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Command and Control #7
Line of Succession
In the wake of a global crisis, a covert action team goes to work on behalf of an enemy of the United States.
When a failed assassination attempt on the Russian President rocks the global stage, U.S. President Eleanor Cashman, a hardline Russia hawk, faces a brutal watch a nuclear-armed Russia destabilize, or prop up a weakened Russian leader to prevent the collapse.
CIA officer Harrison Kohl, fresh off a year of intense paramilitary operations in Central Asia, is tasked with the urgent mission to stop the powerful ultranationalist faction from taking control ahead of Russia’s impending elections.
But covert ops under pressure rarely go as planned—and Kohl’s mission is no exception.
When his operation spirals out of control, Kohl finds himself in the crosshairs, his career in jeopardy. With time running out, Kohl devises a bold, last-ditch plan—one that puts him at the heart of the action. Victory could restore a fragile balance between the U.S. and Russia. Failure could mean an emboldened Russia on the march across Europe—and the end of the line for Harrison Kohl.
From the acclaimed authors of the Command and Control series, David Bruns and J.R. Olson deliver a pulse-pounding military thriller that will keep fans of Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney on the edge of their seats.
___________________________
Praise for the authors and the COMMAND AND CONTROL
“David Bruns and J.R. Olson deliver captivating and utterly authentic portrayals of modern day combat that compares with the best of the timeless classics by Tom Clancy, Dale Brown, and Stephen Coonts.” —Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mission Critical
“A fascinating World War Three scenario, and an action-packed story. This is going to be an amazing series!” —Andrew Watts, USA Today bestselling author of The War Planners
"With their background in the U.S. Navy, both Bruns and Olson have the right stuff to create a realistic military tale." ―Booklist
“These two guys have lived it. Now they’re writing it. Taut, tense, and totally believable, you will be dropped into the midst of a world with which few of us are familiar. A fine thriller indeed.” —Don Keith, author of Only the Brave and Final Bearing
“Command and Control is a masterpiece of a military thriller from the first page to the explosive ending…some of the best combat writing I’ve seen since Tom Clancy.” —Jason Kasper, USA Today bestselling author of The Enemies of My Country
"Bruns and Olson deliver an action packed story from the first to the very last page. Torn from tomorrow’s headlines, loaded with intrigue and mystery, a must read for any fan of military techno-thrillers." —George Wallace, author of Warshot and Operation Golden Dawn
___________________________
What readers are
★★★★★ "Full of twists..."
★★★★★ "...started with a bang..."
★★★★★ "...the surprises kept coming..."
★★★★★ "...
When a failed assassination attempt on the Russian President rocks the global stage, U.S. President Eleanor Cashman, a hardline Russia hawk, faces a brutal watch a nuclear-armed Russia destabilize, or prop up a weakened Russian leader to prevent the collapse.
CIA officer Harrison Kohl, fresh off a year of intense paramilitary operations in Central Asia, is tasked with the urgent mission to stop the powerful ultranationalist faction from taking control ahead of Russia’s impending elections.
But covert ops under pressure rarely go as planned—and Kohl’s mission is no exception.
When his operation spirals out of control, Kohl finds himself in the crosshairs, his career in jeopardy. With time running out, Kohl devises a bold, last-ditch plan—one that puts him at the heart of the action. Victory could restore a fragile balance between the U.S. and Russia. Failure could mean an emboldened Russia on the march across Europe—and the end of the line for Harrison Kohl.
From the acclaimed authors of the Command and Control series, David Bruns and J.R. Olson deliver a pulse-pounding military thriller that will keep fans of Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney on the edge of their seats.
___________________________
Praise for the authors and the COMMAND AND CONTROL
“David Bruns and J.R. Olson deliver captivating and utterly authentic portrayals of modern day combat that compares with the best of the timeless classics by Tom Clancy, Dale Brown, and Stephen Coonts.” —Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mission Critical
“A fascinating World War Three scenario, and an action-packed story. This is going to be an amazing series!” —Andrew Watts, USA Today bestselling author of The War Planners
"With their background in the U.S. Navy, both Bruns and Olson have the right stuff to create a realistic military tale." ―Booklist
“These two guys have lived it. Now they’re writing it. Taut, tense, and totally believable, you will be dropped into the midst of a world with which few of us are familiar. A fine thriller indeed.” —Don Keith, author of Only the Brave and Final Bearing
“Command and Control is a masterpiece of a military thriller from the first page to the explosive ending…some of the best combat writing I’ve seen since Tom Clancy.” —Jason Kasper, USA Today bestselling author of The Enemies of My Country
"Bruns and Olson deliver an action packed story from the first to the very last page. Torn from tomorrow’s headlines, loaded with intrigue and mystery, a must read for any fan of military techno-thrillers." —George Wallace, author of Warshot and Operation Golden Dawn
___________________________
What readers are
★★★★★ "Full of twists..."
★★★★★ "...started with a bang..."
★★★★★ "...the surprises kept coming..."
★★★★★ "...
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2025
357 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
David Bruns
68 books262 followersDavid Bruns (www.davidbruns.com) has served as an officer on a US Navy nuclear-powered submarine and traveled the world as a high-tech corporate itinerant. Today, he writes futuristic speculative fiction, contemporary thrillers, and everything in between.
He is the creator of the sci-fi/fantasy series, The Dream Guild Chronicles, the military sci-fi thriller Invincible, and co-author of The SynCorp Saga corporate sci-fi series. A graduate of the prestigious Clarion West Writer’s Workshop, his short fiction has appeared in more than two dozen spec fic venues, such as Compelling SciFi and Future Chronicles.
In his spare time, he co-writes national security thrillers with retired naval intelligence officer, JR Olson. Their next book, Rules of Engagement, will be released by St. Martin’s Press in June 2019.
He is the creator of the sci-fi/fantasy series, The Dream Guild Chronicles, the military sci-fi thriller Invincible, and co-author of The SynCorp Saga corporate sci-fi series. A graduate of the prestigious Clarion West Writer’s Workshop, his short fiction has appeared in more than two dozen spec fic venues, such as Compelling SciFi and Future Chronicles.
In his spare time, he co-writes national security thrillers with retired naval intelligence officer, JR Olson. Their next book, Rules of Engagement, will be released by St. Martin’s Press in June 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 5, 2025
From the first page, Line of Succession by David Bruns and Olson plunges you into a desperate race against time. The book begins with a shocking assassination attempt on Nikolay Sokolov, the Russian President, who narrowly escapes death at a concert. Though Sokolov survives, his companion is tragically killed, confirming that hostile forces are already in motion.
The mastermind behind this attack is Bogdan, the ambitious leader of the New Dawn party. This powerful faction is expected to win Russia’s upcoming election, and its victory would change the global balance of power forever.
The threat is immediate and terrifying: Russia possesses over 5,000 nuclear warheads, and American President Coleman knows they cannot fall into the wrong hands. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the CIA is given the quiet order to intervene.
Harrison Kohl, a dedicated CIA officer, is tasked with an impossible mission: secretly stop the New Dawn party from seizing control. Kohl is working against the clock, supported by CIA Operations Chief Don Reilley, who ensures the White House is on board with this unprecedented operation.
Kohl quickly implements two brilliant strategies to derail Bogdan’s political rise, but both attempts fail. He is left with one final, desperate move—a high-risk plan that puts him directly in Bogdan’s line of fire. This last-ditch effort carries the highest personal cost, threatening to destroy not only his career but his very life.
This is where the suspense truly grips you. Kohl is forced to make an unthinkable choice to save the world, knowing his failure means catastrophe. You'll be turning pages late into the night, desperate to find out what happens next and whether Kohl can pull off the ultimate political manoeuvre. The climax is a stunning surprise that will leave you reeling. If you're looking for an intense, globe-trotting spy thriller, Line of Succession is the perfect book for your weekend.
Thank you, Edelweiss, for sharing an advance copy of the book for review.
The mastermind behind this attack is Bogdan, the ambitious leader of the New Dawn party. This powerful faction is expected to win Russia’s upcoming election, and its victory would change the global balance of power forever.
The threat is immediate and terrifying: Russia possesses over 5,000 nuclear warheads, and American President Coleman knows they cannot fall into the wrong hands. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the CIA is given the quiet order to intervene.
Harrison Kohl, a dedicated CIA officer, is tasked with an impossible mission: secretly stop the New Dawn party from seizing control. Kohl is working against the clock, supported by CIA Operations Chief Don Reilley, who ensures the White House is on board with this unprecedented operation.
Kohl quickly implements two brilliant strategies to derail Bogdan’s political rise, but both attempts fail. He is left with one final, desperate move—a high-risk plan that puts him directly in Bogdan’s line of fire. This last-ditch effort carries the highest personal cost, threatening to destroy not only his career but his very life.
This is where the suspense truly grips you. Kohl is forced to make an unthinkable choice to save the world, knowing his failure means catastrophe. You'll be turning pages late into the night, desperate to find out what happens next and whether Kohl can pull off the ultimate political manoeuvre. The climax is a stunning surprise that will leave you reeling. If you're looking for an intense, globe-trotting spy thriller, Line of Succession is the perfect book for your weekend.
Thank you, Edelweiss, for sharing an advance copy of the book for review.
September 19, 2025
The Russian government is in a perilous situation, as opposing forces putting Nicolay Sokolov’s government in peril. If these forces win a majority in the Duma in the next election, there is a danger of Sokolov being turned out of office, leaving Russia in unstable hands. Who will then have control over 5,000 nuclear weapons? What can be done to stabilize the situation? That is the problem facing the US government, and forms the scaffolding upon which this book built. We see several prior ‘stars’ from previous books, once again taking the lead in this book. This time, they seem to face failure after failure in actualizing their plans, until Don Riley himself takes the helm in the final action. Mighty Mouse will save the day—-we hope! I found that the secondary characters were skillfully woven throughout the story, including some surprises from them. The action is believable in this world created by Bruns and Olson. We watch an attempted assassination go sideways. We hang on during a storm at sea, where even sailors are getting ill from the tumultuous seas. We feel the grief Nicolay Sokolov feels when he realizes his good friend is near death. Yes, we are drawn into the action at almost every turn, which adds immeasurably to the enjoyment of reading this book. Finally, when Sokolov tells his female companion “you can trust me”, and she replies “And you can trust me”, the reader knows not to trust EITHER one of them, given the happenings up to this point
August 28, 2025
I received an ARC through "Severn River" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story begins with the Russian President at a concert hall when he is attacked and his box seat area invaded. The invaders were filming him, but he was saved by his girlfriend, who was an agent of the FSB and he was not aware of it. Unfortunately she was killed and this incident raised flags regarding the election of the next Duma. Don Reilly presented to the White House what impact that event might have on Russia's stability. A determination was made to try and provide support behind the scenes for the Russian President. In the end it took 3 individual efforts before they had success because the 1st two didn't work.
Discover who the leader of the New Dawn Party, who led that group behind the scenes, how they planned to win the Duma majority and take control and what steps they took and the impact it had on the voters. Discover the plans that the CIA worked up and what the results for each one. Read the exciting conclusion and discover who was working behind the scenes.
The story revolves upon the steps each of the parties take as they worked to accomplish their end goal. The ending is unexpected and is well worth the read. This is a book that you should read, don't miss out!
The story begins with the Russian President at a concert hall when he is attacked and his box seat area invaded. The invaders were filming him, but he was saved by his girlfriend, who was an agent of the FSB and he was not aware of it. Unfortunately she was killed and this incident raised flags regarding the election of the next Duma. Don Reilly presented to the White House what impact that event might have on Russia's stability. A determination was made to try and provide support behind the scenes for the Russian President. In the end it took 3 individual efforts before they had success because the 1st two didn't work.
Discover who the leader of the New Dawn Party, who led that group behind the scenes, how they planned to win the Duma majority and take control and what steps they took and the impact it had on the voters. Discover the plans that the CIA worked up and what the results for each one. Read the exciting conclusion and discover who was working behind the scenes.
The story revolves upon the steps each of the parties take as they worked to accomplish their end goal. The ending is unexpected and is well worth the read. This is a book that you should read, don't miss out!
December 12, 2025
Line of Succession by David Bruns and J.R. Olson is an enjoyable read and works fine as a standalone, even though it is the seventh book in the Command and Control series. Knowing the earlier books adds some context but it is not required. The story starts with a sudden attack on the Russian President, and this opening pulled me in quickly.
The authors build a world that feels believable for a political thriller. CIA officer Harrison Kohl tries to stop an ultranationalist group from taking over Russia. The stakes are high because of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, and this setup creates good tension.
The pacing is fast and the plot keeps moving. Some twists are interesting and some plans fall apart in a realistic way. I also liked the fact that the characters are not superheroes and make errors and adjust as events unfold.
I would consider this a decent pick for readers who enjoy modern spy and military thrillers.
The authors build a world that feels believable for a political thriller. CIA officer Harrison Kohl tries to stop an ultranationalist group from taking over Russia. The stakes are high because of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, and this setup creates good tension.
The pacing is fast and the plot keeps moving. Some twists are interesting and some plans fall apart in a realistic way. I also liked the fact that the characters are not superheroes and make errors and adjust as events unfold.
I would consider this a decent pick for readers who enjoy modern spy and military thrillers.
August 15, 2025
A really good story by David Bruns & J.R. Olson, but they could have added to the guys(not Americans) who somehow snuck up and rescued the crew on a big Ogliarch's yacht(read to find out the aftermath). The story had all the elements of backstabbing, deceit, and loss of life between the Russians and the United States...typical BS politics and 3 letter organizations. The Command and Control series is well worth reading...you will be entertained and maybe sleep deprived.
Thanks to Severn River Publishing for the ARC of the book and I totally recommend it.
Now I wait till Jan.20, 2026 for the authors new book...Weapons Free.
Thanks to Severn River Publishing for the ARC of the book and I totally recommend it.
Now I wait till Jan.20, 2026 for the authors new book...Weapons Free.
August 9, 2025
Line of Succession is more than a continuation of a series; it is the maturation of the characters. In many series, the characters either do not age or age very slowly. And, the heal quickly. In this novel we see age affecting the characters, bringing more realism to the story. It goes without saying that the authors have created another “page turner” that will keep you awake into the early morning hours to see the outcome. Great read. ENJOY
September 16, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. This is a continuation of an excellent series. As with most series the books shoe read in order to see the developing story and understand the main characters. The story weaves around keeping the reader interested and wanting more. The characters are all great and very well developed. I will look forward to another book in this series.
September 21, 2025
Fast-paced, full of action, sleep depriving novel
A fast-paced book with an interesting proposition... What would the U. S. do if we suspected the Russian president was being targeted for assassination? Would we help the process along or would we take action to prevent it. I spent two late nights reading this latest novel, losing sleep in the process. Full of twists and a surprise ending!
A fast-paced book with an interesting proposition... What would the U. S. do if we suspected the Russian president was being targeted for assassination? Would we help the process along or would we take action to prevent it. I spent two late nights reading this latest novel, losing sleep in the process. Full of twists and a surprise ending!
September 22, 2025
Line of Secession does not disappoint.
The 7th book of the Command and Control series continues to weave a great story with all the familiar characters. It is not surprising as Bruns and Olson are masters of the art of writing a great thriller. Thank you fiw what you do, gentlemen.
The 7th book of the Command and Control series continues to weave a great story with all the familiar characters. It is not surprising as Bruns and Olson are masters of the art of writing a great thriller. Thank you fiw what you do, gentlemen.
November 16, 2025
tale well told
Harrison Kohl and Don Riley once again face the Russian Oligarchy and the New Dawn party to save the country from the Russian Political turmoil. With lots of turns and twists as the story goes on and friends to support their moves, the CIA and the country wins to keep the world safe
Harrison Kohl and Don Riley once again face the Russian Oligarchy and the New Dawn party to save the country from the Russian Political turmoil. With lots of turns and twists as the story goes on and friends to support their moves, the CIA and the country wins to keep the world safe
September 16, 2025
This is what I thought:
These books are not for the faint-hearted, and one could be forgiven for getting confused between what you have read in the news, and what you have read in the books of this rather intelligent series.
As usual, this book grabbed your attention and wouldn’t let go, so do set some time aside when you start!
I cannot praise the research enough; to be expected from these two authors, but always making a smooth and satisfying read.
And this is what my husband thought!
Another cracking read from these two authors. The swift pace keeps you from putting it down, and like the previous books, the story is all so credible. All too soon, this book was at an end. Looking forward to their next publication.
These books are not for the faint-hearted, and one could be forgiven for getting confused between what you have read in the news, and what you have read in the books of this rather intelligent series.
As usual, this book grabbed your attention and wouldn’t let go, so do set some time aside when you start!
I cannot praise the research enough; to be expected from these two authors, but always making a smooth and satisfying read.
And this is what my husband thought!
Another cracking read from these two authors. The swift pace keeps you from putting it down, and like the previous books, the story is all so credible. All too soon, this book was at an end. Looking forward to their next publication.
October 6, 2025
Fictional spy drama at it's best.
Yet again the authors lead the readers into the world of spies and counter espionage with the final outcome providing an excellent storyline with a twist that you don't see until the very end.
Yet again the authors lead the readers into the world of spies and counter espionage with the final outcome providing an excellent storyline with a twist that you don't see until the very end.
January 7, 2026
As expansive as ever
From start to finish it is a rollercoaster of a story. Bringing all the series in to focus and a very satisfying conclusion. Bring on the future, I am sure I will not be disappointed!!
From start to finish it is a rollercoaster of a story. Bringing all the series in to focus and a very satisfying conclusion. Bring on the future, I am sure I will not be disappointed!!
January 7, 2026
Very well written book
This book was thought out well Great character development I really enjoyed reading it thought it was a great fun read Maybe a little close to the truth As far as US - Russian relations.
This book was thought out well Great character development I really enjoyed reading it thought it was a great fun read Maybe a little close to the truth As far as US - Russian relations.
September 22, 2025
Outstanding
Another really Outstanding Book in the Command and Control Series!! It was exciting and easy to follow. I am sorry to see the series end
Another really Outstanding Book in the Command and Control Series!! It was exciting and easy to follow. I am sorry to see the series end
September 26, 2025
Slow start to the book and was starting to get a bit boring when the action just picked up and kept going. Couldn't put the book down for the last 2 hours until I finished it.
September 28, 2025
A good read, but not as good as the previous books in the series
September 29, 2025
A great wrap up
These guys keep getting better and better. There are twist and turns to the story as both the American and Russians get out thought and both win.
These guys keep getting better and better. There are twist and turns to the story as both the American and Russians get out thought and both win.
October 24, 2025
A great read
Familiar cold war caricatures but with surprising twists and unexpected turns. Believable outcomes on land and sea where loose cannons lose.
Familiar cold war caricatures but with surprising twists and unexpected turns. Believable outcomes on land and sea where loose cannons lose.
December 8, 2025
Great series
All of the books in this series have been great. Was a joy to read them all. Looking for more adventures from Don Riley in the future
All of the books in this series have been great. Was a joy to read them all. Looking for more adventures from Don Riley in the future
September 28, 2025
4/5. A hardliner looks to replace the Russian ruling party with his, then the leader with himself. Only an unconventional approach by the Americans can keep the moderate Russians in power.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews