Barracuda II The Return

by Mike Monahan

In this thrilling sequel to Barracuda, we find many of the same characters reunited in Bikini Atoll. Barracuda II: The Return finds NYPD detective Mick O'Shaughnessy working in the South Bronx Detective Squad with his partner and close friend, Gus Lopez. "Micko" is unexpectedly called to the office of the Chief of Detectives, where he learns that he is being called back to Bikini Atoll to serve as a liaison between FBI agent Buddy Burger and the local government officials. Several years prior, Micko had been on vacation in the South Pacific atoll when he accidentally stumbled upon a money laundering operation. He turned the investigation over to Burger, but he had continued to help solve the intricate case, which involved Russian mafia and Japanese yakuza. This time around, Buddy must work with the DEA in investigating a large heroin-smuggling operation that he suspects is passing through the atoll en route to the United States. Micko's police experience and familiarity with Bikini Atoll will be very helpful, and citing the new interagency compliance directive, Micko arranges for Gus to join him, as well. Afghani opium is being transported through the Khyber Pass into the hands of a sinister man in Bangkok known as the Chinaman. He hides the drugs aboard a transport plane belonging to the civilian contractor company DKL, which stops at the US airbase on Guam for refueling. There, it is secreted aboard a small mail-delivery plane destined for Eneu Airport, located on one of the islands of the Bikini Atoll chain. But before landing, the drugs are dropped into the ocean at the designated coordinates and picked up by a speedboat. The heroin is purified on Shark Alley Island, then carried on DKL jets to Hawaii, LAX, and finally to Eugene, Oregon, the home of the DKL Corporation. The operation had been going smoothly until Buddy Burger had become suspicious and put out radar buoys. The smugglers were forced to change tactics. The new plan? Deliver one final drop of two hundred kilos before walking away from the operation, which entangles a large cast of unsavory characters that includes ex-cons and expatriates in China and Bikini Atoll, along with servicemen at the airbase in Guam and DKL employees. Also returned to Bikini Atoll are Dr. Collins and his protege, James Donaghey, who have come to continue their research on the effects of seventy years of radioactivity on the region's marine life. Accompanying the scientists this time is James's fiancee, the buxom blond Ambrosia Anderson. Then there are the mutant barracuda. At the opening of the book, we learn of a new breed of these creatures that have hatched in the unnatural tidal surges. Without the mother barracuda to teach the new generation how to hunt and feed, they will have to stick together to survive. The three youngsters remain hidden inside the USS Saratoga, an aircraft carrier that was sunk in the lagoon by an atomic bomb test, until they grow to full size. They become all the more menacing when they learn to communicate with each other by changing the colors of their scales. When a large Japanese consortium takes over the atoll's dive operations for a ceremonial homage to historic shipwrecks, Japanese scuba divers ignore police warnings dive into a world of peril. These and plotlines and more bring exciting, nonstop action and an explosive conclusion. Yet who knows what dangers remain hidden at the bottom of the lagoon!

152 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2014

About the author

Mike Monahan was born in the Bronx, NY. His father and grandfather were NYC Police officers so it was only natural that he follow the same "calling" and continue the proud family tradition. Scuba diving became a hobby that grew into a passion sending the Bronx cop across the globe in search of famous shipwrecks to explore. Mike Monahan earned the coveted gold detective shield before retiring from the NYPD. He has since turned his police and scuba experiences into writing thriller novels. Barracuda is the first of these novels. New hobbies include sea kayaking, fishing, bike riding, golf, scuba and cruising upstate NY on his motorcycle. The author is living the bachelor life again living in a waterfront condo in NY.

Reviews

[george gawors · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner.couldn"t put it down.easy read.full of action.i'd say it's a must read.cant wait for the next one.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[R.W. Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

NYPD Detective Mick O'Shaughnessy is going back to Bikini Atoll, this time with his partner Gus Lopez, at the request of FBI agent Buddy Burger. The FBI is investigating a heroine tracking ring, bringing the drug into Los Angeles from Afghanistan through the Pacific Islands. During the investigation our protagonist discovers three mutant barracuda menacing the lagoon. Find out how the drug traffickers are brought to justice, and the dangerous beasts are dealt with. This is a nice sequel to Barracuda.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Armageddon Denied: A Pulse-Pounding Geopolitical Thriller That Hits Too Close to Home
Rating: 4.6/5

Mike Monahan’s Armageddon Denied is a masterclass in high-stakes storytelling that blurs the line between fiction and unsettling reality. As someone who typically approaches military thrillers with skepticism (often finding them overly technical or jingoistic), this novel disarmed me with its raw emotional core and scrupulous attention to geopolitical nuance.

Why This Book Stands Out
Monahan’s background as a veteran and law enforcement officer bleeds into every page, lending an authenticity that elevates the novel beyond typical genre fare. The Afghanistan evacuation scenes—particularly the abandoned allies subplot—carry a visceral weight that left me equal parts furious and heartbroken. Detective O’Shaughnessy’s reluctant heroism avoids cliché; his world-weariness feels earned, not performative. The interplay between tactical operations (Task Force Pineapple’s rescue mission) and global chess moves (U.S.-China-Russia tensions) is seamless, offering a 360-degree view of modern conflict.

Emotional Impact & Revelations
This book is a rollercoaster of dread and hope. Ameen’s character arc—a translator betrayed by geopolitical whims—struck me hardest, embodying the human cost of policy failures. The dirty bomb plot’s plausibility triggered real-world anxiety, especially in today’s climate of resurgent extremism. Monahan’s refusal to vilify any single faction (even the Taliban is portrayed with strategic nuance) forces readers to sit with uncomfortable moral ambiguities.

Constructive Criticism
The pacing stumbles slightly in mid-act exposition dumps (e.g., over-detailed briefings on South China Sea dynamics). Ameen’s backstory could benefit from deeper exploration to match O’Shaughnessy’s dimensionality. The ending, while satisfying, leans slightly deus ex machina for a story grounded in realism.

Final Verdict
A thinking person’s action novel—Tom Clancy meets The Sympathizer, with Monahan’s unique boots-on-the-ground perspective. This isn’t just entertainment; it’s a cautionary tale wrapped in a page-turner.

Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and the publisher for the gifted copy. Reading this felt like holding a mirror to our fractured world—terrifying yet necessary.

Pair with: The Afghanistan Papers for nonfiction context or The Terminal List for complementary tactical thrills.

For fans of: Mark Greaney’s geopolitical depth, Brad Thor’s operational realism, and Zero Dark Thirty’s moral complexity.

Note: Keep a stress ball handy—the Kabul evacuation chapters will have you white-knuckling your couch.

[Carla Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Goodreads and the publisher for the gifted copy.

Detective Mick O'Shaughnessy is going bak to Bikini Atoll, but this time he will have his partner Gus Lopez at his side as well, they are going at the request of FBI agent Buddy Burger. The FBI is tracking a large heroin ring bringing drugs into Los Angeles.

The book is very well written and the author has a great way of storytelling. I liked the book more so than most with this type of plot. It seemed more authentic and real, way better than average. It keeps your emotions all over the place and on your toes. This book is full of action that keeps you turning the pages. A very good action thriller that keeps you thinking. If you like this type of novel I highly recommend it.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot happened for nothing to happen. It builds and stops.