Alpha: The Black Flagged Series, Book 1

Black Flagged #1

by Steven Konkoly

For fans of Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Vince Flynn - a no-bolds-barred, 24-style thriller of conspiracy, assassination, and deception by USA Today and Washington Post best-selling author Steven Konkoly.

A "Retired" Covert Operative Will Do Anything to Guard His Darkest Secrets....

Daniel Petrovich, formerly part of the Department of Defense's infamous Black Flag Program, protects a secret buried in the deepest vaults of the Pentagon. Blackmailed into executing one final mission for his previous commanding officer, Daniel's carefully constructed "life" rapidly disintegrates into a relentless federal manhunt - and a 24-style race against the clock to suppress the shocking truth about his past. To survive, he'll release the darkest side of his concealed identity. A dark side with few boundaries - and even fewer loyalties.

Black Flagged lays the foundation for a gritty, high-octane series exploring the serpentine link between covert operations and government agency politics.

The Black Flagged

Book 1: Black Alpha
Book 2: Black Redux
Book 3: Black Apex
Book 4: Black Vektor
Book 5: Black Omega

Steven's novels are recommended for fans of Brad Thor's Scot Harvath, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Brad Taylor's Pike Logan, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, L.T. Ryan's Jack Noble, C.G. Cooper's Daniel Briggs, Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon, and Mark Greaney's Gray Man.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Action, Military Fiction, Ebooks

Audible Audio

First published November 2, 2011

About the author

Steven graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1993, receiving a bachelor of science in English literature. He served the next eight years on active duty, traveling the world as a naval officer assigned to various Navy and Marine Corps units. His extensive journey spanned the globe, including a two-year tour of duty in Japan and travel to more than twenty countries throughout Asia and the Middle East.

From enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq as a maritime boarding officer in the Arabian Gulf, to directing aircraft bombing runs and naval gunfire strikes as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) assigned to a specialized Marine Corps unit, Steven's "in-house" experience with a wide range of regular and elite military units brings a unique authenticity to his thrillers.

He still wakes up at "zero dark thirty" to write for most of the day. When "off duty," he spends as much time as possible outdoors or travelling with his family--and dog.

Steven is the bestselling author of ten novels and several novellas, including a commissioned trilogy of novellas based on the popular Wayward Pines series. His canon of work includes the popular Black Flagged Series, a gritty, no-holds barred covert operations and espionage saga; The Perseid Collapse series, a post-apocalyptic thriller epic chronicling the events surrounding an inconceivable attack on the United States; and The Fractured State series, a near future, dystopian thriller trilogy set in the drought ravaged southwest

You can contact Steven directly by email (stevekonkoly@striblingmedia.com) or through his blog (www.stevenkonkoly.com).

Reviews

[Matt Kelland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to read a lot of thrillers when I was younger, but not so much these days. I think, to be honest, I'm tired of the genre. So although I'm only giving this two stars, that probably says more about me than the book. It's a solid enough thriller, but it just didn't engage me. Rogue agents, black ops outside anyone's control, retired assassins brought back for one last mission by a super-patriotic renegade commander... I've read too many of those books.

I got horrendously confused between who was who. It had a huge cast of characters, most of whom didn't have much to distinguish them. If I'd been reading it on paper, I'd have been flicking back and forth to the list of characters (if there was one) to remind myself who was FBI, who was CIA, who was NSA, who was a cop, and so on. As it was, I was reading this on a Kindle so it wasn't an option anyway.

I found the end disappointing. I loathed the protagonist, and was waiting for him to get his come-uppance, Day of the Jackal style. The end left me thinking that the author wanted me to see him as a genuine hero, not an anti-hero.

All in all, it was okay for passing the time, but not a book I'd urge you to read, or a book I'd want to re-read.

[Russell Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Steven Konkoly has moved from the style he uses in his blockbuster The Jakarta Pandemic to an even faster-paced, action orientation in Black Flagged. The protagonist is capable and interesting, the story compelling, and the style a big favorite with me. There's a conspiracy, good guys who maybe aren't so good, bad guys who maybe aren't so bad, and twists and turns galore. Fans of Jakarta are sure to like Black Flagged, as are fans of Ludlum/Childs-style thrillers, and I'd expect that we'll hear a lot more from Steven moving forward. Black Flagged firmly carves out territory for Konkoly as an epic action/thriller writer with a bright future.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Flagged- "Classification given to an intelligence officer who is to be interrogated and summarily killed if apprehended".

Black Flagged is the first in a series of spy novels that are grittier than established names such as Scott Harvath and Mitch Rapp. As the author, Steven Konkoly notes, his books often have unapologetic themes and are not for the faint hearted. The title refers to a D.O.D program founded by one of the books main characters aimed at training assassin's who could be used to get over red tape and inter-service rivalry. The book itself is like a fusion between Ludlum and Forsyth and in this review, you'll see why.

The story kicks off in 1990's Serbia with a bang. A lone assassin sets up an incredibly destructive ambush for a major Serbian militia member. After hosing down the Serbian's Range Rover's with gunfire, the assassin finishes off his target with an axe. Noting that the target was visiting his brother who helped manage his fortune, the assassin pays an off page visit and steals a sizeable amount of money taking some for himself. The book then cuts to the USA in 2005. The assassin, going under his real name Daniel Petriovich has left his old job, married and built up a highly successful civilian business in Maine. One day, he gets a phone call from a subordinate of his old superior and is persuaded to perform a favour, to kill a man. Petrovich does so but soon finds that he's helped eliminate eight major Al-Qaeda financiers, destroyed an ongoing federal investigation and as events escalate, with the CIA and FBI hunting him down, is forced to go back into a world he hates and rely on a mentor he despises.

In terms of plot, Black Flagged is solid. In the classical Robert Ludlum tradition, it's one well trained man up against the government and on the run. Only a few twists here and there but some of them will surprise you and make you smile. The book relies on the mysterious nature of the main characters, slowly revealing hidden aspects of their personality as we get near the conclusion. Action is also solid, a particular highlight happening right inside the Pentagon where one of the secondary characters gets a chance to shine with a judicious use of lethal and non-lethal weaponry. The research is superb with tactics, trade-craft and weapons having that authentic ring, just like in a Forsyth novel but not overbearingly detailed like in a Clancy door-stopper.

In terms of Characters, Black Flagged is interesting. In their world, a Darwinist world view common in most Forsyth novels is apparent. There are only the quick and the dead in the world of Black Flagged and the main cast is very quick and leaves anyone who gets in their way dead. Here are three standouts. Take Daniel Petrovich for instance. Like a ruthless version of the film version of Jason Bourne, he's highly competent, lethal and wants to be left alone with the woman he loves. Unlike Jason Bourne and Mitch Rapp however, the measures he takes to try and accomplish his goals also involve cop killing and other morally ambiguous actions. (This is just my interpretation but I think the author was trying to partially de-construct Mitch Rapp/Jack Bauer style characters through Petrovich, showing that in the course of their job, there would be much collateral damage.) He won't win fans from law abiding readers and many will have fun discussing whether he's a sociopath or merely "pathologically practical" but for me, Petrovich is quite fascinating and has a redeeming side in the form of his deep love for his wife, Jessica who despite acting like an ordinary housewife, will surprise you near the end of the book. Next, there's General Sanderson, Petrovich's former employee. To use Patton's term for Rommel, he's a magnificent bastard, someone who is willing to remove obstacles in his way through any means necessary and in style. Charming, amoral and intelligent, during the novel he screws with the CIA and FBI and utterly humiliates the latter. He's a brilliant character that even though you're supposed to hate him, at the same time, you will be cheering him on and waiting with bated breath to see what gambit he conducts next. Finally there's Richard Farrington, a minor character who gets to show off the capabilities of the rank and file Black Flagged assassins. With his use of several unique gadgets to get rid of several people in his office covertly, he made a splash for a minor character and thankfully will return in later instalments of the series.

Overall, Black Flagged is a solid spy novel and an excellent introduction to a promising series. Many of you will be aghast at the actions of some of the characters but hey, Mitch Rapp, Jack Bauer and Scott Harvath have done worse. The Black Flagged members are at least honest about the fact there's no right or wrong, operating in a cynical world where there there is only moral ambiguity. For the faint hearted, there are other, more pleasant books in the thriller genre, read them instead. For those who are happy to have their world-view shaken up a bit and are tired of misty eyed world view presented by Tom Clancy but love a well researched thriller, welcome to Black Flagged. VERY RECOMMENDED.

[Patrick D'Orazio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Flagged tells the tale of Daniel Petrovich, an executive for a company in Maine who is dragged back into the life he'd left behind five years before-as a member of the government's Black Flag program, which puts operatives in deep cover, infiltrating terrorist organizations among other unsavory entities. He's been asked to do one last job...a job that will put him in the cross hairs of virtually every government agency and destroy the peaceful new life he's fabricated with his wife, Jessica. It doesn't take long for things to go as badly as he suspects they would, and thus begins a race for him to escape everyone from the FBI and CIA hunting him down, while he tries to figure out how to once again sever ties with the man who has been manipulating and controlling him from the moment he joined the Black Flag program. The story moves at a breakneck pace, with the level of detail that gave it sense of extreme realism that keeps the tension, as well as the entertainment value high.
I will admit that Black Flagged is perhaps not my typical read, so keep that in mind with this review. My father is more of a fan of the espionage and spy thriller type tales, though I will admit that I have no aversion to them, it’s just not the type of books I normally seek out. That said, I've certain seen my share of movies about covert organizations that are deeper and darker than the CIA that play by their own rules, as most of us have. I think that Black Flagged fits well into that mix, though with a main character who perhaps has a more vague moral code than what we would expect from a "hero", even if we know they have a dark past and are willing to do the things that are necessary to complete their mission, no matter how questionable or reprehensible. Daniel Petrovich, as it is explained by another character in the book, has an unhampered pragmatism. He does what needs to be done, and then he moves on, no matter what. As described in the book, when he is in the field, Daniel is always analyzing his options, taking a split second to assess the likelihood of escape, or of success, based on the different actions he can take, then he makes his decision and commits to that decision without hesitation, regardless of what he has to do. I would like to say that perhaps he is jaded, or has psychological issues that bring him nightmares based on what he has been required to do on his missions, but nothing like that comes across in this tale. Since this is the first in series of books, I would guess that the reader will get the chance to delve deeper into the character’s psyche in future adventures and find out more about what makes him tick. I suppose that perhaps that would be my criticism with this story-while I think the reader can appreciate the frustrations and distaste Daniel has for his past life and his desire to escape it, doing what he does when called upon by the General who runs the Black Flag program seems to come to him so naturally, with minimal regrets, that it was hard for me to gain much attachment to him-I felt no empathy.
Still, this is an introductory tale, allowing us to only skim the surface of the relationship Daniel has with those closest to him, and it moved at such a breakneck pace that it isn't surprising that his character development was limited in that regard. I am sure the author will delve deeper, the further along in Daniel’s overall story that we go. And I think it will be a pretty wild and intriguing ride moving forward.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't even know why I finished this book. I stopped reading two other "thrillers" 30 pages in at around the same time because they were poorly written and, frankly, boring. This wasn't quite as bad, but bad enough not to waste your time. There are no good guys, just people who are self-centered, valueless, and amoral, regardless of which side they're on...and there seem to be at least four "sides."

Ostensibly, the good guy is a retired special operator of an off-the-books operation, as is his wife. He gets drawn back into the fray against his will, though he seems very willing to go back. He has no moral hesitancy about his actions, and the people around him even less. I had hopes this would be better than the run of the mill thriller, but I won't be reading any more in the series.

[Hilary Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Flagged delivers action and excitement at breakneck speed. There are many characters but they are introduced and integrated well. No extra filler here, just the way I like it. The flawed main character is multifaceted and will be great in the proposed series. If you like your books lean and mean look no further.

[Jilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the first one in a series called Black Flagged. It is about terrorism and the FBI.

Daniel was part of the experimental Black Flag program which got shut down and it's controversial activities and secrets were locked away. Someone is now trying to resurect Blag Flag and is forcing Daniel back in.

Daniel has his own secrets that he wants to keep buried. He agrees to carry out one more mission in return for a clean slate. It does not go to plan and all hell breaks loose as he finds himself the focus of the biggest FBI manhunt in years.

This is not my usual reading and to be honest a few chapters in and I was ready to give up. However it does have some twists and turns that I didn't see coming so I did get hooked in. The reason fo the 2 star rating is because I found the constant detail too much. EG. constant reference to and description of areas and streets. The constant repetition of peoples names and ranks long after we have learnt who they are. It was just too much and detracts form the story for me.

I will not be reading any further books in this series.

[Gbolahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. I stopped at 25%. There was this guy who was walking and opening doors and walking and walking and walking, he wanted to go type down stuff his eidetic memory captured...
Uurrgghh...
Main guy is badass like Jason Bourne, monster killer, ice in veins. Thinks fast, kills extremely well, there's manhunt, there's Treadstone...huh...Black Flag, a black ops team so deep no one knows about them...
Jesus.
How many times did I read this type of empty stuff as a kid?
I'll pass.

And I can't remember for the life of me why I downloaded it free on Kobo via Bookbub last year...what was I thinking...😅

[Mark Easter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite different from other Konkoly series I have read. Two books in, part of me says dump this story of lunatic psychos that casts American special operators in a horrible light; another part says, kind of interesting though. The normal, fast paced prose is still there. The characters are interesting. Most of the twists, however, were predictable, and the killing of innocents and blue on blue forces is a hard pill to swallow and seems unlike what I have come to expect from Konkoly. I am going to hope for redemption of Petrovich and Jessica, and thereby Konkoly, and press on to book three.

[Jim A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled across this via an Amazon recommendation. What a find.

Fast paced with pretty good character development. A couple of twists, although in retrospect the clues were there. I'm looking forward to the follow on novel.

Thanks, Steve, for the great entertainment. I'm always up for a good thriller.

[Jerry Walch · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having just devoured Inception, the prequel to the Black Flagged Thriller Series, I began reading Alpha, Book 1 in the series with great expectations, and Konkoly didn’t let me down. This is one of those series where you need to read the prequel first. If you haven’t read Inception, don't worry, because Steven has included the entire prequel in the back of Alpha, so just skip to the back and read it first. You’ll be glad that you did.

If you’re an adrenaline jockey, make sure your cinch is tight and you have a firm grip on the reigns, because you’re in for the ride of your life. It’s nonstop action from the first page to the last. Tension builds with a blistering pace and never lets up. Alpha is a thriller that will grab you by the throat and keep you gasping for breath until the very end. These thrillers by Konkoly have more unexpected and surprising twists than a sidewinder’s path across the desert sands. Konkoly hit me with a couple in the closing chapters of Alpha that had me saying, “What the f***k…” I was blindsided and sandbagged by them. Now I can’t wait to dive into Redux, book two in the series. Fortunately, I have already downloaded it and it’s ready to go. Actually, I have already downloaded the entire series and will be binging on Konkoly again.

[Iris Chacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-stop action, sympathetic characters, fascinating details of spycraft. It's a page-.turning, wild ride from beginning to end. We can pass the Ian Fleming mantle to Steven Konkoly without a second thought.

[David Pospisil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't reread many books.
Knowing the characters better this time around I got so much more out of this amazing book.
The super market and CIA safe house scenes are so intense.
Reading the whole series.

[Debrah0683 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot but way too violent. Will not continue to read the series

[Doug Branscombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first book in a series, story grabs you and doesn't let go. Characters that you find yourself pulling for, even if they aren't the most "well-behaved" sort.

[Nate Granzow · Rating 5 out of 5]

With immense dexterity, the likes of which I've not seen by even the most renowned authors in the political/espionage thriller genre, Konkoly delivers a clear winner with Black Flagged. I found Daniel Petrovich an authentic protagonist, which is crucial to my reading enjoyment. Too often, authors paint their protagonist as invincible, handsome beyond believability, and with few to no character flaws. Petrovich bleeds. Another element worthy of note in Black Flagged: Konkoly, with as many characters as he weaved into the story, was considerate enough to include a cast of characters at the novel's beginning. That may seem insignificant, but for a reader like myself who reads multiple novels at a time and has limited memory, it was a major asset. In regards to his writing style, Konkoly possesses a clear mastery of pacing and characterization. He's certainly one of the best I've read, and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people would probably consider this a "guy's" book, but this chick really enjoyed it! The non-stop action, the twists and turns, I felt like I was on a thrilling roller coaster ride, with no idea what was coming around the next turn. So if you like action type books at all, this is one I would highly recommend, even for all the female readers out there...in fact...especially for all the female readers out there! You won't be disappointed.

[Murray McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Great action thriller that keeps the tension and pace throughout. Black Flagged introduces us to a great new series, with some seriously cool characters. Book 2 - Black Flagged Redux, purchased and ready to go on my Kindle. If you, like me, enjoy your thrillers with plenty of action, intrigue, suspense and a few clever twists thrown in to keep you on your toes you will most definitely love Black Flagged.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of the year! What a surprise this one was.. Great characters, plotting and story.. I can't wait for the next one in the series. We write within the same genre and I'm proud to say I could not have written it better myself...please continue with this series, it is your calling... Go and buy this book folks you will absolutely love it...5 STARS

[Richard A Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing Novel about American Government

Fast moving with intriguing subplots. Well defined characters, particularly Danny Petrovitch. Seemed to be from latest breaking news items. Great author.

[Robert Krause · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nonsensical and unrealistic

There was not a hero in this book. Only unlikable characters. The plot was not believable and the story jumped all over the place. Not a series I will continue to read.

[Russell j. VanAllen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to force myself to finish reading this book. It was very confusing to me with so many characters and the use of first names sometimes and last other times or I just did not know who they were. There were some exciting moments however so they kept me going to get to the end.

[Karie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book. I never read this genre but I loved The Jakarta Pandemic so I decided to give it a try. I had trouble figuring out who was who but it all came together well in the end.

[Brittany]

Excited to read! Loved Konkoly's first book, Jakarta Pandemic (which everyone should check out)!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow to start but picked up nicely. I was able to predict one twist but the rest surprised me. So glad they are more books in this series.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid writing, and very readable. Good pacing.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A graduate of the Department of Defense's experimental Black Flag program, Daniel Petrovich carries a secret he'd rather keep buried. A secret his government has hidden in the deepest vaults of the Pentagon.
Someone is trying to raise Black Flag from the dead, and drag Petrovich back into the poisonous life he abandoned. Someone who knows his darkest secrets.
In exchange for the promise of a clean slate, and a chance to keep the life he has built with the woman he loves, he agrees to carry out one more mission. Now Daniel has an even bigger problem. The assassination of Mohammed Ghani, a wealthy Muslim importer, wasn't the uncomplicated mission he had been promised. Seven other prominent Muslim businessmen are killed on the same night along the East Coast, suddenly extinguishing Task Force HYDRA, the most significant counter-terrorism investigation in recent FBI history.
Daniel's life is about to disintegrate, as he becomes the focus of a relentless FBI manhunt, and the target of a vengeful CIA agent. To survive, he'll be forced to release a dark side he fought for years to keep suppressed. A dark side with no boundaries, and few loyalties.

[N.W. Wisniewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel considered one of the best black ops assassins the US ever had. He's now living his life in peace with his wife of five years OR so he thought. Brought out of retirement by a US General and teamed up with eight other assassins. They are given the task of taking out eight Middle Eastern men who are believed by the FBI to be funding terrorist activities. Now he's the target. The General sanctioned these hits without permission and without anyone else knowing. So now Daniel has to try and evade capture while the plot thickens as to why the General went rogue.

I love this story, It was hard to follow at first because the characters are so complex. As you read it becomes easier to follow once you learn that these characters have two and sometimes three alias. With almost non-stop action you don't know who to root for. Daniel, The FBI, or the General. Who is the hero? Who is the villain? Who is neutral? I haven't been able to decide yet. I'm looking forward to continuing to read this story line!

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the one hand, it was intense and action-filled, including on the streets in the DC metro area where I live. A shootout at a Whole Foods Market? Cool.
Also, a character gets out of jams not by shooting people in the leg, like some books, which is stupidly unrealistic. He neutralizes them with prejudice whenever needed.
On the other hand, we're supposed to root for a team of sociopaths, apparently.
A lot of decent people trying to do the right thing present as obstacles and get taken out.
At one point a character provides cover by aiming high with a military rifle. In Georgetown. Where did those bullets land, I wondered.
To me the most interesting character is a federal agent with a photographic memory. Underused, character not fleshed out, and what happens to him exactly? A character mentions something about his fate in the end, and the narrator describes it as a lie. I think I can infer what happened with that information, but why not just tell us?

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a while since I have read a good mystery / thriller, and I am glad I picked this one up. The author does a great job of getting you into the character's heads and what they are thinking, and the action is pretty much non-stop and believable from a layman's perspective. This was one of those thrillers I couldn't put down, and stayed up really late in an unsuccessful effort to finish it: that made the next day a little better as I was able to sit in the easy chair and finish. I'm looking forward to starting the next book in the series.

I originally picked this up during a free Kindle promotion and as I type this review I see the pricing is all of 99 cents which makes this an outstanding value. Jump on this one while you can at that price, as this is just as good - I think better - than most of the "name brand" thriller authors out there today.