What do you think?
Rate this book
Battle Born #1
Unknown Rider
After a Navy pilot inexplicably loses control of his stealth fighter, he stumbles upon a global conspiracy, and embarks on a thrilling chase filled with espionage and betrayal.
“A high-octane and adrenaline-powered thriller… Strap in and hold on!” —Jack Carr, Former Navy SEAL sniper and #1 New York Times bestselling author of the James Reece Terminal List series
TOP GUN instructor Colt Bancroft has just catapulted off the USS Abraham Lincoln, his F-35C Joint Strike Fighter trailing blue and yellow flame as he climbs into the night sky off the California coast.
When he is sent to investigate a series of mysterious lights floating dangerously close to his aircraft carrier, disaster strikes. His jet becomes unresponsive as it rolls inverted and enters a nosedive aimed right at the aircraft carrier’s unsuspecting escort cruiser…
What follows is a tale of heroism and betrayal, spycraft and suspense, and aerial combat against an unexpected adversary.
To clear his name and unmask a traitor, Colt must survive a dangerous game of spy-vs-spy, where trusting the wrong person could cost him his life. To stop the enemy from hitting their ultimate target, Colt must use every ounce of his skill and training…and uncover the identity of the UNKNOWN RIDER.
From author Jack Stewart, a former US Navy Top Gun instructor pilot, comes an exhilarating military thriller that’s packed with high-octane action and puts the reader behind the controls of a modern jet fighter. Perfect for fans of Tom Clancy and Dale Brown.
_____________________
Praise for Unknown
“Stewart clearly knows his way around a jet…” —Publisher’s Weekly
“…this high-speed book excels at pacing and plotting.” —Foreword Reviews
"From espionage to dogfights… this is a Mach 5 debut." —Brad Taylor, Retired Special Forces Officer and New York Times bestselling author of the Pike Logan series
"Stewart's provocative debut grabs you from the get-go. A powerful entry in what should be a fantastic series." —Simon Gervais, Former RCMP counterterrorism officer and bestselling author of The Last Protector
"Stewart firewalls the throttles with the first sentence and keeps the afterburners howling until the end." —Don Bentley, New York Times bestselling author of Forgotten War
"Strongly evocative of classic Clancy…Intensely paced and skillfully plotted." —Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Gray Man
“A deeply authentic immersion into the heart and soul of the modern fighter pilot. I could not put it down.” —David McCloskey, author of Moscow X
“A must read for military thriller enthusiasts—the Battle Born series is storytelling in afterburner!” —Ward Larsen, USA Today bestselling author of Deep Fake
“Leaves readers breathless by the end and hungry for the next book!” —Taylor Moore, author of Firestorm
"Authentic, fast, and utterly
“A high-octane and adrenaline-powered thriller… Strap in and hold on!” —Jack Carr, Former Navy SEAL sniper and #1 New York Times bestselling author of the James Reece Terminal List series
TOP GUN instructor Colt Bancroft has just catapulted off the USS Abraham Lincoln, his F-35C Joint Strike Fighter trailing blue and yellow flame as he climbs into the night sky off the California coast.
When he is sent to investigate a series of mysterious lights floating dangerously close to his aircraft carrier, disaster strikes. His jet becomes unresponsive as it rolls inverted and enters a nosedive aimed right at the aircraft carrier’s unsuspecting escort cruiser…
What follows is a tale of heroism and betrayal, spycraft and suspense, and aerial combat against an unexpected adversary.
To clear his name and unmask a traitor, Colt must survive a dangerous game of spy-vs-spy, where trusting the wrong person could cost him his life. To stop the enemy from hitting their ultimate target, Colt must use every ounce of his skill and training…and uncover the identity of the UNKNOWN RIDER.
From author Jack Stewart, a former US Navy Top Gun instructor pilot, comes an exhilarating military thriller that’s packed with high-octane action and puts the reader behind the controls of a modern jet fighter. Perfect for fans of Tom Clancy and Dale Brown.
_____________________
Praise for Unknown
“Stewart clearly knows his way around a jet…” —Publisher’s Weekly
“…this high-speed book excels at pacing and plotting.” —Foreword Reviews
"From espionage to dogfights… this is a Mach 5 debut." —Brad Taylor, Retired Special Forces Officer and New York Times bestselling author of the Pike Logan series
"Stewart's provocative debut grabs you from the get-go. A powerful entry in what should be a fantastic series." —Simon Gervais, Former RCMP counterterrorism officer and bestselling author of The Last Protector
"Stewart firewalls the throttles with the first sentence and keeps the afterburners howling until the end." —Don Bentley, New York Times bestselling author of Forgotten War
"Strongly evocative of classic Clancy…Intensely paced and skillfully plotted." —Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Gray Man
“A deeply authentic immersion into the heart and soul of the modern fighter pilot. I could not put it down.” —David McCloskey, author of Moscow X
“A must read for military thriller enthusiasts—the Battle Born series is storytelling in afterburner!” —Ward Larsen, USA Today bestselling author of Deep Fake
“Leaves readers breathless by the end and hungry for the next book!” —Taylor Moore, author of Firestorm
"Authentic, fast, and utterly
435 pages, ebook
First published November 21, 2023
1016 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
December 15, 2023
You can't get more authentic than this! Unknown Rider is a debut military thriller by Jack Stewart, a former Naval aviator and TOP GUN instructor pilot.
On the US carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, off the Southern California coast, the F-35C Lightning II is catapulted into the night. Lieutenant Colt “Mother” Bancroft is testing the Navy's brand new stealth strike fighter. In the sky, he sees strange glowing orbs but soon Colt loses control of the jet.
Wow! Unknown Rider is relentless and action-packed. It'll hook you from the first chapter to the ending and leave you wanting more. I sigh with relief but also can't wait for the next book because of how it ended. 4.5⭐
Love this terrific audiobook with Ray Porter's narration who also performed Project Hail Mary and The Terminal List series.
Thank you Severn River Publishing and Netgalley for the ALC.
10H 27M
Available November 21, 2023
On the US carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, off the Southern California coast, the F-35C Lightning II is catapulted into the night. Lieutenant Colt “Mother” Bancroft is testing the Navy's brand new stealth strike fighter. In the sky, he sees strange glowing orbs but soon Colt loses control of the jet.
Wow! Unknown Rider is relentless and action-packed. It'll hook you from the first chapter to the ending and leave you wanting more. I sigh with relief but also can't wait for the next book because of how it ended. 4.5⭐
Love this terrific audiobook with Ray Porter's narration who also performed Project Hail Mary and The Terminal List series.
Thank you Severn River Publishing and Netgalley for the ALC.
10H 27M
Available November 21, 2023
October 16, 2023
I had heard about this one for a long time and when I got the opportunity I thought why not. If you want non stop action in a high speed thriller then you should read Unknown Rider by Jack Stewart. I will be sure to get the next one in this brand new series because this one blew me away with this wild ride of a story. We get some great characters with a well put together plot and some great action scenes. You get the feeling through the book that Stewart knows what he writes about and if I understand it correctly he served as some kind of pilot. But boy can he write, this is a great new star in the writing community and I think he will have a lot of readers. I send a big thank you to the publishers and Edelweiss for letting me read this advance copy and to Jack I say, well done sir.
April 4, 2024
I don't believe this is a debut author. Can't be. Unknown Rider is one of the best debuts in recent memory. I would change absolutely nothing. Top Gun in book form. The original; not that awful, bloated Maverick. Intelligent and timely, Unknown Rider has my highest recommendation!
Thanks to Severn River Publishing and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read a copy of Unknown Rider!.
Thanks to Severn River Publishing and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read a copy of Unknown Rider!.
November 21, 2023
Jack Stewart has knocked it out of the part with his debut novel Unknown Rider!! One of the best debut novels I have ever picked up. You will be on the edge of your seat the entire time in the fast paced thriller. Jack gets to bring some real life research as a Navy Pilot into his debut. Colt, Punky and Jug will be characters that stick to you for a long time. The story telling and the character development was top notch!! Brought me back to the feeling of reading Tom Clancy back in the day. I can’t wait to see what comes next for Jack Stewart.
November 26, 2023
Excellent blend of intrigue, action and world building. Stewart has assembled a cast of characters that you care about and will want to read the sequels to see where they go and how they develop.
August 11, 2025
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
An intense espionage and military thrill ride that puts the reader in the cockpit of a latest generation fighter jet. Unknown Rider will have your heart beating at Mach 1 and your brain pulling 7 G’s in a desperate attempt to will our heroes to thwart their enemy. Jack Stewart’s debut is drenched in authenticity that screams “Been there, done that, got the call sign.”
The star of this book is the genuine peek behind the military curtain, thanks to Jack Stewart’s years of experience as a naval aviator. The jargon, the actions and the reactions come from someone with authority and are not watered down for the layperson. A dream chance to be in the military rooms where it happens.
Fans of the military thriller genre will love Unknown Rider. A promising start to a budding new series by an author who has a lot to offer the thrillerverse. Can’t wait to see what Jack Stewart cooks up next.
An intense espionage and military thrill ride that puts the reader in the cockpit of a latest generation fighter jet. Unknown Rider will have your heart beating at Mach 1 and your brain pulling 7 G’s in a desperate attempt to will our heroes to thwart their enemy. Jack Stewart’s debut is drenched in authenticity that screams “Been there, done that, got the call sign.”
The star of this book is the genuine peek behind the military curtain, thanks to Jack Stewart’s years of experience as a naval aviator. The jargon, the actions and the reactions come from someone with authority and are not watered down for the layperson. A dream chance to be in the military rooms where it happens.
Fans of the military thriller genre will love Unknown Rider. A promising start to a budding new series by an author who has a lot to offer the thrillerverse. Can’t wait to see what Jack Stewart cooks up next.
July 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A High-Octane Thriller That Soars
Unknown Rider is everything I want in a military thriller—smart, authentic, and absolutely gripping. Jack Stewart delivers a debut that’s reminiscent of early Tom Clancy in the best way possible. The tension is real, the action is razor-sharp, and it’s obvious Stewart brings the real-world knowledge of a former naval aviator. That credibility bleeds onto every page, making this read as immersive as it is intense. I devoured it and am already grabbing the next one. Jack Stewart is the real deal.
A High-Octane Thriller That Soars
Unknown Rider is everything I want in a military thriller—smart, authentic, and absolutely gripping. Jack Stewart delivers a debut that’s reminiscent of early Tom Clancy in the best way possible. The tension is real, the action is razor-sharp, and it’s obvious Stewart brings the real-world knowledge of a former naval aviator. That credibility bleeds onto every page, making this read as immersive as it is intense. I devoured it and am already grabbing the next one. Jack Stewart is the real deal.
October 19, 2023
Book Review – Unknown Rider – Jack Stewart
Aerial action thriller “Unknown Rider” by ‘Aviator Author’ Jack Stewart – a former US Navy Top Gun pilot – may be the ‘debut military thriller’ of the year! Laced with fast paced military aerial action, exhilarating espionage intrigue, and suspenseful storytelling, Stewart has penned a powerful Clancy-like novel that was skillfully plotted and expertly written. His experience as a US Navy Top Gun aviator was apparent throughout this book. When the main character, Colt Bancroft, a Navy Top Gun fighter pilot stumbles upon a global conspiracy, the story embarks on a tale of gallantry, betrayal, spy craft, suspense, and aerial combat against an unexpected and ‘unknown’ adversary. A daring intelligence game of spy-vs-spy – good guy vs bad guy – this high-octane military thriller is reminiscent of classic Tom Clancy novels. And the aerial combat dogfights were so authentic and realistic. These gripping passages made the book for me! Stewart’s depictions of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter’s substantial capabilities were astonishing! He clearly knows his way around a sophisticated fighter jet and did a splendid job of illuminating the advanced technological capabilities for the reader. Stimulating, Exhilarating, and Entertaining, Unknown Rider – Book 1 in the Battle Born series – is a great new addition to the military thriller genre. Special thank you to Jack Stewart for the autographed advance reader’s copy. “Done good, you have young Jedi.” I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Looking forward to Book 2 – “Outlaw” – February 2024.
Aerial action thriller “Unknown Rider” by ‘Aviator Author’ Jack Stewart – a former US Navy Top Gun pilot – may be the ‘debut military thriller’ of the year! Laced with fast paced military aerial action, exhilarating espionage intrigue, and suspenseful storytelling, Stewart has penned a powerful Clancy-like novel that was skillfully plotted and expertly written. His experience as a US Navy Top Gun aviator was apparent throughout this book. When the main character, Colt Bancroft, a Navy Top Gun fighter pilot stumbles upon a global conspiracy, the story embarks on a tale of gallantry, betrayal, spy craft, suspense, and aerial combat against an unexpected and ‘unknown’ adversary. A daring intelligence game of spy-vs-spy – good guy vs bad guy – this high-octane military thriller is reminiscent of classic Tom Clancy novels. And the aerial combat dogfights were so authentic and realistic. These gripping passages made the book for me! Stewart’s depictions of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter’s substantial capabilities were astonishing! He clearly knows his way around a sophisticated fighter jet and did a splendid job of illuminating the advanced technological capabilities for the reader. Stimulating, Exhilarating, and Entertaining, Unknown Rider – Book 1 in the Battle Born series – is a great new addition to the military thriller genre. Special thank you to Jack Stewart for the autographed advance reader’s copy. “Done good, you have young Jedi.” I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Looking forward to Book 2 – “Outlaw” – February 2024.
November 16, 2024
An audio book narrated by Ray Porter is reason enough for me to take a listen. I was first introduced to him in The Terminal List series written by Jack Carr, then We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis Taylor, followed by Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary.
Unknown Rider (Battle Born #1) is an excellent thriller, especially for fans of air combat and military aviation. Many of the terms were lost on me, but the plot concept was intriguing and the characters were unique. Looking forward to #2 with Ray Porter on the mic once again.
Unknown Rider (Battle Born #1) is an excellent thriller, especially for fans of air combat and military aviation. Many of the terms were lost on me, but the plot concept was intriguing and the characters were unique. Looking forward to #2 with Ray Porter on the mic once again.
June 29, 2023
I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader's copy of this novel. Jack is a personal friend, and I had looked forward to reading this for a very long time. This book will knock your socks off. Written with authority by a former naval aviator, it has a very plausible plot that focuses on a Navy pilot, an NCIS special agent, and a captain of a naval vessel. Each finds themselves in the middle of a foreign terrorist cell that has targeted an upcoming test of a new missile fired from an F-35. Can't give any more away without spoilers, only that it reads like a Clancy novel filled with the technical accuracy and suspense of a seasoned veteran. As it is the first in a series that promises to be both thrilling and action-packed, readers need to climb on board now for the rides of their lives.
October 15, 2023
Hold on, this one will fly by fast! An electric debut that puts you in the seat of the world’s most advanced fighter jet, Stewart is so natural that it feels real. Like you are behind the throttle. Detailed, well written, and action packed. The Battle Born Series is going to be blistering!
November 26, 2024
Great Book! Intrigue and international conspiracies weaved into a Top Gun fighter pilot; his attempts to find the culprit, spy vs spy, lots of action and fun. It was a thrilling and intellectual whodunnit to determine who was behind the bad acts! Fun read.
January 21, 2024
The pilot and navy brat side of me wants to tell everyone I know to read this. But, I’m also very aware that I don’t think this book would hit as hard if you don’t have plane/pilot/navy knowledge. The author does an amazing job of keeping things feeling very real, but that includes a ton of descriptions, specifically in relation to the insides of planes, jets and pilot terms that you wouldn’t know without that. The descriptions for visual is amazing, and I highly suggested to anyone who has that knowledge, even people without it I think you would still love the story, if you’re into this type of vibe, but understand that you might not know all of the technicalities.
December 15, 2023
I thought this was a great book. I love the design of the cover. Jack could totally be writing for Tom Clancy's estate at some point in the future. His writing reminded me so much of Clancy's as far as the ease of reading. The plot was engaging and I thought the presented trade craft was top notch.
I liked that it didn't focus too much on flying and presented realistic protrayels of spies working in our country.
If Jack wants it, I could see him writing some Clancy books in the future.
I liked that it didn't focus too much on flying and presented realistic protrayels of spies working in our country.
If Jack wants it, I could see him writing some Clancy books in the future.
July 23, 2023
Wow as a former Navy Aircraft carrier sailor this put me back on the ship. I did not want to stop reading. Infact I wanted to read faster as it pulled me into the story. Every page keeps you intrigued waiting for the next plot twist. Thank you Jack Stewart for the story. I can't wait for the next in the series to see where you take us.
July 25, 2023
Very timely subject matter considering current events. Fast moving and suspenseful with unforeseen twists around every corner. You’ll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.
February 24, 2024
4.25 Stars
Another "new to me" author that I found through a mention in The Real Book Spy (therealbookspy.com). It said something like he was the best debut author since Jack Carr, and since I am a HUGE Carr fan, it was a no brainer for me.
One of the differences that you can see right away is that the author was an airplane pilot. Just like we got the realism from Jack Carr in his Terminal List Series with James Reece, we get that feeling from Colt Bancroft in this series with the fighter planes and other aircraft. Lots of technical jargon, but it did add realism.
This story introduces Colt along with an NCIS officer who is investigating some espionage onboard a Navy ship. Things get started pretty quickly and then we are along for the ride as an enemy state is trying to sabotage American interests. It becomes a race to the finish.
The story does have quite a bit of action and intrigue and the best part, it is narrated by Ray Porter! That is a definite winner for me as he is one of my all time favorite narrators.
The book itself has definite potential, but to me it feels like it is on a level under some of the greats that are currently out there. Since this is a debut book, I can only assume that these books are going to get better and better as they go on. I am definitely willing to continue on with this series and I'm looking forward to seeing what is next to come.
Another "new to me" author that I found through a mention in The Real Book Spy (therealbookspy.com). It said something like he was the best debut author since Jack Carr, and since I am a HUGE Carr fan, it was a no brainer for me.
One of the differences that you can see right away is that the author was an airplane pilot. Just like we got the realism from Jack Carr in his Terminal List Series with James Reece, we get that feeling from Colt Bancroft in this series with the fighter planes and other aircraft. Lots of technical jargon, but it did add realism.
This story introduces Colt along with an NCIS officer who is investigating some espionage onboard a Navy ship. Things get started pretty quickly and then we are along for the ride as an enemy state is trying to sabotage American interests. It becomes a race to the finish.
The story does have quite a bit of action and intrigue and the best part, it is narrated by Ray Porter! That is a definite winner for me as he is one of my all time favorite narrators.
The book itself has definite potential, but to me it feels like it is on a level under some of the greats that are currently out there. Since this is a debut book, I can only assume that these books are going to get better and better as they go on. I am definitely willing to continue on with this series and I'm looking forward to seeing what is next to come.
February 20, 2024
I bought a copy on Amazon and tagged Jack Stewart on Twitter (X). He wrote me back stating that I purchased a bootleg copy and for me to send it to him so he could switch it out. He replaced it with a limited edition, personalized hardcover signed copy. Jack also sent some additional swag as well. A writer friend recommended Jack Stewart because he knew I was on an aircraft carrier. Jack has the Navy Lingo down. I guess you never really lose that. The book reminded me of my time on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. General Quarters, Setting Yoke, Mid-rats, and The CAG are all terms I haven't heard in the last 20 years since I separated. It's fairly accurate and the settings are real places. I was a West Coast Sailor stationed in Yokosuka. I only went to Sand Dog to process out but remember hearing about all the places from shipmates who served there. The storyline was exceptionally well written with fast-paced non-stop action. I can't wait for book two in the series, Outlaw to arrive. I'm a fan!
January 24, 2024
Never a dull moment! Action packed keeps the book hard to put down...
November 18, 2023
Unknown Rider Jack Stewart
A great debut! Top Gun pilot experiences near disaster and believes something sinister is going on – not pilot error. Most disagree but he teams up with a fiery Navy Investigator and they start looking for answers. Wonderful military thriller which shows the influence of Tom Clancy on the author. Looking forward to the next one. Highly recommended.
#UnknownRider #JackStewart #SevernRiverPublishing #NetGalley
A great debut! Top Gun pilot experiences near disaster and believes something sinister is going on – not pilot error. Most disagree but he teams up with a fiery Navy Investigator and they start looking for answers. Wonderful military thriller which shows the influence of Tom Clancy on the author. Looking forward to the next one. Highly recommended.
#UnknownRider #JackStewart #SevernRiverPublishing #NetGalley
December 12, 2024
I listened to the EAudiobook version while on an eight hour drive. Quite the thriller but I was shouting out - connect the dots you idiots! Chinese hacking. F-35 JSF. All set in SoCal. NCIS. FBI. I am ready for the next book on the drive back.
November 21, 2023
I received an advance copy of this book for my honest review. This is a great start to what I hope is a long series. The action starts right at the beginning and keeps the reader looking for more. The characters are all interesting and believable. I look forward to reading a lot of more from this author.
August 24, 2024
#1 KINDLE
December 4, 2023
A fantastic debut of a political thriller that involves the military, espionage, and raw patriotism. There is a well developed plot with ample detail verging slightly towards too much complexity for the average reader, but solidifies the authors own experience to bring this story to life. The uniqueness in this thriller is that all of the action takes place so close to home. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read.
January 7, 2024
So obvious the author wants a hook in the reader to read more of this series, so deduction points for that and the fact that many questions left unanswered. That will surely happen in subsequent books and why I will not read more. Other than that it is an edge of your seat book and quite entertaining especially if you are familiar with flight and/or the military.
May 11, 2025
This was fine. It was well-written, and the action sequences were engaging.
Every single character was insufferable. Also I’m not convinced the main pilot actually furthered the story in any way. He just happened to cross paths with the female agent’s mission, and flew around a bit.
Every single character was insufferable. Also I’m not convinced the main pilot actually furthered the story in any way. He just happened to cross paths with the female agent’s mission, and flew around a bit.
November 23, 2023
I don’t typically read military thrillers, but this book was AMAZING. He does a great job making the reader feel like they are in the cockpit of a Navy fighter.
March 19, 2025
The core plot of this book is covert action by Chinese agents against the US, in particular, the US Navy. There are two co-protagonists, a Navy fighter pilot affected by the Chinese plot and an NCIS agent who is trying to hunt down a junior sailor who has been turned by the Chinese.
The Navy characters are quite good, a reflection of the author's service as a career naval officer. They act and react nearly always like naval officers would in similar situations. The naval enlisted personnel are seen almost entirely through the eyes of naval officers, so the flaws in their portrayal really only show up when no officers are present. In those situations, they tend toward caricatures, but those situations are quite rare.
I don't quite buy the NCIS agent; who has both an improbable background (pilot, water polo star, martial artist, sport driver, ....) and seems not to handle physically stressful situations consistently. Similarly, the experienced FBI agent seems to have very uneven capabilities.
The main plot required that I strain my suspension of disbelief quite a bit, in that the most basic level of communication between field personnel and their command structure or ordinary prudence could have pretty easily short-circuited much of the action.
Once you accept the fundamental unlikeliness of the plot, though, the writing is great fun. The writing of action sequences is quite good, giving me a real feel for what the author is intending. Neither side of the competition has a monopoly on either good or bad luck or on good or bad choices. And the technical details (as one could expect) are spot on (within the restrictions of classification).
Even though this book has its flaws, it was quite entertaining to read. With the strengths the author has in what seems to be his first book, I expect other books in the series to be very good. Recommended.
The Navy characters are quite good, a reflection of the author's service as a career naval officer. They act and react nearly always like naval officers would in similar situations. The naval enlisted personnel are seen almost entirely through the eyes of naval officers, so the flaws in their portrayal really only show up when no officers are present. In those situations, they tend toward caricatures, but those situations are quite rare.
I don't quite buy the NCIS agent; who has both an improbable background (pilot, water polo star, martial artist, sport driver, ....) and seems not to handle physically stressful situations consistently. Similarly, the experienced FBI agent seems to have very uneven capabilities.
The main plot required that I strain my suspension of disbelief quite a bit, in that the most basic level of communication between field personnel and their command structure or ordinary prudence could have pretty easily short-circuited much of the action.
Once you accept the fundamental unlikeliness of the plot, though, the writing is great fun. The writing of action sequences is quite good, giving me a real feel for what the author is intending. Neither side of the competition has a monopoly on either good or bad luck or on good or bad choices. And the technical details (as one could expect) are spot on (within the restrictions of classification).
Even though this book has its flaws, it was quite entertaining to read. With the strengths the author has in what seems to be his first book, I expect other books in the series to be very good. Recommended.
March 14, 2024
Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! A well executed debut military/spy thriller.
Plot summary for me for when I read the next novel: Emmy King (aka Punky) is a NCIS agent tasked with finding a Navy soldier who is giving secrets to the Chinese. Her godfather, Rick, is with the FBI and he’s looking for the Chinese agent buying secrets from the Navy sailor. Meanwhile, Colt “Mother” Bancroft, a TOPGUN instructor is on a new jet that gets taken over by someone else while he is piloting it. He tried to tell his commander, but his commander blows him off and grounds him. Emmy deciphers a message that states the Chinese want to take Colt out because he downloaded maintenance data on the fighter jet, so she goes to find him. Rick gets killed by the Chinese spy (TANDY, aka Chen) and then Emmy ends up killing the Chinese spy as she was trying to overtake Jug’s plane and have it annihilate an aircraft carrier. Colt helps Jug out but helping him while his jet was taken over remotely by Chen. In the end, we know little about Emmy’s future or Colt’s. We just know that Adam (the traitor who works for maintenance logistics) is the adopted son of the Chinese master spy (Mantis) and he’s regretting his decision to feed intel to the Chinese woman that he thought loved him (Chen). Ironically, Mantis was Chen’s handler and the Chinese Ministry of Security notified her that Adam needs a new handler.
Remaining questions: What is Emmy’s background - what happened to her family? What was her dad and Rick’s friendship built on? Will Navy traitor Adam and/or his mom “Mantis” the Chinese agent be killed by the Chinese for their failures? Do they arrest the professor at Cal Poly for his role in creating the virus for the Chinese? Will Emmy and Colt see more of each other? What is Colt’s future now that the Navy Seal said he would look for him in the future? Will we see more of Colt’s friend “Jug” (the test pilot) or Smitty, another fighter pilot?
Plot summary for me for when I read the next novel: Emmy King (aka Punky) is a NCIS agent tasked with finding a Navy soldier who is giving secrets to the Chinese. Her godfather, Rick, is with the FBI and he’s looking for the Chinese agent buying secrets from the Navy sailor. Meanwhile, Colt “Mother” Bancroft, a TOPGUN instructor is on a new jet that gets taken over by someone else while he is piloting it. He tried to tell his commander, but his commander blows him off and grounds him. Emmy deciphers a message that states the Chinese want to take Colt out because he downloaded maintenance data on the fighter jet, so she goes to find him. Rick gets killed by the Chinese spy (TANDY, aka Chen) and then Emmy ends up killing the Chinese spy as she was trying to overtake Jug’s plane and have it annihilate an aircraft carrier. Colt helps Jug out but helping him while his jet was taken over remotely by Chen. In the end, we know little about Emmy’s future or Colt’s. We just know that Adam (the traitor who works for maintenance logistics) is the adopted son of the Chinese master spy (Mantis) and he’s regretting his decision to feed intel to the Chinese woman that he thought loved him (Chen). Ironically, Mantis was Chen’s handler and the Chinese Ministry of Security notified her that Adam needs a new handler.
Remaining questions: What is Emmy’s background - what happened to her family? What was her dad and Rick’s friendship built on? Will Navy traitor Adam and/or his mom “Mantis” the Chinese agent be killed by the Chinese for their failures? Do they arrest the professor at Cal Poly for his role in creating the virus for the Chinese? Will Emmy and Colt see more of each other? What is Colt’s future now that the Navy Seal said he would look for him in the future? Will we see more of Colt’s friend “Jug” (the test pilot) or Smitty, another fighter pilot?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
A solid 4.5 stars. I rounded up to 5 stars because for a first book this was well done. The author created tension and suspense in several places throughout the book. There was a little too much detail and technical information on military equipment for me, but it does highlight the author's knowledge in those areas. I just felt like the detail slowed the book in some places.
Not knowing anything about Navy protocol, I was surprised that Colt didn't explain more to his command about what had happened after the jet takeover had failed. Likewise, I wasn't sure why Jug and Colt didn't explicitly communicate to the cruiser about being low on fuel when they turned south.
I am wondering if book 2 will explain more about the orbs. This book didn't explain what the orbs had to do with the jet takeover. The orbs did not appear when Jug's plane was taken over so what was their purpose on the first takeover? I also found the connection in the last few pages a stretch and a little disappointing. Although I usually don't like books that leave the ending up in the air, I wasn't overly troubled by the lack of resolution with Adam and others. I definitely can't wait for book 2 to be released next month.
Not knowing anything about Navy protocol, I was surprised that Colt didn't explain more to his command about what had happened after the jet takeover had failed. Likewise, I wasn't sure why Jug and Colt didn't explicitly communicate to the cruiser about being low on fuel when they turned south.
I am wondering if book 2 will explain more about the orbs. This book didn't explain what the orbs had to do with the jet takeover. The orbs did not appear when Jug's plane was taken over so what was their purpose on the first takeover? I also found the connection in the last few pages a stretch and a little disappointing. Although I usually don't like books that leave the ending up in the air, I wasn't overly troubled by the lack of resolution with Adam and others. I definitely can't wait for book 2 to be released next month.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews