What do you think?
Rate this book
Soft Target
"Soft Target," the debut novel from Wall Street Journal writer Mark Yost, is part thriller, part political intrigue, and part firehouse diary.
It's a fast-paced book that details the grisly killing spree of Abdullah and Jhalil, two al Qaeda operative who open a whole new front in the War on Terror.
Tired of dodging drones, they leave Afghanistan, cross the Mexico border into the U.S., and are aided by a deep-cover Pakistani intelligence agent, one of hundreds sent to the U.S. shortly after 9/11.
Once in Chicago, they become what Western intelligence agencies have labeled "Nike terrorists." Rather than trying to pull off the next 9/11, they merely start indiscriminately killing Westerners with small arms and simple explosives.
But they do have a grander plan in mind. There's just one thing that stands in their way: Firefighter Nick Mattera. A former Marine EOD Tech, Nick Mattera is a firefighter in the predominantly Italian-American enclave of Highwood on Chicago's North Side. And Nick's fighting a war on two fronts: A local congressman is trying to close the Highwood Fire Department to win re-election, and Abdullah and Jhalil have chosen Nick's fire district to target wealthy Jews.
"Soft Target" weaves together these seemingly disparate story lines into a compelling narrative that includes action, adventure, romance and real-life firefighting. "Soft Target" is a work of fiction, but at the end readers are left terrified, wondering "Why hasn't this happened here?"
"Soft Target" is a familiar genre but with a unique hero. Nick Mattera is a firefighter paramedic and author Mark Yost, himself a firefighter/paramedic on Chicago's North Side, has painted a vivid picture of what it's like to respond to fire and EMS calls everyday -- and the very real budget challenges that face fire departments across the country.
"Soft Target" is destined to be a hit, with fans of such espionage masters as Clancy and Le Carre, as well as anyone who admires the everyday work of real firefighters and paramedics.
It's a fast-paced book that details the grisly killing spree of Abdullah and Jhalil, two al Qaeda operative who open a whole new front in the War on Terror.
Tired of dodging drones, they leave Afghanistan, cross the Mexico border into the U.S., and are aided by a deep-cover Pakistani intelligence agent, one of hundreds sent to the U.S. shortly after 9/11.
Once in Chicago, they become what Western intelligence agencies have labeled "Nike terrorists." Rather than trying to pull off the next 9/11, they merely start indiscriminately killing Westerners with small arms and simple explosives.
But they do have a grander plan in mind. There's just one thing that stands in their way: Firefighter Nick Mattera. A former Marine EOD Tech, Nick Mattera is a firefighter in the predominantly Italian-American enclave of Highwood on Chicago's North Side. And Nick's fighting a war on two fronts: A local congressman is trying to close the Highwood Fire Department to win re-election, and Abdullah and Jhalil have chosen Nick's fire district to target wealthy Jews.
"Soft Target" weaves together these seemingly disparate story lines into a compelling narrative that includes action, adventure, romance and real-life firefighting. "Soft Target" is a work of fiction, but at the end readers are left terrified, wondering "Why hasn't this happened here?"
"Soft Target" is a familiar genre but with a unique hero. Nick Mattera is a firefighter paramedic and author Mark Yost, himself a firefighter/paramedic on Chicago's North Side, has painted a vivid picture of what it's like to respond to fire and EMS calls everyday -- and the very real budget challenges that face fire departments across the country.
"Soft Target" is destined to be a hit, with fans of such espionage masters as Clancy and Le Carre, as well as anyone who admires the everyday work of real firefighters and paramedics.
ebook
First published April 6, 2012
8 people want to read
About the author
Mark Yost
17 books5 followersMark Yost has been a professional writer for more than 20 years. He worked for The Wall Street Journal full-time for 10 years. He was an editorial page writer in both New York and Brussels, and also wrote for the Journal's Leisure and Arts pages, in the U.S., as well as Europe and Asia.
For the past 10 years, he has been a full-time freelance writer. He still contributes regularly to the Journal's L&A page, primarily writing about the business of sports. He also writes reviews of historical museum exhibits, and book reviews. Yost also writes for the Journal's Sports pages.
His work has also appeared in Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, and Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. Yost has also written copy for the J. Peterman catalog.
In Spring 2012, Mark Yost completed his first novel, "Soft Target," featuring firefighter Nick Mattera as the hero/protagonist. The book is the first in a four-book series revolving around the North Chicago firefighter and former Marine EOD TEch who runs into al Qaeda agents hellbent on killing Americans, Mexican drug lords determined to protect their turf after a newly elected Libertarian president decides to legalize drugs, and a disgruntled airline passenger who decides to take his anger out on the FAA and the members of the House Transportation Committee.
In addition to being a writer, Mark Yost is a firefighter/paramedic in both Highwood and Lake Bluff, on Chicago's North Shore. He's also a CPR instructor and certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, International Trauma Life Support, and as a Fire Apparatus Engineer and Hazardous Materials Operations.
Mark Yost is originally from New York, served six years in the U.S. Navy, and lives on the North Shore with his son, George.
For the past 10 years, he has been a full-time freelance writer. He still contributes regularly to the Journal's L&A page, primarily writing about the business of sports. He also writes reviews of historical museum exhibits, and book reviews. Yost also writes for the Journal's Sports pages.
His work has also appeared in Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, and Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. Yost has also written copy for the J. Peterman catalog.
In Spring 2012, Mark Yost completed his first novel, "Soft Target," featuring firefighter Nick Mattera as the hero/protagonist. The book is the first in a four-book series revolving around the North Chicago firefighter and former Marine EOD TEch who runs into al Qaeda agents hellbent on killing Americans, Mexican drug lords determined to protect their turf after a newly elected Libertarian president decides to legalize drugs, and a disgruntled airline passenger who decides to take his anger out on the FAA and the members of the House Transportation Committee.
In addition to being a writer, Mark Yost is a firefighter/paramedic in both Highwood and Lake Bluff, on Chicago's North Shore. He's also a CPR instructor and certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, International Trauma Life Support, and as a Fire Apparatus Engineer and Hazardous Materials Operations.
Mark Yost is originally from New York, served six years in the U.S. Navy, and lives on the North Shore with his son, George.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 1, 2012
Interesting and timely thriller with gratuitous penthouse letter sex thrown in. It would have been better had it had a bit of restraint ala Dennis Lehane with the sex and concentrated on the topical matter. The protagonist is compelling in many ways and multilayered without the x-rated foray. If the promised future books in the series can decide if they are soft core porn and/or the predecessors of R rated screenplays versus thrillers with something interesting to say about the times we live in and the character of the protagonist in relationship to his compelling environment we will see an interesting series.
April 20, 2012
I read this book from [e-]cover to [e-]cover in a single afternoon. Yost has drawn some really interesting characters and I think Nick Mattera begs to be portrayed on the big screen. I can't wait for the next installment of this story in the fall. Great plot twists that had me turning the page and thinking "Oooh, nicely done." And I found the level of detail with which Yost writes about the fire/EMT services to be really interesting and informative -- without being too heavy handed. I've read a lot of the author's other work, but this is a great foray into fiction for him. I'm hooked!
January 7, 2015
Great writing, keeps one interested,
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews