Jericho 3

by Paul McKellips

U.S. Navy Captain "Camp" Campbell and Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Raines, the heroes of Paul McKellips' acclaimed debut, UNCAGED, return, determined to execute a mission that leaves millions of lives hanging in the balance. At the heart of this operation is the dire need to prevent a first-strike with a weapon known in intelligence circles as...JERICHO 3. In a remote corner of Afghanistan, three patients are diagnosed with a rare, incredibly infectious disease. At a U.S. base just outside Pakistan, an American army doctor is kidnapped by a local tribe to perform an unlikely surgical procedure on the wife of a powerful leader. And back in the U.S., Camp is handed his most challenging assignment ever, which leaves the normally confident hero desperate for answers. All the while, Camp must hold back his secret desire for Leslie Raines, his beautiful cohort, as they are sent off on two sides of the same mission...only to reunite when the stakes get deadly. With his trademark grit and a globe-racing plot, Paul McKellips takes readers deep into the Middle East conflict, raising timely questions of radicalism, faith, and honor. As the clock ticks down toward Armageddon, Camp and Raines must do everything it takes to stop the total annihilation of two countries. Timely, gripping, and frighteningly real, JERICHO 3 is a one-of-a-kind thriller that will open eyes long after the final page has been turned. JERICHO 3. Infectious disease. Bio-warfare. Nuclear weapons. War just got personal. Ambassador John Bolton writes: "Jericho 3 is a gripping novel...an urgent message...about an Iranian bio threat that should wake us up to the range of horror that could be visited on America and its friends and allies by our sworn enemies."

Genres: Fiction

465 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Paul McKellips is an entertaining, engaging and motivational public speaker who delivers more than 80 presentations each year in the United States and around the world.

Combining 30-years in the motion picture industry with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last six years, McKellips - who now serves as the Executive Vice President at the Foundation for Biomedical Research in Washington, DC - has the unique perspective to creatively explain how biomedical research protects the world's population from bio-terrorism and state-sponsored bio-warfare and the role the greatest military on Earth plays to keep us all safe.

Reviews

[Pavarti Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did not speak with the author until after reading the book and made now promises about the review's content.

I'm closed for reviews, and yet the review requests keep coming. I'm closed for reviews! I even put up a big thing that says I will only review paper copies, which usually deters the requests, and yet the requests keep coming! I guess ya'll like my reviews :) Ok, I'll keep writing them. Mostly for books like this one because it's AWESOME.

JERICHO 3 pulled me in due to my interest in the Middle East, the timeliness of the content and my own nerdy interest in genetics and bio-infections (read zombie potential). When Paul's publicist contacted me with the offer of a paper copy I just couldn't say no. I'm glad I didn't. JERICHO 3 is written with the intensity and perfectionism of a big 6 best seller. This baby has it all, a hint of romance without making me roll my eyes, science without info dumping grounds, bad guys who you love to hate and an international mystery that you can barely keep up with. I found myself re-reading sections because it was so interesting I didn't want to miss a single detail. The difference? JERICHO 3's proceeds are all being donated to research. So this is a good book that's helping make the world better? Wow.

I emailed Paul yesterday with a few simple questions about the book to help me with my review (the usual, I thought someone couldn't talk when intubated kind of thing - turns out in trauma situations the intuabtion type is different and they can!). Turns out, he's about the nicest guy you could want to meet. So I get this professional looking book with press kit information included (a major plus all you Indie Authors, he did this right, act like the big 6 and get treated like the big 6), I read an amazing book that would put Crichton to shame (because McKellips doesn't talk down to his readers, he lets you work for it without asking to much), AND he's a nice guy trying to save the world? Sweet Fancy Moses!

So basically, this book, despite not being my usual genre, was fantastic. It's well edited, the subplots are weaved in expertly, it's fast paced, interesting as well as educational AND it's for research. This is Paul's second book in the series. I did not read book one and had absolutely no trouble figuring out what was going on. It's not necessary to read the other book to enjoy this at all, although now I'm curious about UNCAGED.. I'd also like to give Paul some major props for the authenticity of his book. I know some of it is based on real experience, but the time he took to explain and explore issues of Islamic beliefs in the current Middle East conflict was excellent. He did not paint all Muslims as terrorists, he did explain Shariah, Sunni and Shia, cultural vs. religious beliefs and he took the time to show the Muslims in his novel real people, with their own reasons for the things they do (or don't do).

As for JERICHO 3 I definitely recommend you pick up a copy.

[Kristin (Blood,Sweat and Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book to review from the Author. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for them.

Review:

I don't read thrillers all that often but when the mood hits I am usually very picky. When the Author contacted me about reading this book I was instantly intrigued Bio-Thrillers are one of my favorites in the genre so naturally I accepted. I am so glad that I took the chance on this one and did because WOW it was so good.

The Story starts out in the Middle East during some conflict or another. An American doctor is kidnapped by a local terrorist organization and the plot quickly turns from a simple rural kidnapping to a High Stakes game of cat and mouse. The book takes place primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Author shows great care painting the landscape of both locations. One thing I found absolutely terrifying were the Terrorists themselves. The ways they came up with to commit their crimes is mind boggling but also I can see how they would be very plausible. You can really tell that the Author spent a lot of time doing research. I appreciate that and I'm sure other readers will to.

Overall Jericho 3 was a great ride filled with interesting characters, a compelling storyline, and well researched plot. I loved that the Author included a guide at the beginning of the book to reference it was a really handy feature to have especially since I'm assuming the majority of readers aren't proficient in Military terminology. I think my only small gripe in the book was not being able to understand the locals. Some phrases were referenced over and over and it would of been nice knowing what they were saying without having to Google hoping the translation was correct. If your a fan of Authors like Crichton,Preston or Rollins then you'll definitely want to give Paul McKellips a shot. I will be giving Jericho 3 ★★★★

[Jeffrey H. Schreider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Techno thriller with compelling military fiction.

A fast paced read. Taut but in some spots rushed through leaving out details in essence written more as a screenplay than a novel. I like the characters especially Camp who is well drawn out but others like Raines are thrown in the mix haphazardly. I would've love to see more development of the Israeli Mossad characters and easy too clean a resolution. Did like the final chapter as Author left open a door for another book. Author wrote a surprisingly good read. Would seek out more books by McKellips.

[Tracy Riva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jericho 3
By Paul McKellips
ISBN 978-0-9853322-0-4, paperback $12.50

McKellips hits on a number of hot topics while truly educating the reader in some of the complexities of the Middle East and Iran in particular in his far-reaching book, Jericho 3. When I first started Jericho 3, I wondered at the complexity of the story, why all these elements were necessary and how so many different factors could tie into one story, but McKellips ties it all together into a truly frightening fictional tale, at least partially based in fact.

Jericho 3 is ostensibly the story of US Navy Captain “Camp” Campbell and US Army Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Raines. Camp, assigned to Forward Operating Base Lightning to conduct a rescue mission for a missing doctor, Major Dean Banks, United States Army Reserves. Banks was kidnapped by the Taliban.

In the meantime, three Taliban patients have been treated for tularemia, which could be a possible bio-weapon, but which Banks superior officer tells him to just ignore. Tularemia can occur naturally, it is known as rabbit fever, and it can occur from eating undercooked meat or drinking contaminated water. Banks superior officer is convinced these are just random cases of the infection caused by natural causes. Following Camp’s team attempt to rescue Banks it will become apparent that these infections are far from random.

However, I get ahead of myself, on the way to rescue Banks; Camp has a discussion with a man known to him as Omid, though he goes by many other names. Omid, also known as Pablo, is a double agent, a high-ranking member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. He is helping guide the rescue team through the Hindu Kush and into Datta Khel village where Banks is being held.

In the meantime, Leslie Raines has been assigned to the National Interagency Biodefense Center’s BSL-4 Facility. She faces her own battles, both with the projects she works on and with animal rights groups who want the facility to stop using non-human primates for experimentation. To be honest I didn’t personally see why this type of experimentation was necessary until reading this book, at which point I went from completely opposing it to seeing its absolute necessity.

While traveling through the Hindu Kush Camp and Omid get the opportunity to walk as they hike. Camp wants to understand the Iranian mindset more. At first Omid puts him off, saying how Americans think they know everything and don’t really want to know about what motivates Iran, but Camp is insistent and finally Omid explains to Camp about the Hojjatieh and the Twelvers who have quite a following throughout the Middle East, but who have personally risen to power in Iran. The Twelvers believe the only rightful leader of the Muslims is the Twelfth Imam, who was hidden from the world in 874 when he was five years old. The Twelvers believe that this twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi is still alive today. They believe he is the Mahdi or ultimate Savior of humankind and will appear with Jesus, know to Muslims as Isa, who will convert to Islam at the end of the world. In order to do this they believe Israel must be destroyed, and they don’t care if it results in their own destruction because they believe the destruction of Israel will usher in the Mahdi. Mutually assured destruction and even sanctions are not a deterrent in their eyes because they are motivated by religious conviction, not logic. While they constitute a minority in Islam, they are very powerful and have seized control of Iran. It is important to understand that the Twelvers are based on fact, for only in understanding this can effective action be taken. It must also be understood that the vast majority of Muslims want and prefer peace. The Twelvers are an extreme, radical sect.

The Twelvers have set in motion a plan that will lead to the coming of the Mahdi. Before it is over Camp, Raines, a retired FBI agent named Finn, an Israeli agent named Reuven, and Omid will race to stop the destruction of Israel and the possible coming of Armageddon.

There is a lot of backstory that goes with Jericho 3, but it is absolutely essential to understanding the storyline. This is a complex, well-written book that will both educate you and scare the pants off you. I highly recommend it

[Jennifer Defoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was going to have a hard time reading this one. I love thrillers, however if is too “real” I have a hard time reading them. The less realistic the easier for me. However once I got into this one I couldn’t put it down. The threat of biological warfare is something that scares the crap out of me. And while this book was scary – in that it could really happen – it was so well written that I easily got past my fears.

I liked that it took us “behind the scenes”. If a situation like this were to really occur I don’t think many of us would really know what was going on. I think the media would “protect” us from the truth of what the government is really doing. Being able to get a look at how the government might handle this kind of situation really made me think. It made me wonder if I’d really want to know what the government was doing: going on covert operations, not “stepping-in” to prevent the threat on an official level, creating a new virus, back door deals, and so much more. I think in a situation like this ignorance just might be bliss. The stress and chaos that was introduced into the lives of Camp and Leslie is not something that most people could deal with. And even as trained as they are to deal with this stuff it still got to them.

Even despite the fact that if I were living through this kind of situation I don’t think I’d want to know – it was an amazing story to read. It was so fast-paced, there really was no down time. Even the somber opening to the story was quickly replaced with the start of the situation that carries the book along. I liked the characters – although I didn’t fully connect with any of them. I’ve never been in the situations they were in, and I found it hard to think of them as “normal” people with abnormal lives. There’s no way I could do any of what they did without going crazy – composure under pressure isn’t my strong suit, even under a normal amount of pressure. So while I didn’t connect with them personally I do think they were exceptional characters.

The writing was awesome – there was so much to this story I can’t believe that it all flowed so well. It is a great author that can have so many balls in the air and not drop one of them. I didn’t feel like any parts of the story were brushed off. Every time the story took on a new aspect it was followed through with. Nothing was left open-ended. I didn’t really think about it while I was reading, but once I finished the book I was amazed at the skill of McKellips to keep so much in order!

This was an amazing story and was exceptionally well written. I liked having a look behind the scenes of the government to see how they would handle a bio-weapons situation. I can’t wait to get a hold of another of McKellips’ books!

[Alain Burrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jericho 3: An Armageddon Bio-Warfare Thriller" by Paul McKellips is an engaging fast paced read that keeps you interested and on the edge of your seat until the very end. I enjoyed McKellips' first book, "Uncaged," but I think I enjoyed this one even more. This one really drew me in and I wanted to keep turning pages to see what would happen next. It didn't disappoint in the least.

McKellips draws from his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan to bring realism to his thrillers, and in this action packed novel, he takes readers into the Middle East conflict and addresses the questions of radicalism, faith and honor. Like his previous book, this exciting yarn focuses on the adventures of U.S. Navy Captain "Camp" Campbell and Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Raines. The two are caught up in a series of events that have the potential to leave millions dead and dying, and the scary part is these infectious diseases and bio-terrorism plots are way to realistic as McKellips writes them. You start looking at sick people in a whole new way. This bio-terrorism stuff really is scary.

The action takes place in Afghanistan and Pakistan where an American army doctor is kidnapped by members of the Taliban, but it turns out there is much more behind this simple kidnapping. The stakes are deadly for many more, not just those involved. The plot twists and turns and it is enjoyable to read where it takes you. Great action and realistic development.

I also enjoyed the side plot about Campbell's family and the relationship he has with Raines. I felt this story line developed well and added realism to the entire tale. Again, over all, this entire book was fun to read and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Well, let me rephrase that. Almost from beginning to end. I say that because the end leaves you wanting more. McKellips does what many authors do, he ends the story with a cliff hanger setting up the next adventure. I don't fault him for this one bit, and I for one am looking forward to what happens next. I want to read more about Camp and Raines and what further adventures McKellips creates for them.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys military thrillers, bio-warfare or bio-terrorism thrillers, Middle East action tales, and generally gritty, gripping, and frighteningly real page turning thrillers of any kind.

[Nranger7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the type of book I would normally pick up. A friend let me borrow this so I gave it a try. He received an autographed copy at a conference for people who work in animal research. I have to say I enjoyed that aspect of the book and the military storylines seemed somewhat realistic (like I'd know - but it convinced me). I also have a better than average knowledge of Islam and felt that his explanation behind the mindset of Muslim extremists/terrorists was pretty good. Hopefully people who read this book won't assume (like most uneducated Americans already do) that all Muslims think this way and continue the ridiculous racism against Muslims. I do hope that people who read this will realize how downright evil animal liberation movements are and stop supporting their terrorist actions (but I'm guessing the hate for Muslims will override any hate for the morons running PETA or ALF).

Some of the storylines were a little too fake and pieces seemed to fall together too easily but that happens with fiction. What I really disliked was the crappy "love" story he threw into the mix. I gathered from context that the two main characters may have met in a previous novel. Apparently I need to read that to understand how these two strangers are not only in love but how his elderly parents would call the woman their "daughter-in-law" (AT THE FUNERAL OF THEIR SON'S FIANCEE!) OMG that made no sense whatsoever and seemed pretty disrespectful to the dead woman. Since that happened early on it put a bad taste in my mouth for these characters. Despite not liking them, I was drawn into the action and had a hard time putting the book down so in that respect it was good. Not sure I'd bother reading any more of his stuff though as I would like more character development in the books I read.

[Fares · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I had somewhat low expectations before starting reading it, it was even less impressive than I had expected. The author had unfortunately instilled several occurrences of blunt stereotyping throughout this novel. This was very disappointing and was a major turn-off for me! However, I do like the writer's way of putting the reader on edge at maybe one or two points in the novel. Overall, it was a nice novel.

[Casey May · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book. there was much in it that was very realistic and made you realize the possibilities for bio terrorism here at home. it was well written and hard to put down as you neared the end.

[Thomas Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than McKellips first book, Uncaged. Looking forward to more from him

[Doreen Dalesandro]

Kindle freebie, 2/26/13

[Patricia Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Signed copy.