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Scot Harvath #8
The Apostle
Book #8 from the series: Scot Harvath
🎧Listening Length = 10 hours and 24 minutes
From #1 bestselling author, Brad Thor, comes the white-knuckled thriller The Apostle.
A new administration and a new approach to dealing with America’s enemies have left covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath without a job. But when American doctor Julia Gallo is kidnapped in Afghanistan, the terms of her ransom leave the president with only one course of action.
In a dangerous assignment that the United States government will deny any knowledge of, Scot Harvath must secretly infiltrate Kabul’s notorious Policharki Prison and free the man the kidnappers demand as ransom—al-Qaeda mastermind Mustafa Khan.
But when Harvath arrives, he quickly learns that there is more to the kidnapping than anyone dares to admit. And as the subterfuge is laid bare, Harvath must examine his own career of hunting down and killing terrorists, and ask himself if he has what it takes to help one of the world’s worst go free.
Brimming with the kind of ripped-from-the-headlines authenticity Brad Thor’s internationally bestselling novels are known for, The Apostle doubles down on the blockbuster success of The Last Patriot and reaffirms Thor’s status as the master of the political thriller.
🎧Listening Length = 10 hours and 24 minutes
“Brad Thor will kidnap even the most demanding readers… and convert them into instant devotees” (Dan Brown). When an American doctor is captured in Afghanistan, counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is called to do what he does best — infiltrate a notorious prison and escape alive. This thriller from a #1 New York Times bestselling author has over 8,000 five-star ratings!
From #1 bestselling author, Brad Thor, comes the white-knuckled thriller The Apostle.
A new administration and a new approach to dealing with America’s enemies have left covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath without a job. But when American doctor Julia Gallo is kidnapped in Afghanistan, the terms of her ransom leave the president with only one course of action.
In a dangerous assignment that the United States government will deny any knowledge of, Scot Harvath must secretly infiltrate Kabul’s notorious Policharki Prison and free the man the kidnappers demand as ransom—al-Qaeda mastermind Mustafa Khan.
But when Harvath arrives, he quickly learns that there is more to the kidnapping than anyone dares to admit. And as the subterfuge is laid bare, Harvath must examine his own career of hunting down and killing terrorists, and ask himself if he has what it takes to help one of the world’s worst go free.
Brimming with the kind of ripped-from-the-headlines authenticity Brad Thor’s internationally bestselling novels are known for, The Apostle doubles down on the blockbuster success of The Last Patriot and reaffirms Thor’s status as the master of the political thriller.
Audible Audio
First published June 30, 2009
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About the author
Brad Thor
48 books7,469 followersBRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five thrillers, including EDGE OF HONOR, SHADOW OF DOUBT, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 784 reviews
November 11, 2024
The story begins in Afghanistan, where a young doctor is kidnapped and held by sympathisers keen to see the release of a terrorist. The fact that the doctor is young, attractive, female and American helps their cause somewhat – the fact that she’s also the daughter of the new President’s most enthusiastic supporter and media operative, Stephanie Gallo, is more important. She knows where the President’s skeletons lie buried. So the President has little choice when Gallo demands that he support her in hiring Harvath, a mercenary.
The initial story is a plot that is all based in Afghanistan, and I didn’t know if I’d enjoy it when I picked it up. Brad Thor has the gift though, of making the landscape come alive, and his story is too well plotted for the reader to get bogged down in Taliban turmoil.
If the story was only that, it would be a good read anyway, but Thor has incorporated a subplot that gradually reveals a murder story too, which implicates the President. It’s this, and the detective work by a young Secret Service agent that brings the story up I think, and made it very enjoyable.
All in all, a well-crafted story, well told.
The initial story is a plot that is all based in Afghanistan, and I didn’t know if I’d enjoy it when I picked it up. Brad Thor has the gift though, of making the landscape come alive, and his story is too well plotted for the reader to get bogged down in Taliban turmoil.
If the story was only that, it would be a good read anyway, but Thor has incorporated a subplot that gradually reveals a murder story too, which implicates the President. It’s this, and the detective work by a young Secret Service agent that brings the story up I think, and made it very enjoyable.
All in all, a well-crafted story, well told.
September 17, 2024
The novel starts as a slow burn. But once the mission arrives in Afghanistan to rescue a woman held prisoner by the Taliban things speed up.
It is a cultural piece and not just a counter-terrorism storyline. The author is at pains to delineate Afghanistan culture and mores when under Taliban rule and when free of Taliban rule. This is taking place when the US and coalition forces still held sway in that nation. Emphasis is particularly paid on the role of Canadian forces that fought there for ten years.
It’s frustrating to consider all that was lost when western deployment ended and the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, were thrown to the extremist wolves. The rapid pullout was ill considered and many top military officials argued for a contingency force to be left in place to safeguard human rights and Afghan liberties that had been paid for with the blood of many nations. But the arguments were to no avail. The WH wasn’t interested. This story takes place before the Taliban returned to power. A very different Afghanistan from what is in the news now.
It’s a thinking person’s thriller. It doesn’t move at a Bourne’s pace but you certainly get a feeling for how covert ops are carried out sans all the jazz and jangle of a Hollywood production.
It is a cultural piece and not just a counter-terrorism storyline. The author is at pains to delineate Afghanistan culture and mores when under Taliban rule and when free of Taliban rule. This is taking place when the US and coalition forces still held sway in that nation. Emphasis is particularly paid on the role of Canadian forces that fought there for ten years.
It’s frustrating to consider all that was lost when western deployment ended and the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, were thrown to the extremist wolves. The rapid pullout was ill considered and many top military officials argued for a contingency force to be left in place to safeguard human rights and Afghan liberties that had been paid for with the blood of many nations. But the arguments were to no avail. The WH wasn’t interested. This story takes place before the Taliban returned to power. A very different Afghanistan from what is in the news now.
It’s a thinking person’s thriller. It doesn’t move at a Bourne’s pace but you certainly get a feeling for how covert ops are carried out sans all the jazz and jangle of a Hollywood production.
July 23, 2017
Surprisingly good for a full-fledged action "manly" book since I'm not used to them. A friend gave me boxes of books from her husband's library when he was downsizing, so I now possess a decent supply of "man" books to get into. By man books I mean the action adventure stuff where there is a bad-ass type who is able to be top CIA or top military and is chosen to complete top secret and top notch missions, similar to James Bond type stuff.
Thankfully the main character wasn't as wooden as James Bond - he was likable enough with his insight and personality for the most part. The story is fast moving and Brad Thor uses a simple writing style to keep things smooth. Action scenes are present but it's not a constant battle fest. There's plenty of planning, dialogue and down moments that work to make it an actual story instead of just a long fighting show-off deal. It's not even fully unrealistic compared to other action stories.
The base plot was good - go in and get the girl, free the big bad terrorist for exchange, but the book is sadly weighed down with the subplot of the president's secret and the people who come out of the woodwork for page time while they carry on about uncovering the dirt. I ended up starting to skim those scenes since it was unnecessary. I couldn't care less about the president's secret other than that it was a driving force in the first place that got him to agree to send the special op against national security's benefit.
The story isn't without holes and isn't fully plausible, but that an be excused with its genre. The side story buried the rating a bit since it took over so much later on, but overall it's a decent read if you're warning a thriller such as this. In my case it was bumped up on my reading list because I had to find a book set in Afghanistan which is surprisingly difficult to do if you're not in the mood for a downer drama, human rights nonfiction memoir, or straight-out war piece.
Thankfully the main character wasn't as wooden as James Bond - he was likable enough with his insight and personality for the most part. The story is fast moving and Brad Thor uses a simple writing style to keep things smooth. Action scenes are present but it's not a constant battle fest. There's plenty of planning, dialogue and down moments that work to make it an actual story instead of just a long fighting show-off deal. It's not even fully unrealistic compared to other action stories.
The base plot was good - go in and get the girl, free the big bad terrorist for exchange, but the book is sadly weighed down with the subplot of the president's secret and the people who come out of the woodwork for page time while they carry on about uncovering the dirt. I ended up starting to skim those scenes since it was unnecessary. I couldn't care less about the president's secret other than that it was a driving force in the first place that got him to agree to send the special op against national security's benefit.
The story isn't without holes and isn't fully plausible, but that an be excused with its genre. The side story buried the rating a bit since it took over so much later on, but overall it's a decent read if you're warning a thriller such as this. In my case it was bumped up on my reading list because I had to find a book set in Afghanistan which is surprisingly difficult to do if you're not in the mood for a downer drama, human rights nonfiction memoir, or straight-out war piece.
June 23, 2019
3.5 stars
Another worthy thriller from Thor. Harvath is on task to rescue a kidnapped doctor in Afghanistan. The doctor, a daughter of a well connected family to the president is to be traded with an Al Qaeda prisoner held at a Pakistani prison. I enjoyed this part of the action with cultural narrative of the Pashtuns. The DC politics story wasn't as interesting but makes you think about the Chappaquiddick incident.
Another worthy thriller from Thor. Harvath is on task to rescue a kidnapped doctor in Afghanistan. The doctor, a daughter of a well connected family to the president is to be traded with an Al Qaeda prisoner held at a Pakistani prison. I enjoyed this part of the action with cultural narrative of the Pashtuns. The DC politics story wasn't as interesting but makes you think about the Chappaquiddick incident.
October 21, 2015
Not Thor's strongest effort. There was some action and a little intrigue, but the story did not feel quite as tight or smooth as his earlier books. I think it is the first time while reading one of his books that I got kind of lost about what was going on because I wasn't very interested.
The last third of the book improved somewhat, but in the end I was left feeling like I didn't really gain much. Only recommend to the die hard Brad Thor fans - if this was the first of his books I read, I am not sure I would have read the others.
The last third of the book improved somewhat, but in the end I was left feeling like I didn't really gain much. Only recommend to the die hard Brad Thor fans - if this was the first of his books I read, I am not sure I would have read the others.
June 24, 2010
Have read all the Thor books in order, beginning with The Lions of Lucerne--a very good read, by the way.
Thor seems to oscillate between getting overly detailed and technical in one novel to beating us over the head in the next with useless, mundane character traits such as in The Apostle, Harvath drinking Diet Red Bull.
It adds exactly zero to either Harvath's character, the plot or the overall read of the book.
As a veteran, I appreciate Mr. Thor's respect and admiration for what our Armed Forces do, but I read novels to be entertained and taken away from real-life realities. I know our present president is an idiot; I know the far-left is every bit as out of touch as the far-right so I don't need that "explained" to me in a fiction novel.
Likewise, I could care less about all the little idioms relative to the Afghani language and custom. Tell me once or twice what they mean, then leave me the hell alone about them and get on with the damned plot.
This book, The Apostle, feels like a "Contract Obligation Project" that Thor wrote under duress of contract rather than of brilliance of inspiration. The plot is thinner than an Obama birth certificate and this book drags like a bad horse pill riding down your throat with too little water to wash it down.
Of eight novels by Mr. Thor, this is only the second in which I've been thoroughly disappointed and where I had to force myself to finish the book. His previous works are excellent. The Apostle falls short of his otherwise high benchmark.
Thor seems to oscillate between getting overly detailed and technical in one novel to beating us over the head in the next with useless, mundane character traits such as in The Apostle, Harvath drinking Diet Red Bull.
It adds exactly zero to either Harvath's character, the plot or the overall read of the book.
As a veteran, I appreciate Mr. Thor's respect and admiration for what our Armed Forces do, but I read novels to be entertained and taken away from real-life realities. I know our present president is an idiot; I know the far-left is every bit as out of touch as the far-right so I don't need that "explained" to me in a fiction novel.
Likewise, I could care less about all the little idioms relative to the Afghani language and custom. Tell me once or twice what they mean, then leave me the hell alone about them and get on with the damned plot.
This book, The Apostle, feels like a "Contract Obligation Project" that Thor wrote under duress of contract rather than of brilliance of inspiration. The plot is thinner than an Obama birth certificate and this book drags like a bad horse pill riding down your throat with too little water to wash it down.
Of eight novels by Mr. Thor, this is only the second in which I've been thoroughly disappointed and where I had to force myself to finish the book. His previous works are excellent. The Apostle falls short of his otherwise high benchmark.
October 7, 2011
This is one of those that almost made it to four stars by the skin of it's teeth, but I reconsidered and gave it 3. I like Brad Thor and it's quite possible that part of the problem here was me. I've struggled with finding a book I like lately. This was a well constructed story and told a fairly fast moving tale (with only a few slow downs). Somehow I just didn't get into it quite as much as I have other of Thor's books.
Here we start with a newly elected president who's (following the well established tradition of certain administrations) just greatly cut the "intelligence community's" size and funding. A young woman in Afghanistan who happens to be an aid worker, a doctor and also the daughter of one of the new president's closest, richest, and most influential "advisers" is kidnapped. It seems that a certain element in Afghanistan believe that they might be able to trade her for a terrorist leader.
The new president is stuck with trying to explain to his deep pocket for campaign funds errr, I mean adviser that dealing with, trading with Al-Qaeda might not look so good. She doesn't want to hear it, she's rich enough that she's pretty used to having her way, and she knows something that could bring down the new president...and she's not shy about using it. She "threatens" that certain things might get out if the president doesn't get the hostage...the adviser's daughter back. Thus Scott Harvath is called by the White House.
Unfortunately the conversation between the president and his adviser was overheard by a Secret Service agent standing guard (unobtrusively) in the bushes nearby...worse, she has a conscience. Knowing the the Secret Service must keep anything heard while guarding the president under wraps what is she to do?
Thus we set up the two parallel threads that make up the novel. Scott and his actions to bring home Stephanie Gallo's (the adviser) daughter and Elise Campbell's (the Secret Service agent) struggle to do the right thing.
The story held my interest and despite a bit of dryness now and then (we're in the desert after all)it's a fast moving and interesting read. I'd recommend it (I mean I did give it 3 stars and almost went 4). It may be that the fact it held my interest at all when I myself was in a "dry period" speaks well for the book.
I like Brad Thor and think most/many(?) who like action with a bit of political flavor might enjoy this.
Here we start with a newly elected president who's (following the well established tradition of certain administrations) just greatly cut the "intelligence community's" size and funding. A young woman in Afghanistan who happens to be an aid worker, a doctor and also the daughter of one of the new president's closest, richest, and most influential "advisers" is kidnapped. It seems that a certain element in Afghanistan believe that they might be able to trade her for a terrorist leader.
The new president is stuck with trying to explain to his
Unfortunately the conversation between the president and his adviser was overheard by a Secret Service agent standing guard (unobtrusively) in the bushes nearby...worse, she has a conscience. Knowing the the Secret Service must keep anything heard while guarding the president under wraps what is she to do?
Thus we set up the two parallel threads that make up the novel. Scott and his actions to bring home Stephanie Gallo's (the adviser) daughter and Elise Campbell's (the Secret Service agent) struggle to do the right thing.
The story held my interest and despite a bit of dryness now and then (we're in the desert after all)it's a fast moving and interesting read. I'd recommend it (I mean I did give it 3 stars and almost went 4). It may be that the fact it held my interest at all when I myself was in a "dry period" speaks well for the book.
I like Brad Thor and think most/many(?) who like action with a bit of political flavor might enjoy this.
July 30, 2012
Brad Thor again shows that he's run out of gas with this lackluster eighth book in the Scot Harvath series. The seventh book, The Last Patriot, was a bad enough novel, but this one is just exceptionally bad. The writing is fine, Thor has the talent, but the problem lies with his describing the same things again and again in a repetitive nature. I've taken issue with these things before in his novels, but never to the degree found in this book. And that may stem from the fact that the story in this book is lackluster at best and in no way on par with his previous novels. It's just flat out boring. And that really is problematic because I love this series. I really do, I think Thor is a great writer with great ideas but he is destroyed by his contractual obligation to write a book a year. This has been the downfall of many authors and been the cause for some of the worst sequels ever written. The Apostle has to be one of them.
State of the Union and Blowback are two of my favorite thrillers of all time, but The Apostle has to be one of the most boring I've ever read. The plot is thin, the new characters thinner, the writing is not at all clean and constantly slows the story regaling us with tales of Thor's political ideals and how beautiful every woman is and Red Bull.
I am done reading Brad Thor. Whether he picks himself up in later books, I will never know, but after the seventh and eighth books in this series, I really can't believe that these get any better.
State of the Union and Blowback are two of my favorite thrillers of all time, but The Apostle has to be one of the most boring I've ever read. The plot is thin, the new characters thinner, the writing is not at all clean and constantly slows the story regaling us with tales of Thor's political ideals and how beautiful every woman is and Red Bull.
I am done reading Brad Thor. Whether he picks himself up in later books, I will never know, but after the seventh and eighth books in this series, I really can't believe that these get any better.
July 27, 2009
I have been a big fan of Brad Thor since he began writing the Scott Harvath series. That is officially over. This book stunk. Stunk like a skunk. Either he changed and went off the deep right cliff, or i just didnt notice it in 7 previous books. My thinking is that it is the former. Thor must be going out with Ann Coulter.
Ok, the good part. Horvath likes drinking diet Red Bull. And I liked Julia Gallo the doctor who gets kidnapped. That's it for anything i liked about the book.
The bad and ugly? Too much to tell, not enough space to tell it in. This book was more about how liberals are ruining the country and relying on soldiers whom they apparently don't respect to save them, than about anything else. Sure there is a ridiculous foray into the heart of the Taliban where Horvath not only gets what he wants, but along with a Canadian ( he keeps calling Fontaine a Canadian apparently to show that they too can be heroic like Americans), they pretty much run roughshod over the Taliban warlord.
As mentioned, the book was more about killing liberals than the Taliban. " Horvath just couldn't understand the liberal mindset. He was convinced that they believed deeply in what they said and did; his only problem was that it so often flew in the face of reality. They continually focussed their rage on their protectors rather than their enemy. They denigrated their country believing it was the source of all evil in the world."
And that is the ENTIRE point of the book. Everything was built around proving that Horvath, the hero, was being hamstrung by liberals who wanted the Taliban to win.
It gets worse. Their is a secondary plot which takes about only 20% of the book at most, but is used to show that the liberal president was a liar, a philanderer and was guilty of obstruction of justice the night he sent his lover out to drive while she was drunk and he lied about it.
Yes folks, this is the book's core and it stinks. What a HUGE disappointment although it will save me money in the future because i will NEVER buy a Brad Thor book again.
Finally, how did Thor tie in the two plots? By having Horvath and some Army Rangers see the Presidential resignation on TV and them all happily toast in unison to the United States of America.
Well i will always toast to The United States of America but Brad Thor is now toast to me.
Ok, the good part. Horvath likes drinking diet Red Bull. And I liked Julia Gallo the doctor who gets kidnapped. That's it for anything i liked about the book.
The bad and ugly? Too much to tell, not enough space to tell it in. This book was more about how liberals are ruining the country and relying on soldiers whom they apparently don't respect to save them, than about anything else. Sure there is a ridiculous foray into the heart of the Taliban where Horvath not only gets what he wants, but along with a Canadian ( he keeps calling Fontaine a Canadian apparently to show that they too can be heroic like Americans), they pretty much run roughshod over the Taliban warlord.
As mentioned, the book was more about killing liberals than the Taliban. " Horvath just couldn't understand the liberal mindset. He was convinced that they believed deeply in what they said and did; his only problem was that it so often flew in the face of reality. They continually focussed their rage on their protectors rather than their enemy. They denigrated their country believing it was the source of all evil in the world."
And that is the ENTIRE point of the book. Everything was built around proving that Horvath, the hero, was being hamstrung by liberals who wanted the Taliban to win.
It gets worse. Their is a secondary plot which takes about only 20% of the book at most, but is used to show that the liberal president was a liar, a philanderer and was guilty of obstruction of justice the night he sent his lover out to drive while she was drunk and he lied about it.
Yes folks, this is the book's core and it stinks. What a HUGE disappointment although it will save me money in the future because i will NEVER buy a Brad Thor book again.
Finally, how did Thor tie in the two plots? By having Horvath and some Army Rangers see the Presidential resignation on TV and them all happily toast in unison to the United States of America.
Well i will always toast to The United States of America but Brad Thor is now toast to me.
October 12, 2022
Brad Thor seems to waver between Wow! and meh. This was meh. Way too many characters for my wobbly brain to keep track of. Some pretty funny quotes and dialogue e.g. Willy Wonka " A small step for mankind, but a giant step for us ". (Read this book to your small children), and"But wait, there's more!" Scot Horvath doing infomercials as well as including tots. I thought "Seventy Two Virgins Express" was an interesting description. I'm hoping the next in the series will be a little better.
February 27, 2016
3.5 Stars. This was a good book and I enjoyed the main character. I had not read any other books in the series but this didn't impact on my enjoyment of the book at all. The majority of the book is set in Afghanistan, and it did give you a real feel for the tribalism in Afghanistan. At the same time there is the intrigue of an investigation into the president that is taking place in the US. I did listen to the book, but it was one of those books I might have enjoyed more if I had read it instead. This is definitely the way I will be accessing other books in the series, as I do intend continuing with the series. If you enjoy this style of books I would recommend it.
August 23, 2023
This audio version kept me interested while gardening, painting a shelve, weed-eating around the greenhouse and chasing the deer in the back yard.
Harvath is one bad ass M-Fer and his sidekick Gallagher- a former Marine- go into Afghanistan to rescue the daughter of a high profile political donor and newspaper magnate. On another level it's a former Baltimore cop who is on the newly elected President's secret service detail who uncovers some hanky panky between the Prez and one of his campaign staffers who drank too much and ended up dead after killing a family of four while DUI.
Harvath is one bad ass M-Fer and his sidekick Gallagher- a former Marine- go into Afghanistan to rescue the daughter of a high profile political donor and newspaper magnate. On another level it's a former Baltimore cop who is on the newly elected President's secret service detail who uncovers some hanky panky between the Prez and one of his campaign staffers who drank too much and ended up dead after killing a family of four while DUI.
June 21, 2019
3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).
As much as I liked the last Harvath book, I didn’t care for this one as much. It could be because I just finished reading the best book I’ve read in a long time. But there were a couple things that just didn’t work for me in this book. Harvath is trying to rescue the daughter of the new President’s biggest donor/advisor. The daughter, Dr. Julia Gallow, was working in an outfit like Doctors Without Borders and is kidnapped while out in the Afghanistan countryside. She is kidnapped by the Taliban in the hopes of forcing the US to trade her for a high-value Taliban agent that was captured by the Afghan government. Huh? In the meantime, a Secret Service Agent overhears this same donor talking to the President and threatening to reveal his dirty little secret if he doesn’t rescue the daughter. The rest of the novel this Secret Service Agent is trying to figure out what really happened the night a young staffer of the then Senator Alden caused a fatal DUI crash. Huh? So while the 2 stories are possible linked by a bare thread, they really seemed like the author had 2 stories he wanted to tell and couldn’t decide which one would make a better story. I really just couldn’t get too excited by either storyline. There were many new characters introduced, while some old favorites (Tracy, the Troll) were nowhere to be seen. I’m rounding this up to 4 stars because every author is allowed to have a down book and I just finished the best book I’ve read in a long time.
As much as I liked the last Harvath book, I didn’t care for this one as much. It could be because I just finished reading the best book I’ve read in a long time. But there were a couple things that just didn’t work for me in this book. Harvath is trying to rescue the daughter of the new President’s biggest donor/advisor. The daughter, Dr. Julia Gallow, was working in an outfit like Doctors Without Borders and is kidnapped while out in the Afghanistan countryside. She is kidnapped by the Taliban in the hopes of forcing the US to trade her for a high-value Taliban agent that was captured by the Afghan government. Huh? In the meantime, a Secret Service Agent overhears this same donor talking to the President and threatening to reveal his dirty little secret if he doesn’t rescue the daughter. The rest of the novel this Secret Service Agent is trying to figure out what really happened the night a young staffer of the then Senator Alden caused a fatal DUI crash. Huh? So while the 2 stories are possible linked by a bare thread, they really seemed like the author had 2 stories he wanted to tell and couldn’t decide which one would make a better story. I really just couldn’t get too excited by either storyline. There were many new characters introduced, while some old favorites (Tracy, the Troll) were nowhere to be seen. I’m rounding this up to 4 stars because every author is allowed to have a down book and I just finished the best book I’ve read in a long time.
September 13, 2025
4 STARS. A solid outing for Harvath and Thor. This one dragged a bit at times but hit its stride and delivered in the end. The entire story surrounding the President must have been more foreshadowing for the next books because it wasn’t very interesting and only impacted Harvath’s mission minimally. The mission itself was solid. Looking forward to the next one.
December 1, 2021
This one wasn't my favorite.
September 12, 2022
Book Review - Brad Thor’s “The Apostle” grabs the reader from the beginning and doesn't let go...until the end! A new administration and a new approach to dealing with America's enemies have left covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath without a job. But when an American doctor is kidnapped in Afghanistan, the terms of her ransom leave the president with only one course of action, Scot Harvath! In a dangerous assignment that the United States government will deny any knowledge of, Harvath must secretly infiltrate a notorious prison in Kabul (Afghanistan) and free the man – an al-Qaeda mastermind -- the kidnappers demand as ransom. But when Harvath arrives, he quickly learns that there is more to the kidnapping than what he was told. And as the plan/assignment is exposed, Harvath must examine if hunting down and killing terrorists is what he should be doing and whether he should help one of the world's worst extremists go free after uncovering the truth about this ‘government deniability assignment.’ This tale was one of Thor’s best. It was intriguing, suspenseful, and mesmerizing. From Harvath’s typical ‘badassery’ to the U.S. Secret Service’s side story, to the mega wealthy’s power grab, all culminating in one melodramatic ending...this was one invigorating novel! I couldn't stop reading it until the end...! This was Thor at his best, great plot, enchanting characters, and an explosive and gripping ending. Everything an action thriller should be. I really liked The Apostle! It’s one of my Brad Thor favorites…
October 5, 2018
Brad Thor just gets better and better with each book, as does Scot Harvath! I now ask myself who would win in a fight between Harvath and Mitch Rapp (Vince Flynn's protagonist)!
The newly elected President of the United States has left many counter-terrorism operatives without a job, due to many changes within the government. But a young doctor, Julia Gallo, who is on assignment in Afghanistan, is abducted by a group of Afghan Rebels, who are holding her hostage and demanding the US the release of a high-ranking al-Qaeda operative that holds information valuable to the abductors. With not a lot of options, the President calls on Scot Harvath to go into enemy territory, and free the man that the Afghan fighters demand be released.
On the other end, young Secret Service Agent Elise Campbell, who is assigned to the President's protection detail, uncovers a Political cover-up involving the President and murder. Now Campbell must choose between her career, and what she believes is the right thing to do.
Entertaining right to the end, for all Brad Thor fans!!
The newly elected President of the United States has left many counter-terrorism operatives without a job, due to many changes within the government. But a young doctor, Julia Gallo, who is on assignment in Afghanistan, is abducted by a group of Afghan Rebels, who are holding her hostage and demanding the US the release of a high-ranking al-Qaeda operative that holds information valuable to the abductors. With not a lot of options, the President calls on Scot Harvath to go into enemy territory, and free the man that the Afghan fighters demand be released.
On the other end, young Secret Service Agent Elise Campbell, who is assigned to the President's protection detail, uncovers a Political cover-up involving the President and murder. Now Campbell must choose between her career, and what she believes is the right thing to do.
Entertaining right to the end, for all Brad Thor fans!!
February 7, 2013
As great a thriller writer as he is, even Brad Thor can’t do it every time out. The apostle is not up to par with the Last Patriot or Takedown. 5 of 10 stars
January 19, 2020
I have loved all of the Scott Harvath books that Brad Thor has written. This is the eighth in the series and I must say that I was disappointed. There were a few good action sequences and the characters are very well developed , but the plot line involving Harvath's adventures in Afghanistan was tedious. The parallel plot involving American presidential politics was downright silly, and the two plot lines had virtually nothing to do with each other in building a story. Every author is entitled to a dud, so I won't give up on Scot Harvath yet.
May 1, 2012
Nice action read, but not much else. Then again, it's cliche, sophomoric,and predictable.
This is your standard action adventure of rescue the damsel in distress. In this case, the damsel is Julia Gallo (an aid doctor) and she has been kidnapped in Afghanistan. The complexity of the idea behind the kidnapping could have been better carried out, because the focus is all on the action. At the end, you hardly even remember why she was kidnapped or that it was just part of a more elaborate plan. The second plot line of discovering the secret a new president is hiding can be completely left out...it is a weak plot line that seems irrelevant.
The plot was thin. Everything is built around the superhuman, all-knowing Scot Harvath complaining about the government and kicking the shit out of America's enemies. He always complains about how little the government supports his noble, valiant efforts, but then, hey, guess what, it turns out that Superman, er, I mean, Scot Harvath actually CAN get things done by himself. Imagine that. Then why is he whining so much...?
" Harvath just couldn't understand the liberal mindset. He was convinced that they believed deeply in what they said and did; his only problem was that it so often flew in the face of reality. They continually focussed their rage on their protectors rather than their enemy. They denigrated their country believing it was the source of all evil in the world."
Blah, blah, whine, whine...
This is your standard action adventure of rescue the damsel in distress. In this case, the damsel is Julia Gallo (an aid doctor) and she has been kidnapped in Afghanistan. The complexity of the idea behind the kidnapping could have been better carried out, because the focus is all on the action. At the end, you hardly even remember why she was kidnapped or that it was just part of a more elaborate plan. The second plot line of discovering the secret a new president is hiding can be completely left out...it is a weak plot line that seems irrelevant.
The plot was thin. Everything is built around the superhuman, all-knowing Scot Harvath complaining about the government and kicking the shit out of America's enemies. He always complains about how little the government supports his noble, valiant efforts, but then, hey, guess what, it turns out that Superman, er, I mean, Scot Harvath actually CAN get things done by himself. Imagine that. Then why is he whining so much...?
" Harvath just couldn't understand the liberal mindset. He was convinced that they believed deeply in what they said and did; his only problem was that it so often flew in the face of reality. They continually focussed their rage on their protectors rather than their enemy. They denigrated their country believing it was the source of all evil in the world."
Blah, blah, whine, whine...
July 24, 2009
This is about my fourth Brad Thor novel. The stories are ok if not predictable. I am really put off though by the massive amounts of product placement. The Apostle reads like a commercial. Off the top of my head, I remember Kobold watches, Red Bull, Glock, Streamlight, Blackhawk Industries, etc. Not only does it bother me as a reader, but it also strains the credibility of the character. I've worked around many military special operators and I've never seen one wearing an $8000 watch. I've seen tons of Casios though. Spend more time on the stories and less on the name-dropping.
August 9, 2013
Meh. I abandoned the book halfway through...right around the part where he blatantly started injecting his political ideals into the main character's inner monologue. Oh, please!
And, what's with all the red bull?!
I hate to abandon a book, unfinished, but I felt that since nothing noteworthy had happened yet, it most likely never will. I'm moving on to watching paint dry, which I am sure will be more exciting.
And, what's with all the red bull?!
I hate to abandon a book, unfinished, but I felt that since nothing noteworthy had happened yet, it most likely never will. I'm moving on to watching paint dry, which I am sure will be more exciting.
June 19, 2022
For a sexist, racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, anti-Islam, anti-Muslim militaristic action thriller, it was a bit of a page-turner. Very linear. Sixth grade level prose.
Was not surprised to see the author thank his friend Glen Beck in the acknowledgements.
Hard pass on anything else by this author.
(I wonder if Thor is his real last name, or just a fantasy?)
Was not surprised to see the author thank his friend Glen Beck in the acknowledgements.
Hard pass on anything else by this author.
(I wonder if Thor is his real last name, or just a fantasy?)
November 26, 2018
Probably one of the best books so far in the Scot Harvath series. I couldn’t put this book down. Even the standard subplot was intriguing for a change. A very satisfying end rounds out this action filled instalment.
Worth reading - even as a stand-alone.
Off to the next in series...
Worth reading - even as a stand-alone.
Off to the next in series...
September 20, 2012
I enjoyed the simultaneous plots. The ending was not his best effort.
July 26, 2021
This guy Thor is goooood! And so is Scot!
December 31, 2022
This wasn’t as captivating as some other books in this series. I kept wondering how the potential scandal involving the president was going to play out. It seems nowadays no scandal is big enough to make an elected official resign or even lose favor with their supporters. The hostage rescue seemed overly frantic and poorly planned with last second air support saving Harvath, not once but twice. It also lacked some closure after Dr. Gallo’s rescue with just a brief “Thank you.”from her mother.
December 31, 2020
Read as part of the house cup. Thor delivers another solid delivery. This one handles a unique situation where a political powerhouse needs the help of the group that she desperately hates. Scot Harvath continues to find himself in tough situations where he shoots his way out, breaks rules by abusing really bad bad-guys. Did I say they were really bad? Because Scot Harvath makes sure to tell us that this bad guy really goes beyond the pale and deserves everything coming to him. At the end, the president is happy, political opponents are put in their place, and all the people that hate clandestine activities is even madder. Sound familiar? Yeah because this is a prescription. But hey, I enjoy it and Thor can weave a tale that I can listen to over and over again. Oh, and I have because I keep going through the series.
April 24, 2017
Just love the Scot Harvath series! Now onto the next one! Enjoy reading about the daily life interactions of the books characters and keeping updated in the future books
May 18, 2019
Not one of Brad Thor’s best storylines. This was more of a 3.5-4 star book. A good read but not very deep.
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