Bauer and his efforts on behalf of the United States' Counter Terrorist Unit kicks back a bit as novels tend to provide a greater backstory and filler details than one would get in a 24 episode season. This isn't to say that the book format is inferior to the show; it only assures one that the books will have to always work a bit harder at sustaining the level of tension fans have come to expect from Jack.

That said, TROJAN HORSE is a pretty solid yarn involving a terrorist plot that could cripple the World Wide Web, certainly taking the CTU adventures well beyond the boundaries of Los Angeles (where Bauer and his companions are located). In a story that's set outside the scope of the television events (the setting is, in fact, before Season 1 of the hit Fox series), author Marc Cerasini has taken some creative license at exploring not only a much different Jack, but he also fleshes out Teri Bauer (Jack's wife), Tony Almeida, Nina Myers, and even Ryan Chapelle. While some of the events that take place do come off a bit out of character for what we've come to expect on the television show, Cerasini has the perfect explanation: these folks hadn't quite yet become who they were about to be when Season 1 began. So -- though I had some reservations about some behaviors, especially Tony's -- it was easy to dismiss.

TROJAN HORSE is a good read. It doesn't stray too far from the popular formula of the show, but it does explore the ramifications of other forms of terror in the modern world. And, on most accounts, it delivers some more great Jack Bauer moments for fans to enjoy ... while they're watching their own clocks waiting for the next episode on television to premiere.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this more than a decade ago at the height of my "24" fandom - found it in an airport bookstore somewhere, along with a few others in the Declassified series, prequels to the ground-breaking Season One. I remember loving it then, and was curious to see what my thoughts on it were now, well removed from my obsession. Happy to say, 'Trojan Horse' is still great. Fast-paced, tense, a plot twist or two, and faithful recreations of the best characters from the "24" universe - and the occasional cameo from characters we'll meet in later seasons. Not difficult to read, but very enjoyable.

[Colin Oaten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished the next in the series of prequels to the hit TV show, in which Jack Bauer tackles a terrorist threat to the centre of Hollywood, just as a major awards show is due to take place. Great to see characters you know from the early seasons being fleshed out and hints of their eventual fates in the show being foreshadowed. An engaging thriller that never lets up the pace.

[Henna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summer reading!

[Stacey B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten I read this until I just saw the cover,
Great book. Very much enjoyed this.

[Liam Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an absolute thrill ride from start to finish and I'm so glad to be a fan of this show

[Patrick Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a Jack book per se. More Tony and Milo though Jack plays a part

[Lukas Veil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc’s writing is top tier in this book. Enough movement in the plots to keep you guessing until the end but clear enough to come together in a concise and logical manner.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book from the 24 series that I'll be reading. I've read a few of the books in the X-Men series by this same author, so the writing itself should be great. Hopefully the pace and plot will at least be in spitting distance to the show itself.

Okay, the book overall was pretty good. It had enough typos to be annoying, though. Books based on TV series or movies are usually knocked out pretty fast (unless they're based on a long-established literary parallel, like the ones based on Star Trek), so it pretty much met my expectations on the editing/proofreading front.

[Evan Kirby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun and easy read. These '24' books are all pretty much perennial 3 star books where they are fine and enjoyable entertainment, but never go beyond that in any meaningful way or make you retain a piece of art you'll remember in a few weeks. As is the conceit of the series, it's very fast-paced which is good to breeze through, but sometimes you wish they'd be able to take their time and flesh out some of the plot to actually make it make more sense.

[Ed Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three stories converge into one massive terrorist hunt. Jack is chasing a suspected terrorist around LA, Tony is in Mexico trying to capture a computer geek who reportedly has created a super virus, and a news photographer has taken a photo of a celeb that just doesn't look right. What do they have in common? A terrorist named Hasan.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a big fan of 24 so my sister turned me on to this book. Once I got past the fact that most of the characters in the book had died in the first two seasons, I was able to enjoy it. It is a very quick read with a good plot. I don't think it has quite the intensity of the TV show but I would probably read another one if given to me.

[Eddie Goodridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Well written, with quick paced action like the TV show. Was unique to see the characters actually be able to talk like people in crazy situations. The one thing about the TV show that bugs me, is nobody ever cusses.....

[Andy Green]

again this book could do with being a bit longer so they could go into detail a bit more. If I had not watched the television series first then this would not have been a problem, but having watched all 8 series the books just seem to lack something and jump to quickly over the time periods

[Hechilles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Bauer kicks ass, in print - too much back story, though. Plus, you have to somehow imagine the gravely voice, which does not make me man-crush nearly as much as via TV...

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiefer never disappoints me, even if I can't see him on TV. The full-blown action mixed with the easy to follow plot, this book is extremely easy to read and readily entertaining.

[Victoria Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Action packed. Little annoying with all the typos.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing to scream about. Not a very good novel unless you're jonesing for some 24.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for any 24 or Tom Clancy fan

[brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book. Read it over the course of week's worth of lunch breaks at work. You could probably finish it in a day at the beach or waiting in the airport traveling. A really fast-paced story.

[Taner Kandemir · Rating 4 out of 5]

24 severlere, o sahneleri yeniden yaşatıyor.

[Timo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kyllä tämän töissä luki, mutta ei tämä hyvä ollut vaikka kuinka pidänkin 24 sarjasta. Kaiken lisäksi kömpelösti suomennettu.