What do you think?
Rate this book
Jim Vaughn #1
Section Eight
By NY Times Bestselling Author and former Green Beret Bob Mayer
Over five million books sold. Translated into over a dozen languages.
Section Eight: The men and women called upon by The Organization to do the impossible. They are the soldiers who have nothing to lose. They make up a top–secret unit tasked with what others call suicide missions.
The Organization pulled strings long before the founding of the United States. It dates back to the destruction of the Knights Templar and even further in history. As secrets from the Golden Lilly Operation and the infamous Unit 731 from World War II become exposed, you have to wonder who the real enemy is.
Captain Jim Vaughn is an officer in disgrace. Commanding a Special Forces mission to rescue hostages in the Philippines, Vaughn's team is destroyed, and when the smoke clears, he is the one made the scapegoat. Forced into the shadows by the scandal, Vaughn is offered a chance to redeem himself when he is approached by an enigmatic government agent working for The Organization looking for a few desperate men.
Vaughn is shocked to meet his new teammates, a group of men and women outside of the regular chain of command. These are soldiers who have used up all their second chances. These are men and women who have crossed the line one too many times. Drug users. Felons. The terminally ill. These are now the soldiers that Vaughn must trust with his life. Even with a traitor in their ranks. But is the traitor actually the patriot?
This group of misfits has been assembled for two reasons––they are skilled, and they are expendable. These are the kinds of men and women who are needed to attempt missions the government can't acknowledge, the country can't condone, and the team cannot fail. But the deeper Vaughn gets into the unique group, the more he realizes that The Organization may be concealing more than the rap sheets of its most unusual operators. A team of such unique properties is the perfect tool to use against America's enemies...and possibly America itself.
Reference Mayer’s Thrillers
“Mayer had me hooked from the very first page.” Stephen Coonts
“A pulsing technothriller. A nailbiter in the best tradition of adventure fiction.” Publishers Weekly.
Over five million books sold. Translated into over a dozen languages.
Section Eight: The men and women called upon by The Organization to do the impossible. They are the soldiers who have nothing to lose. They make up a top–secret unit tasked with what others call suicide missions.
The Organization pulled strings long before the founding of the United States. It dates back to the destruction of the Knights Templar and even further in history. As secrets from the Golden Lilly Operation and the infamous Unit 731 from World War II become exposed, you have to wonder who the real enemy is.
Captain Jim Vaughn is an officer in disgrace. Commanding a Special Forces mission to rescue hostages in the Philippines, Vaughn's team is destroyed, and when the smoke clears, he is the one made the scapegoat. Forced into the shadows by the scandal, Vaughn is offered a chance to redeem himself when he is approached by an enigmatic government agent working for The Organization looking for a few desperate men.
Vaughn is shocked to meet his new teammates, a group of men and women outside of the regular chain of command. These are soldiers who have used up all their second chances. These are men and women who have crossed the line one too many times. Drug users. Felons. The terminally ill. These are now the soldiers that Vaughn must trust with his life. Even with a traitor in their ranks. But is the traitor actually the patriot?
This group of misfits has been assembled for two reasons––they are skilled, and they are expendable. These are the kinds of men and women who are needed to attempt missions the government can't acknowledge, the country can't condone, and the team cannot fail. But the deeper Vaughn gets into the unique group, the more he realizes that The Organization may be concealing more than the rap sheets of its most unusual operators. A team of such unique properties is the perfect tool to use against America's enemies...and possibly America itself.
Reference Mayer’s Thrillers
“Mayer had me hooked from the very first page.” Stephen Coonts
“A pulsing technothriller. A nailbiter in the best tradition of adventure fiction.” Publishers Weekly.
ebook
First published October 1, 2005
106 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
About the author
Bob Mayer
212 books47.8k followersBesides my own interests, I read whatever my wife tells me to read-- she's a voracious reader and has wide-ranging tastes as my reviews show (she also always has the TV remote and she's always right about what to watch). I read a lot of nonfiction, mostly for research. Some of my favorite books are Lonesome Dove, Mystic River, LOTR, and an array of science fiction classics including the Foundation series. Our house is covered with books, although I finally broke down and started reading eBooks, strangely enough on my iPhone. Since I carry it pretty much everywhere, it means I always have an entire library of books with me.
I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.
I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.
I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.
I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 3, 2018
Hyped as a Dirty Dozen type story. But not really IMHO. A pretty good special ops/thriller, but no Dirty Dozen feel to me. We only really got to know a couple of the characters and they truly were not bad. Got a tad confusing with the bad guys, the organization (bad guys?) and the so-called Dirty Dozen. I would read further adventures with Jim Vaughn in them.
July 18, 2021
Section 8 is the lead-off novel in another one of Bob Mayer's action-thriller series - The Shadow Warriors. The book moves along at a brisk clip with all the military strategy, hardware and technology you expect from the genre. Section 8 is a good introduction to the Shadow Warriors series and I WILL be looking for sequels.
Mayer always makes me want to read more without doing that cheap trick where the story is left unfinished. All of Bob's novels are complete in and of themselves, but he draws his characters so well that you want to come back later and see how they are doing in the new sequel.
Mayer knows his military hardware and tactics. He's a worthy successor to Tom Clancy against whom all action-adventure thriller writers will continue to be measured. Really nice work, Bob.
Three pineapples
© 2017 by Tom King
Mayer always makes me want to read more without doing that cheap trick where the story is left unfinished. All of Bob's novels are complete in and of themselves, but he draws his characters so well that you want to come back later and see how they are doing in the new sequel.
Mayer knows his military hardware and tactics. He's a worthy successor to Tom Clancy against whom all action-adventure thriller writers will continue to be measured. Really nice work, Bob.
Three pineapples
© 2017 by Tom King
June 15, 2017
Section Eight (Shadow Warriors)
Vaughn is pulled into a new mission in another mysterious unit, named "Section Eight," to make another attempt at the island JOJO to take out the terrorist leader and recover the Golden Lilly treasures buried in the mountain. What Vaughn doesn't know, he and the team are expendable and are on a suicide mission. He and Captain Tai manage to take out the terrorist leader, the team dispatched to kill him and Tai, and the submarine terrorist cell that has been sent to Hawaii to wipe out everyone on the big island with nerve gas. Who survives, who dies, will all be carefully revealed by the end. You'll have to discover the outcome by reading it yourself.
Vaughn is pulled into a new mission in another mysterious unit, named "Section Eight," to make another attempt at the island JOJO to take out the terrorist leader and recover the Golden Lilly treasures buried in the mountain. What Vaughn doesn't know, he and the team are expendable and are on a suicide mission. He and Captain Tai manage to take out the terrorist leader, the team dispatched to kill him and Tai, and the submarine terrorist cell that has been sent to Hawaii to wipe out everyone on the big island with nerve gas. Who survives, who dies, will all be carefully revealed by the end. You'll have to discover the outcome by reading it yourself.
January 19, 2018
[My review is for the audiobook format.]
This is my favorite installment in the Shadow Warriors series. The action scenes are so expertly written I could imagine each weapon, tactical movement, and fight sequence like a movie playing in my mind. Kafer's narration adds more energy to this already exciting story. A twist at the end creates potential for a future addition to the series. I'm ready for the next mission!
I was provided a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review. Many thanks for this opportunity!
This is my favorite installment in the Shadow Warriors series. The action scenes are so expertly written I could imagine each weapon, tactical movement, and fight sequence like a movie playing in my mind. Kafer's narration adds more energy to this already exciting story. A twist at the end creates potential for a future addition to the series. I'm ready for the next mission!
I was provided a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review. Many thanks for this opportunity!
October 29, 2025
Even though it was a story unto itself, it read more like a set up for a series to come.
Not badly written by any means, but a tad outlandish for my tastes. Which probably means its closer to the truth than anything else.
I liked the character of Jim Vaughn, but not enough that I want to pursue the series.
Not badly written by any means, but a tad outlandish for my tastes. Which probably means its closer to the truth than anything else.
I liked the character of Jim Vaughn, but not enough that I want to pursue the series.
April 8, 2018
Great story
I enjoy the pacing. It's not a Brown thriller where a single person seems to be a super human computer. You feel for these soliders who have been to see the elephant and lived to tell about it.
I enjoy the pacing. It's not a Brown thriller where a single person seems to be a super human computer. You feel for these soliders who have been to see the elephant and lived to tell about it.
December 28, 2020
Good, Hard Warriors
this is the second time I've read this story. It is that good. It demonstrates once again the power of the individual to do too despite the odds against him or her. We have to discover what happens to the Organization and just who is behind it. I can't wait.
this is the second time I've read this story. It is that good. It demonstrates once again the power of the individual to do too despite the odds against him or her. We have to discover what happens to the Organization and just who is behind it. I can't wait.
December 27, 2025
All right this book is grabbed my attention. Good guy bad guy bad guy good guy Good guy bad guy
This book keeps your attention going. Who are the good guys who are the bad guys. Who's trying to screw who. Royce Vaughn and Tia May find the answer. Are they may all get killed.
This book keeps your attention going. Who are the good guys who are the bad guys. Who's trying to screw who. Royce Vaughn and Tia May find the answer. Are they may all get killed.
June 21, 2021
Bob Mayer
Is a beast, this guy doesn't know how to write anything but good fiction.
That ended my review and now we play how many. Words till I can post this
Is a beast, this guy doesn't know how to write anything but good fiction.
That ended my review and now we play how many. Words till I can post this
April 25, 2025
A well done story about a secret covert operation with ties to WW II. Plenty of good action and a well written story line
October 31, 2016
When Vaughn screws up a mission he's invited to join a clandestine unit called Section 8. All members have a history they would prefer to not dwell on. Given only enough information to get the job done, they embark on a mission to destroy a terrorist group. Finding out the people they work for isn't the US Government makes it a mission to find out just who they're working for and what side are they on.
Lots of WWII history and practically non stop action. I'll say the book wasn't sexist and there was zero romance, which I appreciated. So often a book throws in a romance/sex scene just because they think it's expected, not because it's needed. I liked it and will most likely try the next in the series
Lots of WWII history and practically non stop action. I'll say the book wasn't sexist and there was zero romance, which I appreciated. So often a book throws in a romance/sex scene just because they think it's expected, not because it's needed. I liked it and will most likely try the next in the series
November 10, 2012
Another cracking yarn from Mr. Doherty that didn't disappoint. Quite a page-turner with nonstop action and just enough depth to the main characters to keep it interesting. The combat scenes are kept brief but are still vivid, the plot is complex enough without being too much and the ending is left open. All in all a good read.
September 19, 2013
The book has plenty of action, conspiracies that span centuries, international threats, and a plot that takes you around the globe. Which is of the good.
It also has big info dumps, a cast of unlikable characters, no character growth, insipid dialog, and a complete lack of anything humorous.
The book reads like the plot of a run-of-the-mill low cost Hollywood movie.
It also has big info dumps, a cast of unlikable characters, no character growth, insipid dialog, and a complete lack of anything humorous.
The book reads like the plot of a run-of-the-mill low cost Hollywood movie.
April 12, 2014
Bob Mayer is always good. This one was quite complex and demanded more attention than I usually provide. So I had to do less multitasking than normal in order to enjoy the story. It is a good Black Ops tale with the usual open ending leaving room for sequel number...
August 6, 2011
very good read, keeps u informed on almost everything. If u like conspiracies this is a book for u.
July 11, 2016
Intrigue? Yes! Betrayl? Yes! Fascinating combination of these and other tidbits of action.
October 2, 2012
A decent special ops thriller for the conspiracy theory set. However, I got the feeling that the entire purpose of this novel was to set you up for the sequel.
January 23, 2013
Good book, can't wait to read the next one.
March 17, 2014
Great Spec Ops thriller. The typo's became a little annoying.
August 25, 2016
I liked it. Not the best written book I have ever read but it moved along pretty good. I really didn't like the ending. It left me hanging too much in the breeze.
October 29, 2014
And we still don't know who the bad guys are. Guess I'll have to read the next one in the series. I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
March 26, 2017
Tale Well Told
Lots of action in this one. It's an interesting story of mercenaries risking their lives without knowing exactly what and who they are fighting for. It's well written and the characters are believable with just enough background to keep the story going. I look forward to more of the series.
Lots of action in this one. It's an interesting story of mercenaries risking their lives without knowing exactly what and who they are fighting for. It's well written and the characters are believable with just enough background to keep the story going. I look forward to more of the series.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews