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Kirk McGarvey #7
White House
On American soil, a terrorist bomb explodes at a Georgetown restaurant, killing CIA operative Kirk MGarvey's girlfriend and wounding his daughter. Now Mcgarvey seeks vengeance while at the same time struggling with the growing crisis in the Far East where a mysterious underground nuclear explosion has destroyed a power station off the coast of North Korea.From the corridors of power in Washington to the Japanese space launch center at Tanegashima, White House tells a gripping story of suspense about one man's race to sabotage a cunning terrorist operation before it eliminates the White House-- and everyone he loves." … delivers a powerful payload of action, suspense and political intrigue ..." - Publishers WeeklyAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
380 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 1999
About the author
David Hagberg
79 books137 followersaka David Bannerman, Sean Flannery, David James, Robert Pell, Eric Ramsey
David Hagberg is a former Air Force cryptographer who has traveled extensively in Europe, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and has spoken at CIA functions. He has published more than twenty novels of suspense, including the bestselling High Flight, Assassin, and Joshua's Hammer.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidh...
David Hagberg is a former Air Force cryptographer who has traveled extensively in Europe, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and has spoken at CIA functions. He has published more than twenty novels of suspense, including the bestselling High Flight, Assassin, and Joshua's Hammer.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidh...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 13, 2022
White House by David Hagberg is probably the worst in the series so far for me. It started out well but just went downhill after about a third of the book. There where some redeeming features but not a lot. I will try some more later but feel I need a break from the adventures of Kirk McGarvey.
February 12, 2015
ON THE UP
3.8 STARS
Kirk McGarvey. Up to this point in the series, he was trapped in the same cycle of corpses, tragic love affairs and a vague hope that he could leave the espionage world behind. But for a man like him, a hunter, such things would never, ever come to pass. "White House" is where the McGarvey series began to mature. There's slightly less action (due to focusing on submarines and the intricacies of life at the company's Langley Virginia offices), and the main antagonists of the novel are no longer relevant, along with their threat which could be countered in real life, but Kirk McGarvey has become much more likable protagonist compared to the previous books where I found him quite the arsehole. Now to the review. When the people who fired you offer you the job of a lifetime, how deadly is the cost of accepting?
The novel begins with McGarvey driving to the offices of the CIA. He plans to give the top brass a piece of his mind, then retire once and for all. However, when he gets there, the directors blindside him. First, they point out he managed to destroy the career of the DDO in the previous book and then offer him the job, no strings attached, on the condition that he help plan a response to an interesting problem in East Asia. McGarvey mulls it over and goes to lunch with his daughter and his current lover who he's decided to dump. Unfortunately, a group of killers deploy a bomb which obliterates his lover and injures his daughter. Killing them all, he notices that the assailants are East Asian and may be related to his job offer, which he decides to accept. Meanwhile in Taiwan and Japan, a billionaire who is helping finance the Japanese space program coordinates a mysterious addition which spikes the interest of some American NASA observers. And in the Sea Of Japan, a rouge submarine begins to prey on Chinese PLAN vessels, pushing Japan and China towards open warfare. All these threads come together in a great penultimate chapter for the McGarvey series Cold War era.
In terms of plot, "White House" is solid but ultimately uninspiring. I think it might be the pacing and focus on submarine warfare but even the previous book had a lot more killing despite being more shoddily laid out. It's the pacing which causes problems, the beginning great, the middle slower and the final quarter a rocket blast to the finish. From McGarvey's new fiefdom at Langley, to a suicidal, race against time at a missile site on the Eastern Japanese coast, the settings are decent enough and a great last hurrah to the muddled Cold War closing years which caused the spy fiction genre to have a mid life crisis. Research is decent enough in some parts but a minor bit of mislabeling .22LR was a bit annoying, but understandable. He's the poor mans Tom Clancy and writes "espionage pulp fiction", rather than quality technothrillers.
In terms of characters, three stand outs. Kirk is finally likable now that he doesn't have a sanctimonious top brass giving him contemptuous morality lectures every chapter like in the previous books. He's won their respect and has nothing left to prove. He's also adds a bit more cunning to his usual brute force, skillfully thwarting the enemies who have underestimated him in the climax with a bit of speed, misdirection and a move which they don't consider. Next, there's Otto Renecke. Plays less of a part in this book but is still one of the more likable characters in the series. Third on the list is Richad Yemn, McGarvey's bodyguard. Savvy and likable, he helps McGarvey ease into a job which he claims he doesn't want but is suitable. Now, the female characters are still not great. McGarvey's wife and daughter return. They're still annoying like there were in the last novels. Nothing more needs to be said about them.
Overall, "White House" is easy reading. As a period piece, it's also a great look at how the spy genre began to transition as the new century dawned, and how it neared the end of its mid-life crisis with the Islamic Terrorist threat on the horizon.
3.8 STARS
Kirk McGarvey. Up to this point in the series, he was trapped in the same cycle of corpses, tragic love affairs and a vague hope that he could leave the espionage world behind. But for a man like him, a hunter, such things would never, ever come to pass. "White House" is where the McGarvey series began to mature. There's slightly less action (due to focusing on submarines and the intricacies of life at the company's Langley Virginia offices), and the main antagonists of the novel are no longer relevant, along with their threat which could be countered in real life, but Kirk McGarvey has become much more likable protagonist compared to the previous books where I found him quite the arsehole. Now to the review. When the people who fired you offer you the job of a lifetime, how deadly is the cost of accepting?
The novel begins with McGarvey driving to the offices of the CIA. He plans to give the top brass a piece of his mind, then retire once and for all. However, when he gets there, the directors blindside him. First, they point out he managed to destroy the career of the DDO in the previous book and then offer him the job, no strings attached, on the condition that he help plan a response to an interesting problem in East Asia. McGarvey mulls it over and goes to lunch with his daughter and his current lover who he's decided to dump. Unfortunately, a group of killers deploy a bomb which obliterates his lover and injures his daughter. Killing them all, he notices that the assailants are East Asian and may be related to his job offer, which he decides to accept. Meanwhile in Taiwan and Japan, a billionaire who is helping finance the Japanese space program coordinates a mysterious addition which spikes the interest of some American NASA observers. And in the Sea Of Japan, a rouge submarine begins to prey on Chinese PLAN vessels, pushing Japan and China towards open warfare. All these threads come together in a great penultimate chapter for the McGarvey series Cold War era.
In terms of plot, "White House" is solid but ultimately uninspiring. I think it might be the pacing and focus on submarine warfare but even the previous book had a lot more killing despite being more shoddily laid out. It's the pacing which causes problems, the beginning great, the middle slower and the final quarter a rocket blast to the finish. From McGarvey's new fiefdom at Langley, to a suicidal, race against time at a missile site on the Eastern Japanese coast, the settings are decent enough and a great last hurrah to the muddled Cold War closing years which caused the spy fiction genre to have a mid life crisis. Research is decent enough in some parts but a minor bit of mislabeling .22LR was a bit annoying, but understandable. He's the poor mans Tom Clancy and writes "espionage pulp fiction", rather than quality technothrillers.
In terms of characters, three stand outs. Kirk is finally likable now that he doesn't have a sanctimonious top brass giving him contemptuous morality lectures every chapter like in the previous books. He's won their respect and has nothing left to prove. He's also adds a bit more cunning to his usual brute force, skillfully thwarting the enemies who have underestimated him in the climax with a bit of speed, misdirection and a move which they don't consider. Next, there's Otto Renecke. Plays less of a part in this book but is still one of the more likable characters in the series. Third on the list is Richad Yemn, McGarvey's bodyguard. Savvy and likable, he helps McGarvey ease into a job which he claims he doesn't want but is suitable. Now, the female characters are still not great. McGarvey's wife and daughter return. They're still annoying like there were in the last novels. Nothing more needs to be said about them.
Overall, "White House" is easy reading. As a period piece, it's also a great look at how the spy genre began to transition as the new century dawned, and how it neared the end of its mid-life crisis with the Islamic Terrorist threat on the horizon.
Want to Read
April 15, 2023I got a copy from Trinity Baptist Church in Austin. The first thing I think about is who is entering the church and what will be yelled out amongst the parishioners who are excited in the presence of God. It cannot be false that church answers some of the call but man is there to deliver his grievances only to God. Are women even present.
Traveling abroad with this copy? Avoid woman with small children who are unveiled because they will want to know more about the book and less about your purpose in choosing to read about America's oldest institution because most of the time accessibility is easy.
In the White House? Is it cold? Do you feel the loneliness of the wooden floors? Does the blood of the soldier who will most certainly be asked to give his opinion ever enter your mind?
David Hagberg is responsible in this paperback series for at least allowing the reader a chance to escape nuances of the day and travel to secretive places where lives and lies are inevitable.
Traveling abroad with this copy? Avoid woman with small children who are unveiled because they will want to know more about the book and less about your purpose in choosing to read about America's oldest institution because most of the time accessibility is easy.
In the White House? Is it cold? Do you feel the loneliness of the wooden floors? Does the blood of the soldier who will most certainly be asked to give his opinion ever enter your mind?
David Hagberg is responsible in this paperback series for at least allowing the reader a chance to escape nuances of the day and travel to secretive places where lives and lies are inevitable.
May 6, 2015
I really don't read a lot because I can never find anything that interests me but this book was a great read. The book is about something that I find cool and interesting. A CIA agent trying to stop a terrorist plot before it kills more of his loved ones, and puts the nation into chaos makes this book a real page turner. I felt very motivated to continue reading this book because as it went on it got more interesting. The part of the book that really struck me was when the bomb went off in the restaurant. This part of the book really stuck out to me because it was as if I was watching a movie, it was so vivid and the author wrote it with such detail that I was literally drawn into the book. I also enjoyed the main character CIA Agent Kirk McGarvey. He is basically just thrown into bloodshed because he was about to receive a promotion to become head of the CIA. Then as the story goes on more and more stuff happens such as a nuclear explosion off the coast of Korea that nearly starts a third world war. It is a very great story that involves continuous action, dirty politics, and an enticing plot that leads to McGarvey having to protect his family while he goes on a one-man mission to stop the launch of american astronauts into space. To finish I would like to say that this is definitely one of the best books I have ever read and I will look more into this author so I can continue reading some of his work. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a lot of action, and political aspects when reading a book.
February 11, 2016
White House is Hagberg's 7th Kirk McGarvey novel and an even more enjoyable read than all since Countdown.
Once again Kirk's ex-wife Kathleen and his daughter Elizabeth are involved in a potential kidnapping, right after Kirk's French agent girl friend is murdered and Elizabeth injured in an explosion in Georgetown (DC) meant to take out Kirk. Who is after them. What does it have to do with a nuclear accident in No. Korea. Does it have anything to do with a Japanese national, and good friend of the US President, who is involved in a mystery regarding an upcoming Japanese/NASA space launch. With the exception of 2 or 3 chapters involving US, Chinese, and Japanese ships facing down each other in the Sea of Japan (I had a difficult time following the foggy explanation of what these ships were doing and why), White House is an exciting read. Kirk McGarvey is a 50 year old ex-CIA assassin and currently a deputy director of the CIA. Next up for me is McGarvey #8, Joshua's Hammer.
Once again Kirk's ex-wife Kathleen and his daughter Elizabeth are involved in a potential kidnapping, right after Kirk's French agent girl friend is murdered and Elizabeth injured in an explosion in Georgetown (DC) meant to take out Kirk. Who is after them. What does it have to do with a nuclear accident in No. Korea. Does it have anything to do with a Japanese national, and good friend of the US President, who is involved in a mystery regarding an upcoming Japanese/NASA space launch. With the exception of 2 or 3 chapters involving US, Chinese, and Japanese ships facing down each other in the Sea of Japan (I had a difficult time following the foggy explanation of what these ships were doing and why), White House is an exciting read. Kirk McGarvey is a 50 year old ex-CIA assassin and currently a deputy director of the CIA. Next up for me is McGarvey #8, Joshua's Hammer.
May 27, 2011
Hagberg is really a great story teller...McGarvey, now the CIA's DDO, must confront threats, both political and physical to himself and his family...Japan is again the antagonist, as is the administration...fun as always!!!
May 24, 2014
This is the first book, that I have read by Hagberg, and I enjoyed it; putting it up there, with other CIA assassin, Mitch Rapp. It has a lot of suspense and surprises. If you like these kinds of novels, this is one that you might consider. There is a little bit of adult (sexual) language.
December 17, 2007
Super fun read
May 10, 2010
Kirk becomes DDO
December 27, 2014
Excellent read!!
I could not put this book down! A real page Turner, Great storyline and lots of action, very well written to keep the reader engaged! Highly recommended
I could not put this book down! A real page Turner, Great storyline and lots of action, very well written to keep the reader engaged! Highly recommended
January 25, 2016
GREAT book could not put it down
December 10, 2023
Another terrific ride. McGarvey is one of the best!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews