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The Geronimo Breach
Librarian's Note: This is an alternate cover edition - ASIN: B005GFY758
The Geronimo Breach is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride that pits the world's most unlikely protagonist against the deadliest adversaries on the planet. From the corridors of Langley to the sweltering jungles of Panama, from the hills of Pakistan to the cocaine trails of Colombia, a clandestine scheme to preserve a terrible secret goes horribly awry, plunging a reluctant hero down a deadly rabbit hole of deceit and betrayal, while raising disturbing questions about the media, the war on terror & its linkage with the war on drugs, & the nature of reality in an age of sound-bites and photo ops.
Albert Ross is a boozing, chain smoking philanderer; shifty, lazy, cowardly, going to fat, & more prone to doing the wrong thing than any man alive. His purgatorial existence working for the State Department in Panama gets shattered when a routine errand becomes a race against the clock, battling adversaries for whom no price is too high to protect a secret that could topple the world order. As the body count climbs, Al must face his own demons, as well as the myriad very real ones intent upon destroying him. The unexpectedly shattering conclusion of this richly drawn thriller is both topical & chillingly plausible, making for a roller-coaster action/adventure without parallel.
The Geronimo Breach is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride that pits the world's most unlikely protagonist against the deadliest adversaries on the planet. From the corridors of Langley to the sweltering jungles of Panama, from the hills of Pakistan to the cocaine trails of Colombia, a clandestine scheme to preserve a terrible secret goes horribly awry, plunging a reluctant hero down a deadly rabbit hole of deceit and betrayal, while raising disturbing questions about the media, the war on terror & its linkage with the war on drugs, & the nature of reality in an age of sound-bites and photo ops.
Albert Ross is a boozing, chain smoking philanderer; shifty, lazy, cowardly, going to fat, & more prone to doing the wrong thing than any man alive. His purgatorial existence working for the State Department in Panama gets shattered when a routine errand becomes a race against the clock, battling adversaries for whom no price is too high to protect a secret that could topple the world order. As the body count climbs, Al must face his own demons, as well as the myriad very real ones intent upon destroying him. The unexpectedly shattering conclusion of this richly drawn thriller is both topical & chillingly plausible, making for a roller-coaster action/adventure without parallel.
Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
February 3, 2012
What a great reading experience. I never laughed so hard reading an adventure/thriller before. I don't laugh out loud very often, but by the time I got to the end of the first chapter, where Al sarcastically said "Superb... Thank you, God", I couldn't stop laughing. I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time and it felt good.
Al reminds me of the "Al" in the TV series "Married With Children". So much so that, when I picture Al while reading the book, that's who I visualize. I have always rooted for the underdogs in life which is probably why I like Al so much.
Don't get me wrong though... this definitely is NOT a comedy. There is a story within a story; a shootout in a bordello; another shootout with a group of heavily armed mercenaries sent to destroy him; being chased by a CIA Black Ops team that rains down grenades on him from a chopper and forced to trek through probably the worst stretch of jungle in the world. Oh yeah... and Al learns to love a burro.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Geronimo Breach. The only reason I gave it a Five Star rating is because there was no way to give it ten stars.
Al reminds me of the "Al" in the TV series "Married With Children". So much so that, when I picture Al while reading the book, that's who I visualize. I have always rooted for the underdogs in life which is probably why I like Al so much.
Don't get me wrong though... this definitely is NOT a comedy. There is a story within a story; a shootout in a bordello; another shootout with a group of heavily armed mercenaries sent to destroy him; being chased by a CIA Black Ops team that rains down grenades on him from a chopper and forced to trek through probably the worst stretch of jungle in the world. Oh yeah... and Al learns to love a burro.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Geronimo Breach. The only reason I gave it a Five Star rating is because there was no way to give it ten stars.
April 11, 2013
This is a real page turner with many twists and turns and subject matter out of today's and yesterday's headlines. The characters are richly drawn and well developed and even though the protagonist shows many human flaws, I grew to like him by the end of the story. Nicely done by the author.
March 26, 2012
From The Geronimo Breach to The Voynich Cypher
That’s exactly how I did it---I read The Geronimo Breach, and it was so damn good I went right to Blake’s The Voynich Cypher, which, btw, I can’t put down.
But back to The Geronimo Breach. Russell Blake writes a great ‘Loser as Wow: Possible Winner?’ character in Al Ross. This guy is so going to seed there’s no way out of the Panamanian jungle he’s got himself stuck in unless he uses the desperados who are trying to kill him as tour guides. But why use killers when you can use a donkey? That’s the kind of guy Al is. His dopey brilliance, his dulled as a marble conscience together with his sharp as a razor instinct are all he needs. Well…that and the gorgeous, exotic lady who got away.
Others have covered the storyline, so let me just say, with not a single reservation: Russell Blake is one helluva good writer who keeps those pages turning and that laugh-out-loud sense of humor intact to the very end. Blake’s hero sneaks up on you with his split-second-too-late or just-in-the-nick-of-time awareness, and that’s what keeps the tension up, the characters real and the plot compelling. Blake tells a good story, and he tells it in a way a reader will enjoy.
And something else—this is one author who knows what he’s talking about. Panama, Columbia and the banditos (from North and South America…ahem) who run governments and program, drugs and guns and all other kind of contraband are so true-to-life in The Geronimo Breach, I kept feeling as though I should duck and run for cover. Blake’s precision with pacing and dialog carry the plot along a taut momentum continuum that moves you over terrain Al will surely not survive, and then pauses just long enough to let Al fall down in a grunting heap and you catch your breath. Every beat makes sense to the storyline---there’s no gratuitous shoot-em-up just so it can be called a thriller. Not this writer. He’s too good for that. He’s a smart writer.
As you read along, you are positive that the hero is a dead-man walking and a loser at love, to boot. Worse, you find yourself wishing he could give himself a break. And then, just when you think something good might come of it all—well, let’s just say if anything good happens, it would not be by virtue of any credit whatsoever to Albert Ross, biggest dope you hate to love.
Russell Blake is a star in the making, and his books are headed for the silver screen. Why do I say that? Two words: Albert Ross. OK, three words: The Geronimo Breach.
The Geronimo Breach
That’s exactly how I did it---I read The Geronimo Breach, and it was so damn good I went right to Blake’s The Voynich Cypher, which, btw, I can’t put down.
But back to The Geronimo Breach. Russell Blake writes a great ‘Loser as Wow: Possible Winner?’ character in Al Ross. This guy is so going to seed there’s no way out of the Panamanian jungle he’s got himself stuck in unless he uses the desperados who are trying to kill him as tour guides. But why use killers when you can use a donkey? That’s the kind of guy Al is. His dopey brilliance, his dulled as a marble conscience together with his sharp as a razor instinct are all he needs. Well…that and the gorgeous, exotic lady who got away.
Others have covered the storyline, so let me just say, with not a single reservation: Russell Blake is one helluva good writer who keeps those pages turning and that laugh-out-loud sense of humor intact to the very end. Blake’s hero sneaks up on you with his split-second-too-late or just-in-the-nick-of-time awareness, and that’s what keeps the tension up, the characters real and the plot compelling. Blake tells a good story, and he tells it in a way a reader will enjoy.
And something else—this is one author who knows what he’s talking about. Panama, Columbia and the banditos (from North and South America…ahem) who run governments and program, drugs and guns and all other kind of contraband are so true-to-life in The Geronimo Breach, I kept feeling as though I should duck and run for cover. Blake’s precision with pacing and dialog carry the plot along a taut momentum continuum that moves you over terrain Al will surely not survive, and then pauses just long enough to let Al fall down in a grunting heap and you catch your breath. Every beat makes sense to the storyline---there’s no gratuitous shoot-em-up just so it can be called a thriller. Not this writer. He’s too good for that. He’s a smart writer.
As you read along, you are positive that the hero is a dead-man walking and a loser at love, to boot. Worse, you find yourself wishing he could give himself a break. And then, just when you think something good might come of it all—well, let’s just say if anything good happens, it would not be by virtue of any credit whatsoever to Albert Ross, biggest dope you hate to love.
Russell Blake is a star in the making, and his books are headed for the silver screen. Why do I say that? Two words: Albert Ross. OK, three words: The Geronimo Breach.
The Geronimo Breach
June 3, 2012
This was a CIA story of conspiracy around Osama Bin Ladan with a very interesting twist. Makes you wonder what you can believe these days. Firt book by russell Blake and would read other books by him.
Read
March 25, 2016Enjoyed the storyline and held my interest to the last word. Is this really fiction as
it read as it belonged on the front page!! Especially regarding not to long ago events that happened. Liked the happy ending. Will definitely read more by Russell Blake
it read as it belonged on the front page!! Especially regarding not to long ago events that happened. Liked the happy ending. Will definitely read more by Russell Blake
November 13, 2019
Unfortunately, this is going to be added to my DNF list. There is simply too many other books that I could occupy my time with and not have to ignore some of the things that jump out at me as blatantly incorrect in just the opening sentences. Having read other reviews of the book I had hoped for an enjoyable read, but I just can't tolerate errors that even a cursory internet search would have provided accurate answers for.
If you don't want some spoilers then just stop reading right here.
For those that like to know what they could possibly be getting themselves into, or if perchance the author bothers to read a random person's review of their work, lets forge ahead!
The second sentence says "the barrels of their automatic rifles pulsing white hot...". Having fired plenty of automatic weapons I can tell you that if the barrel is white hot then it is no longer a straight barrel. It has melted. And it continues "from burst after burst of armor piercing slugs." A rifle does not fire a slug, and being AP ammo is not going to make it any hotter. Tracers would heat it up faster, but a standard FMJ round or an AP round is not generating any more heat than usual.
A few sentences later we have "the ringing from tinnitus obliterated all sounds besides the percussive chatter of their guns." They could be experiencing NIHL, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, which would serve to "deafen" them to an extent. That's not uncommon when shooting without hearing protection. Tinnitus does cause a horrible ringing in the ears, which also goes hand-in-hand with shooting and a lack of hearing protection. It is normally not loud enough to drown out any sounds, which is unfortunate since there are times I wish I could not hear things, including the irritating eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee in a quiet room.
The whole opening chapter - for me - is total train wreck, but it doesn't end there! Chapter 4, oh you beauty. I am not going into the age of the SEAL team members and that description, nope. "The obvious leader of the older men had worn the insignia of a colonel..." is a sentence that just about did me in. SEALs are a part of the Navy, and while the insignia worn may have been the same as that of a colonel the actual rank is Captain. And we get it, they are elite, the bulk of this chapter could safely be deleted and nothing would be missing from the story. Since we are still on the subject, "They were instructed to stand down and prepare to ship out." doesn't make sense. Either they are standing down, as in no longer going on the mission, or they are standing-to and preparing to ship out. You've issued conflicting orders here.
I love cars. Not everyone is a "car person" and I understand that. However, in Chapter 5 we have Sam calling up Al to gloat about his vehicle. We already know that Sam is driving a Range Rover, but then he complains that he has to get it serviced and they gave him "a three-series Benz as a loaner." Mercedes does not make a three-series, that would be BMW. It would have been better had Sam said "they gave me a C-Class as a loaner", and does this guy have two cars? Because I thought he was driving a Range Rover, so why bitch about this three-series?
This is where I gave up. I just couldn't force myself to continue. Like I said, this is all stuff a person could figure out with an internet search, they don't even have to be a subject matter expert. If it ever gets revisited, rewritten, and a once-over by another editor then I'd love to give it another shot. Until then, it shall collect dust. I admit defeat.
If you don't want some spoilers then just stop reading right here.
For those that like to know what they could possibly be getting themselves into, or if perchance the author bothers to read a random person's review of their work, lets forge ahead!
The second sentence says "the barrels of their automatic rifles pulsing white hot...". Having fired plenty of automatic weapons I can tell you that if the barrel is white hot then it is no longer a straight barrel. It has melted. And it continues "from burst after burst of armor piercing slugs." A rifle does not fire a slug, and being AP ammo is not going to make it any hotter. Tracers would heat it up faster, but a standard FMJ round or an AP round is not generating any more heat than usual.
A few sentences later we have "the ringing from tinnitus obliterated all sounds besides the percussive chatter of their guns." They could be experiencing NIHL, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, which would serve to "deafen" them to an extent. That's not uncommon when shooting without hearing protection. Tinnitus does cause a horrible ringing in the ears, which also goes hand-in-hand with shooting and a lack of hearing protection. It is normally not loud enough to drown out any sounds, which is unfortunate since there are times I wish I could not hear things, including the irritating eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee in a quiet room.
The whole opening chapter - for me - is total train wreck, but it doesn't end there! Chapter 4, oh you beauty. I am not going into the age of the SEAL team members and that description, nope. "The obvious leader of the older men had worn the insignia of a colonel..." is a sentence that just about did me in. SEALs are a part of the Navy, and while the insignia worn may have been the same as that of a colonel the actual rank is Captain. And we get it, they are elite, the bulk of this chapter could safely be deleted and nothing would be missing from the story. Since we are still on the subject, "They were instructed to stand down and prepare to ship out." doesn't make sense. Either they are standing down, as in no longer going on the mission, or they are standing-to and preparing to ship out. You've issued conflicting orders here.
I love cars. Not everyone is a "car person" and I understand that. However, in Chapter 5 we have Sam calling up Al to gloat about his vehicle. We already know that Sam is driving a Range Rover, but then he complains that he has to get it serviced and they gave him "a three-series Benz as a loaner." Mercedes does not make a three-series, that would be BMW. It would have been better had Sam said "they gave me a C-Class as a loaner", and does this guy have two cars? Because I thought he was driving a Range Rover, so why bitch about this three-series?
This is where I gave up. I just couldn't force myself to continue. Like I said, this is all stuff a person could figure out with an internet search, they don't even have to be a subject matter expert. If it ever gets revisited, rewritten, and a once-over by another editor then I'd love to give it another shot. Until then, it shall collect dust. I admit defeat.
November 4, 2018
An excellent who done it thriller
Al is a naive idiot government worker who takes too many chances thinking that no one would care about a little graft here and there. He is so wrong. A cook serving 8 years in a large mansion in is laid off thinking he is entitled to more than severance pay, so he swipes a video camera not knowing what is on the video. The plot takes the reader through a convoluted chase with Al and the cook running for their lives. This could make for an entertaining movie. You may like it 😬😆
Al is a naive idiot government worker who takes too many chances thinking that no one would care about a little graft here and there. He is so wrong. A cook serving 8 years in a large mansion in is laid off thinking he is entitled to more than severance pay, so he swipes a video camera not knowing what is on the video. The plot takes the reader through a convoluted chase with Al and the cook running for their lives. This could make for an entertaining movie. You may like it 😬😆
February 21, 2018
Russell Blake keeps us entertained
Like many of the books I read today, Russell Blake presents a lead character who has somewhat shady undertones and we get to learn the story behind These. Then, for me, I found myself begin to root for him.
Read the book and I think you will agree that it's well worth the time.
Like many of the books I read today, Russell Blake presents a lead character who has somewhat shady undertones and we get to learn the story behind These. Then, for me, I found myself begin to root for him.
Read the book and I think you will agree that it's well worth the time.
October 20, 2020
Great read
Mr. Blake is extremely creative and talented. His characters are so well written. I get totally immersed in the story. I plan to read every book written by this author I can find.
Mr. Blake is extremely creative and talented. His characters are so well written. I get totally immersed in the story. I plan to read every book written by this author I can find.
June 27, 2019
Sharp twisted plot
Quick and action packed. Smiling and laughing at Al yet wondering now what! Russell did it AGAIN. Must read for sure.
Quick and action packed. Smiling and laughing at Al yet wondering now what! Russell did it AGAIN. Must read for sure.
June 14, 2020
Excellent read!
This was my first Russell Blake read as suggested by my mother. I could not put the book down until I finished - I found it that riveting. Well done sir!
This was my first Russell Blake read as suggested by my mother. I could not put the book down until I finished - I found it that riveting. Well done sir!
September 11, 2012
The Geronimo Breach is a very clever look at the world of clandestine operations and the involvement at both official and unofficial levels. The story pits the world's most unlikely protagonist against some of the deadliest antagonists in the world. The story takes place in the secret bunkers and corridors of Langley to the oppressive jungles of Panama. It occurs in the hills of Pakistan and in the drug running trails of Columbia.
The plot involves a meandering and clandestine attempt to recover a video camera and preserve a terrible secret. Everything goes horribly wrong when the camera is pilfered by a poor pitiful cook at a mysterious mansion. Ernesto the cook becomes a reluctant hero in the story. He finds himself caught in a web of deceit and betrayal for what is simply a petty little crime.
Al(bert) Ross is a ne'er-do-well. He is a drunken, chain smoking philanderer. He is worthless, lazy, cowardly, overweight, and more prone to doing the wrong thing than any man alive. And those are his good characteristics. Always hoping to find the easy way out, he embarks on a ride of a lifetime when an ill-advised "errand" to escort Ernesto out of the country in exchange for some much needed cash becomes a race against forces much more powerful than he can imagine. For reasons he can't seem to figure out, he finds himself battling forces within his own government for whom no price seems to be too high to protect a secret that could destroy several of the world's leading governments and potentially plunge the world into chaos.
Several other characters advance the plot. Some are ingredients in the espionage alphabet soup. And one is a madam who has a warm spot in her heart for poor ol' Al. And as the body count climbs in a spy game without rules, Al must face his own past and his demons, as well as an ample supply of very real and current ones who seem to be intent upon destroying Ernesto, Al and anyone in the vicinity of them.
In the end we discover the secret on the video camera. And it is both topical & plausible. And also in the end, conspiracy theorists will have a field day with this one.
The plot involves a meandering and clandestine attempt to recover a video camera and preserve a terrible secret. Everything goes horribly wrong when the camera is pilfered by a poor pitiful cook at a mysterious mansion. Ernesto the cook becomes a reluctant hero in the story. He finds himself caught in a web of deceit and betrayal for what is simply a petty little crime.
Al(bert) Ross is a ne'er-do-well. He is a drunken, chain smoking philanderer. He is worthless, lazy, cowardly, overweight, and more prone to doing the wrong thing than any man alive. And those are his good characteristics. Always hoping to find the easy way out, he embarks on a ride of a lifetime when an ill-advised "errand" to escort Ernesto out of the country in exchange for some much needed cash becomes a race against forces much more powerful than he can imagine. For reasons he can't seem to figure out, he finds himself battling forces within his own government for whom no price seems to be too high to protect a secret that could destroy several of the world's leading governments and potentially plunge the world into chaos.
Several other characters advance the plot. Some are ingredients in the espionage alphabet soup. And one is a madam who has a warm spot in her heart for poor ol' Al. And as the body count climbs in a spy game without rules, Al must face his own past and his demons, as well as an ample supply of very real and current ones who seem to be intent upon destroying Ernesto, Al and anyone in the vicinity of them.
In the end we discover the secret on the video camera. And it is both topical & plausible. And also in the end, conspiracy theorists will have a field day with this one.
August 22, 2011
The Geronimo Breach exceeded all expectations, and establishes Russell Blake as a first rate thriller writer.
Meet Albert, a degenerate, slovenly diplomat stationed at the U.S. Consulate in Panama City. Prone to gambling debt, plagued by chronic drinking and continuously undermined by a series of bad decisions, Al is a shambles of a human being, on the verge of self-destruction. He occasionally takes jobs escorting people to Panama's borders, just to earn enough cash to cover his debts.
Meet Ernesto, a simple man, just trying to make a living as an illegal alien in Panama. A longtime private cook for a wealthy estate, he finds himself suddenly out of a job, with no explanation. No longer able to work in Panama, he needs to get back to Colombia, which is no easy feat.
Unfortunately for Al, he picked the wrong week to bet on a losing soccer team. Pressed for cash, he takes an easy escort job to the Columbian border.
Al...Meet Ernesto. Did I mention that Al has sticky fingers?
Ernesto took something that doesn't belong to him from the estate, and ignites a no-holds barred, scorched earth search for the object, bringing the wrath of the U.S. government down onto the streets of Panama and the deadly jungles of Columbia.
Russell Blake delivers the goods in his second novel. Once again combining international conspiracy with a bluntly honest story of survival against a relentless enemy, Blake gives the reader a book that is hard to put down. His characters are finely developed and described, to the point of near perfection. I could thoroughly envision all of them, and grew to empathize or hate them. Albert Ross, State Department diplomat, is one of the best characters I've read in many years. Despicable, and barely redeemable, he continues to charm the reader to the very end. I laughed out loud on several occasions at his character's thoughts and actions.
I highly recommend this fast paced thriller to anyone with two straight days to read.
Meet Albert, a degenerate, slovenly diplomat stationed at the U.S. Consulate in Panama City. Prone to gambling debt, plagued by chronic drinking and continuously undermined by a series of bad decisions, Al is a shambles of a human being, on the verge of self-destruction. He occasionally takes jobs escorting people to Panama's borders, just to earn enough cash to cover his debts.
Meet Ernesto, a simple man, just trying to make a living as an illegal alien in Panama. A longtime private cook for a wealthy estate, he finds himself suddenly out of a job, with no explanation. No longer able to work in Panama, he needs to get back to Colombia, which is no easy feat.
Unfortunately for Al, he picked the wrong week to bet on a losing soccer team. Pressed for cash, he takes an easy escort job to the Columbian border.
Al...Meet Ernesto. Did I mention that Al has sticky fingers?
Ernesto took something that doesn't belong to him from the estate, and ignites a no-holds barred, scorched earth search for the object, bringing the wrath of the U.S. government down onto the streets of Panama and the deadly jungles of Columbia.
Russell Blake delivers the goods in his second novel. Once again combining international conspiracy with a bluntly honest story of survival against a relentless enemy, Blake gives the reader a book that is hard to put down. His characters are finely developed and described, to the point of near perfection. I could thoroughly envision all of them, and grew to empathize or hate them. Albert Ross, State Department diplomat, is one of the best characters I've read in many years. Despicable, and barely redeemable, he continues to charm the reader to the very end. I laughed out loud on several occasions at his character's thoughts and actions.
I highly recommend this fast paced thriller to anyone with two straight days to read.
May 9, 2012
I can say one thing for certain - Russell Blake can write! As so many others have said, he takes a somewhat unlikeable character in Al ross and makes you care about him. And even though the one really big punch in this story is telegraphed,l he keeps you interested in the story about the main character.
This is not high end literature, it is simply a thriller. A story to enjoy and pass some time with as you watch it unfold. I tend to enjoy this genre even though I am often frustrated by it. Too often we see the hero doing things that, to me, are just not believable. This is not a problem with Al who comes equipped with the same lack of skills and overdeveloped sense of fear that we all can share and recognize.
I am still not sure if Mr. Blake is some kind of right wing conspiracy nut or perhaps a left wing conspiracy nut. I won't go into detail as to my point of confusion as I don't like to reveal plot developments. I'll let you come to your own conclusion. While I tend to think most conspiracy theories collapse under their own weight, you can still enjoy this novel despite this glaring shortcoming. If you tend to believe in conspiracies you may even think they are a strength in the novel.
In the Kindle addition, which was available for free when I downloaded it, there are some samples of his other novels. I think he compares well to Grisham and, in my opinion, is better than Patterson.
This is not high end literature, it is simply a thriller. A story to enjoy and pass some time with as you watch it unfold. I tend to enjoy this genre even though I am often frustrated by it. Too often we see the hero doing things that, to me, are just not believable. This is not a problem with Al who comes equipped with the same lack of skills and overdeveloped sense of fear that we all can share and recognize.
I am still not sure if Mr. Blake is some kind of right wing conspiracy nut or perhaps a left wing conspiracy nut. I won't go into detail as to my point of confusion as I don't like to reveal plot developments. I'll let you come to your own conclusion. While I tend to think most conspiracy theories collapse under their own weight, you can still enjoy this novel despite this glaring shortcoming. If you tend to believe in conspiracies you may even think they are a strength in the novel.
In the Kindle addition, which was available for free when I downloaded it, there are some samples of his other novels. I think he compares well to Grisham and, in my opinion, is better than Patterson.
January 22, 2014
This was a very good thriller.
The protagonist, Al, is the ultimate anti-hero—an alcoholic loser stuck in a dead-end low-level CIA position in Panama. If he ever does anything right, it's by accident or for the wrong reasons. He's selfish, lazy, and usually drunk. Yet, Blake makes you want to read on, if for nothing else than to see how much worse his life can get. It's a bit like disaster porn—horrifying, but you can't look away.
The writing is brilliant. The vivid and often hilarious descriptions bring the scenes to life. The book opens with Al waking up from a night of over-indulgence and suffering through the consequences, while everything around him goes wrong. Here's just one example from the first chapter:
"He resembled nothing so much as a puffer fish that had been hit in the face with a brick. Several times."
The plot is a great take on some recent world events, presenting an all too plausible scenario. The mystery of what's on the videotape will keep you hanging on till the end.
The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is that the climax was a bit of a let-down. Al, having gone through his character arc, is doing something selfless for perhaps the first time in his life. But it all goes too smoothly in the end. After so much action and building tension, I was expecting more, and this story really had the potential to deliver it. But it was still very enjoyable, and I recommend it.
The protagonist, Al, is the ultimate anti-hero—an alcoholic loser stuck in a dead-end low-level CIA position in Panama. If he ever does anything right, it's by accident or for the wrong reasons. He's selfish, lazy, and usually drunk. Yet, Blake makes you want to read on, if for nothing else than to see how much worse his life can get. It's a bit like disaster porn—horrifying, but you can't look away.
The writing is brilliant. The vivid and often hilarious descriptions bring the scenes to life. The book opens with Al waking up from a night of over-indulgence and suffering through the consequences, while everything around him goes wrong. Here's just one example from the first chapter:
"He resembled nothing so much as a puffer fish that had been hit in the face with a brick. Several times."
The plot is a great take on some recent world events, presenting an all too plausible scenario. The mystery of what's on the videotape will keep you hanging on till the end.
The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is that the climax was a bit of a let-down. Al, having gone through his character arc, is doing something selfless for perhaps the first time in his life. But it all goes too smoothly in the end. After so much action and building tension, I was expecting more, and this story really had the potential to deliver it. But it was still very enjoyable, and I recommend it.
June 4, 2012
The first three chapters introduce us to our main characters; Albert ‘Al’ Ross, a drunken, gambling, womanizer working for the State Department in Panama: Ernesto, The Cook, a Columbian working in Panama: and Sam Wakefield, also State Department based in Panama. The hero of our story is Al and he is a very unlikely hero. A drunk who smokes too much, weighs too much, and doesn’t know a good thing when he sees it. You will find that it is hard to like him.
Ernesto loses his job, leaving with something that does not belong to him. He soon comes to regret taking it and then needs to get out of town in a hurry. Enter Al, who moonlights in the freelance transportation business courtesy of his diplomatic passport.
Things go from bad to worse to really bad.
The book is written in an entertaining style which is very amusing but never over-the-top or too much. I had trouble putting this book down. The Kindle formatting was excellent. The writing was excellent.
If you want to feel what it is like to be trekking through one of the most dangerous parts of the world without actually getting bitten yourself, get this book. Highly recommended.
(One note: the story ends at 87% on the Kindle because of two book excerpts.)
I read the Kindle edition (Manana Publishing, August 2011, 271p) which I downloaded for free during a promotion.
Ernesto loses his job, leaving with something that does not belong to him. He soon comes to regret taking it and then needs to get out of town in a hurry. Enter Al, who moonlights in the freelance transportation business courtesy of his diplomatic passport.
Things go from bad to worse to really bad.
The book is written in an entertaining style which is very amusing but never over-the-top or too much. I had trouble putting this book down. The Kindle formatting was excellent. The writing was excellent.
If you want to feel what it is like to be trekking through one of the most dangerous parts of the world without actually getting bitten yourself, get this book. Highly recommended.
(One note: the story ends at 87% on the Kindle because of two book excerpts.)
I read the Kindle edition (Manana Publishing, August 2011, 271p) which I downloaded for free during a promotion.
February 20, 2013
The beginning of "Geronimo Breach" introduces several characters in detail, leaving the reader hanging as to the identity of the main character. The author leads us to believe that this story could take off in several different directions. However, that concept soon falls apart after a shoot out in a local Panama whorehouse. Remaining survivors are eventually tortured by the CIA for information on the whereabouts of those who escaped; one of whom has a cell phone that, unknowingly, is tracked and exposes their position and route of travel. Thus, making it easy for their pursuers to plan an ambush and retrieve a stolen video camera.
As I mention in the title above that it's all in the timing and soon the main character is identified. However, he's a jerk and I've grown to despise him so far in the story. Luck and timing lead the professional pursuers to think that he's much more skilled than led to believe. The hunt is on!
The author also has a knack for eliciting laughter at just the right time. His snide remarks and descriptions will sometimes surprise the reader and result in an out loud laugh. All in all, it is a fun read - all remaining questions will be answered before the end, leading some readers to yell out loud, "I knew it".
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
As I mention in the title above that it's all in the timing and soon the main character is identified. However, he's a jerk and I've grown to despise him so far in the story. Luck and timing lead the professional pursuers to think that he's much more skilled than led to believe. The hunt is on!
The author also has a knack for eliciting laughter at just the right time. His snide remarks and descriptions will sometimes surprise the reader and result in an out loud laugh. All in all, it is a fun read - all remaining questions will be answered before the end, leading some readers to yell out loud, "I knew it".
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
March 31, 2012
A boozing, lazy member of the State Department with a hankering for the ladies has been posted to a small station in Panama where he fritters away his time drinking and recovering from his binges. Needless to say his finances are always bordering on non existent and he has taken to doing small jobs for the owner of the local bordello. Using his diplomatic credentials he escorts people through checkpoints and across the borders. Enter a cook from a large gated and walled hacienda, who after years of service has been given notice. His employers are pulling up stakes and moving out. Looking to complain about the short notice and meager severance he wonders into the house looking for someone to answer his questions. He is soon told to leave and on the way out sees a room with lots of electronics and cameras and decides to take one of the cameras for himself. On the way home he is told by a friend that the police are searching his home and being Columbian, he decides to return to his home country. But he has a problem, he can’t go home and get his passport and other papers….. That’s the ground work, but I’ll let you find out what happens when he connects up with the Madam and the State Department slacker…
January 18, 2012
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for a review.
After reading An Angel With Fur, it was obvious Russell Blake could write. However, Angel is not in the area of Blake's normal repertoire. How would a fiction novel by him hold up? Easy! It's surpasses it.
The Geronimo Breach is composed of morally deficient characters (all of them) and the not-so-innocent bystanders. They are the drug lords, the madame, the hookers, the politicians, the bureaucrats in the alphabet soup of government, the police, and even the cook. Oh, the cook is the key to it all, the ignition to the flame, the fuse that detonates the bomb.
Geronimo starts off with a bang (literally), and it keeps you flipping through the pages as the action just keeps coming. Thanks to a well-placed day off it was finished in less than 24 hours after it was started! Putting it down is not an option.
Though it is a work of fiction, there are some true facts worked into the story line as well as some really plausible imaginings. The combination is an absolutely fascinating read that keeps your backside firmly glued to your chair and your eyes firmly glued to the book.
After reading An Angel With Fur, it was obvious Russell Blake could write. However, Angel is not in the area of Blake's normal repertoire. How would a fiction novel by him hold up? Easy! It's surpasses it.
The Geronimo Breach is composed of morally deficient characters (all of them) and the not-so-innocent bystanders. They are the drug lords, the madame, the hookers, the politicians, the bureaucrats in the alphabet soup of government, the police, and even the cook. Oh, the cook is the key to it all, the ignition to the flame, the fuse that detonates the bomb.
Geronimo starts off with a bang (literally), and it keeps you flipping through the pages as the action just keeps coming. Thanks to a well-placed day off it was finished in less than 24 hours after it was started! Putting it down is not an option.
Though it is a work of fiction, there are some true facts worked into the story line as well as some really plausible imaginings. The combination is an absolutely fascinating read that keeps your backside firmly glued to your chair and your eyes firmly glued to the book.
December 13, 2013
Drunk and disorderly in Panama, a government man just wants to earn his pension, keep his job, and get back Stateside someday. Meanwhile the lowly cook has, all unknowingly, stumbled on more than just your average theft, and the weight of a nation’s secret military and political might are about to be thrown into faraway, out of the way, places.
There’s plenty of excitement in Russell Blake’s The Geronimo Breach, balanced with cynical politics, conspiracy theories, media deception, determined disbelief, gritty descriptions of war, sickness and death, and lots of deeply telling (and lingeringly told) human details. Neither side comes off as sympathetic in this frantic chase, but it’s intriguing to watch the plot unfold, and the conclusion certainly offers food for thought.
Told to shock, and replete with details, from the exsanguination of hemorrhagic fever to strident political accusation, The Geronimo Breach is a dark, heavy-hitting, heavy-drinking political thriller that pulls no punches to convey its point.
Disclosure: I enjoyed other books by the author and found this one offered free. I offer my honest review.
There’s plenty of excitement in Russell Blake’s The Geronimo Breach, balanced with cynical politics, conspiracy theories, media deception, determined disbelief, gritty descriptions of war, sickness and death, and lots of deeply telling (and lingeringly told) human details. Neither side comes off as sympathetic in this frantic chase, but it’s intriguing to watch the plot unfold, and the conclusion certainly offers food for thought.
Told to shock, and replete with details, from the exsanguination of hemorrhagic fever to strident political accusation, The Geronimo Breach is a dark, heavy-hitting, heavy-drinking political thriller that pulls no punches to convey its point.
Disclosure: I enjoyed other books by the author and found this one offered free. I offer my honest review.
September 29, 2011
You must read this book.
I can't believe what Blake has done with this novel. Most writers present protagonists that are good, but flawed. Not Blake. He draws a picture of the most unlikeable character since...well, I can't think of any this abominable. Yet, at the end of the day - you gotta love Al. The transition is seamless. An incredible job of characterization.
Beyond that amazing feat, Blake manages to weave a story that is packed full of political intrigue, details of life on foreign soil, nitty-gritty adventure and complete believability. I found myself actually nodding as I read parts of this, knowing full well that Blake presents a true and accurate picture of international politics and the US participation in it.
Okay, it's be honest. Indie authors have a bad rep. I've found several really good authors but we're up against the publishing houses and it's often tough to make the grade without a publicity machine. Russell Blake is going to be very big someday and that's good for all Indie authors.
I can't believe what Blake has done with this novel. Most writers present protagonists that are good, but flawed. Not Blake. He draws a picture of the most unlikeable character since...well, I can't think of any this abominable. Yet, at the end of the day - you gotta love Al. The transition is seamless. An incredible job of characterization.
Beyond that amazing feat, Blake manages to weave a story that is packed full of political intrigue, details of life on foreign soil, nitty-gritty adventure and complete believability. I found myself actually nodding as I read parts of this, knowing full well that Blake presents a true and accurate picture of international politics and the US participation in it.
Okay, it's be honest. Indie authors have a bad rep. I've found several really good authors but we're up against the publishing houses and it's often tough to make the grade without a publicity machine. Russell Blake is going to be very big someday and that's good for all Indie authors.
April 20, 2016
Earnesto is a cook in Panama City. His sticky fingers nets him a video camera with footage on it that would be very damaging to the States. The State Department in Panama City needs to get that camera back and Earnesto needs to make a hasty retreat to Columbia. Enter superhero Al Ross. He can shoot the eye out of a gnat at 100 yards, pick any lock in seconds and break any computer code. Actually, he can't do any of those things. What he is, is a harmless drunk who happens to be a State Department diplomat who sometimes earns some extra money by escorting people to the Colombian border. His trip with Earnesto turns out to be not that profitable, but Earnesto ends up dead and Al ends up with the camera. The State Department has Al pegged as a brilliant operative under cover as a harmless drunk. Good cover. The reader doesn't get to know what was on the camera until the end, which is as it should be. The situations Al gets into and out of makes the State Department think he is even more brilliant and makes for some very entertaining reading..
February 26, 2016
This one of those books where you get to some sections and go Oh My Gosh! Other places you go, did this really happen?
This is a mix of International Intrigue and Military with a twist of Conspiracy.
Al is a member of the Diplomatic Corps in Panama, Central America. That is when he isn't out drinking and gambling his money away. These habits force him to do a side business of 'running errands'. In the past, this was nothing more than a 'milk run'. However, Al's luck of late has been terrible and going down hill fast. Now he is being shot at and on the run through South America wondering how things got this way.
I enjoyed how Mr. Blake shows just enough of the various ways Al's life is touched by unfolding events. When we, the reader, get the bigger picture, we go "Oh Crap, he really stepped in it."
Warning: This book is for Mature Audiences due to Violence, Adult Language, and Sexual Situations.
This is a mix of International Intrigue and Military with a twist of Conspiracy.
Al is a member of the Diplomatic Corps in Panama, Central America. That is when he isn't out drinking and gambling his money away. These habits force him to do a side business of 'running errands'. In the past, this was nothing more than a 'milk run'. However, Al's luck of late has been terrible and going down hill fast. Now he is being shot at and on the run through South America wondering how things got this way.
I enjoyed how Mr. Blake shows just enough of the various ways Al's life is touched by unfolding events. When we, the reader, get the bigger picture, we go "Oh Crap, he really stepped in it."
Warning: This book is for Mature Audiences due to Violence, Adult Language, and Sexual Situations.
October 7, 2011
Blake does a great job of creating a group of reprehensible characters that left me alternately despising them and cheering them on, although the cheering occurred with quite a bit of reluctance! Al Ross is the most unlikely hero I’ve come across, and he only survives the worst day of his life thanks to a disrupted digestive tract and a burro who, for some reason, takes a liking to him.
The plot moves quickly and kept me wondering what could possibly happen to make the lives of these characters any worse than they already were. There were two political rants in the book that threw me off my reading pace, but the rest of the time I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Read this book if you love twisting plots and surprise endings, but settle in and prepare yourself to put The Geronimo Breach down with great reluctance if you can’t finish it in one go!
The plot moves quickly and kept me wondering what could possibly happen to make the lives of these characters any worse than they already were. There were two political rants in the book that threw me off my reading pace, but the rest of the time I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Read this book if you love twisting plots and surprise endings, but settle in and prepare yourself to put The Geronimo Breach down with great reluctance if you can’t finish it in one go!
February 24, 2013
Took me a while to get started, but ended up being a great read.
first paragraphs
Chapter 1 Bullets peppered the dirt around Al and his partner. They instinctively returned fire, the barrels of their automatic rifles pulsing from burst after burst of armor-piercing slugs. Thick smoke belched from a crippled station wagon lying on its side by the mouth of the rural alley where they’d taken cover. The glow of burning fuel intermingled with the unmistakable stench of seared flesh, creating a nauseating haze. A slug ricocheted off the peeling wall, gouging a chunk of brick from the dilapidated surface. A flickering of illumination from ancient streetlights succumbed to the gloom of late evening, casting otherworldly shadows over the rustic thoroughfare – now transformed into a killing zone.
Blake, Russell (2011-08-07). The Geronimo Breach (p. 1). Reprobatio Ltd. Kindle Edition.
January 5, 2012
**** Four Stars for Russell Blake's THE GERONIMO BREACH ****
Russell Blake has written a real page-turner here with THE GERONIMO BREACH. This is definitely not your cookie-cutter, hero saves the day thriller.
The protagonist, Al Ross, is a despicable wretch of a human being, yet he grows on you like a soothing fungus. The journey involves a nasty case of trench-foot coupled with explosive and persistent diarrhea, yet it all just works. Even up to the end, which could have concluded in a hundred different outcomes, Blake pulls it off and delivers satisfaction. Readers will tear through this just to know what’s on that F-ing camera!
THE GERONIMO BREACH is the first book I’ve read from Russell Blake, and it’s definitely not the last. He is sure to be a name in the lights.
Russell Blake has written a real page-turner here with THE GERONIMO BREACH. This is definitely not your cookie-cutter, hero saves the day thriller.
The protagonist, Al Ross, is a despicable wretch of a human being, yet he grows on you like a soothing fungus. The journey involves a nasty case of trench-foot coupled with explosive and persistent diarrhea, yet it all just works. Even up to the end, which could have concluded in a hundred different outcomes, Blake pulls it off and delivers satisfaction. Readers will tear through this just to know what’s on that F-ing camera!
THE GERONIMO BREACH is the first book I’ve read from Russell Blake, and it’s definitely not the last. He is sure to be a name in the lights.
January 27, 2012
Russell Blake's novel starts fast and furious. His characters are well defined and you wonder who will be the hero, and who is trying to protect the secret: a stolen video camera. There is Al, a grungy, drunken, fat man who appears to be a total loss in life, marriage, and his job as a U.S. diplomat. The camera passes through many hands, even surviving a trek through a South American jungle. Any person who possessed the camera has been killed. Will Al survive? Will the video be recovered? This novel will captivate you from the beginning. It is very imaginative and well written by a very talented, innovative author.
April 2, 2012
I have to admit that this wasn't my favorite Russell Blake book. It took me longer than the rest of them to get into and through. I think it's because Al was such an unlikeable character that I just didn't really care at first. This book didn't have as much intense action as his other books as there were very few times I thought Al was in real danger. I do like the way this one ended over others in that the story was complete and I didn't feel there was anything left to say about Al (unlike Michael in the Delphi Chronicles). I still really enjoyed the book and I've now started on Night of the Assassin.
April 2, 2012
Great Stuff
I really enjoyed this thriller. The author does a great job in balancing action and humour.
It was genuinely funny but not at the expense of realism or tension. I did laugh out loud on a few occasions.
I really liked the main character and somewhat worryingly I could relate to him a bit too much.
Some of the supporting characters were pretty amusing as well.
The setting was interesting and there were plenty of twists and turns. Everything seemed to make sense and seemed quite believable. It was a lot less predictable than most thrillers. The conspiracy elements were quite well worked out.
I really enjoyed this thriller. The author does a great job in balancing action and humour.
It was genuinely funny but not at the expense of realism or tension. I did laugh out loud on a few occasions.
I really liked the main character and somewhat worryingly I could relate to him a bit too much.
Some of the supporting characters were pretty amusing as well.
The setting was interesting and there were plenty of twists and turns. Everything seemed to make sense and seemed quite believable. It was a lot less predictable than most thrillers. The conspiracy elements were quite well worked out.
June 6, 2012
For anyone unfamiliar with Russell Blake, this is a great book with which to start. It showcases some of Mr Blake's best talents-snide humor, amazing story twists, a not classical hero, and an unexpected ending. The book is supposed to be a work of fiction, but somehow after reading it, I can't help but wonder if there's some truth to it. Don't start this book as a once it a while read. It will grab a hold of you and you will find yourself up late at night, saying just one more chapter!!!! Awesome book. A most definite must read!
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