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The Rho Agenda: Inception #1
Once Dead
Jack Gregory, the CIA’s top assassin, went rogue after a mission gone wrong. When a confrontation leaves him bleeding out on death’s doorstep, he is faced with an offer from a dark figure named Anchanchu. If Jack is willing to act as a human host for Anchanchu, the entity will revive him and give him another shot at life. Jack takes the deal...but he must now face the consequences of having the same dark creature in his head as some of history’s greatest villains. Struggling with desires and memories that are not his own, Jack is not the man he once was.
One year later, he is known internationally as The Ripper, fixer for hire, and is faced with having to wrest control of his dark compulsions while preventing a nuclear attack on the United States.
From the bestselling author of the Rho Agenda trilogy comes a globe-spanning thriller with a twist unlike anything you’ve ever seen...
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2014
506 people are currently reading
1846 people want to read
About the author
Richard Phillips
15 books573 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Richard Phillips is the million copy bestselling author of the Rho Agenda scifi series, the Jack 'The Ripper' Gregory series, and the epic fantasy series, The Endarian Prophecy. He is a retired Army Officer, West Point graduate, and has a Master of Science degree in Physics from the Naval Post Graduate School. He was a researcher at Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories for the U.S. military, a software project leader at General Electric, Lockheed Martin Space Operations, and General Dynamics before becoming a full-time writer.
Richard Phillips is the million copy bestselling author of the Rho Agenda scifi series, the Jack 'The Ripper' Gregory series, and the epic fantasy series, The Endarian Prophecy. He is a retired Army Officer, West Point graduate, and has a Master of Science degree in Physics from the Naval Post Graduate School. He was a researcher at Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories for the U.S. military, a software project leader at General Electric, Lockheed Martin Space Operations, and General Dynamics before becoming a full-time writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
August 8, 2017
Ok, so this is about our hero Jack Gregory that managed to get himself killed and was offered his life back IF he would let Anchanchu, a mind worm, tag along in Jack’s brain. Now, Anchanchu is a blood thirsty killing machine so Jack has to control that part of his brain or he’d be killing anyone and everyone around him.
Although, Jack does kill a lot of people, all of them deserved it except one old man who asked to be killed because his wife just died and he didn’t want to go on without her. So, Jack shot him in the head. There was a lot of killing and torture in this book. I mean, what Vlad did to that guy that failed him was really, really bad. Bloody enough so he could put the killing on the internet. What’a guy! But, I do wish I would have counted how many Jack killed in this book because it was a lot.
It was a good book but it was way too long, 448 pages AND 124 chapters. It wasn’t repetitive or anything like that. It just kept putting Jack into one situation after another. So, it could have just gone on forever.
So, you have the bad guy in the CIA, Jacob Knox the killer and torturer, and Russian mob, who are all killers and torturers, too. The NSA and the good guys and you know what I found so unreal? I think the word “shit” was used 2 or 3 times and maybe goddammit a time or two. Really? Like the Russian mob wouldn’t be throwing around the F-bomb every other word. I would have enjoyed this book more if the people would have sworn like in real life. But, that’s just me.
This is a 3 books series and all 3 are free read and free listen.
As to the narration: MacLeod Andrews did an amazing job on everyone voice and his emotions were great. He laughed, yelled, whispered, groaned in pain, screamed like a girl when one of the bad guys were blinded. He did everything the book asked for.
Although, Jack does kill a lot of people, all of them deserved it except one old man who asked to be killed because his wife just died and he didn’t want to go on without her. So, Jack shot him in the head. There was a lot of killing and torture in this book. I mean, what Vlad did to that guy that failed him was really, really bad. Bloody enough so he could put the killing on the internet. What’a guy! But, I do wish I would have counted how many Jack killed in this book because it was a lot.
It was a good book but it was way too long, 448 pages AND 124 chapters. It wasn’t repetitive or anything like that. It just kept putting Jack into one situation after another. So, it could have just gone on forever.
So, you have the bad guy in the CIA, Jacob Knox the killer and torturer, and Russian mob, who are all killers and torturers, too. The NSA and the good guys and you know what I found so unreal? I think the word “shit” was used 2 or 3 times and maybe goddammit a time or two. Really? Like the Russian mob wouldn’t be throwing around the F-bomb every other word. I would have enjoyed this book more if the people would have sworn like in real life. But, that’s just me.
This is a 3 books series and all 3 are free read and free listen.
As to the narration: MacLeod Andrews did an amazing job on everyone voice and his emotions were great. He laughed, yelled, whispered, groaned in pain, screamed like a girl when one of the bad guys were blinded. He did everything the book asked for.
June 24, 2015
This was a NetGalley read that I selected based on the cover. I really wanted to like this book. The blurb sounds pretty darn cool, and the opening prologue kind of reminds me of a Robert Ludlum novel. Unfortunately, I stumbled a lot over the writing and ended up setting it aside as a DNF.
I feel like an otherwise interesting plot is bogged down by a tendency to tell the reader, at great length, what is happening in a scene--rather than showing it. That, and lots of clunky paragraphs, such as this one:
It's exhausting to read that, and that's just one example of the chunky paragraphs that pepper the pages, not to mention the tech-speak (again, telling not showing). Elsewhere, the detailed physical descriptions of people keep jarring me away from the action so I can focus on how a character has "short, spiked blond hair" or a "Pilates-tightened ass". There are times when focusing on a physical detail is important to the character itself, but this just feels fluffy and distracting--kind of like reading one of those YA novels where everyone's clothing choices are described in detail.
Speaking of characters--I have to say that jumping through multiple POVs is fine and all, a good way to keep the energy moving in a story; but when you're jumping through several different ones in the space of a handful of chapters, it starts to make one wonder a little bit: is it really necessary to have the POV of these minor characters? Especially when they fill up the pages with their telling (not showing)?
I'm sure some people will like this book, and to be fair, if you can get past the clunky writing, the plot is definitely interesting. I haven't read the original Rho trilogy, to which this is a prequel, so I can't say how well the two stories mesh together. But I think that if you're a fan of Ludlum's spy novels or similar books with a slightly supernatural twist, you might enjoy this. It just didn't hold my interest enough to finish it out.
I feel like an otherwise interesting plot is bogged down by a tendency to tell the reader, at great length, what is happening in a scene--rather than showing it. That, and lots of clunky paragraphs, such as this one:
Removing his laptop from his case, Jack woke it from sleep mode, plugged it into his seat's power receptacle, typed in his twenty-character password, and launched the wipe utility that would perform the multi-pass digital shredding of all data on the encrypted hard drive.
It's exhausting to read that, and that's just one example of the chunky paragraphs that pepper the pages, not to mention the tech-speak (again, telling not showing). Elsewhere, the detailed physical descriptions of people keep jarring me away from the action so I can focus on how a character has "short, spiked blond hair" or a "Pilates-tightened ass". There are times when focusing on a physical detail is important to the character itself, but this just feels fluffy and distracting--kind of like reading one of those YA novels where everyone's clothing choices are described in detail.
Speaking of characters--I have to say that jumping through multiple POVs is fine and all, a good way to keep the energy moving in a story; but when you're jumping through several different ones in the space of a handful of chapters, it starts to make one wonder a little bit: is it really necessary to have the POV of these minor characters? Especially when they fill up the pages with their telling (not showing)?
I'm sure some people will like this book, and to be fair, if you can get past the clunky writing, the plot is definitely interesting. I haven't read the original Rho trilogy, to which this is a prequel, so I can't say how well the two stories mesh together. But I think that if you're a fan of Ludlum's spy novels or similar books with a slightly supernatural twist, you might enjoy this. It just didn't hold my interest enough to finish it out.
July 22, 2021
I got this book right before vacation thinking this would be some sort of half-good alien abduction story, but I was dead wrong. This story is all about your main man, Jack, an Ex-CIA who "dies", and comes back with the help of a weird limbo creature who only has fun when he sees people kind of go crazy from their thoughts and emotions. The story is really well written, killing characters and introducing new ones, as Jack tries to stop something that threatens to wipe out the U.S. It is a multi-perspective book, with most of it taking place in Russia. It is a very good story with twists, romance, action (LOTS of action), and a little comedy. Worth it to read this book. And the best part is that, if you like this book there are plenty more like it. It's a trilogy, with Dead Wrong, and Dead Shift, being the 2 that follow. With 2 other trilogies after. 9/10 overall. Once Dead will certainly leave you wanting to see more.
- Reinaldo, PWPL Summer Reading Volunteer
https://librarycatalog.pwcgov.org/pol...
- Reinaldo, PWPL Summer Reading Volunteer
https://librarycatalog.pwcgov.org/pol...
August 26, 2014
All through The Rho Agenda I was intrigued by the characters of Jack Gregory and Janet Price. What was their story? Why did Jack’s eyes sometimes seem to have a red glint? In this first of three prequels we get to learn much more about Jack and Janet and what makes them who they are.
Jack, a CIA agent on the trail of his brother’s killer, finds himself facing Carlton ‘Priest’ Williams and a gang of knife wielding thugs in a Calcutta alley. After a bloody fight Jack, well outnumbered and badly wounded, is found by a nun. Taken to a basic clinic and unable to be saved, Jack is pronounced dead. Until, that is, he’s visited by the demon, Anchanchu. Jack has an unimaginable decision to make.
Jack has been freelance since his revival and it’s his latest client who inadvertently involves him and Janet in a plot, masterminded by an accomplished scientist, the Russian mafia and corrupt members of the CIA, which threatens the safety and security of the United States. Once again the integrity of intelligence agencies and governments, and the way they operate at the highest levels, is called into question.
I love the supernatural twist in the story and how it relates to Jack and his deadly skills. Richard Phillips has created a fascinating and compelling protagonist, fulfilling the promise which began in the Rho Agenda. The narrative pulled me into the story totally and, as always, MacLeod Andrews gives a superbly delivered performance whilst actually raising the bar. As each chapter comes from a different point of view so the narration reflects that person’s characterisation. It works really well. Significant character development and an extremely fast-moving plot kept me hooked until the end. This was well worth the wait.
Jack, a CIA agent on the trail of his brother’s killer, finds himself facing Carlton ‘Priest’ Williams and a gang of knife wielding thugs in a Calcutta alley. After a bloody fight Jack, well outnumbered and badly wounded, is found by a nun. Taken to a basic clinic and unable to be saved, Jack is pronounced dead. Until, that is, he’s visited by the demon, Anchanchu. Jack has an unimaginable decision to make.
Jack has been freelance since his revival and it’s his latest client who inadvertently involves him and Janet in a plot, masterminded by an accomplished scientist, the Russian mafia and corrupt members of the CIA, which threatens the safety and security of the United States. Once again the integrity of intelligence agencies and governments, and the way they operate at the highest levels, is called into question.
I love the supernatural twist in the story and how it relates to Jack and his deadly skills. Richard Phillips has created a fascinating and compelling protagonist, fulfilling the promise which began in the Rho Agenda. The narrative pulled me into the story totally and, as always, MacLeod Andrews gives a superbly delivered performance whilst actually raising the bar. As each chapter comes from a different point of view so the narration reflects that person’s characterisation. It works really well. Significant character development and an extremely fast-moving plot kept me hooked until the end. This was well worth the wait.
December 27, 2014
"Once Dead" catapults Richard Phillips into serious thriller writer status. It's fast-moving. The hero, Jack Gregory, is conflicted in an interesting fashion, and he's good at getting himself out of serious scrapes. In the opening scene, Gregory gets jumped in an alley Return of the Dragon style. But he's not Bruce Lee. He's about as good though and gives worse than he gets. But Gregory is near death. He gets sewn up by a couple of helpful people, but it's not enough. Yet, Gregory pulls through. He dreams that some demon entered his system and gave him enough of a jolt to get out of the poor man's clinic and back into circulation. Gregory is an assassin, but he's not working for the CIA anymore. They think he's dead. He starts working for a model married to a brilliant billionaire and finds himself involved in a massive scheme to depopulate the earth. Nobody figures it out by him and a new and beautiful sidekick. I can't wait to read the next one. Oh, and it's better than his other stuff. At least I think so.
May 22, 2021
**3.5 stars**
I've never heard of this author but I decided to listen because it's narrated by one of my favorite narrators: MacLeod Andrews. Narration was outstanding as usual - MacLeod is one of the most multifaceted narrators out there - he can do kickass killer and naive teenager, he has great accents and his voice is great for many genres. Even his female voices are good. I DO have a bone to pick on this narration but I'm blaming the author and the producer. (Never you MacLeod! You know I love you.)
This story is a thriller with a supernatural component. As mentioned in the description, Jack makes a deathbed pact with some being, who promises to save his life if Jack lets him come along for the ride. He accepts the bargain and is spared but finds himself being attracted to blood and danger - yes, even more than in his former Assassin occupation. But this parasitic relationship is so subtle that Jack thinks he just dreamed it all and he has explanations for everything weird happening to him, even the strange red glint in his eyes. For his part, Anchanchu (the supernatural being) is surprised that Jack has had the discipline to withstand his influence - after all, Anchanchu has been hosted by other figures in history like Nero, Caligula and even the real Jack The Ripper and you know how those ended up. It's not actually clear what Anchanchu brings to the table, as Jack is described as having almost supernatural intuition even before Anchanchu came on board.
What follows is an action packed story with Jack, now a fixer, trying to solve the problem of his latest client. Unknowingly, his latest contract lands him in the middle of a plot concocted by the Russian mafia, some rogue CIA agents and a Steve Jobs facsimile. The result was a lot of dead bodies, thanks to Jack of course.
My absolute favorite character was Janet, the NSA agent sent to bring Jack to the fold. She was so kickass - I almost died laughing when she kicked the ass of a high powered assassin. I kept yelling - You Go, Girl!!
One of the issues I had with this book were like the million POVs. There must have been at more than 15. Pretty much every character that breathed had a POV and this ping-ponging from one character to the other - even some that only had a chapter or two - became exhausting. And this was the narration choice I didn't like - that when the POV changed, the "omniscient narrator" voice also changed to match this new POV. Of course, this proved MacLeod's incredible talent - I barely had to listen a word to know we had a new character. But when there are SO MANY POVs, it was jarring to wonder...who is this person? why do I care why they're doing or why?
It's likely that I'll continue listening to the series because they audios are available on KU and the book was super entertaining. And of course, because MacLeod is narrating.
I've never heard of this author but I decided to listen because it's narrated by one of my favorite narrators: MacLeod Andrews. Narration was outstanding as usual - MacLeod is one of the most multifaceted narrators out there - he can do kickass killer and naive teenager, he has great accents and his voice is great for many genres. Even his female voices are good. I DO have a bone to pick on this narration but I'm blaming the author and the producer. (Never you MacLeod! You know I love you.)
This story is a thriller with a supernatural component. As mentioned in the description, Jack makes a deathbed pact with some being, who promises to save his life if Jack lets him come along for the ride. He accepts the bargain and is spared but finds himself being attracted to blood and danger - yes, even more than in his former Assassin occupation. But this parasitic relationship is so subtle that Jack thinks he just dreamed it all and he has explanations for everything weird happening to him, even the strange red glint in his eyes. For his part, Anchanchu (the supernatural being) is surprised that Jack has had the discipline to withstand his influence - after all, Anchanchu has been hosted by other figures in history like Nero, Caligula and even the real Jack The Ripper and you know how those ended up. It's not actually clear what Anchanchu brings to the table, as Jack is described as having almost supernatural intuition even before Anchanchu came on board.
What follows is an action packed story with Jack, now a fixer, trying to solve the problem of his latest client. Unknowingly, his latest contract lands him in the middle of a plot concocted by the Russian mafia, some rogue CIA agents and a Steve Jobs facsimile. The result was a lot of dead bodies, thanks to Jack of course.
My absolute favorite character was Janet, the NSA agent sent to bring Jack to the fold. She was so kickass - I almost died laughing when she kicked the ass of a high powered assassin. I kept yelling - You Go, Girl!!
One of the issues I had with this book were like the million POVs. There must have been at more than 15. Pretty much every character that breathed had a POV and this ping-ponging from one character to the other - even some that only had a chapter or two - became exhausting. And this was the narration choice I didn't like - that when the POV changed, the "omniscient narrator" voice also changed to match this new POV. Of course, this proved MacLeod's incredible talent - I barely had to listen a word to know we had a new character. But when there are SO MANY POVs, it was jarring to wonder...who is this person? why do I care why they're doing or why?
It's likely that I'll continue listening to the series because they audios are available on KU and the book was super entertaining. And of course, because MacLeod is narrating.
August 25, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/08/25...
Publisher: 47 North
Publishing Date: August 2014
ISBN: 9781477824108
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.6/5
Publisher Description: Gregory, once the CIA’s top assassin, went rogue after a mission gone wrong. When a confrontation leaves him bleeding out on death’s doorstep, he’s faced with an offer from a dark figure ..If Jack is willing to act as its human host, the entity will revive him and give him another shot at life.
Review: Wow, that is one of the worst covers ever as it doesn’t even closely relate to anything in the novel.
So……………..Jack, a CIA operative, is attempting to kill a special forces dude in an alley in Calcutta India, surrounded by 6 or so knife wielding (and I mean knives attached to pike poles) in a fight to the death. As Jack slowly dismantles SF dude (whom killed his brother) the Indian gang starts cutting him. Jack ,Jiu Jitsu fu’s his way past all the bad guys by disarming, disemboweling and just plane dissing all over the sitch. An old leathery nun finds him and Jack is eventually pronounced dead. Later, they find Jack gone, the nun cowering in a corner with a half mumbled phrase on her lips…”JACK THE RIPPER IS BACK!!”. Huh? How the fug would a nun in Calcutta India in the 21 Century know that Jack the Ripper had taken up residence in, well Jack? Besides the lame fight scenes and why a gang in Calcutta would stage a fight to the death between two sworn enemies in a dark alley (which makes even less sense now that I write it down) and a nun’s discernment of all things ethereal and other-worldly, this was a pretty good read.
Jack eventually becomes a kind of hit-man. I say “kind of” because if an assassin works for the side of good, is he really an assassin/hit-man? I guess it is a matter of perspective, as in “One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter”. The torture scenes are pretty graphic. I think this helps the reader to build up a full steam of righteous indignation where we can’t wait to see the bad guy(s) done in by an almost super human assass….er….hit-ma…er…..vigilante. Do vigilante’s get paid? There is super hottie spy chick, Janet, who is the only one to beat Jack’s 1,000 meter sniper record and the only girl to ever pass the dreaded Special Forces Training (only no one can ever know about it, or her) but she moves like a dancer and is built for speed, if you know what I mean….YAWN. Jack can hold his breath for 6 minutes and quickly get his heart rate to 60bpm while killing bad guys…YAAAAAAAWN. In one scene, Jack is in the shower and the bad guys bust in. Jack takes off into the woods and kills everyone. My question is, does the guy shower with his clothes on because all of a sudden Jack has his clothes and his killing knife, but has no shoes. Ah, well artistic license and all that.
I still don’t know how Jack got the “Ripper” nickname. Besides a nun who said it to herself and is now an addled, insane hunchback, there is no one that would ascribe that moniker to Jack. But somehow the legend of the RIPPER is fluent at all levels of spy-dom. I still don’t know how to rate this one. I loved it, but at times it was so fugging stoopid. Jack and Janet are pretty believable at times, then in others its the old suspension of disbelief. I am going to go with pure entertainment value and look past the glaring errors…..mostly.
Publisher: 47 North
Publishing Date: August 2014
ISBN: 9781477824108
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.6/5
Publisher Description: Gregory, once the CIA’s top assassin, went rogue after a mission gone wrong. When a confrontation leaves him bleeding out on death’s doorstep, he’s faced with an offer from a dark figure ..If Jack is willing to act as its human host, the entity will revive him and give him another shot at life.
Review: Wow, that is one of the worst covers ever as it doesn’t even closely relate to anything in the novel.
So……………..Jack, a CIA operative, is attempting to kill a special forces dude in an alley in Calcutta India, surrounded by 6 or so knife wielding (and I mean knives attached to pike poles) in a fight to the death. As Jack slowly dismantles SF dude (whom killed his brother) the Indian gang starts cutting him. Jack ,Jiu Jitsu fu’s his way past all the bad guys by disarming, disemboweling and just plane dissing all over the sitch. An old leathery nun finds him and Jack is eventually pronounced dead. Later, they find Jack gone, the nun cowering in a corner with a half mumbled phrase on her lips…”JACK THE RIPPER IS BACK!!”. Huh? How the fug would a nun in Calcutta India in the 21 Century know that Jack the Ripper had taken up residence in, well Jack? Besides the lame fight scenes and why a gang in Calcutta would stage a fight to the death between two sworn enemies in a dark alley (which makes even less sense now that I write it down) and a nun’s discernment of all things ethereal and other-worldly, this was a pretty good read.
Jack eventually becomes a kind of hit-man. I say “kind of” because if an assassin works for the side of good, is he really an assassin/hit-man? I guess it is a matter of perspective, as in “One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter”. The torture scenes are pretty graphic. I think this helps the reader to build up a full steam of righteous indignation where we can’t wait to see the bad guy(s) done in by an almost super human assass….er….hit-ma…er…..vigilante. Do vigilante’s get paid? There is super hottie spy chick, Janet, who is the only one to beat Jack’s 1,000 meter sniper record and the only girl to ever pass the dreaded Special Forces Training (only no one can ever know about it, or her) but she moves like a dancer and is built for speed, if you know what I mean….YAWN. Jack can hold his breath for 6 minutes and quickly get his heart rate to 60bpm while killing bad guys…YAAAAAAAWN. In one scene, Jack is in the shower and the bad guys bust in. Jack takes off into the woods and kills everyone. My question is, does the guy shower with his clothes on because all of a sudden Jack has his clothes and his killing knife, but has no shoes. Ah, well artistic license and all that.
I still don’t know how Jack got the “Ripper” nickname. Besides a nun who said it to herself and is now an addled, insane hunchback, there is no one that would ascribe that moniker to Jack. But somehow the legend of the RIPPER is fluent at all levels of spy-dom. I still don’t know how to rate this one. I loved it, but at times it was so fugging stoopid. Jack and Janet are pretty believable at times, then in others its the old suspension of disbelief. I am going to go with pure entertainment value and look past the glaring errors…..mostly.
September 6, 2014
Years ago, when the first Indiana Jones movie came out (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) I read many favorable reviews. A LOT of favorable reviews; almost to the point where I was questioning just how good the movie actually was. Well, the first time I saw that movie I KNEW the reviewers were right. I loved all the cliff-hanger action scenes and the never-say-die attitude of Indiana. Nothing could stop him, he was driven.
Now fast forward to the end of Aug 2014. I came across Once Dead, the book description caught my attention. Oh yeah, this sounds like a book I would like to read. A prequel to the Rho Agenda books (which I had read reviews of, but had not read at this point). So I checked out the Once Dead reviews. I saw something like 27 out of 27 five star reviews! Oh crud, they can't ALL love the book this much. This must be another case of where the author's friends and fellow authors (most of whom have never rated more than a book or two) got together and handed out five star reviews. Darn.....I really wanted to read it. So, once I signed up for Kindle Unlimited, I put the book down on my TBR list. I got to it last week and darn if those reviewers didn't get it right. I would go with 4.5 stars if I could, but I will go with a solid 4+ stars. I liked this story. Plenty of Jason Bourne style action and a James Bond (the ole style Bond ~ ("You Only Live Twice") threat to the world all rolled into one story.
If you have read the book's description you'll know that Jack Gregory dies early in the book and then comes back after a mysterious dark entity offers him life, but he has to co-exist with the entity. Okay, a little off-beat aspect to the story, but I'll go with it. Despite a few interesting flashbacks in history, the story did not really deal with this too much. I was expecting a little more development in this part of the plot. As far as I am concerned it did not really add too much to the overall plot. Jack is a kick-butt action character either by himself or co-existing with this entity. Same for his action co-star Janet.
As I mentioned, I have not read the Rho Agenda books yet, but I will now, starting with The Second Ship. In the reviews I had read for the Rho Agenda trilogy it appears that the trilogy is aimed a bit at young adults. No problem, as I like some YA stories (Steelheart). But if Rho Agenda is YA (PG-13) then "Once Dead" is definitely rated "R". Lots of European style action (ala Jason Bourne). I thought it was a well written thriller and besides reading the Rho Agenda books, I am looking forward to the next book in this series: Bane's Dominion.
Now fast forward to the end of Aug 2014. I came across Once Dead, the book description caught my attention. Oh yeah, this sounds like a book I would like to read. A prequel to the Rho Agenda books (which I had read reviews of, but had not read at this point). So I checked out the Once Dead reviews. I saw something like 27 out of 27 five star reviews! Oh crud, they can't ALL love the book this much. This must be another case of where the author's friends and fellow authors (most of whom have never rated more than a book or two) got together and handed out five star reviews. Darn.....I really wanted to read it. So, once I signed up for Kindle Unlimited, I put the book down on my TBR list. I got to it last week and darn if those reviewers didn't get it right. I would go with 4.5 stars if I could, but I will go with a solid 4+ stars. I liked this story. Plenty of Jason Bourne style action and a James Bond (the ole style Bond ~ ("You Only Live Twice") threat to the world all rolled into one story.
If you have read the book's description you'll know that Jack Gregory dies early in the book and then comes back after a mysterious dark entity offers him life, but he has to co-exist with the entity. Okay, a little off-beat aspect to the story, but I'll go with it. Despite a few interesting flashbacks in history, the story did not really deal with this too much. I was expecting a little more development in this part of the plot. As far as I am concerned it did not really add too much to the overall plot. Jack is a kick-butt action character either by himself or co-existing with this entity. Same for his action co-star Janet.
As I mentioned, I have not read the Rho Agenda books yet, but I will now, starting with The Second Ship. In the reviews I had read for the Rho Agenda trilogy it appears that the trilogy is aimed a bit at young adults. No problem, as I like some YA stories (Steelheart). But if Rho Agenda is YA (PG-13) then "Once Dead" is definitely rated "R". Lots of European style action (ala Jason Bourne). I thought it was a well written thriller and besides reading the Rho Agenda books, I am looking forward to the next book in this series: Bane's Dominion.
February 3, 2015
If you haven't read any of Phillips books do yourself a favor and start now.
I don't believe I've connected with an author of this type and caliber since I picked up 'Hunt For Red October' and didn't stop until I read everything Tom Clancy had in print or has put in print since. Do yourself a favor, pick up one of Richard Phillips books and start reading. You will be opening the door to a world of breathtaking action, espionage, black ops and plausible deniability. Governments hang by a thread, Assassination is common and the government office that sends you out to do the job will deny your existence if it's in their best interest. And Phillips never slows down.
I don't believe I've connected with an author of this type and caliber since I picked up 'Hunt For Red October' and didn't stop until I read everything Tom Clancy had in print or has put in print since. Do yourself a favor, pick up one of Richard Phillips books and start reading. You will be opening the door to a world of breathtaking action, espionage, black ops and plausible deniability. Governments hang by a thread, Assassination is common and the government office that sends you out to do the job will deny your existence if it's in their best interest. And Phillips never slows down.
December 9, 2014
Wow! I LOVED THIS BOOK! Saying that doesn't do it justice. Everything about the book was extremely good...from the storyline to the pace. Once I started reading it I could barely bring myself to put it down.
August 21, 2014
ARC from Netgalley
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, the story was excellent.Loved the dark passenger who resided in Jack(Ripper).Brilliantly written and very quick paced story.Hopefully there will be more from Jack.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, the story was excellent.Loved the dark passenger who resided in Jack(Ripper).Brilliantly written and very quick paced story.Hopefully there will be more from Jack.
May 3, 2016
Entertaining thriller with great characters, realistic intrigue, and a touch of fantasy to keep me happy. Already downloaded the second book in the series; looking forward to seeing how these characters evolve!
February 24, 2018
Although this book isn't what I expected and the violence is extreme, by the end of the book I figured that it was supposed to be that way and I will need to read the next in the series to find out if I'm right. I was expecting alien space ship stuff and got a mind worm. Everything else (except the moon-mining thing and hopefully one of the weapons used) could have happened today. The plot is edge-of-the-seat, however, and the characters intriguing, including the mind worm. There are lots of references to places that most people never plan to visit, so that was quite interesting, too. I am definitely going on to the next in the series, which had better include Jack Gregory and Janet Price or I will be very disappointed.
October 6, 2018
Full of plot twists and a bit of supernatural intrigue
I can't say anything about the supernatural aspect without giving spoilers, so I'll focus on the rest of the story.
This started out looking like a "Badder version of Jason Borne" with a little bit of supernatural tossed in. It grew into a combination of techno-thriller and otherworldly mystery. Fast paced, definitely not boring!
I can't say anything about the supernatural aspect without giving spoilers, so I'll focus on the rest of the story.
This started out looking like a "Badder version of Jason Borne" with a little bit of supernatural tossed in. It grew into a combination of techno-thriller and otherworldly mystery. Fast paced, definitely not boring!
February 20, 2015
Once Dead is a highly detailed, eventful book, where actions are delivered blow by blow across the pages and the protagonist you'll love instantly. All the events are exciting, only that the tone of the writing is not. Or maybe it was just my Death Watch hangover. You get to read so many chapters first, for which by the way each chapter is so short, just to get the hang of the narration before you could truly appreciate it.
I remember reading a report of Jack the Ripper's real identity. He was a Polish immigrant and his profile does not indicate as someone being deadly. The only reason for his overwhelming and undeserved infamy, not that he shouldn't be seen with extreme dishonor, rather he did not deserve such global attention, was because he was only identified and indicted 2 centuries after his death. Maybe he had his fits but the kind of Ripper described in this book is way more sinister than the real Ripper I read about. Fine, the classic Ripper was so evil, he'd keep an organ as a souvenir from the female victims he'd violated.
Starting straight to action, instead of getting hooked, I almost balked. That was the prologue. But then surprisingly, when the hero was implied to have died just on the first part of it, I grieved. I felt the same sorrow I felt when Westley of The Princess Bride died not once but twice or when James Schweitzer died albeit necessarily in Gemini Cell. It was in this moment that I realized I love the book already even before I get to Chapter One.
Seriously, what woman won't get attached when Jack Gregory was described in this manner,
This is what I like about books like this. As a girl, there's nothing better than falling in love with the male protagonist of the story. And I'd love to fall over and over again. It's not just about his physique alone but the character by which he was mold into. Jack "The Ripper" Gregory is nothing like Jack the Ripper most people know in English history. Where the latter is a depraved psychopath serial killer, the former is an intrinsically good ex-CIA agent. But due to the ill-luck fate that has befallen him, Jack Gregory has now become a host of a sinister worm just to be alive again.
Read more on Zirev
I remember reading a report of Jack the Ripper's real identity. He was a Polish immigrant and his profile does not indicate as someone being deadly. The only reason for his overwhelming and undeserved infamy, not that he shouldn't be seen with extreme dishonor, rather he did not deserve such global attention, was because he was only identified and indicted 2 centuries after his death. Maybe he had his fits but the kind of Ripper described in this book is way more sinister than the real Ripper I read about. Fine, the classic Ripper was so evil, he'd keep an organ as a souvenir from the female victims he'd violated.
Starting straight to action, instead of getting hooked, I almost balked. That was the prologue. But then surprisingly, when the hero was implied to have died just on the first part of it, I grieved. I felt the same sorrow I felt when Westley of The Princess Bride died not once but twice or when James Schweitzer died albeit necessarily in Gemini Cell. It was in this moment that I realized I love the book already even before I get to Chapter One.
Seriously, what woman won't get attached when Jack Gregory was described in this manner,
If the man's will is as strong as his jawline and lean musculature seemed to indicate, perhaps there was yet hope.
This is what I like about books like this. As a girl, there's nothing better than falling in love with the male protagonist of the story. And I'd love to fall over and over again. It's not just about his physique alone but the character by which he was mold into. Jack "The Ripper" Gregory is nothing like Jack the Ripper most people know in English history. Where the latter is a depraved psychopath serial killer, the former is an intrinsically good ex-CIA agent. But due to the ill-luck fate that has befallen him, Jack Gregory has now become a host of a sinister worm just to be alive again.
Read more on Zirev
September 30, 2014
As I read about Jack “The Ripper” Gregory’s adventures I couldn’t help but hearing the Bourne Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum/Legacy soundtrack in my head. Minutes after dying Jack is approached by a creature (in what he later thinks is a dream). This strange being offers Jack a second chance to return to the world of the living, and so the ex-CIA agent rises from the dead. The book goes on a rapid pace following different characters that have major or minor roles to play in an upcoming international crisis. CIA, NSA, the Russian mob and a private corporation all converge once a couple of key players are put in motion.
What I really loved about the book was how quickly everything moves, I mean the echoes of the Jason Bourne movies are still ringing in my head, not because there are similarities, but mostly because of the way the plot moved. Quickly, zigzagging, cryptically, and in the end it kept you at the edge of your sit. Richard Phillip’s Once Dead recaptures a lot of that quick pace action and adds a lot more. The strange combo of realistic action with the presence of the covert supernatural works well. I loved the characters and I love watching how they work to tell the story.
I enjoyed this book a lot and I’m still smiling as I write this review.
I got this book from NetGalley.
What I really loved about the book was how quickly everything moves, I mean the echoes of the Jason Bourne movies are still ringing in my head, not because there are similarities, but mostly because of the way the plot moved. Quickly, zigzagging, cryptically, and in the end it kept you at the edge of your sit. Richard Phillip’s Once Dead recaptures a lot of that quick pace action and adds a lot more. The strange combo of realistic action with the presence of the covert supernatural works well. I loved the characters and I love watching how they work to tell the story.
I enjoyed this book a lot and I’m still smiling as I write this review.
I got this book from NetGalley.
September 4, 2014
A believed-dead CIA assassin turns back up after a near-death experience, accompanied by a spirit that feeds on extreme emotions. Accompanied as in ... replacing his own life spark.
I enjoyed this book. I think we all wonder if killing kills the assassins' souls! Now, we have an ancient soul inhabiting a human, who strives to maintain his humanity while avenging wrongs.
I especially like the way the spirit could be surprised. I could almost, in my head, hear it saying, "Huh. I didn't see that coming." Cracked me up!
Worth the read!
I enjoyed this book. I think we all wonder if killing kills the assassins' souls! Now, we have an ancient soul inhabiting a human, who strives to maintain his humanity while avenging wrongs.
I especially like the way the spirit could be surprised. I could almost, in my head, hear it saying, "Huh. I didn't see that coming." Cracked me up!
Worth the read!
September 6, 2014
Jack (Ripper) Gregory is a former CIA operative who is living on borrowed time. ONCE DEAD is how he deals with this situation and how it affects him. Add Janet Price, herself an accomplished former CIA operative, and you have the makings of a cover to cover action story. From the back streets of Calcutta to the cosmodrome at Baikonur they leave a rapidly increasing body count as they work frantically to avert a major disaster on the east coast of the United States. There are several loose ends, leading to BANE'S DOMINION, book 2 in this 3 part prequel to the RHO AGENDA Trilogy.
January 17, 2017
Eh. The concept - a contract field agent, on the verge of death, is offered a bargain by the same alien entity that occupied the body of famous killers over the years: a return to life, in exchange for being host to the entity. Aaaand that's more or less all we hear of that.
The rest of it is a ho-hum political CIA/NSA/Russian Mob shoot-'em-up, complete with your usual 10/10 superhot female agent who is just INEXORABLY drawn to our protagonist.
Tired tropes and an obvious fantasy churn.
The rest of it is a ho-hum political CIA/NSA/Russian Mob shoot-'em-up, complete with your usual 10/10 superhot female agent who is just INEXORABLY drawn to our protagonist.
Tired tropes and an obvious fantasy churn.
January 23, 2015
Rho Agenda Inception
Having already read Phillips Rho Agenda trilogy,I was somewhat pessimistic about how he was going to top it, but top it he does ,flawlessly! All hail Jack Gregory! The Ripper's origin story manages to be both unique and unusual enough to make it believable. Can't wait to see where the next book takes me!!
Having already read Phillips Rho Agenda trilogy,I was somewhat pessimistic about how he was going to top it, but top it he does ,flawlessly! All hail Jack Gregory! The Ripper's origin story manages to be both unique and unusual enough to make it believable. Can't wait to see where the next book takes me!!
July 21, 2016
Read the Rho Agenda series and became curious about the back story for Janet and Jack. This is the first back in the series concerning this duo. The characters are just as developed as in the Rho Agenda with real world situations, action is intense, political intrigue is top-notch, and the romance between the two develops quickly.
August 28, 2014
Wow, didn't think a retro story could be so good
Wondering what the hell was going on with Gregory in the other Reo Agenda episodes, I could hardly believe that a retro story could be so exspliscative + exciting + scientific!!! all at the same time!!!
Wondering what the hell was going on with Gregory in the other Reo Agenda episodes, I could hardly believe that a retro story could be so exspliscative + exciting + scientific!!! all at the same time!!!
February 8, 2015
lots of action, scenery and well packaged
Travel the world (well, Europe anyway) with a driven character who attracts action wherever he goes. Add a very strong female secondary and you'll want more books like this! ^.^
Travel the world (well, Europe anyway) with a driven character who attracts action wherever he goes. Add a very strong female secondary and you'll want more books like this! ^.^
February 28, 2015
This series answers questions I had from the other series. Great!
This action packed book definitely is aimed at adults. While Jack and Janet fit the story line in the next series this book appeals to older readers, not young adults.
This action packed book definitely is aimed at adults. While Jack and Janet fit the story line in the next series this book appeals to older readers, not young adults.
September 8, 2014
Great action book
From start to finish a great action story Once dead is a great prequela to the Rho Agenda. It kept my interest all the way through
From start to finish a great action story Once dead is a great prequela to the Rho Agenda. It kept my interest all the way through
September 19, 2025
I was disappointed by this book. Though I like covert agent thrillers, this one did not work well for me. The basic story is fine - an ex-CIA agent who has gone private finds himself engaged against our villains - a mega-rich tech guy and a powerful Russian mobster - attempting to nuke the eastern United States. There are corrupt CIA agents, a non-corrupt field NSA agent, and a cast of other characters working against each other to either prevent or assist the nuking of the US.
There are two primary reasons I did not care for this and will not continue the series. The first is that every aspect of the story is shallow. Chapters are short, often action packed, but lack much detail and character depth. I think there are just too many characters, two many perspectives, and too much going on for any aspect to be well-developed.
My second criticism regards the completely unnecessary supernatural elements, the mind-worm inside the main protagonist's head. I know this is a prequel to another series, and I assume that the supernatural elements are necessary for continuity, and likely become even more significant as the series progresses, but as a standalone book it doesn't work - the supernatural parts are completely unnecessary for the main story. They are shallow enough that they contribute little to nothing to the story, beyond reminding us often that our main character has a demon in his head that makes him tougher and reduces his inhibitions against violence. Indeed, the only real effect of the mind-worm on the story is to justify why the main character is such a bad a$$, but that could have been handled differently without much effort by the author. I found the supernatural to detract from the story.
Overall I give this only 2.5 stars (rounding up to 3 on Goodreads). It's not good enough to continue the series, and not good enough to recommend. I listened to this as an audiobook and found the reader adequate but not especially strong, maybe 3 or 3.5 stars.
My personal rating scale:
5 (one of the best of the genre, highly recommended);
4 (good book, recommend to others who like similar types of books);
3 (decent book, enjoyed reading it but not enough to recommend to others);
2 (has merit, but I didn't enjoy it much, and possibly didn't finish it);
1 (trash that shouldn't have been published).
There are two primary reasons I did not care for this and will not continue the series. The first is that every aspect of the story is shallow. Chapters are short, often action packed, but lack much detail and character depth. I think there are just too many characters, two many perspectives, and too much going on for any aspect to be well-developed.
My second criticism regards the completely unnecessary supernatural elements, the mind-worm inside the main protagonist's head. I know this is a prequel to another series, and I assume that the supernatural elements are necessary for continuity, and likely become even more significant as the series progresses, but as a standalone book it doesn't work - the supernatural parts are completely unnecessary for the main story. They are shallow enough that they contribute little to nothing to the story, beyond reminding us often that our main character has a demon in his head that makes him tougher and reduces his inhibitions against violence. Indeed, the only real effect of the mind-worm on the story is to justify why the main character is such a bad a$$, but that could have been handled differently without much effort by the author. I found the supernatural to detract from the story.
Overall I give this only 2.5 stars (rounding up to 3 on Goodreads). It's not good enough to continue the series, and not good enough to recommend. I listened to this as an audiobook and found the reader adequate but not especially strong, maybe 3 or 3.5 stars.
My personal rating scale:
5 (one of the best of the genre, highly recommended);
4 (good book, recommend to others who like similar types of books);
3 (decent book, enjoyed reading it but not enough to recommend to others);
2 (has merit, but I didn't enjoy it much, and possibly didn't finish it);
1 (trash that shouldn't have been published).
September 27, 2021
This author was recommended to me by my college classmate-turned author - Mike Slavin. The protagonist of the story is Jack Gregory, a CIA agent turned assassin, and this book is basically a high tech, high energy, spy/action thriller, adventure, kick ass genre, with just a "touch" of the supernatural to set the stage. He has set upon a world-wide trek to get the man who killed his brother, who happens to be a very worthy adversary, a former Delta Force mercenary, airborne, ranger, Special Forces, who "turned" to the dark side. This is basically Jack Gregory is "killed" from knife wounds sustained in his battle with six "bad guys". However, while Jack is just embarking upon his journey to the "other side," by a devil-type guy, Anchanchu, who joins his soul for the duration of Jack's life in exchange for returning Jack to life. And Jack Gregory, becomes "Jack the Ripper" and basically an assassin for hire. The good news is that the guys who are chosen by Jack Gregory for the ultimate justice are among the most evil on earth. So, basically a good-versus-evil morality play with " devil" along for the ride. Moves very fast plot wise. The books provides much of the back-story for the characters from Rho Agenda, which is more typical sci-fi. The characters are all well developed, and this trilogy cou8ld definitely be developed into an awesome movie script. I finished the three books of this trilology over about two weeks, often not getting enough sleep.
January 12, 2018
How this thing could be considered science fiction is beyond me. I suppose I should say that in general it was a decent book and a decent read. But it is not what it is purported to be. I am only hoping that this actually will in some way, shape, or form matter in the whole Rho Agenda series of books and help make better sense of the RA Assimilation books which I am now thinking I should have gone right to. And now there's 2 more books in this RA Inception series. Are they going to be mediocre attempts at action-adventure thrillers? I would have liked to have given 3-1/2 stars seeing as I am not very well read in this genre the book actually belongs in. I just could never give it 4 so so be it. Sorry, Mr. Phillips. Hope this next book of yours in this RA Inception series is worth my time and money. I was looking forward to the RA Assimilation books but was lead to believe the Inception books were best read first. Now I own them. Hope I don't get "Rho Agenda'd out" before getting back to what is almost certainly actually sci-fi and facilitates your education and your writing talents better.
June 29, 2024
This book has a plot that could have been a James Bond film and reads like a spy thriller, with the important SF element that the protagonist died and is revived by an alien parasite - not really a spoiler as it's in the book blurb and it happens right at the start of the novel.
This book is the start of the Rho Agenda Inception trilogy, and gives the back stories of Jack Gregory and Janet Price, both of whom featured in the Rho Agenda trilogy. It really doesn't do much to set the stage for that trilogy although, from reading the blurbs, it looks like the last two novels in the trilogy will do that.
One of the issues of reading a prequel series is that some of the suspense is lost when you know that the main characters will survive and that the villain's plot will fail. Although, to be fair, that is the case in the vast majority of books in the thriller genre anyway.
Phillips maintains the quality that he provided in the Rho Agenda series although the level of graphic violence in this book is significantly higher than I remember from the original trilogy.
This book is the start of the Rho Agenda Inception trilogy, and gives the back stories of Jack Gregory and Janet Price, both of whom featured in the Rho Agenda trilogy. It really doesn't do much to set the stage for that trilogy although, from reading the blurbs, it looks like the last two novels in the trilogy will do that.
One of the issues of reading a prequel series is that some of the suspense is lost when you know that the main characters will survive and that the villain's plot will fail. Although, to be fair, that is the case in the vast majority of books in the thriller genre anyway.
Phillips maintains the quality that he provided in the Rho Agenda series although the level of graphic violence in this book is significantly higher than I remember from the original trilogy.
December 14, 2017
I liked the characters Ripper and Janet in the Rho Agenda trilogy, so I finally bit on this book (Once Dead). And I liked those two characters in this book too -- BUT introducing a non-human entity to (presumably) explain the Ripper’s extra-ordinary instincts, awareness and reactions seemed just short of crazy to me. (And that’s not a spoiler as the entity is introduced in the Prologue – and talked about in Amazon’s book description as well.)
As for the antagonist’s plan, the plan’s success depended upon such a long string of interrelated actions taking place successfully that the plot just seemed silly to me. (If a rogue foreign government were involved instead, the plot would be simpler - and the evildoing harder to prevent.)
Still, the story did zip along and I do like the Ripper and Janet characters (despite that 3rd party entity), and so, feeling generous, I give Once Dead 3 stars.
As for the antagonist’s plan, the plan’s success depended upon such a long string of interrelated actions taking place successfully that the plot just seemed silly to me. (If a rogue foreign government were involved instead, the plot would be simpler - and the evildoing harder to prevent.)
Still, the story did zip along and I do like the Ripper and Janet characters (despite that 3rd party entity), and so, feeling generous, I give Once Dead 3 stars.
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