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The War Machine
It’s 1988, and secrets that were buried deep in the jungles of Vietnam twenty years earlier are starting to re-emerge. David “Kick” Tacker is a Canadian-born—but American-made—stone-cold killer, and is barely holding his psyche together; shattered by years of war and violence. He fought in MACV-SOG’s secret war in Vietnam until there was no more war to be made, and then sustained himself with clandestine work around the world. Now living in Vancouver, Kick has one goal holding him together - to finally expose Canada’s covert involvement in the Vietnam War before those dark secrets are hidden forever. With the help of a local reporter and his Agency handlers, Kick races to make the story public, all while being pursued by a mysterious assassin and their team. The War Machine takes us from the savage jungles of the Vietnam War to its explosive climax in the seedy back streets of Vancouver, where Kick will either get the story to print, or die in the battle to expose the truth.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2024
5 people are currently reading
3943 people want to read
About the author
Barry W. Levy
1 book26 followersBarry W. Levy is an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and screenwriter. He holds a BFA degree from UBC's Department of Theatre, Film, and Creative Writing, (1991) . Barry's feature films 'Spook' and 'The Shasta Triangle' have won numerous international festival awards, as have his live action and animated short films. He makes his home between Vancouver and Los Angeles, and his historical-fiction, spy thriller, 'The War Machine' is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 13, 2024
Fans of military fiction, alphabet agency thrillers, suspense, and historical fiction- this one’s for you! “The War Machine” by Barry Levy is a take-no-prisoners, leave-no-witnesses novel that ticks all the right boxes. Set in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1988, this absolute tour de force flashes back frequently to Vietnam, 1968 as we get into the head of the main character, Kick. He seems like an anomaly- a Canadian fighting with US soldiers in the special forces unit then known as MACV-SOG. They were ghosts in the night. Terrors by day. Dropping into the jungles of Cambodia and Laos where no combat troops were officially allowed.
Kick looks and acts like a homeless person, often wandering the streets, watching, and waiting. His hygiene is questionable. His mental state is not. Everyone who spends more than a few minutes with him understands that he’s the paranoid poster boy for PTSD. He’s spent the last 20 years researching, seeking the truth about why Canadians were allowed to fight in the US Military, why Canadian industries made so many of the military components the US needed in Vietnam (boots, bullets, and beyond), and why this happened without going through the government channels that would have brought it to light for the Canadian people. He calls it simply “The Machine” and intends to shine a bright light on it.
As one would imagine, there are those who want to keep this information quiet. Besides, it’s all in the past now, right? Why should anyone care? Then Kick meets Kelly, a journalist with their local paper, and he realizes that she gets it. She’s completely on board with researching and publishing this information as an expose. But this puts both of them in serious danger.
Where are we going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?
Kick is a fascinating character. Yes, anyone who enjoys military reads has come across vets with PTSD. But Kick is… different. Complex. Unpredictable. His flashbacks to his time in the jungle are visceral and gritty, creating in the reader a pounding pulse and an inability to close the book. Levy’s writing puts us there with Kick and his unit as they traverse the deep jungle in places the US will deny they’ve ever been. We’re in the moment with these astounding men as they face the harshest conditions while attempting to maintain their humanity.
If the jungle’s not trying to kill him with weather, it’s sending snakes, rock apes, tigers, or the Viet Cong.
Kick is not the only fascinating character here. Kelly is strong and intelligent. She’s also stubborn and not very street-wise. The band of CIA operatives is a mixed bag of intelligent, highly skilled, and mostly crazy misfits who bring a welcome breath of fresh air in the form of dark humor. This especially applies to a petite woman named Wong, who is a master of her craft and never seems to lose that dark edge of humor.
Wong takes in Buck, in all his redneck beer-belly glory, and says quietly, “It’s like discovering a new species. Preserved in alcohol.”
Buck may not be impressive. He’s former army, now an overweight nighttime security guard at a largely abandoned shipyard. But he has probably the most impressive take-down of the entire operation and never loses his joy for life.
Is it obvious how much I enjoyed “The War Machine?” With the stellar characters and juggernaut plot brilliantly paced, I loved everything about this book. As one who watched Walter Cronkite every night at dinner, hoping not to see her helicopter pilot brother on the news, it resonated deeply. Levy’s words are masterful and articulate, creating depth and striking a tone of sincerity that makes this entire work feel genuine.
I am proud to highly recommend this genre-busting novel. It is both profound and enlightening while maintaining its entertaining style. After reading Mr. Levy’s story, I was curious as to how much of this was based on fact, and completely surprised by what I found. “The War Machine” by Barry Levy offers readers depth and insight while immersed in a damn good war and counterintelligence story.
NOTE TO SENSITIVE READERS:
As one might expect, this novel is graphic in its depiction of both wartime and civil violence. As it deals in part with soldiers in war zones, the language is often crude. If graphic violence, language, torture, kidnapping, and mutilation are triggering for you, please consider this warning before picking up this book.
Kick looks and acts like a homeless person, often wandering the streets, watching, and waiting. His hygiene is questionable. His mental state is not. Everyone who spends more than a few minutes with him understands that he’s the paranoid poster boy for PTSD. He’s spent the last 20 years researching, seeking the truth about why Canadians were allowed to fight in the US Military, why Canadian industries made so many of the military components the US needed in Vietnam (boots, bullets, and beyond), and why this happened without going through the government channels that would have brought it to light for the Canadian people. He calls it simply “The Machine” and intends to shine a bright light on it.
As one would imagine, there are those who want to keep this information quiet. Besides, it’s all in the past now, right? Why should anyone care? Then Kick meets Kelly, a journalist with their local paper, and he realizes that she gets it. She’s completely on board with researching and publishing this information as an expose. But this puts both of them in serious danger.
Where are we going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?
Kick is a fascinating character. Yes, anyone who enjoys military reads has come across vets with PTSD. But Kick is… different. Complex. Unpredictable. His flashbacks to his time in the jungle are visceral and gritty, creating in the reader a pounding pulse and an inability to close the book. Levy’s writing puts us there with Kick and his unit as they traverse the deep jungle in places the US will deny they’ve ever been. We’re in the moment with these astounding men as they face the harshest conditions while attempting to maintain their humanity.
If the jungle’s not trying to kill him with weather, it’s sending snakes, rock apes, tigers, or the Viet Cong.
Kick is not the only fascinating character here. Kelly is strong and intelligent. She’s also stubborn and not very street-wise. The band of CIA operatives is a mixed bag of intelligent, highly skilled, and mostly crazy misfits who bring a welcome breath of fresh air in the form of dark humor. This especially applies to a petite woman named Wong, who is a master of her craft and never seems to lose that dark edge of humor.
Wong takes in Buck, in all his redneck beer-belly glory, and says quietly, “It’s like discovering a new species. Preserved in alcohol.”
Buck may not be impressive. He’s former army, now an overweight nighttime security guard at a largely abandoned shipyard. But he has probably the most impressive take-down of the entire operation and never loses his joy for life.
Is it obvious how much I enjoyed “The War Machine?” With the stellar characters and juggernaut plot brilliantly paced, I loved everything about this book. As one who watched Walter Cronkite every night at dinner, hoping not to see her helicopter pilot brother on the news, it resonated deeply. Levy’s words are masterful and articulate, creating depth and striking a tone of sincerity that makes this entire work feel genuine.
I am proud to highly recommend this genre-busting novel. It is both profound and enlightening while maintaining its entertaining style. After reading Mr. Levy’s story, I was curious as to how much of this was based on fact, and completely surprised by what I found. “The War Machine” by Barry Levy offers readers depth and insight while immersed in a damn good war and counterintelligence story.
NOTE TO SENSITIVE READERS:
As one might expect, this novel is graphic in its depiction of both wartime and civil violence. As it deals in part with soldiers in war zones, the language is often crude. If graphic violence, language, torture, kidnapping, and mutilation are triggering for you, please consider this warning before picking up this book.
April 28, 2024
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book and it’s phenomenal. From the moment I started reading The War Machine I was completely drawn in, and I’ve been familiar with this story ever since Barry and I met two decades ago. What was incredibly impressive to me is how much research and detail he has put into this book. It’s emotional and gripping, and I’m so proud of him. Definitely read this novel. It’s fantastic. *Full disclosure Barry is my husband, but he’ll be the first to say that makes me a tough audience and often toughest critic.
August 12, 2024
A gripping encounter
The story is a gripping dive into the shadowy aftermath of the Vietnam War, but it’s not your typical war story. Instead, Levy crafts a tense, psychological thriller that bridges the gap between the brutal jungles of Vietnam and the equally treacherous urban jungle of Vancouver.
The pacing of the novel is intense, and relentless. Levy doesn’t give the reader much room to breathe, which is fitting given the subject matter. The flashbacks to the war are visceral, pulling you into the chaos and confusion of combat, while the present-day scenes in Vancouver feel like a race against time, with danger lurking around every corner.
Levy’s writing style is sharp and unflinching. There’s a rawness to the prose that suits the story, making it feel authentic and immediate. However, this intensity might not be for everyone. The relentless pace and the constant sense of impending doom can be overwhelming, but for those who enjoy a deep, psychological dive, it’s a perfect match.
The story is a gripping dive into the shadowy aftermath of the Vietnam War, but it’s not your typical war story. Instead, Levy crafts a tense, psychological thriller that bridges the gap between the brutal jungles of Vietnam and the equally treacherous urban jungle of Vancouver.
The pacing of the novel is intense, and relentless. Levy doesn’t give the reader much room to breathe, which is fitting given the subject matter. The flashbacks to the war are visceral, pulling you into the chaos and confusion of combat, while the present-day scenes in Vancouver feel like a race against time, with danger lurking around every corner.
Levy’s writing style is sharp and unflinching. There’s a rawness to the prose that suits the story, making it feel authentic and immediate. However, this intensity might not be for everyone. The relentless pace and the constant sense of impending doom can be overwhelming, but for those who enjoy a deep, psychological dive, it’s a perfect match.
May 3, 2024
The War Machine is an excellent read. It is a riveting, well written novel that commands attention from start to finish. My criterion for high acclaim is a novel that is difficult to put down. Mr. Levy has created an outstanding piece of function from a factual account of the commitment, intrigue and heroism underlying the secrets of war. Hewitt Douglas
May 6, 2025
I liked it. Cheeky narrator and crisp dialogue. Based in the eighties, with flashbacks to Vietnam war. Has a legit eighties feel, like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon, could be a Christmas read. Very credible weapons and tactics scenes, while remaining light-hearted somehow, thx to narrator.
Read / No read. Read it!
Read / No read. Read it!
May 3, 2024
Barry is a great story teller and excellent at interweaving fact and fiction seamlessly. A great storyline with an added bonus of learning about the atrocities of the Vietnam War, particularly Canada’s involvement. An interesting and intriguing read.
August 11, 2024
Riveting and informative
While The War Machine is a work of fiction, it brings to light some of the more political and financial acts of war. It also gets you thinking about what the government doesn't tell you and how that affects democracy and our freedom.
However, even if you push that aside, what is left is an amazing thriller. Barry Levy writes a tale of suspense, action, and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
This a must-read for anyone interested in war stories, action, fight scenes, spy novels, or conspiracies.
While The War Machine is a work of fiction, it brings to light some of the more political and financial acts of war. It also gets you thinking about what the government doesn't tell you and how that affects democracy and our freedom.
However, even if you push that aside, what is left is an amazing thriller. Barry Levy writes a tale of suspense, action, and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
This a must-read for anyone interested in war stories, action, fight scenes, spy novels, or conspiracies.
July 9, 2024
Writing: 4
Characters: 4
Plot: 3
Setting: 3
Enjoyment: 3
The beginning of The War Machine was very difficult for me to follow. I found myself confused as to what was going on with the main character, Kick, and what tone this book was going to have. As I was reading, this improved, and I soon found myself gripped by the story of Kick and his life during and after the war. This improvement made me unsure if I should re-read this book and see if my confusion was only due to unfamiliarity with military terminology and the book in general. However, I decided that I should write this review based on my first read, as most people reading this review will be reading the book for the first time as well.
Once the book became much easier to follow and I understood where it was going, I was engrossed in the story. Kick is an interesting, layered main character, and his relationships with Kelly and everyone else in his life were complex. The flashbacks were exciting and sad and provided much more insight into Kick's mindset and actions.
As the book came to a close, it dragged out a lot in my opinion. After there was a long period of recovery between the group in which nothing really happened, which I feel could have been skipped. I unfortunately found myself skimming through the final 30 or so pages.
Characters: 4
Plot: 3
Setting: 3
Enjoyment: 3
The beginning of The War Machine was very difficult for me to follow. I found myself confused as to what was going on with the main character, Kick, and what tone this book was going to have. As I was reading, this improved, and I soon found myself gripped by the story of Kick and his life during and after the war. This improvement made me unsure if I should re-read this book and see if my confusion was only due to unfamiliarity with military terminology and the book in general. However, I decided that I should write this review based on my first read, as most people reading this review will be reading the book for the first time as well.
Once the book became much easier to follow and I understood where it was going, I was engrossed in the story. Kick is an interesting, layered main character, and his relationships with Kelly and everyone else in his life were complex. The flashbacks were exciting and sad and provided much more insight into Kick's mindset and actions.
As the book came to a close, it dragged out a lot in my opinion. After there was a long period of recovery between the group in which nothing really happened, which I feel could have been skipped. I unfortunately found myself skimming through the final 30 or so pages.
August 18, 2024
The War Machine, written by Barry Levy, is a stimulating war fiction novel with thriller moments. It starts off slow, but in a way that builds the tension. That tension was what made me keep reading the novel. You never know what is going to happen until you keep reading. Barry Levy has a way of transitioning from flashbacks to the present. I like that this novel gives you a bit of entailment when it comes to the government not letting citizens know the things they need to know. Kick as a main character is very intriguing, especially with all he has been through and would go through. Not to mention the side characters that readers will meet in this novel brought a lot to this novel. There were some funny moments in the novel that I enjoyed. All in all, the novel was an excellent read. I would recommend this novel to those who like war fiction and espionage thrillers. I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
February 27, 2025
Historical fiction. A blend of the real and the unreal. A way of telling you factual insight without boring you with facts and figures. The fictional side gives the reader a better perspective. This is one such book. I was not aware of the " fact " that good old Canada was an active and willing participant in the Vietnam war back in the late 60's. The storyline is riveting. From the jungles of Cambodia to the streets of Vancouver, Levy weaves you through seamlessly. He takes you through those uncharted waters that most people know very little about, and probably do not want to know. The darker side of life is on full display here.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews