In 2011, SEAL Team Six killed Osama Bin Laden. Now, four years later, someone is eliminating Team Six--one by one.
Jed Walker, ex-CIA, is an outsider back in the game. He's been chasing down a sinister group code-named Zodiac that the big guns--MI5, CIA, the Pentagon--have failed to eradicate. But as Walker follows the trail of bodies, uncovering secrets and making connections he's not supposed to make, he finds the answers are closer to home than he ever imagined.
Revenge is the obvious motive--but nothing is ever that simple in love and war.
Can Walker find who's responsible before the body count grows? Can he stop another terror attack before more innocents suffer?
When the line between the good and the bad becomes blurred, when the hunters become the hunted, only one man can save us all.
James Phelan is the award-winning author of twenty-four novels and one work of non-fiction. He first studied and worked in architecture before turning to English/Lit, working five years at The Age newspaper, obtaining an MA (Writing) and PhD (Young Adult Literature).
Hachette has published his five geo-political thrillers: FOX HUNT, PATRIOT ACT, BLOOD OIL, LIQUID GOLD and RED ICE.
From 2010-2011, Hachette published the widely acclaimed ALONE trilogy of Young Adult post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels.
In 2013/2014, Scholastic published James' thirteen-book adventure series about the dream work THE LAST THIRTEEN. The multi-award winning series (2014 YABBA, COOL, KOALA awards) has been highly successful around the world, selling over a million copies in 18 months.
THE SPY (Hachette, 2013), was the first instalment in a new series of suspense thrillers with the protagonist Jed Walker, and is followed by THE HUNTED (2015), and KILL SWITCH (2015).
James is currently working on a follow-up trilogy to THE LAST THIRTEEN, more thrillers, and an illustrated middle-grade series titled GRANDPA SPIES.
James has taught writing at post-graduate level and regularly talks at schools, libraries and universities around the world. Since 2006 he has sold over 4 million copies of his books.
In the four years since Osama Bin Laden had been killed by the SEALS, Team Six members were being eliminated one at a time. But there was more at stake – the terrorist group code named Zodiac was continuing with its reign of terror started in Washington a few months prior. Once again ex-CIA agent Jed Walker was on the hunt; and there was one last SEAL who was in hiding. The race against time was on – who would reach this elusive SEAL first – Walker or the terrorists?
As Walker bumped up against more bad guys than he’d imagined, his trail intersected with a young cousin of the missing SEAL. Against his better judgment, he teamed up with her. The dark secrets that were filtering to the surface gave Walker pause – once again he was up against far more than anyone knew. Bodies mounted but the threat of another terrorist attack was imminent – would Walker discover where he needed to be to stop the carnage? Who could he trust? He had no idea – but he did know he had become the hunted…
The Hunted by Aussie author James Phelan is another gripping and heart stopping instalment in the Jed Walker series. An excellent, fast paced thriller, it is full of non-stop action, thrills and chills. I highly recommend this novel, but suggest #1 in the series, The Spy be read first. I can’t wait to read the next, Kill Switch.
The Hunted is the second novel in the Jed Walker series by James Phelan. Jed must try to be one step ahead of a series of terrorist attacks code named ZODIAC. Each attack then triggers events to a countdown of the next attack. Walker must stay one step ahead of the terrorists or innocent people will be killed.
The Hunted is another well researched, cleverly plotted and fast paced novel, filled with danger, crooked cops and drug lords. Walker must outsmart and outplay all those around him. Jed Walker is a seriously funny guy, quick witted and quick on his feet. I like how Phelan has included some tough and intelligent females in his novels. Fiona Sommerville, FBI, and Rachel Levine, NCIS, are two no nonsense females. Also supporting characters of Susan (Squeaker), Doris and Dylan are all straight forward and tough as nails.
I know Walker may seem a little super human but don’t we all secretly wish there was a Jed Walker out there protecting us from the evils of the world. He can think faster and fight harder than anyone. Phelan continues with his formula of short chapters. Just long enough to have you saying “just one more chapter”. Looking forward to the next instalment in this series!
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
The hero of this series of books, Jed Walker, is without a doubt Jack Reacher's long lost brother. Just as tough, just as smart, just as able to make his way on foot across America if necessary without a tooth brush or a change of clothes. James Phelan's writing style is like Lee Child's too. Short, choppy chapters, full of action which carry the reader through the book without wanting to stop. No complaints here. I thoroughly enjoy the Jack Reacher books and I also have a very soft spot for Jed Walker. Okay so it's a bit over the top and he occasionally verges on being a super hero but for me that's all good. It makes it fun, entertaining and a really good read.
I was a bit bored...too clever by half and therefore too complicated for my simple brain..lost interest.Jed Walkeris nowhere near Jack Reacher's rear view mirror ( see cover blurb)... He isn't even on the same road!!!
Hard to catch me by surprise, but this book had it all. At first it felt like too many characters and it was chaotic enough that I was within pages of quitting the read, but like Walker, I’m a bit stubborn. Looking forward to the next one!
Jed Walker is a man on a mission. The ex-CIA agent first appeared in James Phelan’s suspense thriller, “The Spy”. This fiction story chronicled his first encounter with the shadowy, terrorist group, The Zodiac. The forthright, American operative was out to prove himself and clear his name but also to ultimately make the world a safer place. “The Hunted” picks up where “The Spy” left off.
The year is now 2015, some four years after Army Seals from Team 6 killed Osama Bin Laden. Now they are being eliminated one by one and all signs seem to point to Zodiac. Walker sets out to find and protect one of the remaining Seals named, Charles Murphy. Walker has a hard job ahead of him as he also has to find out who is at the bottom of all this and to prevent anything more sinister from happening.
It’s easy to see how author, James Phelan is a best-seller. He keeps the energy high in this suspense-filled novel (making it not unlike a Matthew Reilly creation).The use of military terminology throughout makes the proceedings feel very authentic. The reader will easily become enveloped by the intelligent plot and will be eager to find out just what happens next.
Phelan’s writing is the perfect storm of swift pacing and gritty prose about some tough and hardened men dealing with dangerous situations. “The Hunted” builds to a big and satisfying climax. It will also have you questioning people’s loyalties, their appetites for revenge and their overall motives and personality traits. In short, it’s a fascinating, psychological thriller that is gripping, rough and resolute.
Jed Walker, an ex CIA agent and ex air force special operations officer, works with the UN is on the hunt for a terrorist group that is planning a string of attacks where one leads to another. He is trying to stop them from happening but the first problem is trying identify the target. In this he has to find an ex-seal who is living off the grid and at the same time find out who is hunting the seal. The problem is he is not the only one on the job and trying to work out the good from the bad with multiple agencies coming at the problem from different directions.
Unfortunately it gets a bit confusing and repetitive. There are parts that just seem to get bogged down like a truck spinning the tires. He needed to be cleaned up a bit. Otherwise, it's rather entertaining and thrilling. Some book series can be read in any order, but this needs to be read in order as one leads to the next and time wise can be only hours apart.
Now, let's see what's what... Very annoying, that's what this reoccurring sentence was. No one in the whole of fictional America could think of another way to say they wanted to find out a big mystery?
Alright, aside from a slow start (book 2, yet still a slow start, hm, it's not like action books are known for their long introductions...) and some reoccurring annoyances, it was alright. Action packed once the action started, enough conspiracy stuff, big scares and... Action.
Lee Child was right. Jed is right in Jack's rearview mirror: He's not as inspiring yet, he's doesn't eliminate the same amount of bad guys yet, he has more bagage and doesn't save (and root) the same amount of damsels in distress. But he sure has watched good ol'Jacky quite a bit...
You know those pantomimes where you have to yell out "behind you, the witch is coming"? This book reminded me of that. You will know what I mean when you get to a certain point in this book and you realise that somebody you thought was a good guy is actually not and you just want to call out and let Jed Walker know this. The Hunted is full of action - believable action - and kept me wanting to just keep reading. I now NEED to get a copy of the first one, re-read this and then, clearly, the way it finished has left it open for a sequel so I hope I don't have to wait too long. A good one for action/ thriller lovers
3.5 stars. A fast-paced example of the genre of ex-military superhero saving the world from the baddies. I found the opening a bit confusing, and the basic plot of finding a particular ex-SEAL would have made just as much sense without the father and the Zodiac terror plot.
As usual, there are lots of different govt military and intelligence agencies involved and no-one really knows who is who or why they are there. Liked the strong female characters - rare for this genre.
Audio book was almost as good as the first volume but I think he was trying to manage too many characters and arcs but it kept me listening. Lost a great character but will be interesting to see if others pop up in later books. My only question is when does Jed get time to go to the gym or maybe we will find out he is actually a superhero!!
Fast paced military crime novel that follows the slightly hard to believe Jed Walker. Twelve bikies amped on crystal meth? No problem. Four ex-military men & a civilian while handcuffed & unarmed? No trouble. The only bit I liked was the weapons of mass destruction turned out to be sold to the Iraqis by Americans, and turned around on their makers.
Pretty ordinary book about ex military good guys shooting ex military bad guys. If you want to more about the velocity of bullets, delamination of a skull after being hit by a bullet and the minutia of gun specifications then this is the book for you. Otherwise I’d suggest avoiding it like the plague.
An action packed story of hunting down the members of Seal Team Six. Through in FBI, CIA, NCIS and the UN and it is hard to keep track of the goodies and the baddies.