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Trident Deception #1
The Trident Deception
The USS Kentucky—a Trident ballistic missile submarine carrying a full complement of 192 nuclear warheads—is about to go on a routine patrol. Not long after it reaches the open sea, however, the Kentucky receives a launch order. After receiving that launch order, it is cut off from all counter-orders and disappears into the Pacific while it makes the eight-day transit to the launch site. What the Kentucky's crew doesn't know is that those launch orders haven't actually come from the U.S. government.
Rogue elements within the Mossad have learned that Iran has developed its first nuclear weapon and, in ten days, will detonate it—and the target is Israel. The suspected weapon complex is too far underground for conventional weapons to harm it, and the only choice is a pre-emptive nuclear strike. With limited time, this rogue group initiates a long-planned operation called the Trident Deception. They'll transmit false orders and use a U.S. nuclear submarine to launch the attack.
In this thriller from Rick Campbell, with only 8 days before the Kentucky is in launch range and with the submarine cut off from any outside communication, one senior officer, the father of one of the officers aboard the submarine, must assemble and lead a team of attack submarines to find, intercept and neutralize the Kentucky before it can unknowingly unleash a devastating nuclear attack.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2014
2217 people are currently reading
1920 people want to read
About the author
Rick Campbell
13 books340 followersRICK CAMPBELL, a retired Navy Commander, served on four nuclear-powered submarines, finishing his career with tours in the Pentagon and the Washington Navy Yard. On his last submarine, he was one of the two men whose permission is required to launch the submarine's nuclear-warhead-armed missiles.
Upon retirement from the Navy, Rick was offered a two-book deal by Macmillan / St. Martin's Press for his novel The Trident Deception, which was hailed by Booklist as "The best submarine novel written in the last thirty years, since Tom Clancy's classic - The Hunt for Red October". His first six books were Barnes & Noble Top-10 and Amazon #1 bestsellers, and the 7th and 8th books in the series are scheduled for release in April 2024 and spring 2025.
To learn more, visit Rick Campbell's website and his "Submarine 101" page at www.rickcampbellauthor.com.
Upon retirement from the Navy, Rick was offered a two-book deal by Macmillan / St. Martin's Press for his novel The Trident Deception, which was hailed by Booklist as "The best submarine novel written in the last thirty years, since Tom Clancy's classic - The Hunt for Red October". His first six books were Barnes & Noble Top-10 and Amazon #1 bestsellers, and the 7th and 8th books in the series are scheduled for release in April 2024 and spring 2025.
To learn more, visit Rick Campbell's website and his "Submarine 101" page at www.rickcampbellauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
November 8, 2015
Crimson Tide meets The Hunt for Red October. Iran is about the get a nuclear weapon so Israel asks for bunker busting tactical nukes. When the U.S. refuses, Israel has valid launch orders sent to the USS Kentucky and radio room treachery precludes its receipt of termination orders. The U.S. fleet is told the Chinese have stolen plans for a Trident sub and seek to sink her, but cannot locate her as there is a blind spot in their newest sonar. Good action, with a little too much technical showing off by ex-submariner and author Rick Campbell.
I liked the nickname for the spliced USS San Francisco when they used a portion of the decommissioned USS Honolulu's hull to make the San Franlulu.
I liked the nickname for the spliced USS San Francisco when they used a portion of the decommissioned USS Honolulu's hull to make the San Franlulu.
March 4, 2017
This is a new author and narrator for me. I understand this is Campbell’s first novel. The author is a retired submarine officer. This is a great first book; I could hardly put it book down. I think I have found a new author to follow.
The novel is about a U.S. Navy Trident Nuclear Submarine, the U.S.S. Kentucky. They are given orders to launch all twenty-four nuclear missiles at Iran. However, these orders are fraudulent and the communication equipment on the sub has been sabotaged to prevent a recall order.
The Kentucky was in Hawaiian waters when it received its mission orders and must proceed westward to reach launch range. Meanwhile, on the surface, the plot has been discovered and a race to stop the Kentucky begins. On the submarine, some of the crew have misgivings about destroying an entire nation of 75 million people.
The book is well written, the pace is fast and filled with continuous action and suspense. The plot twists and turns. The author has the reader feeling like they are on the boat with the crew. The book is hard to put down it’s sort of like a Tom Clancy or P. T. Deutermann novel.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is about fifteen hours long. Peter Ganim does a good job narrating the book. Ganim is an actor and voice over artist. He also narrates audiobooks.
The novel is about a U.S. Navy Trident Nuclear Submarine, the U.S.S. Kentucky. They are given orders to launch all twenty-four nuclear missiles at Iran. However, these orders are fraudulent and the communication equipment on the sub has been sabotaged to prevent a recall order.
The Kentucky was in Hawaiian waters when it received its mission orders and must proceed westward to reach launch range. Meanwhile, on the surface, the plot has been discovered and a race to stop the Kentucky begins. On the submarine, some of the crew have misgivings about destroying an entire nation of 75 million people.
The book is well written, the pace is fast and filled with continuous action and suspense. The plot twists and turns. The author has the reader feeling like they are on the boat with the crew. The book is hard to put down it’s sort of like a Tom Clancy or P. T. Deutermann novel.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is about fifteen hours long. Peter Ganim does a good job narrating the book. Ganim is an actor and voice over artist. He also narrates audiobooks.
July 22, 2014
It's damn clear how Rick Campbell spent his 25 years on US Submarines but where did he learn to write so well? Looking at the other reviews, I keep reading how "he's the next Tom Clancy". I think he's more. Tom Clancy (rest his soul) only really wrote two good books--the first two--and the rest were mediocre at best. Rick Campbell puts more real human characters and emotions in this book than in all of Clancy's later work AND has every ounce of technical accuracy as well.
The tension starts fast and never stops right to the final pages. It's a thrill ride with all the intensity of the best combat novels and all the personal doubts and fears that mark a writer of exceptional ability.
So, yeah, BETTER than Tom Clancy.
The tension starts fast and never stops right to the final pages. It's a thrill ride with all the intensity of the best combat novels and all the personal doubts and fears that mark a writer of exceptional ability.
So, yeah, BETTER than Tom Clancy.
June 20, 2022
One expects a certain amount of cheese in a book like this. There will be cliched tough guys, a preposterous plot, a near pornographic litany of military jargon and tech talk (tell me again about the torpedo guidance control system upgrades in the Mod 7...but slowly this time), corrupt pols playing games back in Washington with the lives of millions, the fate of the world hanging in the balance, etc..
Yes. All of that, but also two additional items which made this notably poor.
The first piece of awfulness was simply very poor writing. Constant repeated repetition of the same techno-babble, inner conflict of the people making difficult decisions, and telling-not-showing throughout. Again, one expects some amount but this crossed the line for me. We're not talking here about knocking a bag of Doritos for being unhealthy. It's more that I was expecting Doritos and instead got a bag of Gas n' Sip Powdered Taco Chips which expired 8 months ago.
Also pushing this way over the edge is the author's treatment of women...or woman in this case. Only one of the main characters is female. She is the National Security Advisor and of course she's beautiful. Lame cliche, but whatever. The gross part is that we get to read the inner dialogue of three different male characters commenting on how hot she is. And the guy with whom she frequently disagrees is annoyed, because even though she's hot (which he likes), she also disagrees with him frequently (which he doesn't like). How can he properly enjoy her hotness if she is making him look bad in front of the President? Sad face for him. This dynamic is repeated a few times through the novel. It is gross and lazy on the author's part.
Recommended for naval warfare buffs who are completely tone deaf to gender issues and poor writing. Everyone else should consider rereading Tom Clancy to get their fix.
Yes. All of that, but also two additional items which made this notably poor.
The first piece of awfulness was simply very poor writing. Constant repeated repetition of the same techno-babble, inner conflict of the people making difficult decisions, and telling-not-showing throughout. Again, one expects some amount but this crossed the line for me. We're not talking here about knocking a bag of Doritos for being unhealthy. It's more that I was expecting Doritos and instead got a bag of Gas n' Sip Powdered Taco Chips which expired 8 months ago.
Also pushing this way over the edge is the author's treatment of women...or woman in this case. Only one of the main characters is female. She is the National Security Advisor and of course she's beautiful. Lame cliche, but whatever. The gross part is that we get to read the inner dialogue of three different male characters commenting on how hot she is. And the guy with whom she frequently disagrees is annoyed, because even though she's hot (which he likes), she also disagrees with him frequently (which he doesn't like). How can he properly enjoy her hotness if she is making him look bad in front of the President? Sad face for him. This dynamic is repeated a few times through the novel. It is gross and lazy on the author's part.
Recommended for naval warfare buffs who are completely tone deaf to gender issues and poor writing. Everyone else should consider rereading Tom Clancy to get their fix.
February 25, 2021
Wow. I think reading this book has added some grey hairs to my head, and I’m also pretty sure my wife thinks I’m nuts for reading while pacing around the house. This book is excruciatingly taut, to the point where I was starting to get irritated at the author for giving me zero good spots to put the book down.
Rick Campbell is a Navy man, and it’s clear he knows his subject matter. The common and obvious comparison here is with Tom Clancy, more specifically The Hunt for Red October and the comparisons are fair in many ways. The content definitely reminded me of the book, however at no point did it feel derivative and Campbell’s writing is notably different. Where Clancy has a detail-heavy style with more relaxed pacing, Campbell is tight and this book moves like lightning literally the entire way through. Neither is really a criticism or praise as I suppose it depends which style you’re looking for.
It’s also worth noting that this is Campbell’s first book, and there is absolutely no doubt that I will be reading more of his stuff. Incredibly solid first outing as a novelist, and while the events here are extreme, it was written in a way that felt very plausible and even realistic.
Overall this is a first class thriller with good writing, characters and action that you will have a difficult time putting down. I would likely recommend this to people who aren’t even normally into this kind of book, but if stories like this are your thing, you will love it. We’ll see if it sticks in my head and has the longevity of The Hunt for Red October, but at this point I’d say it’s right up there.
And most importantly, this book has taught me that Navy guys do more than just sing songs and mop up the deck!
Kidding of course.
4.5/5
Rick Campbell is a Navy man, and it’s clear he knows his subject matter. The common and obvious comparison here is with Tom Clancy, more specifically The Hunt for Red October and the comparisons are fair in many ways. The content definitely reminded me of the book, however at no point did it feel derivative and Campbell’s writing is notably different. Where Clancy has a detail-heavy style with more relaxed pacing, Campbell is tight and this book moves like lightning literally the entire way through. Neither is really a criticism or praise as I suppose it depends which style you’re looking for.
It’s also worth noting that this is Campbell’s first book, and there is absolutely no doubt that I will be reading more of his stuff. Incredibly solid first outing as a novelist, and while the events here are extreme, it was written in a way that felt very plausible and even realistic.
Overall this is a first class thriller with good writing, characters and action that you will have a difficult time putting down. I would likely recommend this to people who aren’t even normally into this kind of book, but if stories like this are your thing, you will love it. We’ll see if it sticks in my head and has the longevity of The Hunt for Red October, but at this point I’d say it’s right up there.
And most importantly, this book has taught me that Navy guys do more than just sing songs and mop up the deck!
Kidding of course.
4.5/5
October 25, 2019
This is an action-oriented novel with a lot of good plot points. But I have to say, whoever edited this novel should be fired. Honest to God, things are repeated 3,4,5,6 times! The novel could literally be reduced by 1/3rd. I love all of the action in the novel but Campbell does go over the top at times with scenes that are like, he's going to die, no he isn't, yes he is, no he isn't, yes he is, no he isn't... you can only bob up and down so many times before you finally say, for god's sake, he's going to live, stop messing around.
OK, those are the not-so-good parts. Otherwise, there's a lot of action going on in a lot of different arenas.... at the political and national level, at the pentagon/white house level, and at the submarine levels. Plus, Rick takes you past the "easy" solutions and gets you into hotter water. I can't say what specifically because I'd give away some goodies. But when you expect a resolution, things get worse. That's usually good. Sometimes it's too much but usually it's good.
In short, if you're in the mood for a war story, not terribly interested in character development, but like suspense and action, this is a good read.
OK, those are the not-so-good parts. Otherwise, there's a lot of action going on in a lot of different arenas.... at the political and national level, at the pentagon/white house level, and at the submarine levels. Plus, Rick takes you past the "easy" solutions and gets you into hotter water. I can't say what specifically because I'd give away some goodies. But when you expect a resolution, things get worse. That's usually good. Sometimes it's too much but usually it's good.
In short, if you're in the mood for a war story, not terribly interested in character development, but like suspense and action, this is a good read.
June 4, 2015
Great Read! Thanks to Pamela from San Diego,CA for the heads up! Not since The4 Hunt for Red October have I read a naval thriller as good as The Trident Decption. If you enjoy Thrillers, put this on your to read list ASAP!
April 25, 2014
Are you into reading military/political thrillers? Than DO NOT miss this debut novel from an author blazing a name for himself right out of the gate. Booklist makes a reference to Tom Clancy's novel The Hunt For Red October right on the cover. I have to say this novel was at the very least every bit as good, if not a bit better, than that novel. As the book was wrapping up towards the end I could actually feel myself tensing up with the action on the pages. The author actually is able to inject real TENSION, with a capitol T, into this book. Very good stuff that puts this author high up on my to be watched list.
March 25, 2014
Campbell has given us a masterful, fast-paced joy-ride of a novel. Full of action. Suspense, and danger, The Trident Deception does not disappoint.
While full of technical information about how submarines are actually used and operated- the reader is not bogged down by it. In this case, it helps to establish setting. Kudos for Campbell for keeping it real and not giving into movie mythos in how submarine warfare is carried out.
If you are in the mood for a story that will have you on the edge of your seat, pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.
While full of technical information about how submarines are actually used and operated- the reader is not bogged down by it. In this case, it helps to establish setting. Kudos for Campbell for keeping it real and not giving into movie mythos in how submarine warfare is carried out.
If you are in the mood for a story that will have you on the edge of your seat, pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.
July 29, 2020
This get's a four only because I can't do 3.5.
The book is fun and engaging and reads very quickly. This is not very deep or complex it's a beach style read full of escapism. You do need to suspend your disbelief for some of it, and I think the author made a very good effort at making what is certainly impenetrable military acronym jargon into a flowing scene.
There is one scene I hate which is why it's not a solid 4 rating. I almost made it a three because of how I felt about this scene. There is a scene where some crewmen go under the superstructure of the submarine free handing their movements. The author makes a point of how they had to unclip from the safety lines to even go in there. It's a freaking BOAT. I know there are ROPES on any BOAT. I just can't accept that highly trained, specially selected seamen would do something so stupid when a rope would have been easily available.
Otherwise, the story was fun to read if somewhat predictable and shallow. Perfect for a beach or vacation reading. Too bad we are all stuck at home. :)
The book is fun and engaging and reads very quickly. This is not very deep or complex it's a beach style read full of escapism. You do need to suspend your disbelief for some of it, and I think the author made a very good effort at making what is certainly impenetrable military acronym jargon into a flowing scene.
There is one scene I hate which is why it's not a solid 4 rating. I almost made it a three because of how I felt about this scene. There is a scene where some crewmen go under the superstructure of the submarine free handing their movements. The author makes a point of how they had to unclip from the safety lines to even go in there. It's a freaking BOAT. I know there are ROPES on any BOAT. I just can't accept that highly trained, specially selected seamen would do something so stupid when a rope would have been easily available.
Otherwise, the story was fun to read if somewhat predictable and shallow. Perfect for a beach or vacation reading. Too bad we are all stuck at home. :)
March 12, 2014
Best Submarine thriller blows The Hunt For Red October out of the water!!!
June 3, 2016
NOT A TOY
“Now we are all sons of bitches”. - Kenneth Bainbridge upon witnessing his handiwork at the Trinity Test.
Nuclear weapons. They’re cumbersome tools of destruction which are only useful if you’re in the mood to get rid of a country or continent. Ever since Little Boy and Fat Man made a splash on Imperial Japan in 1945, a stigma of sorts has fallen upon the atomic bomb, and with good reason. Even though nuclear war has become a reduced possibility, the great arsenals that were accumulated in the last century are still in place. And combined with nations like the schizophrenic failed state Pakistan being in possession of several hundred, they can still end the world several times over if utilized.
The point is, they aren't toys, or things to behave flippantly about.
As civilians who will most likely never have to fire rockets and rifles in an armed conflict, we, the general public regrettably have a certain detachment to nukes. We’re not the ones who are making the decisions, transmitting the authorization codes, and loading up the big floppy disks which initiate the firing mechanisms and flipping the switch to blow a few million poor sods off the face of the earth. We get to sit back and be callously smug, indulging in somewhat murderous wish fulfilment, while in our place, other, braver people take care of the morally messy, and painful business of waging nuclear warfare.
One of these people, who was in the business of waging nuclear warfare for his country is Rick Campbell. Mr Campbell is a Veteran officer of the US Navy. He served on submarines, and eventually rose to become the executive officer on a sub that carried a small chunk of the American nuclear arsenal, the USS Maryland. In his position, he and the commanding officer of the submarine, acted as the triggermen when launch the Maryland’s warheads in the event of armed conflict.
Having returned to civilian life, Mr Campbell has done what almost all writers who served in the armed services do, and written what he knows. In this case, writing a naval military thriller.
Naval military fiction is a subgenre which has rapidly declined in the last decade. All the Islamic terrorists and non-state actors running about in the Post 9/11 era meant there were few opportunities to make a compelling story about large scale conflict until most recently when the new great powers have recently become assertive with executing their own foreign policies. Now, there are enemies writers can send conventional weapons systems after.
Like nuclear armed submarines. Mr Campbell’s first book centers on a Trident submarine like the one he served on. This submarine becomes the centrepiece of an ingenious operation executed by a man painted into a corner who wishes to destroy a city in the Middle East. But complex plans don’t normally come together. Like this one. Now to the review. What actually goes wrong when a friend is painted into a corner?
The novel starts off with the first of many deaths. One of DC’s political staffers is staring along the barrel of a suppressed pistol into the face of his executioner. The latter attempts to get his victim to divulge information he believes the staffer has leaked. Destroying his phone, the staffer realizes what his murder is part of seconds before a bullet hit him. We then cut to Israel. The administration of Prime Minister Levi Rosenfield is in crisis. The Mossad director general Barak Kogen informs the cabinet that Iran is ten days away from assembling a nuclear weapon. To solve this problem, the defence minister advocates deploying the badly hidden Israeli nuclear arsenal on Natanz, where the Iranian safeguards would laugh off a conventional bombing run. Rosenfield bluntly shoots him down and instead asserts that he will begin making the necessary arrangements to acquire a shipment of bunker buster bombs from the USA.
Kogen who also advocates the nuclear strike option tries to convince Rosenfield to go with that in a private meeting. To sweeten the deal, he reveals the existence of an op he’s got primed and ready to go, which would make the US Navy do the dirty work and keep his own hands clean. He too is shot down, and decides to push his boss in the right direction through dubious means. Across the world in the pacific, we’re introduced to the crews of the submarines who will play a major part in the story. Meanwhile in Washington, National security advisor Christine O’Connor is fuming in her office when her friend turned enemy, Chief Of Staff Hardison storms in and informs her that the intern working for her was murdered. Shortly after, she receives a pre-arranged email which causes her to make a call to the CIA.
Back in Israel PM Rosenfield has a bad day. The US ambassador stonewalls his attempt at getting the bunker buster bomb shipment, and a suicide bomber murders Rosenfield’s two daughters. These misfortunes finally motivate him to sign off on the op Mossad has prepared. In Washington, the asset Mossad has cultivated sets to work. Heading into the Pentagon, he incapacitates most of the staff of the National Military Command Centre and convinces one technician to help him send a message to the USS Kentucky.
Despite Christine O’Connor catching onto what has happened and breaking into the operations room with a team of government agents, the asset successfully completes the transmission and kills himself before he can be captured. As O’Connor assists with the clean-up, she learns that the asset made a big adjustment. Instead of one Iranian city, the Kentucky was authorized to fire all its 24 warheads at Iran and cease communications with the outside world. Hurriedly getting the US navy to initiate a hunt, for the submarine, Christine is soon fighting for her life, attempting to battle bureaucratic lethargy, communications failures and enemies who have identified her as a loose end which threatens to unravel the Trident Deception.
In terms of plot, the Trident Deception is a solid affair. In a subgenre which had been written off for dead in the 21st century, Rick Campbell’s first book passes with flying colours. Taking a stock race against time plot, Campbell managed to have his story take a very unique approach compared to the current crop of 21st century navy fiction. He does so with efficient plotting and utilizing two relevant themes. The first can be seen in his focus on the moral compromises that nuclear warfare thrusts upon the few people on the planet who actually have to carry it out. With the Cold War a mere footnote in history, the general public suffers a disconnected perception about the true significance of the atom bomb. Much of society behaves about nukes in a somewhat flippant manner.
A desire to blast entire hotspots off the map for shits and giggles is increasingly common, especially in the post 9/11 world where we scream for simple direct solutions to complex problems that would be made worse with a bungled, attempt at bludgeoning security issues into submission. During the events of the book, Campbell presents a portrait of how such murderous wish fulfilment could come about, and the results are not pretty to say the least. The second theme at the heart of The Trident Deception, is surprisingly enough, the perils of painting friends into a corner. The author decides to apply this concept to global geopolitics and this results in a very impressive cautionary tale, with a decision made by a feckless diplomat to leave a loyal ally of his country staring down the barrel of a WMD and forcing that ally to take drastic action that is far worse than what it would have been if he had come to their aid.
One of the other aspects of the Trident Deception that make it stand out from the previous crop of 21st century naval fiction is how he manages to make submarine warfare understandable for us mere mortals. One of the reasons why naval fiction had declined early in 21st century was because of how complicated it had become. Unlike counter-terrorists thrillers involving guys with guns trying to shoot each other to death, the silent service engages in a fiendishly complex multi-dimensional chess match, having to take into consideration many factors on a grand, undersea board. As a result, many authors who have tried to write action scenes with subs get bogged down with the details, creating confusion amongst their readers about what the hell is going on.
Mr Rick Campbell on the other hand is the first writer I’ve seen who has avoided this trap. Perhaps it’s because his military career was spent on submarines but he manages to pull off the contradictory feat of making underwater warfare make sense while at the same time capturing the impressive complexities of running submarines. I actually learned a thing or two about certain features of subs that normally don’t appear in thriller fiction (turns out there are systems in place to preserve the crew in the event of a destructive event), and was engrossed in by far the most thrilling submarine battles put to pen.
For his first book, Mr Campbell proves his potential as a writer, crafting an epic chase across the Pacific Ocean between one sub that can kill a country and the might an entire navy. But my favourite scene is the climactic duel between the Kentucky and a R.A.N submarine that’s been sent to track it down. The author manages to make it a tense battle between professionals, with one wrong move spelling a subs duel, but more importantly, manages to keep things on target. I can pay no higher compliment to Mr Campbell, in saying that during the action, I did not lose track or get confused about what was going on.
Research? Well, being his first book Mr Campbell has done the smart thing like any former military veteran turned writer and written what he knows. Having spent decades in the US Navy, has given him an edge with writing this book. All the technical details and tactics used by the subs are on point, especially the tactical considerations the Trident submarine of the novel utilizes in attempting to carry out its objectives. But what impressed me was the details spent on explaining how one can kill a country with nuclear missiles. One could take out a city, but with 24 fired simultaneously at say, Iran, you can kill every living thing within its borders and ensure that for centuries, no one would be able to reside in it. Most thrillers involving nuclear weapons gloss over the effects like an afterthought, treating their atom bombs like a mere dramatic prop. Mr Campbell on the other hand, who at one point in his career, had the responsibility for the 24 weapons on a trident submarine, knows better.
Characters? A few standouts. First, National Security Advisor Christine O’Connor. Now, I confess that I read book 2 before reading book 1. There, I admit that I was not a fan of Ms. O’Connor as my review of “Empire Rising” will attest. Here however, I have a bit more respect for the protagonist of Campbell’s series. While my taste in protagonists leans towards the more cynical variety, O’Connor is a well-crafted examples of a more idealistic main character who tries to do the right thing even if they get hurt badly in the process. While she makes some mistakes over the course of the novel that she brings upon herself, ultimately it’s her meticulous work in coordinating efforts to recover the Trident Sub and find out who was responsible that contributes to winning the day.
But, perhaps the biggest quality I admire about her is that she does not give up, a trait that was overshadowed in Empire Rising but shines very much here. It is best exemplified when she’s suddenly faced with death. Despite not having the training of Mitch Rapp, she does not cower or beg like a run of the mill everyman protagonist. Instead, she tries every option available, from a good old fashioned knee to the gentleman’s area to stabbing with a kitchen knife in order to survive a situation where it seems that she will not make it out alive.
Secondly, we have Levi Rosenfield, the Israeli PM. This is one of the men who has to deal with the responsibility of a badly concealed nuclear arsenal. It’s a heavy burden and one which he tries to treat with the gravity it deserves. Unfortunately, he’s surrounded by men who have other ideas and who are more than willing to violently shove him in a direction which he believes is morally unjustifiable, even when the target is somewhat deserving. His character arc is one of the most perfectly executed in the book, and one of the most tragic.
Finally, we have the crew of HMAS Collins and their Commander Brett Humphries. They stole the show in my opinion. Introduced halfway through the novel to assist with tracking the rogue Trident sub, events escalate to the point where ultimately it comes down to them to save the day. I found some of the best characterization and character interaction of the story was found in the chapters focusing on the Collins and her crew. The fact that I felt fear during their knife edge dance with the Trident in the climax and dread when it seemed all was lost, is a testament to how much I bonded with them.
Constructive criticism? Well this being his first book, Mr Campbell was rough around the edges as a writer, and makes a few of the usual first time author errors. However, they do not need to be mentioned here, and I’m a lot more forgiving due to him delivering a splendid reading experience and the fact that he develops as a writer in the second book.
So, my verdict is this. Looking for a naval military thriller that isn’t bogged down in detail, but is instead lean and mean? Interested in appreciating the intricacies of submarine warfare while at the same time getting a story full of wire tension? Look no further than Rick Campbell’s “The Trident Deception”. Boasting a plot that touches on the select few that are given the terrible burden of waging nuclear warfare on our behalf, a cast of very sympathetic characters, a narrative that draws upon the impressive knowledge of a true professional who has lived in the world he writes about, and undersea warfare that does not confuse or bamboozle us mere mortals, meet the new king of Naval Fiction, one who isn’t going to be overthrown anytime soon.
RECOMMENDED VERY MUCH INDEED.
“Now we are all sons of bitches”. - Kenneth Bainbridge upon witnessing his handiwork at the Trinity Test.
Nuclear weapons. They’re cumbersome tools of destruction which are only useful if you’re in the mood to get rid of a country or continent. Ever since Little Boy and Fat Man made a splash on Imperial Japan in 1945, a stigma of sorts has fallen upon the atomic bomb, and with good reason. Even though nuclear war has become a reduced possibility, the great arsenals that were accumulated in the last century are still in place. And combined with nations like the schizophrenic failed state Pakistan being in possession of several hundred, they can still end the world several times over if utilized.
The point is, they aren't toys, or things to behave flippantly about.
As civilians who will most likely never have to fire rockets and rifles in an armed conflict, we, the general public regrettably have a certain detachment to nukes. We’re not the ones who are making the decisions, transmitting the authorization codes, and loading up the big floppy disks which initiate the firing mechanisms and flipping the switch to blow a few million poor sods off the face of the earth. We get to sit back and be callously smug, indulging in somewhat murderous wish fulfilment, while in our place, other, braver people take care of the morally messy, and painful business of waging nuclear warfare.
One of these people, who was in the business of waging nuclear warfare for his country is Rick Campbell. Mr Campbell is a Veteran officer of the US Navy. He served on submarines, and eventually rose to become the executive officer on a sub that carried a small chunk of the American nuclear arsenal, the USS Maryland. In his position, he and the commanding officer of the submarine, acted as the triggermen when launch the Maryland’s warheads in the event of armed conflict.
Having returned to civilian life, Mr Campbell has done what almost all writers who served in the armed services do, and written what he knows. In this case, writing a naval military thriller.
Naval military fiction is a subgenre which has rapidly declined in the last decade. All the Islamic terrorists and non-state actors running about in the Post 9/11 era meant there were few opportunities to make a compelling story about large scale conflict until most recently when the new great powers have recently become assertive with executing their own foreign policies. Now, there are enemies writers can send conventional weapons systems after.
Like nuclear armed submarines. Mr Campbell’s first book centers on a Trident submarine like the one he served on. This submarine becomes the centrepiece of an ingenious operation executed by a man painted into a corner who wishes to destroy a city in the Middle East. But complex plans don’t normally come together. Like this one. Now to the review. What actually goes wrong when a friend is painted into a corner?
The novel starts off with the first of many deaths. One of DC’s political staffers is staring along the barrel of a suppressed pistol into the face of his executioner. The latter attempts to get his victim to divulge information he believes the staffer has leaked. Destroying his phone, the staffer realizes what his murder is part of seconds before a bullet hit him. We then cut to Israel. The administration of Prime Minister Levi Rosenfield is in crisis. The Mossad director general Barak Kogen informs the cabinet that Iran is ten days away from assembling a nuclear weapon. To solve this problem, the defence minister advocates deploying the badly hidden Israeli nuclear arsenal on Natanz, where the Iranian safeguards would laugh off a conventional bombing run. Rosenfield bluntly shoots him down and instead asserts that he will begin making the necessary arrangements to acquire a shipment of bunker buster bombs from the USA.
Kogen who also advocates the nuclear strike option tries to convince Rosenfield to go with that in a private meeting. To sweeten the deal, he reveals the existence of an op he’s got primed and ready to go, which would make the US Navy do the dirty work and keep his own hands clean. He too is shot down, and decides to push his boss in the right direction through dubious means. Across the world in the pacific, we’re introduced to the crews of the submarines who will play a major part in the story. Meanwhile in Washington, National security advisor Christine O’Connor is fuming in her office when her friend turned enemy, Chief Of Staff Hardison storms in and informs her that the intern working for her was murdered. Shortly after, she receives a pre-arranged email which causes her to make a call to the CIA.
Back in Israel PM Rosenfield has a bad day. The US ambassador stonewalls his attempt at getting the bunker buster bomb shipment, and a suicide bomber murders Rosenfield’s two daughters. These misfortunes finally motivate him to sign off on the op Mossad has prepared. In Washington, the asset Mossad has cultivated sets to work. Heading into the Pentagon, he incapacitates most of the staff of the National Military Command Centre and convinces one technician to help him send a message to the USS Kentucky.
Despite Christine O’Connor catching onto what has happened and breaking into the operations room with a team of government agents, the asset successfully completes the transmission and kills himself before he can be captured. As O’Connor assists with the clean-up, she learns that the asset made a big adjustment. Instead of one Iranian city, the Kentucky was authorized to fire all its 24 warheads at Iran and cease communications with the outside world. Hurriedly getting the US navy to initiate a hunt, for the submarine, Christine is soon fighting for her life, attempting to battle bureaucratic lethargy, communications failures and enemies who have identified her as a loose end which threatens to unravel the Trident Deception.
In terms of plot, the Trident Deception is a solid affair. In a subgenre which had been written off for dead in the 21st century, Rick Campbell’s first book passes with flying colours. Taking a stock race against time plot, Campbell managed to have his story take a very unique approach compared to the current crop of 21st century navy fiction. He does so with efficient plotting and utilizing two relevant themes. The first can be seen in his focus on the moral compromises that nuclear warfare thrusts upon the few people on the planet who actually have to carry it out. With the Cold War a mere footnote in history, the general public suffers a disconnected perception about the true significance of the atom bomb. Much of society behaves about nukes in a somewhat flippant manner.
A desire to blast entire hotspots off the map for shits and giggles is increasingly common, especially in the post 9/11 world where we scream for simple direct solutions to complex problems that would be made worse with a bungled, attempt at bludgeoning security issues into submission. During the events of the book, Campbell presents a portrait of how such murderous wish fulfilment could come about, and the results are not pretty to say the least. The second theme at the heart of The Trident Deception, is surprisingly enough, the perils of painting friends into a corner. The author decides to apply this concept to global geopolitics and this results in a very impressive cautionary tale, with a decision made by a feckless diplomat to leave a loyal ally of his country staring down the barrel of a WMD and forcing that ally to take drastic action that is far worse than what it would have been if he had come to their aid.
One of the other aspects of the Trident Deception that make it stand out from the previous crop of 21st century naval fiction is how he manages to make submarine warfare understandable for us mere mortals. One of the reasons why naval fiction had declined early in 21st century was because of how complicated it had become. Unlike counter-terrorists thrillers involving guys with guns trying to shoot each other to death, the silent service engages in a fiendishly complex multi-dimensional chess match, having to take into consideration many factors on a grand, undersea board. As a result, many authors who have tried to write action scenes with subs get bogged down with the details, creating confusion amongst their readers about what the hell is going on.
Mr Rick Campbell on the other hand is the first writer I’ve seen who has avoided this trap. Perhaps it’s because his military career was spent on submarines but he manages to pull off the contradictory feat of making underwater warfare make sense while at the same time capturing the impressive complexities of running submarines. I actually learned a thing or two about certain features of subs that normally don’t appear in thriller fiction (turns out there are systems in place to preserve the crew in the event of a destructive event), and was engrossed in by far the most thrilling submarine battles put to pen.
For his first book, Mr Campbell proves his potential as a writer, crafting an epic chase across the Pacific Ocean between one sub that can kill a country and the might an entire navy. But my favourite scene is the climactic duel between the Kentucky and a R.A.N submarine that’s been sent to track it down. The author manages to make it a tense battle between professionals, with one wrong move spelling a subs duel, but more importantly, manages to keep things on target. I can pay no higher compliment to Mr Campbell, in saying that during the action, I did not lose track or get confused about what was going on.
Research? Well, being his first book Mr Campbell has done the smart thing like any former military veteran turned writer and written what he knows. Having spent decades in the US Navy, has given him an edge with writing this book. All the technical details and tactics used by the subs are on point, especially the tactical considerations the Trident submarine of the novel utilizes in attempting to carry out its objectives. But what impressed me was the details spent on explaining how one can kill a country with nuclear missiles. One could take out a city, but with 24 fired simultaneously at say, Iran, you can kill every living thing within its borders and ensure that for centuries, no one would be able to reside in it. Most thrillers involving nuclear weapons gloss over the effects like an afterthought, treating their atom bombs like a mere dramatic prop. Mr Campbell on the other hand, who at one point in his career, had the responsibility for the 24 weapons on a trident submarine, knows better.
Characters? A few standouts. First, National Security Advisor Christine O’Connor. Now, I confess that I read book 2 before reading book 1. There, I admit that I was not a fan of Ms. O’Connor as my review of “Empire Rising” will attest. Here however, I have a bit more respect for the protagonist of Campbell’s series. While my taste in protagonists leans towards the more cynical variety, O’Connor is a well-crafted examples of a more idealistic main character who tries to do the right thing even if they get hurt badly in the process. While she makes some mistakes over the course of the novel that she brings upon herself, ultimately it’s her meticulous work in coordinating efforts to recover the Trident Sub and find out who was responsible that contributes to winning the day.
But, perhaps the biggest quality I admire about her is that she does not give up, a trait that was overshadowed in Empire Rising but shines very much here. It is best exemplified when she’s suddenly faced with death. Despite not having the training of Mitch Rapp, she does not cower or beg like a run of the mill everyman protagonist. Instead, she tries every option available, from a good old fashioned knee to the gentleman’s area to stabbing with a kitchen knife in order to survive a situation where it seems that she will not make it out alive.
Secondly, we have Levi Rosenfield, the Israeli PM. This is one of the men who has to deal with the responsibility of a badly concealed nuclear arsenal. It’s a heavy burden and one which he tries to treat with the gravity it deserves. Unfortunately, he’s surrounded by men who have other ideas and who are more than willing to violently shove him in a direction which he believes is morally unjustifiable, even when the target is somewhat deserving. His character arc is one of the most perfectly executed in the book, and one of the most tragic.
Finally, we have the crew of HMAS Collins and their Commander Brett Humphries. They stole the show in my opinion. Introduced halfway through the novel to assist with tracking the rogue Trident sub, events escalate to the point where ultimately it comes down to them to save the day. I found some of the best characterization and character interaction of the story was found in the chapters focusing on the Collins and her crew. The fact that I felt fear during their knife edge dance with the Trident in the climax and dread when it seemed all was lost, is a testament to how much I bonded with them.
Constructive criticism? Well this being his first book, Mr Campbell was rough around the edges as a writer, and makes a few of the usual first time author errors. However, they do not need to be mentioned here, and I’m a lot more forgiving due to him delivering a splendid reading experience and the fact that he develops as a writer in the second book.
So, my verdict is this. Looking for a naval military thriller that isn’t bogged down in detail, but is instead lean and mean? Interested in appreciating the intricacies of submarine warfare while at the same time getting a story full of wire tension? Look no further than Rick Campbell’s “The Trident Deception”. Boasting a plot that touches on the select few that are given the terrible burden of waging nuclear warfare on our behalf, a cast of very sympathetic characters, a narrative that draws upon the impressive knowledge of a true professional who has lived in the world he writes about, and undersea warfare that does not confuse or bamboozle us mere mortals, meet the new king of Naval Fiction, one who isn’t going to be overthrown anytime soon.
RECOMMENDED VERY MUCH INDEED.
May 14, 2018
Very much in the vein of Tom Clancy (when Tom Clancy was good!), this is a submarine thriller wrapped into a techno-thriller.
A US Sub is given false orders that could take the world towards WW3, and with no way to contact the sub, the US (and its allies) are forced into the unthinkable, the need to track and sink one of their own.
We see life on a sub that thinks the US has been attacked and their mission is a retaliation attack, we see the chasing subs and we see the politics and agendas back in the US as a female Sec of Defence tries to work out who is doing what, and why.
It has pace and tension and all builds into an excellent thriller. My only query would be the lack of security for someone as important as the Sec of Defence.
A US Sub is given false orders that could take the world towards WW3, and with no way to contact the sub, the US (and its allies) are forced into the unthinkable, the need to track and sink one of their own.
We see life on a sub that thinks the US has been attacked and their mission is a retaliation attack, we see the chasing subs and we see the politics and agendas back in the US as a female Sec of Defence tries to work out who is doing what, and why.
It has pace and tension and all builds into an excellent thriller. My only query would be the lack of security for someone as important as the Sec of Defence.
April 11, 2021
This book is for anyone that likes suspense. I really enjoyed it despite having no background knowledge about the Navy. I liked how short the chapters were, always keeping my attention, and the suspense that came with. It was a steady-paced book with the ending heating up at a quicker pace, but unlike other authors, Campbell doesn't seem like he just wants to finish writing the book, he creates a smooth ending. I enjoyed the twists and turns he makes with no way to predict some of it.
I didn't want to put it down.
I didn't want to put it down.
May 21, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. There was enough technical details to help civilians better understand the workings of a submarine but not too much that the story got bogged down. If you enjoy military/government thrillers, this is the book for you. If you like complex characters making complex decisions, this is the book for you.
On a personal note, my dad was in the submarine force when I was a kid. Thanks to this book I feel like I understand his career and why he dedicated 22 years of his life to the service. For that, I am forever grateful.
On a personal note, my dad was in the submarine force when I was a kid. Thanks to this book I feel like I understand his career and why he dedicated 22 years of his life to the service. For that, I am forever grateful.
March 24, 2016
Very well written sub thriller. Had me on the edge of my seat. Not too technical, the author wrote this thriller to entertain his readers, not get too bogged down on tech details. But enough to make everything seem real, like it could happen. I am an old Tom Clancy fan and Rick will be compared to Tom simply because he writes about the Navy and submarines. He did a very good job at it. Suspenseful as well. I bought this book, but plan to read the next two from my digital library.
August 3, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
"The Trident Deception" by Rick Campbell is is a gripping thriller that I couldn't put down.
He had me hooked on this novel from page one. I can't wait for more books by this author.
"The Trident Deception" by Rick Campbell is is a gripping thriller that I couldn't put down.
He had me hooked on this novel from page one. I can't wait for more books by this author.
May 12, 2014
This is a tense thriller worthy of potential Tom Clancy successor.
A rogue Israeli plot to destroy Iran via attack by a US nuclear submarine must be halted.
The US sub's communications are sabotaged and can't acknowledge the recall order.
This is a taut plot slightly marred by jargon.
A rogue Israeli plot to destroy Iran via attack by a US nuclear submarine must be halted.
The US sub's communications are sabotaged and can't acknowledge the recall order.
This is a taut plot slightly marred by jargon.
April 19, 2020
Here we have a contemporary political/military thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The Israeli Mossad learns that Iran is mere days away from having an operational nuclear bomb. They feel there is no doubt as to which country will be targeted. The bomb is located in a manufacturing facility in Iran that is dug in so deeply that nothing short of a bunker busting bomb can touch
it. The Mossad has a plan but they need help in carrying it out and only their primary ally has the necessary tools. Enter the U.S. Navy. This is a good one.
it. The Mossad has a plan but they need help in carrying it out and only their primary ally has the necessary tools. Enter the U.S. Navy. This is a good one.
January 18, 2021
I was taken by surprise by how intense, exciting and informative this book was. Written by a nuclear submariner, it has all of the scenarios a sub crew could encounter as well as a wealth of information on how the sub operates. The author takes great care in not including any classified information but much of it sounds like it should be classified. It was very intriguing and I looked forward to every chapter.
August 8, 2021
Fun read... well I "read" it via Audible. Being a fast attack guy every time the author created a problem, I yelled out loud how to fix it! 😆 and 2 chapters later he did as I directed...lol! I loved the first half, it got a too repetitive in the middle and last half with explaining stuff he had already explained earlier but the ending was a little twisty and fun.
August 6, 2025
2,75 Sterne. 100 Seiten weniger und es wären 3 geworden. Hab viel über U-Boote gelernt. Das war ganz interessant. Die Story ist teilweise spannend, wenn auch extrem unrealistisch und von den Charakteren hat keiner wirklich herausgestochen. Naja, ist jetzt eh kein Anwärter auf den Literaturnobelpreis.
Wer stattdessen mal einen extrem gut geschriebenen U-Boot-Roman lesen will hält sich an den Klassiker "Das Boot" von Lothar-Günther Buchheim. Das ist der Hammer.
Wer stattdessen mal einen extrem gut geschriebenen U-Boot-Roman lesen will hält sich an den Klassiker "Das Boot" von Lothar-Günther Buchheim. Das ist der Hammer.
May 19, 2019
I was teetering between a 1 and a 2 star rating. The characters are all superheros or super villains. The level of coincidence and ghost in the machine is just ridiculous. The characters don't behave like real people. The story is basically a mash up of Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide. But the guy does really know his technical subject matter. So that was a plus. The final 50 pages, and especially the epilogue, sealed the one star though.
If you are looking for "the best novel about a submarine since Tom Clancy's classic The Hunt for Red October", just re-read The Hunt for Red October. Don't read this.
If you are looking for "the best novel about a submarine since Tom Clancy's classic The Hunt for Red October", just re-read The Hunt for Red October. Don't read this.
May 20, 2019
Good solid read.
August 2, 2019
Intriguing and fun
The action was simple and kept my interest without overly complicated terms or protocols. I enjoyed the summer read well enough to get additional books
The action was simple and kept my interest without overly complicated terms or protocols. I enjoyed the summer read well enough to get additional books
February 28, 2019
OK for a page turner to keep my brain occupied on a long flight. Some things stretch the credibility of the plot, such as a sub being disabled at a critical point by a single broken wire, and a gas that in tiny amounts disables everyone in a room, but that's probably typical in this genre.
February 12, 2016
The USS Kentucky a Trident ballistic missile submarine carrying a full compliment of
192 nuclear warheads sets out on a routine cruise. After reaching the open sea it
receives a launch order, it is then cut off from all counter orders and disappears into the
Pacific. It will take 8 days to reach its launch site. What they don't know is that the order
didn't come from the U.S. but from a rogue element in Israel. They have learned that
Iran has a nuclear weapon and will detonate it against Israel in 10 days. Israel has no way
to fight it, the weapon is to far underground and they have nothing that will reach it. They
plan on using the submarine to destroy the country. One senior naval officer, the father of
one of the officers on the Kentucky must assemble and lead a group of subs to intercept
and neutralize the Kentucky before it can unleash a nuclear attack. This is book 1 in the
Trident Deception series . It's a good war novel and I gave it a 4.
192 nuclear warheads sets out on a routine cruise. After reaching the open sea it
receives a launch order, it is then cut off from all counter orders and disappears into the
Pacific. It will take 8 days to reach its launch site. What they don't know is that the order
didn't come from the U.S. but from a rogue element in Israel. They have learned that
Iran has a nuclear weapon and will detonate it against Israel in 10 days. Israel has no way
to fight it, the weapon is to far underground and they have nothing that will reach it. They
plan on using the submarine to destroy the country. One senior naval officer, the father of
one of the officers on the Kentucky must assemble and lead a group of subs to intercept
and neutralize the Kentucky before it can unleash a nuclear attack. This is book 1 in the
Trident Deception series . It's a good war novel and I gave it a 4.
February 15, 2014
I won a free copy of this book in a first-reads giveaway. The Trident Deception is the first book this year to go on my favorites shelf. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense/thrillers. I did have a problem with the use of Navy Acronyms that I wasn't familiar with. It doesn't hurt the story at all, but being prior military (Army), I couldn't pass them up without going back in the book to remind myself what they meant. An e-book version would have made that much easier.
5 stars!
5 stars!
April 21, 2014
The Hunt for Red October--in reverse. The Israelis are the bad guys, using undercover operatives to deceive a US missile submarine to attempt to launch its missiles at Iran. The rest of the US Navy launch a desperate effort to sink the rogue sub before it can fire.
The writing is pedestrian, and the plot implausible, but you can burn through it in a couple of trips to the bathroom. And besides--it's got missiles and submarines. So there's that.
The writing is pedestrian, and the plot implausible, but you can burn through it in a couple of trips to the bathroom. And besides--it's got missiles and submarines. So there's that.
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