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Terminal List #7
Red Sky Mourning
Listening Length: 15 hours and 28 minutes
You think you know James Reece. Think again.
A storm is on the horizon. America’s days are numbered. A Chinese submarine has gone rogue and is navigating towards the continental United States, putting its nuclear missiles within striking distance of the West Coast.
A rising Silicon Valley tech mogul with unknown allegiances is at the forefront of a revolution in quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence.
A politician controlled by a foreign power is a breath away from the Oval Office.
Three seemingly disconnected events are on a collision course to ignite a power grab unlike anything the world has ever seen.
The country’s only hope is a quantum computer that has gone dark, retreating to the deepest levels of the internet, learning at a rate inconceivable at her inception. But during her time in hiding, she has done more than learn. She has become a weapon. She is now positioned to act as either the country’s greatest savior or its worst enemy. She is known as “Alice” and her only connection to the outside world is to a former Navy SEAL sniper named James Reece who has left the violence of his past life behind.
Will there be blood?
Count on it!
Will the forces that threaten to destroy the United States be enough to light the fuse of Reece’s resurrection?
You think you know James Reece. Think again.
A storm is on the horizon. America’s days are numbered. A Chinese submarine has gone rogue and is navigating towards the continental United States, putting its nuclear missiles within striking distance of the West Coast.
A rising Silicon Valley tech mogul with unknown allegiances is at the forefront of a revolution in quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence.
A politician controlled by a foreign power is a breath away from the Oval Office.
Three seemingly disconnected events are on a collision course to ignite a power grab unlike anything the world has ever seen.
The country’s only hope is a quantum computer that has gone dark, retreating to the deepest levels of the internet, learning at a rate inconceivable at her inception. But during her time in hiding, she has done more than learn. She has become a weapon. She is now positioned to act as either the country’s greatest savior or its worst enemy. She is known as “Alice” and her only connection to the outside world is to a former Navy SEAL sniper named James Reece who has left the violence of his past life behind.
Will there be blood?
Count on it!
Will the forces that threaten to destroy the United States be enough to light the fuse of Reece’s resurrection?
16 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 18, 2024
2654 people are currently reading
7173 people want to read
About the author
Jack Carr
20 books7,034 followersJack Carr is a former Navy SEAL who led special operations teams as a Team Leader, Platoon Commander, Troop Commander and Task Unit Commander. Over his 20 years in Naval Special Warfare he transitioned from an enlisted SEAL sniper specializing in communications and intelligence, to a junior officer leading assault and sniper teams in Iraq and Afghanistan, to a platoon commander practicing counterinsurgency in the southern Philippines, to commanding a Special Operations Task Unit in the most Iranian influenced section of southern Iraq throughout the tumultuous drawdown of U.S. Forces. Jack retired from active duty in 2016. He lives with his wife and three children in Park City, Utah. He is the author of The Terminal List, True Believer, and Savage Son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 992 reviews
July 9, 2024
Jack Carr hits it out the park once again!!
Just when you thought that James Reece could finally settle down after the events of Only The Dead, the bad guys makes the mistake to take him out and makes it personal once again. In the book a Chinese spy-master says to Reece that he should have given more attention to his file, and they really should have. The book starts of at a good pace and then in true Carr style, it accelerates at break-neck speed to high intensity action which makes this book almost too hard to put down where Reece is pulled back into the world of shadows where he does what he does best, end lives. The book is not as brutal as the earlier ones and his kills are relatively clean this time round. All the angles also ties in nicely again and Carr's attention to detail is magnificent as always. If I had to nitpick something, it would be that his character background in this one is less detailed than his earlier books, but this takes nothing away from this one. The book is also up to date with current affairs regarding conflicts which makes this even more realistic.
Spoiler Alerts:
Just when you thought that James Reece could finally settle down after the events of Only The Dead, the bad guys makes the mistake to take him out and makes it personal once again. In the book a Chinese spy-master says to Reece that he should have given more attention to his file, and they really should have. The book starts of at a good pace and then in true Carr style, it accelerates at break-neck speed to high intensity action which makes this book almost too hard to put down where Reece is pulled back into the world of shadows where he does what he does best, end lives. The book is not as brutal as the earlier ones and his kills are relatively clean this time round. All the angles also ties in nicely again and Carr's attention to detail is magnificent as always. If I had to nitpick something, it would be that his character background in this one is less detailed than his earlier books, but this takes nothing away from this one. The book is also up to date with current affairs regarding conflicts which makes this even more realistic.
Spoiler Alerts:
July 12, 2024
behind every successful man, is a [smart] woman.
Epic talent! I love TL#7 as much as the previous six. Carr seamlessly ties in current affairs and bits of history lessons. Yes, the characters are the stars in these books. Reece's friends/family are always there through thick and thin. You should hear me cheering them on! LOVE! 💃
Jack Carr's books are automatic read for me so I didn't read the blurb until I started writing this review and I'm glad I didn't. I love surprises and I felt it gave too much away.
After the phenomenal ending, I can't wait for Reece's next chapter and look forward to checking out Carr's nonfiction, Targeted: Beirut: The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror this September.
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June 18th 2024
Oh yes, baby!
Epic talent! I love TL#7 as much as the previous six. Carr seamlessly ties in current affairs and bits of history lessons. Yes, the characters are the stars in these books. Reece's friends/family are always there through thick and thin. You should hear me cheering them on! LOVE! 💃
Jack Carr's books are automatic read for me so I didn't read the blurb until I started writing this review and I'm glad I didn't. I love surprises and I felt it gave too much away.
After the phenomenal ending, I can't wait for Reece's next chapter and look forward to checking out Carr's nonfiction, Targeted: Beirut: The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror this September.
------------------
June 18th 2024
Oh yes, baby!
June 25, 2024
Edit 2: I did want to give Jack credit where credit is due, and mention that over the last few novels I have enjoyed the inclusion of cyberspace as a field of battle. Did he need to take shots at hackers for being dweebs? No. Did he get much of how the technology works right? No. But, as someone working on defending cyber space, it was nice for it to be acknowledged as an important component of modern warfare.
Edit 1 because I am triggering a lot of folks: The book just isn't well thought out, and the prose is poor. I have read all of Jack Carr's books, and they have only gotten weaker in their plot over the last few years. He leans too heavily on grandstanding about his own political beliefs instead of focusing on what makes James Reece an awesome character. Some reviews will cite the violence as a turnoff; that doesn't bother me. I don't quite care for in-depth descriptions of internal organs—I passed college A&P over a decade ago—but it doesn't bother me. The constant product placement doesn't bother me. The poor storytelling does. I am on pace to read 100 books this year, and this is one of three that I have marked as forgettable.
In addition to the above, Jack Carr demonstrates a new skill in this novel: self-fellatio. There’s a whole chapter describing a “liberal soy latte-drinking snowflake journalist.” It goes on and on about vaccinations, love for EVs, inability to find a girlfriend, etc. I couldn’t figure out what the point was until we got to the part where this character had negatively reviewed an ex-SEAL’s thriller novel. I literally started laughing my ass off at this point. World’s biggest self-insert. Carr goes on to explain how the negative review had backlash and then spends a page listing every author who ever served in the military. He takes his revenge fantasy further by explaining how this character tried to write their own thriller but failed due to a lack of detail around the firearms. Defending your incessant description of gun parts much, Jack? Anyway, I’m done with Carr. The books used to be about a badass character taking on the world. Now they’re just a way for Carr to jerk himself off and make us pay for it.
I can only hope that this review triggers Jack Carr to kill me in his next novel.
Edit 1 because I am triggering a lot of folks: The book just isn't well thought out, and the prose is poor. I have read all of Jack Carr's books, and they have only gotten weaker in their plot over the last few years. He leans too heavily on grandstanding about his own political beliefs instead of focusing on what makes James Reece an awesome character. Some reviews will cite the violence as a turnoff; that doesn't bother me. I don't quite care for in-depth descriptions of internal organs—I passed college A&P over a decade ago—but it doesn't bother me. The constant product placement doesn't bother me. The poor storytelling does. I am on pace to read 100 books this year, and this is one of three that I have marked as forgettable.
In addition to the above, Jack Carr demonstrates a new skill in this novel: self-fellatio. There’s a whole chapter describing a “liberal soy latte-drinking snowflake journalist.” It goes on and on about vaccinations, love for EVs, inability to find a girlfriend, etc. I couldn’t figure out what the point was until we got to the part where this character had negatively reviewed an ex-SEAL’s thriller novel. I literally started laughing my ass off at this point. World’s biggest self-insert. Carr goes on to explain how the negative review had backlash and then spends a page listing every author who ever served in the military. He takes his revenge fantasy further by explaining how this character tried to write their own thriller but failed due to a lack of detail around the firearms. Defending your incessant description of gun parts much, Jack? Anyway, I’m done with Carr. The books used to be about a badass character taking on the world. Now they’re just a way for Carr to jerk himself off and make us pay for it.
I can only hope that this review triggers Jack Carr to kill me in his next novel.
September 14, 2024
Wow! This thriller encapsulates how we must stand against evil and fight for right.
December 13, 2025
Solid 5 stars.
July 7, 2024
After 100 pages, I'm throwing in the towel on this one and am very disappointed. The overly long descriptions combined with name dropping of various brands/types of objects completely ruined the pace for me. I loved the premise and was so looking forward to an immersive story about real threats to the US that could come to fruition, but sheesh, the first 100 pages didn't grab me enough to continue.
Here's an example of the name-dropping:
'Katie pulled a glass American Chemex coffeemaker from a shelf and hit a button on an electric water kettle. She then picked up a bag of Fortitude Coffee Company Stars & Stripes blend and sliced the top open with a razor-sharp Grizzly Forge opener.'
Couldn't she just make a cup of coffee?
Here's an example of the name-dropping:
'Katie pulled a glass American Chemex coffeemaker from a shelf and hit a button on an electric water kettle. She then picked up a bag of Fortitude Coffee Company Stars & Stripes blend and sliced the top open with a razor-sharp Grizzly Forge opener.'
Couldn't she just make a cup of coffee?
June 23, 2024
I find myself conflicted over my feelings towards Jack Carr in general, and the last two books (Only the Dead and Red Sky Mourning) in particular. On the one hand, Carr (real name George Petersen) crafts intricate thrillers that are taut with tension and high stakes. The characters (rather lead or bit players) that inhabit his world are fully realized and fleshed out in such a way that you can feel the weight of their history through their actions and words. The action is brutal and realistic-ish in a way that runs contrary to modern action stories.
However, by the start of the third book in the series (Savage Son) the pattern and formula for these novels becomes painfully evident. In each of his novels you will meet: a corrupt politician (usually an American, but sometimes not), a person with ties to main character James Reece (or his father) who purposefully withholds information or harbors resentment towards him, a car chase of some kind, a grandiose end of second act gunfight, a grandiose climactic gunfight, a Hostelesque torture porn scene (Red Sky Mourning gives us two), and a massive exposition dump (Red Sky Mourning also gives us two).
Of course all of these failings pales in comparison to the massive over explanation of the numerous brands that Carr chooses to highlight in excruciating detail. Whenever a character first appears, you are guaranteed to learn not only the brand of clothing they are wearing (Reece wears a Sitka pullover, Origin jeans, and Salomon running shoes) but what type of firearm they carry in what caliber with what optic with what type of ammunition in what type of holster attached to what brand belt. That's just the main character. Each of those grueling details is attributed to nearly each speaking character you meet in the book. To further compound the endless name dropping, each workout is given it's just due with origin and exacting information. Each vehicle, be it automobile, boat, or plane, is explained down its most granular detail.
All of this brings me to book seven in The Terminal List series, Red Sky Mourning. (Also, fun fact, the series was not formally known as The Terminal List series until the production of the eponymous tv series starring Chris Pratt was released. A fact that Jack Carr is fond of repeating in every piece of published advertisement for himself and his books.) Red Sky Mourning starts off with a tremendous bang that sets in motion the whole series. But, from there, it all devolves into the formula that Carr is oft to use. The variables and details change, but by and large, if you can recognize the pattern then you will not be surprised by any of what transpires throughout the book. The action remains top notch. The setting remains taut. But everything else is an exercise in paint-by-numbers thriller writing.
If you choose to dive into the pages of The Terminal List series, do so expecting each of the pros and cons listed above. If you are a gear head, then maybe the aforementioned gear dump won't bother you so much. If you enjoy quick reads without any surprise to it's conclusion, then maybe it won't bother you so much. But be warned, all these things become grating to the reader over time.
However, by the start of the third book in the series (Savage Son) the pattern and formula for these novels becomes painfully evident. In each of his novels you will meet: a corrupt politician (usually an American, but sometimes not), a person with ties to main character James Reece (or his father) who purposefully withholds information or harbors resentment towards him, a car chase of some kind, a grandiose end of second act gunfight, a grandiose climactic gunfight, a Hostelesque torture porn scene (Red Sky Mourning gives us two), and a massive exposition dump (Red Sky Mourning also gives us two).
Of course all of these failings pales in comparison to the massive over explanation of the numerous brands that Carr chooses to highlight in excruciating detail. Whenever a character first appears, you are guaranteed to learn not only the brand of clothing they are wearing (Reece wears a Sitka pullover, Origin jeans, and Salomon running shoes) but what type of firearm they carry in what caliber with what optic with what type of ammunition in what type of holster attached to what brand belt. That's just the main character. Each of those grueling details is attributed to nearly each speaking character you meet in the book. To further compound the endless name dropping, each workout is given it's just due with origin and exacting information. Each vehicle, be it automobile, boat, or plane, is explained down its most granular detail.
All of this brings me to book seven in The Terminal List series, Red Sky Mourning. (Also, fun fact, the series was not formally known as The Terminal List series until the production of the eponymous tv series starring Chris Pratt was released. A fact that Jack Carr is fond of repeating in every piece of published advertisement for himself and his books.) Red Sky Mourning starts off with a tremendous bang that sets in motion the whole series. But, from there, it all devolves into the formula that Carr is oft to use. The variables and details change, but by and large, if you can recognize the pattern then you will not be surprised by any of what transpires throughout the book. The action remains top notch. The setting remains taut. But everything else is an exercise in paint-by-numbers thriller writing.
If you choose to dive into the pages of The Terminal List series, do so expecting each of the pros and cons listed above. If you are a gear head, then maybe the aforementioned gear dump won't bother you so much. If you enjoy quick reads without any surprise to it's conclusion, then maybe it won't bother you so much. But be warned, all these things become grating to the reader over time.
June 21, 2024
The most mediocre of the series so far. I can’t quite tell whether or not Carr is paid by the companies mentioned in these books or if he’s simply friendly with them, but giving brand name and model number for every accessory gets repetitive. A shame. The clear self insert in the chapter that mentions a character “writing a negative review of an Ex Seals novel” was, at best, corny.
In general, the book was “fine”. The ending was unfortunately too fast paced and.. somehow eerily similar to the last book, while also being a borderline carbon copy of the ending of the first book/beginning of the second book.
Hopefully a second read will change my score…
In general, the book was “fine”. The ending was unfortunately too fast paced and.. somehow eerily similar to the last book, while also being a borderline carbon copy of the ending of the first book/beginning of the second book.
Hopefully a second read will change my score…
January 16, 2025
This book, like the others before it in the series is heavy on the tech. It's well researched and well written. Carr is cognizant that a lot of readers won't necessarily know the technical info or jargon - in reference to both the technological aspects of the book, as well as the military and combat portions. A lot of authors fumble the ball in such circumstances by making it really obvious that they are explaining something technical to the readers. It often comes off patronizing. Carr does a good job of making it part of the story by describing the actions rather than through dialogue.
I like James Reece a lot as a character. I've followed him through all the other six books. Not sure I love the ending on this one, but it sure does promise a book 8. And that's what's important!
Rounding up to 4.
I like James Reece a lot as a character. I've followed him through all the other six books. Not sure I love the ending on this one, but it sure does promise a book 8. And that's what's important!
Rounding up to 4.
February 2, 2025
4.5 stars. Fans of political thrillers and Tom Clancy will love this timely novel involving government corruption, artificial intelligence, and competition with China. Chilling and very plausible. Jack Carr’s meticulous research and writing prowess shine throughout.
August 8, 2024
I have long been a fan of Jack Carr’s work, though it is not my usual reading fare. Filled with espionage and highly-technical events, Carr pulls the reader into the middle of the action, with James Reece handling much of the drama. After news comes that the Chinese are working on a highly-impactful strike against the United States, a special weapon is re-activated, which will need James Reece to help prep ‘her’ for use. While Reece could not expect what he is walking into, he knows his country needs him and will do whatever proves necessary to keep things balanced and prevent complete American annihilation. All the while, a Chinese mole in the US political realm could turn things on their head from another direction. Carr delivers an explosive thriller that kept me reading well into the night.
While things might appear calm, there is a significant trouble on the horizon. A rogue Chinese submarine is trolling through the water with its nuclear missiles aimed and ready to strike of the American West Coast. News of this sends everyone in both countries scrambling so that an imminent war does not come to fruition and keeps peace on both sides of the Pacific.
News of a retired American weapon that utilises AI could be the answer for both sides to have the upper edge. While the American weapon has gone dormant, its resumption might be the only thing keeping China at bay. By doing so, ALICE—the AI computer—will need former Navy SEAL sniper James Reece to join her before returning to action. Reece is happy in retirement, but is coaxed into helping his country and reuniting with ALICE. However, this might be just what the Chinese want.
All the while, a new and more powerful weapon is given to the Chinese, one that could not only parallel what ALICE can do, but subsume her. NAPOLEON is ready to take control and will ensure that the Chinese have the upper hand in this as-yet bloodless battle between China and the Americans. The battle is on and James Reece is pushed into action when those closest to him are attacked and left for dead.
An American politician is a strong hope to win the US presidency, but her connections could be used turn the American system on its head. A Chinese mole, she is willing to hand the reins over to those in Beijing as soon as she wins. As Reece works with ALICE to stop any Chinese attack, he will have to stay one step ahead in order to ensure that no one is able to cripple the country or utilise ALICE’s knowledge against everyone. There is sure to be a strike on US soil, though no one is quite sure when or where, which is the greatest concern of all. A gripping story that Carr uses to offer up many themes and highlight numerous issues in the world of espionage.
While I am no expert in the world of espionage thrillers, I thoroughly enjoy these books by Jack Carr. He has a way of weaving a tale that keeps the reader hooked and offers up numerous strong themes worth exploring. A solid narrative provides the reader with something easy to follow, though never predicted with great ease. As the story builds, the tension mounts and there is little time to ponder it all, with a piece that keeps morphing from page to page. Great characters flavour the story and keep the reader feeling the clash from the opening pages until all is settled. There is so much going on here that parallels possible reality, with politics, espionage, and international power grabbing, all while the reader is subjected to the numerous angles on offer.
Plot points keep the reader on edge and provides a stunning depiction of this 21st century political thriller. Surprises emerge, as is common in espionage, where no one can quite be sure what is coming or how it will all play out. Carr delves into wonderful areas and leaves the reader to handle the shivers up their spine, all while telling a story that is jarringly realistic. I am eager to see what’s next and how Carr will push the story along.
Kudos, Mr. Carr, for a spectacular addition to the series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While things might appear calm, there is a significant trouble on the horizon. A rogue Chinese submarine is trolling through the water with its nuclear missiles aimed and ready to strike of the American West Coast. News of this sends everyone in both countries scrambling so that an imminent war does not come to fruition and keeps peace on both sides of the Pacific.
News of a retired American weapon that utilises AI could be the answer for both sides to have the upper edge. While the American weapon has gone dormant, its resumption might be the only thing keeping China at bay. By doing so, ALICE—the AI computer—will need former Navy SEAL sniper James Reece to join her before returning to action. Reece is happy in retirement, but is coaxed into helping his country and reuniting with ALICE. However, this might be just what the Chinese want.
All the while, a new and more powerful weapon is given to the Chinese, one that could not only parallel what ALICE can do, but subsume her. NAPOLEON is ready to take control and will ensure that the Chinese have the upper hand in this as-yet bloodless battle between China and the Americans. The battle is on and James Reece is pushed into action when those closest to him are attacked and left for dead.
An American politician is a strong hope to win the US presidency, but her connections could be used turn the American system on its head. A Chinese mole, she is willing to hand the reins over to those in Beijing as soon as she wins. As Reece works with ALICE to stop any Chinese attack, he will have to stay one step ahead in order to ensure that no one is able to cripple the country or utilise ALICE’s knowledge against everyone. There is sure to be a strike on US soil, though no one is quite sure when or where, which is the greatest concern of all. A gripping story that Carr uses to offer up many themes and highlight numerous issues in the world of espionage.
While I am no expert in the world of espionage thrillers, I thoroughly enjoy these books by Jack Carr. He has a way of weaving a tale that keeps the reader hooked and offers up numerous strong themes worth exploring. A solid narrative provides the reader with something easy to follow, though never predicted with great ease. As the story builds, the tension mounts and there is little time to ponder it all, with a piece that keeps morphing from page to page. Great characters flavour the story and keep the reader feeling the clash from the opening pages until all is settled. There is so much going on here that parallels possible reality, with politics, espionage, and international power grabbing, all while the reader is subjected to the numerous angles on offer.
Plot points keep the reader on edge and provides a stunning depiction of this 21st century political thriller. Surprises emerge, as is common in espionage, where no one can quite be sure what is coming or how it will all play out. Carr delves into wonderful areas and leaves the reader to handle the shivers up their spine, all while telling a story that is jarringly realistic. I am eager to see what’s next and how Carr will push the story along.
Kudos, Mr. Carr, for a spectacular addition to the series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 30, 2024
Excellent installment in Carr's always terrific Terminal List series. Grabs you right from the beginning and never lets up. If I have any criticism it is Carr's overly lengthy and detailed descriptions of everything but that is kind of his trademark so I have gotten use to it.
July 8, 2024
Product placement in every paragraph, almost every sentence…
July 3, 2024
To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. I have enjoyed the Terminal List series to this point, but this one book may change what I am reading this time next year. Will TL #7 get a chance? Yes, probably. But I won't be afraid to set it back down and never finish it either.
The overall story is a good one. It's pretty typical in this genre where the hero wins, with a certain amount of loss sprinkled in just to keep it from being totally unrealistic. However, the way the story is told (writing style) is where this book fails miserably. If this were Jack's first book, I would send an email and make the suggestion that maybe having an exhaustive list of South African authors isn't necessary to the movement of the plot. Maybe I would make the suggest that the reader doesn't need to know, or particularly care about every feature and catalog descriptor for every firearm listed. You know, unless the character actually uses one of them and it's something special, or experimental. However, all too often, the flow of reading gets bogged down by details that just don't matter.
In business, I describe this as the "why?" factor. Why am I doing this? Does this make sense from a monetary return factor? Or am I doing this because I don't know any better and this is how I think everyone else does it? The same holds true with writing. Do I need to copy/paste the Wikipedia listing for South African writers through the years in its entirety? Or can I just put two or three and get my point across without having my reader skip ahead 2 paragraphs. Do I need a 3-4 page description of China's foreign policy without a word of dialog that pertains to the current event of the book? Will they play a factor in the overall outcome of the story? If the answer is no, then leave them out.
Just plain disappointing for a book I was looking forward to.
The overall story is a good one. It's pretty typical in this genre where the hero wins, with a certain amount of loss sprinkled in just to keep it from being totally unrealistic. However, the way the story is told (writing style) is where this book fails miserably. If this were Jack's first book, I would send an email and make the suggestion that maybe having an exhaustive list of South African authors isn't necessary to the movement of the plot. Maybe I would make the suggest that the reader doesn't need to know, or particularly care about every feature and catalog descriptor for every firearm listed. You know, unless the character actually uses one of them and it's something special, or experimental. However, all too often, the flow of reading gets bogged down by details that just don't matter.
In business, I describe this as the "why?" factor. Why am I doing this? Does this make sense from a monetary return factor? Or am I doing this because I don't know any better and this is how I think everyone else does it? The same holds true with writing. Do I need to copy/paste the Wikipedia listing for South African writers through the years in its entirety? Or can I just put two or three and get my point across without having my reader skip ahead 2 paragraphs. Do I need a 3-4 page description of China's foreign policy without a word of dialog that pertains to the current event of the book? Will they play a factor in the overall outcome of the story? If the answer is no, then leave them out.
Just plain disappointing for a book I was looking forward to.
July 6, 2024
This will be the last book I will pre order and read for this series. Starts off strong, then drags with his politics and fluff. It was good while it lasted.
July 24, 2024
I'm rather surprised this is my first Jack Carr book, though I did stream The Terminal List. Does that count? :)
There was a lot to like about this book, and it did remind me of many of the authors Jack Carr recommends at the end--Clancy, Le Carre, Fleming, etc. This was a high tech, government conspiracy, reluctant hero book, high octane book, and Carr does all of those things well. I especially enjoyed the subplot of AI and its influence on the military complex.
That said, this is what I would term a "Guy's guy's book." So much detail about cars, planes, boats, even cigars! Seriously. It's a lot. It goes on for pages. And the torture scene? Don't get me started. I don't need every detail of a torture scene.
So, depends on what kind of action flick you enjoy.
Definitely well written.
Recommend, with some caveats.
There was a lot to like about this book, and it did remind me of many of the authors Jack Carr recommends at the end--Clancy, Le Carre, Fleming, etc. This was a high tech, government conspiracy, reluctant hero book, high octane book, and Carr does all of those things well. I especially enjoyed the subplot of AI and its influence on the military complex.
That said, this is what I would term a "Guy's guy's book." So much detail about cars, planes, boats, even cigars! Seriously. It's a lot. It goes on for pages. And the torture scene? Don't get me started. I don't need every detail of a torture scene.
So, depends on what kind of action flick you enjoy.
Definitely well written.
Recommend, with some caveats.
June 30, 2024
Still somewhat entertaining but getting a little too political and self-involved - characters now pontificate artificially and at some length about the brilliance of Ayn Rand, the hypocrisy of American foreign policy, philosophical theories on war (Sun Tzu, Clausewitz), and the pages even feature complaints about liberal journalist characters who give bad reviews of geopolitical thrillers (spolier alert: this horrible snowflake journalist is killed off / "cancelled" almost instantly) -- it's definitely feeling like Carr is talking down to the reader and is distracting from the point of an otherwise simple geopolitical thriller, which is escapism. Maybe just write editorials for magazines and go back to the plot that got you this far, Jack.
September 4, 2024
I finally sat down and read Red Sky Mourning by Jack Carr. James Reece is pulled back into service against his will in this action packed thriller by an author who likes his gear. I found the book well written as usual and the story interesting. Now I only wonder what can make Reece take action in the next book.
June 29, 2024
I want to like this book. I want to like the adventures of James Reese but it’s just flat, emotionally void and 1 dimensional. Jack Carr is no longer a novelist, he is a staff writer for an infomercial. There is so much more detail and emotion behind the full load out of a rifle with names of products and add-ons to weapon attachments, coffee, honey and zero emphasis on character or story building.
This a book, not a story, not a novel, it is far is less than that. This is a written description of what articles of clothing, what firearm with caliber & name branded attachments used, what coffee, what book to read for the “dress like a warrior” type person. It has the bones to be a good book but it’s not but it’s lost in the loadout; instead it was written for the person whose entire persona revolves around their 2A stance and dressing tactically. If you are not sure who? It’s the guy in the mall parking lot with a punisher tire cover on his suv. The accountant with the tattoo sleeve. The day dreamer of action and nothing more.
This book is the sears catalogue of novels for those who feel it’s better to look a certain way than to be a certain way. For clarity, people who love camouflage but are not military vets or hunters. Punisher emblems but aren’t comic book fans. Cross-fitters all day long.
This a book, not a story, not a novel, it is far is less than that. This is a written description of what articles of clothing, what firearm with caliber & name branded attachments used, what coffee, what book to read for the “dress like a warrior” type person. It has the bones to be a good book but it’s not but it’s lost in the loadout; instead it was written for the person whose entire persona revolves around their 2A stance and dressing tactically. If you are not sure who? It’s the guy in the mall parking lot with a punisher tire cover on his suv. The accountant with the tattoo sleeve. The day dreamer of action and nothing more.
This book is the sears catalogue of novels for those who feel it’s better to look a certain way than to be a certain way. For clarity, people who love camouflage but are not military vets or hunters. Punisher emblems but aren’t comic book fans. Cross-fitters all day long.
July 5, 2024
Talk about a high stakes thriller full of tension! I flew through both the audio and physical copy of Red Sky Mourning.
✨𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
I loved how Carr took the current escalating political climate with China along with China’s desire to re-take Taiwan, and turned it into a chilling race against time before technology along with AI can take control of America.
✔️𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Action and Adventure
Tension
Espionage
Political Intrigue
Spies
Thrillers
Mystery
📚𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿?
This is book 7 in the Terminal List series and my first time reading a book from the series. I easily read it as a standalone and was given enough information to where I never felt lost, but I wasn’t given a ton of spoilers about previous books in the series.
🎧𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Ray Porter turned this into a propulsive story worthy of the theater with his narration.
📖𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
A steady pace with interwoven fast paced action scenes worthy of the cinema.
✨𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
If you are looking for an action movie in a book, that blends suspense, action and real-world politics, then this is one you will want to add to your summer reading.
Full review coming soon
Thank you Atria for this gifted copy for this gifted book in exchange for my honest opinions.
✨𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
I loved how Carr took the current escalating political climate with China along with China’s desire to re-take Taiwan, and turned it into a chilling race against time before technology along with AI can take control of America.
✔️𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Action and Adventure
Tension
Espionage
Political Intrigue
Spies
Thrillers
Mystery
📚𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿?
This is book 7 in the Terminal List series and my first time reading a book from the series. I easily read it as a standalone and was given enough information to where I never felt lost, but I wasn’t given a ton of spoilers about previous books in the series.
🎧𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Ray Porter turned this into a propulsive story worthy of the theater with his narration.
📖𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
A steady pace with interwoven fast paced action scenes worthy of the cinema.
✨𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
If you are looking for an action movie in a book, that blends suspense, action and real-world politics, then this is one you will want to add to your summer reading.
Full review coming soon
Thank you Atria for this gifted copy for this gifted book in exchange for my honest opinions.
July 6, 2024
3.5 stars - Another action thriller that keeps you invested with its blend of authenticity and raw emotions. Main character James Reece is being called upon again to save the day against a conspiracy that threatens the country. There’s a rogue Chinese submarine, a foreign controlled politician with eyes on the Oval Office and an AI supercomputer named Alice. Overall I enjoyed this one but not as much as others in the series.
June 29, 2024
Feels like Carr upped his game here. The first part of the book especially relies less on action than exploring the characters and their motivations through some excellent dialogue. There were a few passages where I thought the prose was noticeably good which is unusual for this genre. The plot ramps up in the back half and Carr goes full bore with his trademark action scenes and tension. I think it's pretty clear that Carr and Mark Greany are the two best action writers in the business at the moment. The climax was exciting with tons of tension and the resolution and falling action was very satisfying. Also, I enjoyed Carr dropping homages and easter eggs throughout this book that are live letters to things he (and I) enjoyed growing up like Tom Clancy, James Bond, and Magnum P.I., and others. The fact that Carr is a voracious reader and fan of the genre has really made him a better thriller writer.
Overall, this is an easy 5/5 and rivals for the best in the series.
Overall, this is an easy 5/5 and rivals for the best in the series.
April 30, 2025
Another 4 star thriller in the Commander James Reece series. China wants control of Taiwan and perhaps much more, and devises a sort of Red October scenario: a rogue submarine commander who it alleges wants to attach Hawaii, forcing the transfer of military protocols, which are intercepted by a rogue tech billionaire, secretly working with China on an AI system. Worried about James Reece and his connectivity to Alice, the U.S.'s AI program, the Chinese send hired Iranian assassins to kill him; however, they miss him, but almost kill his fiancee, setting James out for retribution. The Chinese also have control of the rising Presidential candidate, who is also subverting the U.S. response. Exciting ending to the series.
July 14, 2024
Absolute trash writing. If you are a Jack Reacher/Jason Bourne fan, and liked the action and badassery of early Terminal List books, just do yourself a favor and SKIP this. Not even a 15 hour road trip with a very good narrator could get me interested. It's brochure writing. Here's the brochure for random philosophy that acts as dialogue. Here's the brochure for liberals. Here's the brochure for Ayn Rand. Here's the brochure for every weapon. Borrrrring. For example, every weapon has a very long list of features like a salesperson is trying to get us to buy it. It's clumsy and interrupts the action. Rather than tell us the gun's brochure, maybe show us more about why that character or that action scene is propelled by this particular caliber etc. Instead we get weapon word salad. And don't even get me started on the philosophical "debates" that drone on. Absolute nonsense, doesn't matter where you land politically. Just weak and wordy and so obviously masturbatory I felt embarrassed for the author. Anyways, I was excited to read this and saved it for my road trip. But egads, I think unless he gets a ghostwriter who can actually write, I'm done with this author. It's so poorly written, even the pacing is a drag.
August 21, 2024
Audiobook. DNF. Gave an extra point for the narration. Enjoy ray porter and for the accomplishment of typing 500+pages. That’s no small feat.
The story here is simple and uninteresting. I don’t mind the violence and there isn’t as much gun porn as in some of his other novels. But the continuous editorializing through his characters and story is exhausting. So much of the content is here for the sake of the author’s social commentary and does nothing to develop the characters or story. Some of this in a book is ok and can even be amusing, but when it takes over the narrative it’s just painful to have to wade through. Characters are either ridiculously superhuman or complete caricatures of the people the author despises.
The guy is entitled to write about whatever he wants but the dude needs to get over himself. Geez.
The story here is simple and uninteresting. I don’t mind the violence and there isn’t as much gun porn as in some of his other novels. But the continuous editorializing through his characters and story is exhausting. So much of the content is here for the sake of the author’s social commentary and does nothing to develop the characters or story. Some of this in a book is ok and can even be amusing, but when it takes over the narrative it’s just painful to have to wade through. Characters are either ridiculously superhuman or complete caricatures of the people the author despises.
The guy is entitled to write about whatever he wants but the dude needs to get over himself. Geez.
August 14, 2024
The worst one yet from Carr. Just a glorified wish list of wine, guns, gear, and weapons. I don't need a list of his favorite things every 10 pages. Predictable and terrible.
July 6, 2024
3.5. Not my favorite in the series, but I always love to see what Carr produces each summer.
May 1, 2025
This must be how straight men feel when they accidentally stumble into a gay bar: just a confusing sense of growing unease culminating in a realization of, "oh, I don't belong here and this isn't for me."
I'll admit up front that this was a blind airport purchase and I did not realize this was the seventh book in a series going into it. And it's not meant to be a standalone; there are tons of references to events and now-deceased characters from previous entries that I knew were going over my head. Throwaway lines like, "just like that time in Israel!" meant nothing to me because I just got here, but I'm sure all the callbacks landed for longtime fans.
The premise of a clandestine plan for China to make a move on invading Taiwan depending on the result of a 2024 U.S. Presidential election intrigued me, and the more I read the more I was almost having fun trying to figure out what was fiction and what wasn't. October 7th, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, COVID, Tiktok, and Elon Musk are directly referenced, but as far as I can tell the point of divergence with respect to the presidency was after Carter? I've never read a piece of contemporary fiction that skirted this close to real events.
Unfortunately this book suffered from the existence of a central protagonist that counteracted any enjoyment I could've experienced while reading it and I genuinely believe this would've been a more compelling narrative if he just wasn't in it. I came for the backroom politicking and international negotiations and double-crossing while rogue submarine commanders threaten to let the genie of nuclear war out of the bottle. Instead I got a comically unstoppable Mary Sue of a former SEAL with survivor's guilt who occasionally hallucinates his fridged wife and daughter (spoiler for previous books in this series I guess) encouraging him to keep killing and surviving.
To say nothing of the way the author can't go more than a few paragraphs without tripping over his dick to score some ham-fisted culture war dig. There are multiple references to how awful and dangerous big cities and San Francisco specifically have become, an extended circlejerk over how great Ayn Rand was, Wall Street executives who engage in ESG initiatives are literally called communists, and the Chinese antagonists (you know, the actual communists) point to DEI programs in the US military for the reason why the PLA will win any hypothetical future war. The way contemporary political issues are addressed in this book read like how someone on the far left would mock someone on the far right; I genuinely thought I was reading poorly-crafted parody at points.
There's clearly references to older and more famous military thrillers and espionage novels and I could tell the author had done a ton of meticulous research. I just wish I got more of the geopolitics the marketing blurb on the back cover promised and less hyper-masculine power fantasy.
I'll admit up front that this was a blind airport purchase and I did not realize this was the seventh book in a series going into it. And it's not meant to be a standalone; there are tons of references to events and now-deceased characters from previous entries that I knew were going over my head. Throwaway lines like, "just like that time in Israel!" meant nothing to me because I just got here, but I'm sure all the callbacks landed for longtime fans.
The premise of a clandestine plan for China to make a move on invading Taiwan depending on the result of a 2024 U.S. Presidential election intrigued me, and the more I read the more I was almost having fun trying to figure out what was fiction and what wasn't. October 7th, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, COVID, Tiktok, and Elon Musk are directly referenced, but as far as I can tell the point of divergence with respect to the presidency was after Carter? I've never read a piece of contemporary fiction that skirted this close to real events.
Unfortunately this book suffered from the existence of a central protagonist that counteracted any enjoyment I could've experienced while reading it and I genuinely believe this would've been a more compelling narrative if he just wasn't in it. I came for the backroom politicking and international negotiations and double-crossing while rogue submarine commanders threaten to let the genie of nuclear war out of the bottle. Instead I got a comically unstoppable Mary Sue of a former SEAL with survivor's guilt who occasionally hallucinates his fridged wife and daughter (spoiler for previous books in this series I guess) encouraging him to keep killing and surviving.
To say nothing of the way the author can't go more than a few paragraphs without tripping over his dick to score some ham-fisted culture war dig. There are multiple references to how awful and dangerous big cities and San Francisco specifically have become, an extended circlejerk over how great Ayn Rand was, Wall Street executives who engage in ESG initiatives are literally called communists, and the Chinese antagonists (you know, the actual communists) point to DEI programs in the US military for the reason why the PLA will win any hypothetical future war. The way contemporary political issues are addressed in this book read like how someone on the far left would mock someone on the far right; I genuinely thought I was reading poorly-crafted parody at points.
There's clearly references to older and more famous military thrillers and espionage novels and I could tell the author had done a ton of meticulous research. I just wish I got more of the geopolitics the marketing blurb on the back cover promised and less hyper-masculine power fantasy.
April 13, 2025
As a veteran of a communication unit that morphed into the capability to take on Skynet in Terminator … partnered with current events mixed into this intense novel … based on a lot of author research molded into plausible fiction … books like this encourage being an off grid prepper.
Prefer listening at 2x’s normal speed to add dramatic forward motion. Invested in a shot and sign, first edition, and a couple of other keep sake hardbacks to complete the series. Next stop, television series bound edition.
Not my favorite of the seven. Though never bored of more Alice. Vibes like a prologue of the first six books.
The ending requires threading a mystery needle that offers an obvious conclusion by the last page.
Looking forward to Mr Carr’s first non-fiction release in September called, Targeted: Beirut: The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror.
Having enlisted in the military in 1985 after a year of research following high school graduation and some college. The attack in Beirut is a significant event on troops when I was 18 years old. Serving the United States of America is one of my greatest accomplishments. Biggest influences on my life.
The fiction series helps me connect to my grandfather who was a Navy Seal when they were called UDT or Underwater Demolition Team. Until President Kennedy renamed them NS.
If you enjoy action. Explosions. Artificial Intelligence. Thrillers. Red Sky Mourning might be your cup of tea. Like it is, for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prefer listening at 2x’s normal speed to add dramatic forward motion. Invested in a shot and sign, first edition, and a couple of other keep sake hardbacks to complete the series. Next stop, television series bound edition.
Not my favorite of the seven. Though never bored of more Alice. Vibes like a prologue of the first six books.
The ending requires threading a mystery needle that offers an obvious conclusion by the last page.
Looking forward to Mr Carr’s first non-fiction release in September called, Targeted: Beirut: The 1983 Marine Barracks Bombing and the Untold Origin Story of the War on Terror.
Having enlisted in the military in 1985 after a year of research following high school graduation and some college. The attack in Beirut is a significant event on troops when I was 18 years old. Serving the United States of America is one of my greatest accomplishments. Biggest influences on my life.
The fiction series helps me connect to my grandfather who was a Navy Seal when they were called UDT or Underwater Demolition Team. Until President Kennedy renamed them NS.
If you enjoy action. Explosions. Artificial Intelligence. Thrillers. Red Sky Mourning might be your cup of tea. Like it is, for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 29, 2024
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Jack Carr's latest novel, Red Sky Mourning, is a mixed bag for me. As a fan of Carr's previous works, I had high expectations, but this installment fell a bit short in certain areas.
The first 60% of the book felt like a slog. Carr's penchant for overly descriptive passages bogged down the narrative, making it feel like he was trying to hit a word count goal rather than advancing the story. While some readers might appreciate the detailed descriptions, I found them excessive and, at times, tedious. It's like he was adding fluff that didn't contribute to the overall plot.
However, the last 40% of the book was a completely different experience. The action ramped up significantly, delivering the intense, edge-of-your-seat excitement that I've come to expect from Carr. The final chapters were gripping and well-executed, showcasing Carr's talent for crafting thrilling scenarios.
I hope that in book 8, Carr strikes a better balance by starting the action sooner and cutting down on the over-explained details. This is why I'm a fan of James Patterson—he doesn't waste time with unnecessary sentences and gets straight to the point.
Overall, Red Sky Mourning had its moments, but it took too long to get to the good stuff. Here's to hoping the next installment maintains the momentum from start to finish.
Jack Carr's latest novel, Red Sky Mourning, is a mixed bag for me. As a fan of Carr's previous works, I had high expectations, but this installment fell a bit short in certain areas.
The first 60% of the book felt like a slog. Carr's penchant for overly descriptive passages bogged down the narrative, making it feel like he was trying to hit a word count goal rather than advancing the story. While some readers might appreciate the detailed descriptions, I found them excessive and, at times, tedious. It's like he was adding fluff that didn't contribute to the overall plot.
However, the last 40% of the book was a completely different experience. The action ramped up significantly, delivering the intense, edge-of-your-seat excitement that I've come to expect from Carr. The final chapters were gripping and well-executed, showcasing Carr's talent for crafting thrilling scenarios.
I hope that in book 8, Carr strikes a better balance by starting the action sooner and cutting down on the over-explained details. This is why I'm a fan of James Patterson—he doesn't waste time with unnecessary sentences and gets straight to the point.
Overall, Red Sky Mourning had its moments, but it took too long to get to the good stuff. Here's to hoping the next installment maintains the momentum from start to finish.
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