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Lethal Solutions #1
Trophy Target
Deep in the jungle of French Guiana, a once anonymous soldier of the French Foreign Legion mysteriously disappears. Days later, word reaches his younger brother, Prince Erik Rohde, second in line to the Danish throne. Doubting the government's capabilities and questioning the Prime Minister's sincerity, Erik turns to the world's top mercenary, Fadi Khaldun, to rescue his brother.
Fadi Khaldun is a former assassin of the Saudi government determined to make amends for his malicious past. In his new role as a hired gun, Fadi executes perilous, high stakes assignments around the world for clients, whether avenging the deaths of loved ones in Iraq, destroying terrorist organizations in Africa or eradicating organized crime rings in China. Now Fadi embarks on his most high profile and dangerous job yet to rescue the crown prince of Denmark. From the jungles of South America to the mountains of South East Asia, Fadi meticulously hunts the prince's kidnappers while enemies at the highest level of government conspire against him.
Fadi Khaldun is a former assassin of the Saudi government determined to make amends for his malicious past. In his new role as a hired gun, Fadi executes perilous, high stakes assignments around the world for clients, whether avenging the deaths of loved ones in Iraq, destroying terrorist organizations in Africa or eradicating organized crime rings in China. Now Fadi embarks on his most high profile and dangerous job yet to rescue the crown prince of Denmark. From the jungles of South America to the mountains of South East Asia, Fadi meticulously hunts the prince's kidnappers while enemies at the highest level of government conspire against him.
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First published March 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 12, 2014
A friend of mine gave me this book. She won it through Goodreads and thought i might like it. WOW! Was the ever right!
A fast paced thriller that grabs your attention and never lets go. I was so happy with the ending! You must read to find out why!!
Any thriller junkie will love this read.
A fast paced thriller that grabs your attention and never lets go. I was so happy with the ending! You must read to find out why!!
Any thriller junkie will love this read.
March 26, 2014
Full disclosure: I previously reviewed another of Allen Mitchum's books. It was "28 Pages" and I gave it a 5-star review on Amazon.
The opening of "Trophy Target" smoothly lays out the story. A member of the Danish Royal Family went missing in the South American jungle after he signed on with the French Foreign Legion. The Prince, first in the line of succession, winds up getting himself kidnapped by a group of terrorists similar in scope (if not in size) to al Qaeda. The younger brother of the prince instructed a trusted underling to find someone to track down and hopefully rescue his (presumably) kidnapped sibling. That "someone" turned out to be Fadi Khaldun, the mercenary from the earlier book. And so it begins.
Aside from a short story featuring Fadi, this is the first full-length followup novel using the Fadi character. Fadi was a Saudi-born assassin who became a hired gun available to those clients he deemed worthy of his services. After the September 11th attacks against the United States, Fadi's loyalty to his Saudi heritage was destroyed along with the twin towers of New York City as well as the other targets. The "right thing to do" became the criteria for Fadi's new assignments, which were all very carefully chosen.
"Trophy Target" has quite a few twists and turns that will surprise the reader, such as the encounter with a woman who is, for all intents and purposes, a war lord in Afghanistan. This episode is an event that humanizes Fadi a little more, yet allows him to build his reputation even more with the reader. In fact, the woman's son initially dislikes and distrusts Fadi, but as the story develops, eventually works alongside our assassin. The author's descriptions of the locations used to tell the story are really good. The reader gets a true sense of place as the story goes back and forth from Europe to Asia.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of an Allen Mitchum story is the way the action is delivered. Even when the buildup to a clash is obvious, when it finally does happen, the reader holds his breath as the words make their impression. It's an amazing thing to experience. If you watch a movie or a TV show, you expect to experience that moment when the surprise hits you. But having it happen with the written word is not something that happens very often. I had the same reaction reading those moments in "Trophy Target" as I did with "28 Pages."
As with "28 Pages," this book's twists and turns happen quickly. To avoid being responsible for what's called a "spoiler" I'm not going to get into the storyline too deeply. Suffice it to say, though, that every twist causes the reader's instincts to become sharper and maybe even increase blood pressure. Every page builds on the suspense that Mitchum creates and gives the reader a heightened sense of expectation. Few authors have the ability to make the reader feel as though they've become a part of the storyline, but Allen Mitchum does it very well.
As "Trophy Target" races to its amazing conclusion, readers will quickly feel as though they are watching the final minutes of a fantastic action film. Breath will come in short, quick moments and there will be a wish that, somehow, the reading would be much faster and, at the same time, a way to make time stand still so that every word can be processed so as to make it last as long as possible.
The opening of "Trophy Target" smoothly lays out the story. A member of the Danish Royal Family went missing in the South American jungle after he signed on with the French Foreign Legion. The Prince, first in the line of succession, winds up getting himself kidnapped by a group of terrorists similar in scope (if not in size) to al Qaeda. The younger brother of the prince instructed a trusted underling to find someone to track down and hopefully rescue his (presumably) kidnapped sibling. That "someone" turned out to be Fadi Khaldun, the mercenary from the earlier book. And so it begins.
Aside from a short story featuring Fadi, this is the first full-length followup novel using the Fadi character. Fadi was a Saudi-born assassin who became a hired gun available to those clients he deemed worthy of his services. After the September 11th attacks against the United States, Fadi's loyalty to his Saudi heritage was destroyed along with the twin towers of New York City as well as the other targets. The "right thing to do" became the criteria for Fadi's new assignments, which were all very carefully chosen.
"Trophy Target" has quite a few twists and turns that will surprise the reader, such as the encounter with a woman who is, for all intents and purposes, a war lord in Afghanistan. This episode is an event that humanizes Fadi a little more, yet allows him to build his reputation even more with the reader. In fact, the woman's son initially dislikes and distrusts Fadi, but as the story develops, eventually works alongside our assassin. The author's descriptions of the locations used to tell the story are really good. The reader gets a true sense of place as the story goes back and forth from Europe to Asia.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of an Allen Mitchum story is the way the action is delivered. Even when the buildup to a clash is obvious, when it finally does happen, the reader holds his breath as the words make their impression. It's an amazing thing to experience. If you watch a movie or a TV show, you expect to experience that moment when the surprise hits you. But having it happen with the written word is not something that happens very often. I had the same reaction reading those moments in "Trophy Target" as I did with "28 Pages."
As with "28 Pages," this book's twists and turns happen quickly. To avoid being responsible for what's called a "spoiler" I'm not going to get into the storyline too deeply. Suffice it to say, though, that every twist causes the reader's instincts to become sharper and maybe even increase blood pressure. Every page builds on the suspense that Mitchum creates and gives the reader a heightened sense of expectation. Few authors have the ability to make the reader feel as though they've become a part of the storyline, but Allen Mitchum does it very well.
As "Trophy Target" races to its amazing conclusion, readers will quickly feel as though they are watching the final minutes of a fantastic action film. Breath will come in short, quick moments and there will be a wish that, somehow, the reading would be much faster and, at the same time, a way to make time stand still so that every word can be processed so as to make it last as long as possible.
January 22, 2017
This book is a great thriller and it features a military that rarely appears in such books, that of Denmark. Michael Rohde is the Crown Prince of Denmark and following tradition, serves in the Danish military. However, against his wishes, he is kept out of all possible combat action. Headstrong, he enlists in the French Foreign Legion and is sent to French Guiana, where his unit is assigned to stopping illegal gold mining.
Since he takes his job seriously and is effective in stopping the mining, Michael is kidnapped while on a routine patrol. While being held by the mining group, he is snatched by an Islamic group based in Afghanistan, where there is a Danish contingent among the NATO forces. This makes him the trophy target. Michael’s younger brother Erik has no confidence in the Danish government, so he recruits top mercenary Fadi Khaldun to track down and free Michael.
After the initial action in French Guiana, it moves back and forth between Denmark and Afghanistan. In Denmark, high officials of the government engage in disloyal machinations that they hope will lead to their goal of the Danish forces being withdrawn from Afghanistan. Khaldun tries to operate alone in Afghanistan, but the inherent instability with local warlords and insular tribes that fight each other prevent him from doing so.
After some intense action and many deaths, some at the hands of Khaldun, but much due to Afghan on Afghan conflicts, the final battle commences. Elements of the Danish military are involved in the final battle that pits warlord against warlord.
While there is a satisfactory ending in Brazil where a traitor gets what they deserve, there is a serious flaw in that scene. A fugitive is in a hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but the author has him learning and speaking Spanish from watching local TV so that he can function there. The problem with this is that Portuguese is the language of Brazil, not Spanish. Not getting the language of a country right is a mistake that I have encountered before and it always puzzles me when it happens.
Since he takes his job seriously and is effective in stopping the mining, Michael is kidnapped while on a routine patrol. While being held by the mining group, he is snatched by an Islamic group based in Afghanistan, where there is a Danish contingent among the NATO forces. This makes him the trophy target. Michael’s younger brother Erik has no confidence in the Danish government, so he recruits top mercenary Fadi Khaldun to track down and free Michael.
After the initial action in French Guiana, it moves back and forth between Denmark and Afghanistan. In Denmark, high officials of the government engage in disloyal machinations that they hope will lead to their goal of the Danish forces being withdrawn from Afghanistan. Khaldun tries to operate alone in Afghanistan, but the inherent instability with local warlords and insular tribes that fight each other prevent him from doing so.
After some intense action and many deaths, some at the hands of Khaldun, but much due to Afghan on Afghan conflicts, the final battle commences. Elements of the Danish military are involved in the final battle that pits warlord against warlord.
While there is a satisfactory ending in Brazil where a traitor gets what they deserve, there is a serious flaw in that scene. A fugitive is in a hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but the author has him learning and speaking Spanish from watching local TV so that he can function there. The problem with this is that Portuguese is the language of Brazil, not Spanish. Not getting the language of a country right is a mistake that I have encountered before and it always puzzles me when it happens.
May 7, 2014
The author, Allen Mitchum, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.
“Trophy Target” is a real treat for fans of Daniel Silva. Mitchum gives readers an expertly executed character in a world that could and probably does exist in the shadows of our world. Brutal mercenaries, organizations poised for control and manipulations of government officials all in the name of self-service.
“Trophy Target” is an exquisitely polished novel. Readers will see no difference in writing style and quality from some of the better known names of the genre. Fadi is typical of the genre in that we get to know him without ever having had the sense of getting to know him. The air of mystery which sustains novels of the genre is seamless and serves the author well in the progression of the story. Mitchum takes us from the rough terrain of Guiana to the Danish Royal House back then to the sandy and hot terrain of Afghanistan. The reader understands that these are locations the author has either researched heavily or visited and that the locations and the tenuous danger of them work as a separate character in his piece.
The motivations given for an insider to betray the Danish government served as a usual layer to “Trophy Target” that further stands to set the piece apart. The driving force was unusual, logical and written in such a way that readers will find engaging. The storyline involving Prince Erik and the person trying to manipulate results could have easily been relegated to a secondary place and not developed but Mitchum does not cheat his readers in a sense of urgency or excitement.
If you are a fan of international thrillers and anti-heroes, pick up “Trophy Target” today.
“Trophy Target” is a real treat for fans of Daniel Silva. Mitchum gives readers an expertly executed character in a world that could and probably does exist in the shadows of our world. Brutal mercenaries, organizations poised for control and manipulations of government officials all in the name of self-service.
“Trophy Target” is an exquisitely polished novel. Readers will see no difference in writing style and quality from some of the better known names of the genre. Fadi is typical of the genre in that we get to know him without ever having had the sense of getting to know him. The air of mystery which sustains novels of the genre is seamless and serves the author well in the progression of the story. Mitchum takes us from the rough terrain of Guiana to the Danish Royal House back then to the sandy and hot terrain of Afghanistan. The reader understands that these are locations the author has either researched heavily or visited and that the locations and the tenuous danger of them work as a separate character in his piece.
The motivations given for an insider to betray the Danish government served as a usual layer to “Trophy Target” that further stands to set the piece apart. The driving force was unusual, logical and written in such a way that readers will find engaging. The storyline involving Prince Erik and the person trying to manipulate results could have easily been relegated to a secondary place and not developed but Mitchum does not cheat his readers in a sense of urgency or excitement.
If you are a fan of international thrillers and anti-heroes, pick up “Trophy Target” today.
May 5, 2014
“Trophy Target: A Lethal Solutions Thriller” by Allen Mitchum is a fun page turning thriller set in Denmark, the jungles of South America, and the mountains of South East Asia. When a Danish Prince is kidnapped, his brother hires Fadi Khaldun, a professional mercenary, to bring him home. With a plot that twists, turns, and keeps the reader turning pages, we follow along wondering what will happen next.
Khaldun is a Saudi-born assassin who's become one of the few in the world to turn to when you need a hired gun for high risk jobs. I found myself liking the character, just as I enjoyed reading the book. The bulk of the action takes place in Afghanistan, and I felt Mitchum did a very good job of taking us to that part of the world.
Other characters, such as Prince Erik, his bodyguard, and Huma Tanin, also known as the feared al-Saqr, leader of the Tanin tribe, are not only interesting characters that you become to care about, but formidable warriors in their own right, that lend greatly to this adventure. With a narrative that often goes back and forth between them, I never wished to hurry and get back to one part of the story. I enjoyed reading each and every part.
The novel is captivating, and drew me into worlds I was not as familiar with, and satisfied my hunger for a thrilling action tale. Bottom line: It was a fun, action packed read, that I enjoyed reading from cover to cover, and that's what a good thriller should be.
Khaldun is a Saudi-born assassin who's become one of the few in the world to turn to when you need a hired gun for high risk jobs. I found myself liking the character, just as I enjoyed reading the book. The bulk of the action takes place in Afghanistan, and I felt Mitchum did a very good job of taking us to that part of the world.
Other characters, such as Prince Erik, his bodyguard, and Huma Tanin, also known as the feared al-Saqr, leader of the Tanin tribe, are not only interesting characters that you become to care about, but formidable warriors in their own right, that lend greatly to this adventure. With a narrative that often goes back and forth between them, I never wished to hurry and get back to one part of the story. I enjoyed reading each and every part.
The novel is captivating, and drew me into worlds I was not as familiar with, and satisfied my hunger for a thrilling action tale. Bottom line: It was a fun, action packed read, that I enjoyed reading from cover to cover, and that's what a good thriller should be.
January 11, 2015
Allen Mitchum writes this "lethal solutions thriller" with a voice that fancies itself like Tom Clancy, reminiscent of the Jack Ryan series. The tale opens in French Guiana, following an anonymous member of the French Foreign Legion disappearing. As a result, a rescue mission is launched to rescue the crown prince of Denmark, taking the reader on a whirlwind through conspiracies and thrilling page-turning episodes.
This book follows the title closely and snares the reader in from the beginning, encouraging readers to not just turn pages (or update pixels), but also to not give up for a break or meal period. A slave driver of an author, Mitchum captures the attention in such as fashion that one cannot resist his writing style or flair. Enjoyable with a bit of witty humor from the first paragraph to the last, Mitchum marks excellence in his works and writing, and continues to excel in his craft.
This book will entice those interested in thriller fiction works, much like Clancy's. Reader be advised, however, Mitchum does his best to provide an realistic feel to his world, with authentic language and behaviors.
Allen Mitchum provided an advanced reading copy of this review in exchange for a honest review of the material.
This book follows the title closely and snares the reader in from the beginning, encouraging readers to not just turn pages (or update pixels), but also to not give up for a break or meal period. A slave driver of an author, Mitchum captures the attention in such as fashion that one cannot resist his writing style or flair. Enjoyable with a bit of witty humor from the first paragraph to the last, Mitchum marks excellence in his works and writing, and continues to excel in his craft.
This book will entice those interested in thriller fiction works, much like Clancy's. Reader be advised, however, Mitchum does his best to provide an realistic feel to his world, with authentic language and behaviors.
Allen Mitchum provided an advanced reading copy of this review in exchange for a honest review of the material.
April 7, 2014
A great action adventure. The characters are very interesting. It was educational to follow the characters through the jungles of South America with the descriptions making the reader seek out a fan to help breakup the sticky heat. The ability of the author to take the readers to whatever environment the characters are struggling with is a real talent. Never a moments rest, the action and peril keep you reading well into the night with interesting plot turns and characters that keep you involved and excited. Trying to guess where the plot is going and how the hero will escape certain death is a great game with this book. A taste of life with the Danish royalty, breaking bread with a War Lord in the desert of Afghanistan or marching through the jungle with a Foreign Legion patrol illustrates the range of the authors knowledge. Highly recommend this book for those interested in world cultures and highly skilled action figures.
June 22, 2014
I almost stopped at the third sentence with the first "F" bomb. I don't understand why authors seem it is necessary to insert crude and vulgar language in their books. But because I promised to write a review I am living up to my commitment. I would give it five stars if it wasn't for the vulgarity. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed the story. An international intrigue of kidnapping of a Danish royal. I thought it a very plausible scenario that could happen in today's world. There is a lot of different elements of politics, greed, murder, love, religious hate, etc., that keeps you hurrying to read what happens next. They chase the bad guys around the world, even on horses. I enjoyed the many twists and turns and the characters. Quite an imaginative book that was well thought out and researched.
June 17, 2014
I received a review copy of this book thru LibraryThing Members giveaway
An incognito Crown Prince Michael of Denmark is kidnapped in South America, when the Danish government shows reluctance to act because of political considerations, his younger brother Prince Erik and Holger Dahl, Erik’s long-time personal advisor and one-man security force, hire Fadi Khaldun a Saudi mercenary, to find him and bring him home safely.
The action moves rapidly between Denmark, French Guiana and finally Afghanistan.
A well-paced thriller, with sharp characters and an excellent plot.
An incognito Crown Prince Michael of Denmark is kidnapped in South America, when the Danish government shows reluctance to act because of political considerations, his younger brother Prince Erik and Holger Dahl, Erik’s long-time personal advisor and one-man security force, hire Fadi Khaldun a Saudi mercenary, to find him and bring him home safely.
The action moves rapidly between Denmark, French Guiana and finally Afghanistan.
A well-paced thriller, with sharp characters and an excellent plot.
July 5, 2014
This book has a need for a good proofreader. I found myself reading along only to have my pace broken with extra words, spelling errors, etc.
Aside from the editing issues, this author has crafted a very entertaining storyline that crosses many international borders. The main character, a hired assassin, is complex and a great hero for the story. I enjoyed the writing, characters, and the twists so much that I gave it 5 stars. Highly recommended for readers that enjoy intrigue, action, adventure, and thrillers.
Aside from the editing issues, this author has crafted a very entertaining storyline that crosses many international borders. The main character, a hired assassin, is complex and a great hero for the story. I enjoyed the writing, characters, and the twists so much that I gave it 5 stars. Highly recommended for readers that enjoy intrigue, action, adventure, and thrillers.
June 18, 2014
Timely and excellent thriller filled with fascinating characters. The author provides the perfect amounts of intrigue, background information, and character development to keep readers engaged. Hopefully, additional books will follow with some of the same characters. Not only was this a page turner, but I also learned new facts about Denmark, the French Foreign Legion, and Afghanistan. Great book!
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2014
RECEIVED FREE THROUGH GOODREADS FIRST READS.
Holy moly!!! What an exciting thriller!! This book hooks you in from the first and keeps you in high suspense all the way to the end!
The insights of Mr. Mitchum are remarkable. He spins a high octane thriller that everyone must read!
Holy moly!!! What an exciting thriller!! This book hooks you in from the first and keeps you in high suspense all the way to the end!
The insights of Mr. Mitchum are remarkable. He spins a high octane thriller that everyone must read!
May 9, 2014
Fantastic, an action packed page turner you will not want to put down.
Thanks to Allen and Goodreads for my copy I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it.
Thanks to Allen and Goodreads for my copy I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it.
June 11, 2014
This is a gripping book from start to finish with interesting characters and a plot that just doesn't quit. It's a believable thriller, well worth a read.
July 17, 2016
a good amount of violence
Afghanistan with a little Europe. I'd imagine this is preferred to as a thriller (with just a touch of romance).
Afghanistan with a little Europe. I'd imagine this is preferred to as a thriller (with just a touch of romance).
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews