Tokyo Black: Thomas Caine Thrillers, Book 1

Thomas Caine #1

by Andrew Warren, Jeff Harding (Narrator)

The first in the explosive Thomas Caine international thriller series by best-selling author Andrew Warren.

After he was left for dead in a blown CIA operation, former assassin Thomas Caine retreated to Thailand to start a new life. Years later, his former CIA bosses return with an offer he can’t refuse: spend the rest of his life in prison or accept a final mission to hunt down a runaway girl in Tokyo… Read by an Earphones Award–winning narrator.

Perfect for fans of Lee Child and David Baldacci

'A real blockbuster!' - Bestselling author Rob Sinclair

'Andrew Warren draws you into the dark underbelly of Tokyo' - USA Today bestselling author Steven Konkoly

The CIA betrayed him. Now they need his help…

Thomas Caine was the CIA’s deadliest killer. Then he was burned, betrayed, and left for dead.

Now he survives off the grid, currently in Pattaya, Thailand. But when a feud with local criminals lands him in jail, his old CIA masters return with an offer he can’t refuse… Rot in a Thai prison, or accept one last mission in Tokyo, Japan.

Forced to hunt the neon-lit city for a CIA asset’s runaway daughter, Caine soon crosses paths with a sinister faction of the yakuza crime syndicate and finds himself drawn into a terror plot that could throw the US and Japan into chaos.

But Caine knows a double cross when he sees one. He’s convinced someone in the CIA is manipulating him from behind the scenes. Someone who knows his past in intimate detail.

But this time, he’s not going down without a fight...

Don't miss this high-octane fast-paced international thriller - packed with gun battles, car chases, fascinating characters and exotic locations!

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Espionage

Audible Audio

First published July 18, 2016

About the author

Andrew Warren was born in New Jersey, but currently resides in the warmer climate of Southern California. He studied film, English and psychology at the University of Miami, and has over a decade of experience in the television and motion picture industry, where he has worked as a post-production supervisor, story producer and writer.

His passion for writing and traveling led Andrew to Japan. As soon as he set eyes on the country he fell in love with it, and felt compelled to use it as the setting for a series of novels. It took a few years, but Tokyo Black was the result of that trip.

Andrew’s writing skills have seen him write for Youtube Red's "Fight of the Living Dead," MangoTV's "Sons of Earth", and Discovery's "True Nightmares".

His love of the Far East extends to all varieties of Asian cuisine, and he scours Southern California looking for the best ramen, dumplings and beef noodle soup. All in the name or research, of course!

His fascination for the spy thriller genre was born from a love of James Bond films. Growing up, he knew that he was never going to be a muscle-bound giant, like Schwarzenegger or Stallone. Instead, he opted for charm and sophistication, with a smattering of brains and super-cool spy gadgets.

When he’s not working or writing classic spy thrillers, Andrew likes to relax at home with his pet dachshund, Ares, and his cat, Mina. He is currently working on the next Thomas Caine thriller, which will be set in East Africa.

Andrew loves to hear from his readers. Feel free to contact him here:

www.andrewwarrenbooks.com

facebook @andrewarrenbooks

andrew@andrewarrenbooks.com

Reviews

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FREE AGENT

“The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour”. -Japanese proverb.

“New eras don't come about because of swords; they're created by the people who wield them”. - Nobuhiro Watsuki.

“Summer grasses, All that remains, Of soldiers' dreams” ― Bashō Matsuo

In spy fiction, a battle has been waged between two styles. The first is the atmospheric, escapist, “classic” school as founded by Ian Fleming and Eric Ambler and the second is the stark, real world faction as established by Frederick Forsyth and Tom Clancy. Ultimately in the 20th century, the Forsyth/Clancy style decisively won out and laid waste to its competitor. Writers trip over themselves to see who can meet the bar and expectations Forsyth and Clancy laid down. I’ve always been more of a fan of the Forsyth/Clancy school, which takes real world details and twists them into chilling narratives that may or may have not happened on the other side of the world. However, having been exposed to it for so long, I’ve gotten to know the style’s weaknesses.

The primary weakness in the style is the grounding. The Clancy/Forsyth school provides many limiters on how much escapism you can inject into the narrative unlike its Fleming counterparts. Recently, I read a new spy thriller which has managed to take the best of both worlds, and mix their strengths into an impressive, delectable cocktail of old school atmosphere and classic spy novel tropes and merge them with a contemporary setting and edge that the Fleming/Ambler classics lack.

The book is called Tokyo Black and follows the life and times of a rogue former CIA officer by the name of Thomas Caine. Caine used to work for the Special Activities Division before a blown operation where his best friend at the Company was murdered caused him to flee to the Asia Pacific and build a wretched new life as a petty criminal. At the start of the story, the CIA hunts down Caine and force him to do a job where the reward will be his freedom. Flying to Japan on the eve of an attempt to resolve the Diaoyu Island dispute nothing is as it seems and when Caine gets deeper into a world inhabited by the most dangerous criminals in Asia, he’s soon faced with the fight of his life, trying to destroy a conspiracy with the lives of millions of innocents across the Asia Pacific rim in peril. Now to the review. When you burn a spy, can he be reborn from the ashes?

The novel begins in Tokyo’s legendary Shinjuku district. All the earthly pleasures humanity has can be satisfied in its clubs. A salaryman heads into one of them, paying for a hostess. Before they can begin, he’s rudely interrupted by a group of large well - dressed men entering the club. They question the hostess about the whereabouts of one of her friends. After acquiring the information, they leave, but not before killing all the club’s patrons and burning the establishment to the ground. We then cut to South Thailand where we’re introduced to our protagonist Thomas Caine who is going under the alias, Mark Walters. Caine smuggles odds and ends and he’s set to conduct another deal when he’s bush wacked and framed for crimes he did not commit. The Royal Thai Police process him and news of the arrest reaches Caine’s former masters at the CIA. One of them, a woman named Rebecca Freeling, takes particular notice, especially when her boss gives her a promotion and a new assignment.

With her new stature, Freeling quietly flies down to Thailand and journeys to Bang Kwang prison where Caine has been booked. She finds him, and it’s revealed they used to be lovers. Freeling opens with a job offer. The top CIA NCS asset in Japan is refusing to share intel on an imminent threat to US interests until his missing daughter is found. Caine having the appropriate language skills, combat training and previous experience working in Tokyo is the perfect candidate. Initially blowing her off, Caine changes his tune after a harrowing nightmare filled night in the notorious Thai jail. The next day, he accepts and upon release, heads to Tokyo. There he begins reactivating his old cover identity and re-establishing the connection he made to Japan’s underworld, working with a big Yakuza family in order to get them to aid him in his hunt for the girl. But as he makes his moves, Caine soon finds he’s going up against other players that seek to violently knock him off the board and turn him into a disposable pawn.

A fabulously wealthy Japanese ultra – nationalist political organization is working through Tokyo’s criminals, one bullet at a time and gearing up for an attack that would change the world for the worse. A team of mysterious mercenaries arrives in Japan with orders to terminate Caine before he can complete his mission. And across the Pacific, the CIA’s Director of Clandestine Services begins making final preparations to the most ambitious black operation in the Company’s history. All these threads come together in a blaze of gunfire, brooding intrigue and an immersive, cinematic experience playing out on a real world backdrop in Asia’s most legendary metropolis. There are no clean kills in Tokyo and with time running out, Thomas Caine is forced to begin a lonely resurrection and become the shadow warrior he was destined to be in order to answer one important question. Who dies so others may live?

In terms of plot, Tokyo Black is by far the biggest surprise of my reading selection this year. The author, Andrew Warren worked in TV and is a devoted spy fiction enthusiast. He proves to be intimately familiar with the primary tropes and conventions of spy fiction and even better at executing them in ways that are outstanding for a first full length novel, and an indie published one at that. While I love indie novels for the generally increased level of creative freedom they allow for the writers which allows the books to go places where traditionally published novels are unable to go due to publisher constraints, there are only a few indie writers out there who work to take loving care and attention to the quality of their work when writing. Mr Warren joins this exclusive club.

The story of Tokyo Black is well crafted, with plenty of action, twists and excellent dialogue coming together to create a seductive atmosphere which draws readers in deep and does not let go till the final gunshot rings out. While taking place in the sort of setting which would be catnip for a Clancy/Forsyth novelist, Andrew Warren has not forgotten the fun factor and lets the escapist elements the old masters like Fleming were famous for have a slight dominance over the real world aspects of the story.

The result takes the best of both worlds and allows Warren the opportunity to distinguish his novel in the highly competitive and cut throat genre of espionage fiction. When reading the story, I detected influences from the aforementioned Fleming novels, to the likes of the Burn Notice TV series and Quentin Tarantino. In some ways, Tokyo Black is the closest spiritual equivalent a writer is probably going to get to creating an enjoyable and well written contemporary set James Bond novel, with Warren utilizing classic tropes and updating them for the 21st century, with style.

Next, the atmosphere, setting and action. Andrew Warren knows this is one of his primary strengths and plays it for all its worth. And the move pays off. Tokyo Black has the sort of intrigue classic novels like “You Only Live Twice” and “Red Harvest”, were renowned for. Once you’ve started the book, before you know it the story will have dug its hooks into you and you will be unable to stop turning the pages, attempting to uncover the secrets behind the plot Tokyo Black’s antagonists have cooked up. Coupled with this is the fictional Tokyo the author has conjured. Having visited Japan Warren uses the information he gained to great effect. His Tokyo is darkly seductive and malevolent; it could even be considered a character in its own right.

Over the course of several days, Caine goes from the depths of the metropolis to its heights. From the clubs of Shinjuku where Caine is forced to draw first blood in the shadow war he finds himself in, to the safe houses of the Yakuza where death is discussed and dealt out, the story delivers a phenomenal climax on top of the Tokyo Sky tree, the second tallest man made structure on earth where Caine and his allies mount a desperate assault against a team of psychotic hostage takers 634 metres above ground level. My personal favourite scene however is a gloriously choreographed car chase through Tokyo’s streets and freeways. The author makes the genius move of using the finest pieces of engineering to come out of Japan’s car industry, the Nissan GTR and the Honda NSX 2016, rather than some pissant hatchback. It’s a clash of titans and one of the few decently done car chases to feature in recent spy fiction.

Now to research. This being more of a Fleming/Ambler type thriller, the research is more subdued in places that would be common in a Clancy/Forsyth type novel. Mr Warren for instance does not turn his book into an ordinance catalogue; authors like Brad Thor are guilty of doing at times. Caine arrives in Tokyo and over the course of the story, utilizes only three weapons. A Beretta 92, a Beretta PX4 Storm and a Spyderco Tactical folder. Lean and mean, high speed and no drag. Being a deniable asset, he has no access to the support network Langley would give its actual officers and thus makes do with his tradecraft and smarts to even the odds against the powerful criminals going up against him.
Instead, Warren focuses the research on other areas. From the lovingly described environments of Tokyo, Mr Warren also showed great understanding of Japanese culture and did his homework on the dynamics of the ongoing Sekkaku dispute Japan has with the China, and the latter’s drone industry, a product of which plays a major role in the climax. He also appeared to have read up on the ideology of the Japanese ultranationalists and accurately nails their rather loathsome beliefs. In one standout scene where the primary antagonist reveals himself, the man gives a chilling lecture of his worldview and motivations, ones which others who don’t have his resources would love to see come to fruition in real life.

Now to the cast. There were so many standouts in this story but for brevity’s sake we’ll focus on three. First, we’ll focus on Thomas Caine. Think of him as the literary version of Michael Westen, the anti – hero of Burn Notice, mixed with the violent blunt instrument elements of the literary James Bond. When we meet him, he’s in a bigger funk than Rick Blaine was when Elsa waltzed into Casablanca. Caine is bitter at Langley’s Company men betraying him when he needed their help the most. His arc is that of rediscovery and absolution. Initially planning to slither back under the metaphorical rock he’s hidden himself underneath, Caine’s assignment soon evolves into a quest to make what he sees as a difference, namely helping get justice for a woman who has been even more wronged that he has. And along the way, he begins to resurrect and re – emerge as the master government assassin he had been in his past life. Haunted yet likable, Caine is a three dimensional, realistic badass, someone who will fold when the odds are against him, but more than capable of bouncing back and whacking the person trying to break him in the face.

Next, we have Rebecca Freeling. Rebecca is a high ranking intelligence officer who is one of the Company’s high flyers. Her life changes when her one true love re – enters her life like a .45 ACP hollow point smashing through plate glass. As a character, Rebecca is excellently done and nearly managed to steal the show from Mr Caine. Clever, professional and career driven, Freeling is also tough and resolute in her morals, which proves unacceptable to a faction of the Agency who at a point in the novel apprehend her. Despite not being a trained killer like Caine, Rebecca acquits herself in a situation that would break an equivalent character in another novel. Damsel in distress she is most certainly not and through a judicious use of deceptions and a Mr Heckler and Koch, Freeling blasts her way out of the confinement she was put in.

Finally, we have DCS Bernatto, head of the CIA NCS and the true spymaster of America. A ruthless visionary who made his name running violent, morally ambiguous covert wars against America’s enemies, Bernatto slowly lost all restraint and grew drunk on the power he had over a key part of the US government, being able to decide who lived and died in the pursuit of more self-serving goals regardless of the cost it took on the officers and assets under his command.

Taking stock of the world and identifying what he considered a clear and present danger to the United States, the DCS decides to execute one final operation, a parting gift to his country and a capstone to his career in the spying game. As a character, Bernatto serves as one of the primary obstacles facing Caine. The DCS is competent, cunning and a deft intelligence officer with decades of experience in manipulating his fellow humans to get what he wants. Bernatto is a formidable opponent and throughout much of the story, he’s one step ahead of all the players.

Now, constructive criticism. There were a few research errors, but thankfully they were of the kind that could be fixed with a simple edit. Mr Warren knows this and plans to correct them in a future re – release of the Tokyo Black. Apart from that, I have nothing more to add, Tokyo Black did not put a foot wrong.

So, my verdict is this. Tokyo Black is an outstanding spy novel and one which seeks to update classic tropes and elements from the old masters of thriller fiction’s pioneers and bring them into the 21st century. Mixing the conventions which made the Bond novels and films great, with the stylistic trappings of the Burn Notice TV show, combining it with the cinematic violence and blood pumping thrills of a Quentin Tarantino film and setting it in one of the most geopolitically important regions of the planet today, author Andrew Warren has written a perfectly executed debut novel, one which manages the increasingly difficult feat of establishing its own unique feel and identity in the crowded spy fiction genre. In a few months, Thomas Caine will be journeying west to China. Once a dead man walking, he has risen once more to begin a lonely resurrection. Some spies never truly come in from the cold. But in a world where winner takes all, the odds are in Caine’s favor.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[J.T. Patten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Vivid Thriller, Artistically Painted (and Splattered) on Pages

https://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Black-Th...

I call a book like this a guilty pleasure where the story initially reminds me of pulp fiction and unbelievable nuances are forgiven because the read is so fun. Tokyo Black is somewhat far fetched when it comes to the Shooter and Spy aspects (Hell, it's fiction...), but written well enough that you don't care about another CIA killer program with hired hit-men and a hottie red-head running the show. It moved up quickly to sheer pleasure.

Author Andrew Warren takes readers to an elevated level with an unexpected journey into the dark corners of Asia with uncanny detail. A very visual and descriptive thriller that creates a brilliant graphic novel in the mind. And it's damn graphic in some parts, but a la Q Tarantino, so you root for every bone break and hollow point flying through the air. The fact that Warren writes for television and motion pictures shows. This book could easily go to big screen and I'm buying a ticket---unless he scores me a premier pass.

Aaand there's Bobu. Bobu is an utter bad ass toughy muscle thug. I can't wait for you to meet him. He's a brutal ex-Yakuza monster. Awesome. Caine, the protagonist, is a likable tough guy. You know the type---former agency, former black ops assassin who was the best of the best and is now a jaded washed out loser looking out for #1 playing to the cliche, but he, too, is entertaining enough that a reader overlooks the caricature and suspends all judgement due to his snarky attitude and heart to see the mission through for the weak, the abused, and the good ole U.S. of A.

The story overall reminded me of a most-awesome Magnum PI episode mixed with the movies Rising Sun, Transporter and a splash of Jason Bourne. Sorry Andrew, but that's a compliment in my eyes. I was engrossed and really pleasantly surprised with a book that literally hit my in-box and was not on my priority list. Warren is a solid writer (who I could learn a lot from, I might add). And now it's late, and I've spent yet another late night reading a book that I had to see through to the end. I'll applaud you now and curse you in a few hours with bloodshot eyes.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

fast paced thriller

[Aiden Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tokyo Black hooked me immediately with the sharp prose and fast action, then drew me deeper with its vibrant depictions of 21st century Japanese techno-culture and neon-fused, anime-influenced landscapes. Sprinkle in allusions to one of my favourite authors, Haruki Murakami, a nod to classic ‘Western’ Japanese movies like Black Rain and The Wolverine, and then throw in a Jason Bourne/James Bond fusion in the guise of burnt out CIA assassin, Thomas Caine, and that in a nutshell, is Tokyo Black.

I find myself drawn to espionage thriller writers who know how to use the world as a stage, not just Europe and North America, and I sense that author Andrew Warren has a great love for all things Asia. One really senses that Warren knows Tokyo well, to the point where he can create the Bladerunner-esque cityscape is a character in itself. He uses real locales and cultural idiosyncrasies to build the plot and draw readers into the full-sense spectrum of the mystery unfolding around the characters.

The novel opens with a brutal mass murder in the red-light districts of Tokyo where ex-Yakuza terror-fanatics are searching for a girl, butchering anyone even the slightest bit linked to her. Don’t invest in any of these first chapter point-of-view characters, because they don’t last long.

Then we cut to Pattaya, Thailand, where our hero, Thomas Caine, now a disgraced ex-contract assassin for the Central Intelligence Agency is lying low and making the most of his alias to get rich quick with low-level crime syndicates. Then he is betrayed, as is the destiny of heroic spies, and ends up looking down the barrel of a lengthy sentence/short life expectancy in Thailand’s infamous “Bangkok Hilton.”

Escape comes packaged in an attractive, street-smart CIA case officer who once had an affair with Caine, and she offers him a new contract to find the missing girl in said first chapter in return for springing him from jail. Considering his circumstances, Caine takes up the contract.

From there it is a chase through Tokyo featuring fast sports cars, shootouts, sex hotels, animated popstars, China politics and Yakuza honour.

If you like your spy thrillers fast and energic, with a hint of James Bond implausibility for action’s-sake and straight out fun, then Tokyo Black is the action-movie in word format for you.

[Crina Bucur · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5*) It was ok, very fast-paced, but it feels more like a hollywood adventure movie rather than a novel. Some dialogs, especially in the CIA agency, are shallow and lack credibility.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Warren is definitely my new favourite writer and Thomas Caine my new favourite assassin.
This book was like taking a joyride in your parents car while they're away on holiday.
(Really good and immense fun)
I'd totally recommend this book to all the mystery/thriller fans out there.
Andrew Warren writes as well as and even better than some of the big names in fiction and the characters are three dimensional.
Give it a go, you definitely won't be disappointed.

[John Bullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a genre where the likes of Robert Ludlum and (early) Tom Clancy are king, there are many pretenders to the throne. Most of these are light weights but you occasionally get the real deal. Andrew Warren is the real Deal. Having now read the first Thomas Caine novel, I am very much looking forward to reading more. I rarely give 5 stars, but I am happy to do so in this case. I love the story from the moment I picked it up.

[Farhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the fact that the author tried his best to put in as many action sequences as he could in the story, but all of the said sequences were unrealistic, cheesy, implausible, and as original as a B-grade Hollywood action flick.

[Geoff. Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is as exciting and well-written a first novel as I've come across in a while. Whether you may think of John Rain (the most obvious comparison), or Reacher or Noah Wolfe, Thomas Caine stands the comparison. If the plot seems byzantine, this is a world of rogue CIA agents, yakuza and the Tokyo underworld. The writing is cinematic in a way that film can never really match
Andrew Warren is an author to reckon with.
Highly recommended.

[Mandy Walkden-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller indeed.

Action-packed, riveting storyline as Caine heads to Japan with the seemingly simple task to find and rescue a young woman. Turns out it's anything but simple. Old foes emerge, stranger allies and a conspiracy is afoot.

Characters are well developed and interesting and the Yakuza groups appropriately sinister. Well written and a very enjoyable read.

[Barry who enjoys well-written thrillers, mysteries , & espionage & loathes romance, horror & supernat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read a bit less than 10% of this book and found it too contrived so it became a DNF.

The End

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book in the series has our hero, working underground, found, and sent to Tokyo to find a girl also pursued by a maniacal Yakuza like group that scars themselves to prove fidelity.

Lots of action, but not really as smooth as some of the later books. I hope the next one comes out in the near future.

[Kronos Ananthsimha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A betrayed operative. A coalition between a Japanese billionaire and a CIA strategist. A right-wing terror cult. And the balance of power in the Far-East lies in finding an enigma.

Andrew Warren's debut thriller is fleshed out in stark details with splashes of psychedelic colors, neon lights, neo-noir tropes and the darkly rich world of shadows. Every chapter exudes an aura of something new, something that hasn't been explored enough in the genre.

Thomas Caine, once an elite assassin for the US, is betrayed and is surviving his metaphorical afterlife in the seedy underbelly of Pattaya as a smuggler. His sad excuse for a life is devastated by another betrayal and he finds himself in a hellish prison with one option: Stay and die or accept a mission from his former employers to go back to the open world.

As a free agent, Caine travels to Tokyo and into an old cover ID having a rich history with the Yakuza. A mob clan assists Caine in locating an Agency asset's illegitimate daughter who's on the run and is believed to have high-value intel.

On the other side of the coin is a high ranking strategist at Langley using private contractors, and a Japanese billionaire with extreme right-wing leanings who has complete control of a death cult called Tokyo Black. All these players are after the girl Caine is tasked with locating.

The Tokyo Black group has enough cinematically bone-chilling scenes through the pages. Its members are made of former Yakuza men who burn their Yakuza tattoos till their whole body is scarred. Only the strongest survive this induction phase. Bobu Smizu, the leader of this cult, has a personal vendetta against Caine which sparks up tense emotions in the book.

Rebecca Freeling, Caine's handler is a strong and brilliant female character goes past treacherous challenges in a way in which she deserves a spin-off series that could focus on her strategic side of operations.

From car chases to shootouts and martial arts fights, there's enough action but it stays very realistic. The character of Caine is a mysterious enigma that can be compared to legends in the genre like Jason Bourne and Court Gentry(The Gray Man).

The characters keep facing continual challenges that make their lives an acceleration into a gloom. The use of the East China Sea crisis and China-Japan relations makes this story on par with today's headlines. With lots of dark settings, both literal and metaphorical, and a detailed, well-researched chaos, this plot will be one of the bests for me.

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

A movie-like thriller full of detail

3.5 out of 5 stars

You can usually tell when an author throws a book together without doing his or her research.  And then you can tell when someone really has a passion for something or someplace.  You can tell that Warren has a passion for writing a well thought out and detailed thriller and that he loves Japan and Japanese culture (the good and the bad). 

Tokyo Black is a look into the deep and dark world of a gang that is filled with ex-Yakuza members who believe that the Yakuza has lost their ways and that they need to start over again.  To join, you just need to have your Yakuza tattoo's removed in the most painful ways imaginable.  If you can survive the pain -- you may join.  And what do they call themselves? Tokyo Black.  Thomas Caine is thrown into the middle of this as he searches for a CIA asset's missing daughter. 

The story itself was really detailed.  As I wrote about, I could really tell that Warren either spent time in and around Tokyo or spent a lot of time researching their cultures, traditions, and landmarks.  At first I felt like I was being dropped into a series mid-run, but after a little while Warren started to explain who Caine was and why we were following him.  It took a little while to get there, but once the story did, it picked up the pace and really moved towards the end. 

Thomas Caine is one of those 'I like you but I don't like you' kind of main characters.  He has one of those personalities that I could have really hated, but he grew on me.

The story itself was really interesting, but a little too detail oriented.  I enjoy the details but sometimes it just felt like it dragged on a little too much.  As I mentioned above, the story did pick up about a third of the way in and did continue at a pretty good pace from there one.  But getting through the first third was harder than I usually like. 

Overall though, Tokyo Black was one of those thrillers for people who like detail-written plots with really researched topics, great character development, and a nice medium-to-fast paced story. 

The narration was done by Jonathan Davis, who I thought did a pretty good job.  I've never had any issues with any of my Tantor Audio books -- and this one was no different.  Perfectly edited with good pacing and great sound quality. 

[Bodo Pfündl · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary debut!

Andrew Warren makes a strong case for himself, delivering a perfectly crafted rollercoaster ride of action, intrigue and memorable characters!

You will cheer for Tom and Rebecca fighting the good fight while constantly being under fire.

You will try (but probably fail) to anticipate the story’s many twists and turns.

But most of the time you will just marvel at the insanely innovative action scenes and the vividly described settings they take part in!

Tokyo Black grips you from the start and doesn’t let go till you rushed down that last paragraph! It offers everything you could ask from this kind of book and also some things you probably wouldn’t expect from this genre (e.g. real character development)!

It’s also of note that Andrew is one of those authors, who gets better with every book, so if Tokyo Black drew you in, the sequel Red Phoenix will… well you get the idea;)

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tokyo Black - a review by Rosemary Kenny

A mixture of Fast 'n' Furious and Mission Impossible sees ex-CIA assassin Thomas Caine undercover, working for the very organisation that betrayed him and killed his partner, leading him to move to self-imposed exile in the Thai underworld of Pattaya, in Andrew Warren's Thomas Caine series opener, Tokyo Black
.
His mission - should he accept it, (after being framed by local gangsters and threatened with a slow death in a hellhole of a prison if he doesn't) - is to locate and rescue a CIA asset's daughter and get them both to safety...but what Caine hasn't yet realised is that ranged against him is a shadowy cult of ex-Yakuza members, willing to risk everything, to satisfy their leader the eponymous Tokyo Black...a terrorist with a global threat in the making if Caine fails.

Can he do it? You'll have to read Andrew Warren's magnificent Tokyo Black to find out if Caine can live to star in a sequel - don't wait, the clock is ticking!

[Jacob Peled · Rating 1 out of 5]

It started for me as a 5 star book ( most of them do) , but after few chapters it went down to 4 and then 3. After that (about a third) it went downhill to a single star and less. The story looks so familiar, as if I read it more than once. It is the typical ex CIA agent being recruited to a special mission. He is being betrayed left and right. There is of curse a woman close by to try and inject some romance. Every episode is described in length. Glad the author didn’t describe our hero’s underwear while he was being shot at.
Yes. Lots and lots of dead bodies. Lots of shooting. The story is in Japan’ so all the names are Japanize. Hard to remember who is who. By the way the only exception in this book is that it take place in Japan. Same bad guys and good guys you will find in similar action books.
Good script for a B movie

[Sana Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ex CIA agent, betrayed, burned and left for dead Thomas Caine is deadly and dangerous.  Him and I got along very well.  From the streets of Pattaya to the glittering skyscrapers of Tokyo, this book packs some good action with diverse settings and interesting characters.  Though nothing entirely new about the plot i.e. saving the world from an imminent terrorist attack, it's Caine himself who drives the story forward.  I found the action sequences to be very well written and Caine's quick acting in the face of adversity impressive.  I will definitely be picking up more Thomas Caine books in the future, especially when Im in the mood for some fun and insane action.

[Jack Sakalauskas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced exciting story, deserving 5 stars. But, editing holding me back. Numerous sentences with words in the wrong sequence, missing words, extra words and some misspelled. I dislike the flow of words running into a speedbump.

[Aaron Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced action

The book captured my attention in the first few pages and kept it through the entire book. Good characters and plot.

[Keli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic body count and full of action.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh to be an ex-CIA operative called in for one….last…job. To hang from a building ledge by one hand a 1000 feet above the bustling streets of Tokyo while your nemesis shoots at you and stomps on said hand and still survive. To drink and not get drunk. To eat and not get indigestion or need to go to a loo. To monkey bar your way from one emotionally detached relationship to another. To endure a merciless beating, rise up to slay your opponent, and then get up the next day and do it again.

It’s not my genre but this novel successfully fills out the spy thriller template to make a compelling read. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, just to do it right.

[Mike Nemeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Caine has been scarred by betrayal, choosing to spend years in hiding as a criminal rather than alert those who cultivated his talent as a killing machine that he's not dead. However, he's coaxed back into the business of espionage and murder by a colleague who has discovered his demise was fiction. A woman has gone missing and her recovery is paramount to a political deal with massive worldwide ramifications. At least that's the story. In "Tokyo Black," writer Andrew Warren crafts a well-written story that doesn't get too bogged in political detail. Warren operates on the fringes, in the dark allies where thugs rule and respect is earned. Caine approaches a past ally who just happens to be a crime boss. The operative saved the boss's son. He is owed a favor. This leads to the introduction of a supporting character, the Yakuza's lieutenant, who gives the novel its Japanese authenticity. He also adds a couple strong female characters who bolster the storyline. Warren gets gritty and his characters suffer accordingly. Caine's damaged past colors his present and complicates his future. The antagonists are highly developed and fully deserve comeuppance. I promptly read the next two novels as I just had to read more.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a real mixture and I have been thinking long and hard how to review it. There are Pros and cons

Pros
The story is fast paced and there is a lot of action. You get such a great view of what modern Japan is like it s like being there. The characters are good and there are enough twists to make the story a good page turner.

Cons
They are small but I guess because the rest of the book is so good and well researched and visualised these small faults jump out as huge to me. For example at one stage he is stilling in a car and he mentions seeing flowers on the back seat of the car behind him...how? You cant see that from a car?
In another scene he is checking into a capsule hotel and he doesn't change his clothes but he puts on slippers and comments that he wouldn't run and i think fight in them. After a fight he escapes the hotel into a huge fight, but no mention of the slippers or how hard it is to fight in them. As I say sorry probably trivial but I get so into the story they jump out like glaring mistakes. There are others.

Having said all that and weight it up I would still want to read the next one in the series. So not a fail for me.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be an improvement over the shorter prequel Devil's Due, both in plot and character development. Now that I know more about the protagonist and his backstory, I'm ready for the next installment to see how he deals with his former CIA handler who betrayed him and ruined this life.

As a side note for those to whom such things matter, in addition to being well written, the book was apparently well proofread and edited as well, so that it does not burden the reader with spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors nor unnecessary repetition or other structural mistakes that distract from enjoying the reading experience.

[Mark Muramoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot I bought this book awhile ago so when my wife reminded me that this was sitting in our kindle library I thought I'd check it out and I am glad I did. I can't wait to read more from Andrew. I enjoyed the character and sightseeing of Tokyo and its surrounding neighborhoods. Having just returned from Japan it brought everything back in spades. For people who are thinking about delving into this author's Thomas Caine books an easy comparison is Barry Eisler. So if you like him you will enjoy Andrew.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A. Warren is on the path to being a good Independent writer.

Do you like lots of shooting, car chases, rotten apples high in government and accompanying worms with the wealth and power to support their own political/nefarious agendas? If so, this book may be for you. I found the non-stop action somewhat overdone. Thomas Caine is an ex-CIA asset, killer for good-of-country until realizing he’s been killer for good-of-rotten-apple(s)! The editing needs improvement. I will take a break from this series but may read the next book at some point.

[Ralph Phares · Rating 5 out of 5]

What A Deal On Some Free Books!

I got this book on a three-for-free deal. What's not to like about that? Then I let it sit in my Kindle for several weeks. Something about the cover art just seemed off-putting. So I read several other books instead. Now was the time, so I "dusted" off Tokyo Black. I'm happy I did! The action, the story, the characters, the suspense-it was all enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. Now to get this review done who I can get started on book two. Five strong stars for Andrew Sweden's Tokyo Black!

[Jacqui Houlding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced thriller

I would not normally finish reading a book which I found too blood thirsty for my liking but, the setting of the story in Japan made it much more interesting. More importantly however, Andrew Warren's style of writing and exceptional descriptive narrative took me past the gore and wanting to read more. The pace of the story was excellent and the thought that it probably represents real life for many involved in the underworld of Tokyo is very disturbing.

[Garry Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook and rated it three stars.

Not sure if my rating system is fair for audiobooks since it takes me so long to listen to one when I exercise. I guess I should exercise more often?

Good story, but seemed to get bogged down in the details. Since this was the first story in a series, the author may have been level setting, but I am not sure I will read/listen to the other stories in the series.