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Jerry Mitchell #5
Fatal Thunder
Three men uncover a plot to launch nuclear weapons at China's port cities in this heart-pounding military thriller from New York Times best-selling author Larry Bond.
Jerry Mitchell, skipper of the USS North Dakota, receives a message from Girish Samant, a submarine captain and former enemy of his, requesting a meeting. That meeting revives memories of a submarine he'd served on many years ago and a mission that proved far more dangerous and important than he had expected.
Girish once tried to kill Jerry, but now he and Aleksey Petrov, a former Russian sub captain, need the American's help to uncover a terrible Nuclear relics of the fallen Soviet Empire are being sold to people more than willing to use them. A group of Indian nationalists are plotting to cripple China's economy with the bootleg nuclear weapons. Jerry and his comrades must stop the cabal's plan before they trigger an Asian nuclear war.
Jerry Mitchell, skipper of the USS North Dakota, receives a message from Girish Samant, a submarine captain and former enemy of his, requesting a meeting. That meeting revives memories of a submarine he'd served on many years ago and a mission that proved far more dangerous and important than he had expected.
Girish once tried to kill Jerry, but now he and Aleksey Petrov, a former Russian sub captain, need the American's help to uncover a terrible Nuclear relics of the fallen Soviet Empire are being sold to people more than willing to use them. A group of Indian nationalists are plotting to cripple China's economy with the bootleg nuclear weapons. Jerry and his comrades must stop the cabal's plan before they trigger an Asian nuclear war.
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First published May 3, 2016
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About the author
Larry Bond
77 books412 followersLarry Bond is the author of several bestselling military thrillers, including Crash Dive, Cold Choices, Dangerous Ground, Red Phoenix and the Larry Bond’s First Team and Larry Bond’s Red Dragon Rising series. He was a naval officer for six years, serving four on a destroyer and two on shore duty in the Washington DC area. He's also worked as a warfare analyst and antisubmarine technology expert, and he now writes and designs computer games, including Harpoon and Command at Sea. He makes his home in Springfield, Virginia.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larrybond
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larrybond
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 16, 2017
This story does not live up to many of Mr. Bond's other writings. It is little more than a long, bickering, meandering political story around stolen nukes. 1 of 10 stars
January 14, 2017
I like submarine stories and I have read everything from Larry Bond. His story telling mixes well with the highly detailed technical backdrop of every modern weapon system used. I had read the previous four Jerry Mitchell books, believing that the ending of the fourth would spell the end of series.
I jumped at the opportunity to pick up the fifth as soon as I could. While the others were focused on submarines, potential future capabilities and decent characters, _Fatal Thunder_ isn't much of that. It is more amateur spy thriller & class reunion. Characters from the first, second and fourth books are brought together. Submarine captains, on shore, uncover a dastardly plot. It takes 250 of 365 pages until the submarines actually leave the dock.
This time around, the submarine bits are lightweight. Not much in the way of hunting. Some of the solutions in the finale feel rushed. While technically accurate, the plot isn't what I wanted out of a Larry Bond, Jerry Mitchell book (more submarines!).
I jumped at the opportunity to pick up the fifth as soon as I could. While the others were focused on submarines, potential future capabilities and decent characters, _Fatal Thunder_ isn't much of that. It is more amateur spy thriller & class reunion. Characters from the first, second and fourth books are brought together. Submarine captains, on shore, uncover a dastardly plot. It takes 250 of 365 pages until the submarines actually leave the dock.
This time around, the submarine bits are lightweight. Not much in the way of hunting. Some of the solutions in the finale feel rushed. While technically accurate, the plot isn't what I wanted out of a Larry Bond, Jerry Mitchell book (more submarines!).
April 16, 2017
A disappointment after the prior books in the series. Another example of a series that should have been allowed to end but was continued so that the author(s) could make a buck. On the cover, W.E.B. Grriffen is quoted as saying "guaranteed to keep you up all night". He must be a light sleeper !
August 28, 2025
Two thirds of the book read more like a spy/suspense novel setting up the inevitable sub chase/battle to follow.
July 4, 2021
A good plot but too many minute details which can only be understood by some submariner not by a common military thriller fan.
Overall story was coherent but lacked uncertainty of a thriller
Overall story was coherent but lacked uncertainty of a thriller
August 31, 2023
Spoiler alert: thirteen pages into Tom Clancy’s “The Hunt for Red October,” Captain First Rank Marko Ramius breaks a political officer’s neck before taking his Soviet submarine deep as the first act of his defection to the United States.
Clancy followed the venerable tradition of opening a story in the heart of the action, and a rip-roaring good yarn unrolled from that bone-cracking start. Imagine, now, if Clancy had spent the first two-thirds of the book on everything that happened leading up to Ramius’s treason.
That, unfortunately, is what Larry Bond has done in “Fatal Thunder.” He attempts to start with action by detonating a nuclear bomb in Kashmir. After that radioactive launch, he takes us on a nail-biting ride through meetings, phone chats, walk-and-talks, and videoconferences.
While this might be realistic enough for what would happen if the world woke up to a surprise mushroom cloud, it isn’t interesting to read about. By the time the U.S. Navy is racing to interdict a rogue sub with a nuclear payload, there’s not enough book left to care what happens next.
This is a shame, because Bond’s greatest strength as an author is his ability to write tactical military maneuvers, especially on the open seas. He is fully capable of writing a thrilling naval hunt with global war and peace in the balance.
What we have instead is a pedestrian geopolitical thriller where Captain Jerry Mitchell, the titular hero of the series, isn’t even on the page for most of the book. I appreciated the clever callbacks to previous novels, but those aren’t enough to make up for the fact that Bond is writing outside his strengths.
As an aside, though, I had to smile when a former submarine officer grumbles that new tech in central post makes everything feel too much like a video game. Another officer reminds him this is the future of all navies, and that most new recruits grew up on video games anyway.
Since Bond spent the ‘80s and ‘90s building the “Harpoon” naval combat computer game franchise (which I loved as a teenager), I’ll bet this reflects “kids these days” conversations he himself had with grumpy old officers. Despite my disappointment with the novel, I enjoyed that flash of nostalgia.
Clancy followed the venerable tradition of opening a story in the heart of the action, and a rip-roaring good yarn unrolled from that bone-cracking start. Imagine, now, if Clancy had spent the first two-thirds of the book on everything that happened leading up to Ramius’s treason.
That, unfortunately, is what Larry Bond has done in “Fatal Thunder.” He attempts to start with action by detonating a nuclear bomb in Kashmir. After that radioactive launch, he takes us on a nail-biting ride through meetings, phone chats, walk-and-talks, and videoconferences.
While this might be realistic enough for what would happen if the world woke up to a surprise mushroom cloud, it isn’t interesting to read about. By the time the U.S. Navy is racing to interdict a rogue sub with a nuclear payload, there’s not enough book left to care what happens next.
This is a shame, because Bond’s greatest strength as an author is his ability to write tactical military maneuvers, especially on the open seas. He is fully capable of writing a thrilling naval hunt with global war and peace in the balance.
What we have instead is a pedestrian geopolitical thriller where Captain Jerry Mitchell, the titular hero of the series, isn’t even on the page for most of the book. I appreciated the clever callbacks to previous novels, but those aren’t enough to make up for the fact that Bond is writing outside his strengths.
As an aside, though, I had to smile when a former submarine officer grumbles that new tech in central post makes everything feel too much like a video game. Another officer reminds him this is the future of all navies, and that most new recruits grew up on video games anyway.
Since Bond spent the ‘80s and ‘90s building the “Harpoon” naval combat computer game franchise (which I loved as a teenager), I’ll bet this reflects “kids these days” conversations he himself had with grumpy old officers. Despite my disappointment with the novel, I enjoyed that flash of nostalgia.
Read
December 21, 2016A very interesting book. Much knowledge about modern submarines. It also portrays how the proliferation of nuclear weapons and unattended Soviet nucs can be easily bought off the black market. This part brings up the distrust among the nations of the world uneasy about this problem. I felt that it was an enjoyable book and hard to put down.
May 14, 2016
Good read
I hope this is not the end of this character or series. You have a winner here keep them coming.
I hope this is not the end of this character or series. You have a winner here keep them coming.
May 22, 2022
I agree with GR's Tim..................waste of time
February 5, 2022
This book is copyrighted 2016 so the technology was still very up to date when I read it in 2022. Both the technology and elements of the plot line feel as if they could appear in the news today. This was a well constructed plot in a book that I enjoyed considerably. This is another in the Jerry Mitchell series. Mitchell has been used by the author as the protagonist two or three times before. He is a naval flyer who suffered a serious injury and has been permanently grounded. Rather than quitting or taking a desk job, this protagonist has joined the submarine service. We have seen him in various positions; he is now the captain of a nuclear powered boat. His boat is deployed in the pacific where besides its usual tours, it also supports special forces and anything else unusual that the Pentagon and Whitehouse throw at the navy.
In the current story, we are at a pause, possibly temporary, in a vicious war between India and Pakistan. India has made some inroads but was stopped by Pakistan with the help of China. China is fighting its own battle against the “Littoral Alliance” comprised of most of the other nations bordering on the South Chine Sea. A nuclear weapon has just been triggered in Pakistan near the border with India in territory currently occupied by terrorists. These terrorists are part of the group that India is trying to eliminate by this war.
Both India and Pakistan are nuclear equipped. The United States does not want to see this one explosion expand into an exchange of weapons that would see both countries destroyed. An exchange of nuclear warheads could immediately kill tens of millions in the two countries. The radiation could impact additional tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions around the world.
It seems the Russians have lost six nuclear warheads suitable for torpedoes. One of these was lost to the terrorists who accidently triggered it. However, the plan, by rogue Indian naval forces, is to destroy six, now five, of China’s largest port cities. This would take China out of the war and possibly de-stabilize her government and cause it to fall. The protagonist and his submarine, of course, gets the job of preventing this from happening. The battle and technology is interesting, exciting, and detailed.
My only minor complaint with this book is that there are too many twists and turns before we get to the submarine battles. One of the submarine battles we do not even get to see in detail. We hear its torpedo then it is destroyed and that is all. We never even get inside.
All in all a good read and an exciting story. I continue to look for more from Larry Bond.
Four stars.
In the current story, we are at a pause, possibly temporary, in a vicious war between India and Pakistan. India has made some inroads but was stopped by Pakistan with the help of China. China is fighting its own battle against the “Littoral Alliance” comprised of most of the other nations bordering on the South Chine Sea. A nuclear weapon has just been triggered in Pakistan near the border with India in territory currently occupied by terrorists. These terrorists are part of the group that India is trying to eliminate by this war.
Both India and Pakistan are nuclear equipped. The United States does not want to see this one explosion expand into an exchange of weapons that would see both countries destroyed. An exchange of nuclear warheads could immediately kill tens of millions in the two countries. The radiation could impact additional tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions around the world.
It seems the Russians have lost six nuclear warheads suitable for torpedoes. One of these was lost to the terrorists who accidently triggered it. However, the plan, by rogue Indian naval forces, is to destroy six, now five, of China’s largest port cities. This would take China out of the war and possibly de-stabilize her government and cause it to fall. The protagonist and his submarine, of course, gets the job of preventing this from happening. The battle and technology is interesting, exciting, and detailed.
My only minor complaint with this book is that there are too many twists and turns before we get to the submarine battles. One of the submarine battles we do not even get to see in detail. We hear its torpedo then it is destroyed and that is all. We never even get inside.
All in all a good read and an exciting story. I continue to look for more from Larry Bond.
Four stars.
July 3, 2020
Well with some series the gradual downfall comes with ascent in rank.
I like the Jerry Mitchell series what I dislike in books 4 and 5 is too much other things and not enough Jerry Mitchell.
What made the first three books so great was that it focused on the character and his interactions with the the crews different level of people and the great submarine and other tactical action.
( I can vouch for its realism as I have recommended this series to a real life full blooded submariner who gave it his stamp of approval )
Books 4 and 5 take it to a more Clancyish level. ( no wonder as Bond and Clancy worked together before).
The three stars is mainly for the fact that the story lumbered along in a predictable fashion.
The characters were great. I like the continuity of characters “you have met before”.
The last about 70 pages are what made the first three novels great.
Hopefully the last book will get back into the action at least we are in for a change of scenery and back to the old arctic stomping grounds.
I like the Jerry Mitchell series what I dislike in books 4 and 5 is too much other things and not enough Jerry Mitchell.
What made the first three books so great was that it focused on the character and his interactions with the the crews different level of people and the great submarine and other tactical action.
( I can vouch for its realism as I have recommended this series to a real life full blooded submariner who gave it his stamp of approval )
Books 4 and 5 take it to a more Clancyish level. ( no wonder as Bond and Clancy worked together before).
The three stars is mainly for the fact that the story lumbered along in a predictable fashion.
The characters were great. I like the continuity of characters “you have met before”.
The last about 70 pages are what made the first three novels great.
Hopefully the last book will get back into the action at least we are in for a change of scenery and back to the old arctic stomping grounds.
July 14, 2022
India and Pakistan are stalemated in a war that India launched to "remove the threat of terrorism, once and for all." But India's early successes have stalled, and with the coming spring, the tide may turn against them. A small but powerful group of Indian senior military officers and civilian security officials, without the knowledge of the rest of the Indian government, have decided to strike at China, Pakistan's backer and India's recent enemy in the Littoral Alliance War (Shattered Trident). The conspirators plan a bold attack that will leave Pakistan without a patron and protector. India could then finish their military campaign sure of success.
To avoid any blame for the attack, the group has obtained Russian-made nuclear warheads from a renegade Russian arms merchant with access to the stolen weapons. Fitted to standard Russian torpedoes and delivered covertly by INS Chakra, the warheads will shatter China's economy.
To avoid any blame for the attack, the group has obtained Russian-made nuclear warheads from a renegade Russian arms merchant with access to the stolen weapons. Fitted to standard Russian torpedoes and delivered covertly by INS Chakra, the warheads will shatter China's economy.
June 22, 2024
It has been awhile since I read a volume of the Jerry Mitchel series, and it was good to be back. Bond does another wonderful job of unfolding a horrific plot of destruction, centered in the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, and the support of China for Pakistan. But the game-changing plot would cripple not only China, but the entire world. Jerry is once again called to engage with a Soviet Akula class boat, and a diabolical plot to draw the world into a nuclear nightmare. Good plot development and action sequences. Certainly worth the read, and enjoyable for all who enjoy submarine thrillers.
September 20, 2018
Very pleased to see Larry Bond extending this series. This novel offers the same strong writing and an engaging story like those before it. There is strong continuity here with familiar characters and events that transpired in the first series entry. I liked that the author created a scenario where former adversaries worked together for the benefit of all. That is the kind of hopeful idea we all need in these times.
June 17, 2018
This book is a great follow-on to Shattered Trident. My only complaint is that these last two books in the series are more political thriller than submarine warfare adventures. This one in particular was 300 pages of diplomacy to get to 50 pages of the big underwater battle. It's obvious that Jerry Mitchell is headed for the Pentagon, and evidently an end to a great submarine series.
February 29, 2020
I enjoyed this installment in the series, until the end. It was logical and well written, but seemed to conclude in too quick a fashion. Maybe that simply shows how much I was enjoying it, but the endgame could have been given more attention and depth. The now well familiar cast of characters are comfortable, but the ending was a bit too predictable.
December 5, 2022
A bit of a quicker read than some of the other books in the series -- it holds together well, and was interesting in concept and execution. A bit less of a focus on submarine technology (except at the very end) and more of a focus on the people and underlying plot. Satisfying if you like the genre....
August 10, 2017
Very much enjoyed this book and the whole series. I like how this connected with the first book. This book and the previous book get away from Jerry and the submarines too much which is what I enjoyed most about these books.
August 17, 2017
Kept this book on the back burner as I had others to read. I thought the plot was somewhat believable and enjoyed the book. Thee could have been more submarine tactics - maybe his next one. I just love reading submarine strategy.
October 9, 2019
Larry Bond's super skill is submarine strategy and warfare. The majority of this book is above water, which is far less intriguing. The book doesn't get going until they submerge, maybe 2/3 into the book.
February 29, 2020
Took me a while to complete this one. I thought the first half was slow, but the second half picked up and the pace and got more exciting. This is my 5th Jerry Mitchell book. I will likely close out the series soon.
April 3, 2020
Excellent Book!
Well-written book with well-developed characters and exciting submarine battle action. Mr. Bond has delivered a book that is frighteningly realistic in many respects, and incorporates many aspects of actual current submarines.
Well-written book with well-developed characters and exciting submarine battle action. Mr. Bond has delivered a book that is frighteningly realistic in many respects, and incorporates many aspects of actual current submarines.
January 14, 2021
Another great Jerry Mitchell adventure. We don't get to see much of Jerry or his aquatic ride before the excellent climax near the end of the book. I think all readers will agree that all the background and political stuff is required...and well written.
June 4, 2023
This is a continuation of the adventures with Navy officer Jerry Mitchel and is an entertaining story that imagines a conflict between Indian and China that requires extensive involvement of US Naval submarine resources.
August 24, 2024
could not put it down
Different than the earlier Jerry Mitchell books, but still very good. Jerry doesn’t appear in every chapter, but this just adds to the intrigue! Would recommend, starting the next book in the series now!
Different than the earlier Jerry Mitchell books, but still very good. Jerry doesn’t appear in every chapter, but this just adds to the intrigue! Would recommend, starting the next book in the series now!
May 15, 2017
Interesting story about nuclear war excluding the USA.
July 3, 2017
great ending to the series. wrapped up all the loose ends and brought back the old favorites. Glad to see what happened to the "treasures" of book 1 way to wrap it all up!
July 19, 2017
Another fine thriller from Larry Bond. Good intrigue, well written, and scary plot. Loose nukes, rogue military and political players and submarine warfare
January 13, 2018
Meh. Formulaic, not particularly memorable. Has that "author is overly enamored with his characters" vibe (a la Clive Cussler).
August 8, 2018
Best book of the six-book Jerry Mitchell series. Great all around submarine story and good tech content. Much better than book six. We need Jerry back in a submarine if there is a book seven.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews