Clear by Fire

Search and Destroy #1

by Joshua Hood

Inspired by the experiences of a decorated combat veteran and a former member of the 82nd Airborne division, Clear by Fire is a blistering new military thriller about an American hero who, in order to clear his name, must take down a highly classified band of soldiers that has gone murderously rogue.

Mason Kane was a loyal American soldier and a proud member of the elite, off-the-books Anvil Program—a group of black ops soldiers who wage war from the shadows. But all that changed when his commander, as a part of a twisted scheme to force America’s continued involvement in the Middle East, ordered an innocent Afghan family murdered.

Refusing the order, Mason finds himself on the run, hunted by his former comrades and labeled a terrorist by the country he served faithfully. Relying only on his survival skills and the help of female Special Operations operative Renee Hart, Kane must embark on his gravest mission yet: unraveling the conspiracy that reaches all way to the President’s inner circle and stopping the world’s most dangerous soldiers from completing their treacherous plan.

Set in the shadows of the War on Terror, this realistic, action-packed adventure puts a twist in the traditional military thriller and starts a brand-new series that fans of Brad Thor and Brad Taylor will love.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Military Fiction, Suspense, Action, Espionage

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2015

About the author

Joshua Hood graduated from the University of Memphis before joining the 82nd Airborne Division. During his five years in the Infantry, he conducted combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
After getting out of the Army, he returned to Memphis TN and spent nine years on SWAT.
He is now a full time writer and proud father of two in Collierville, TN.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Likely my first and last Joshua Hood story. 1 of 10 stars

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua Hood, firstly thank you so much for sending a signed copy of your debut book and oh what a start!

Debut author, Joshua Hood, isn’t just a solid writer, he’s former 82nd Airborne and now a full time SWAT team member.

Clear by Fire is a blistering new military thriller about an American hero who, in order to clear his name, must take down a highly classified band of soldiers that has gone murderously rogue.

Mason Kane was a loyal American soldier and a proud member of the elite, off-the-books Anvil Program—a group of black ops soldiers who wage war from the shadows. But all that changed when his commander, as a part of a twisted scheme to force America’s continued involvement in the Middle East, ordered an innocent Afghan family murdered. Refusing the order, Mason finds himself on the run, hunted by his former comrades and labeled a terrorist by the country he served faithfully. Relying only on his survival skills and the help of female Special Operations operative Renee Hart, Kane must embark on his gravest mission yet: unraveling the conspiracy that reaches all way to the President’s inner circle and stopping the world’s most dangerous soldiers from completing their treacherous plan.

A highly realistic narrative that puts you in the middle of the action with Hood capturing the full effect of cordite detonation, smells of vengeful death, and the unbroken bonds of camaraderie in combat.

Set in the shadows of the War on Terror, this realistic, action-packed adventure puts a twist in the traditional military thriller and starts a brand-new series, and now eagerly awaiting the chapter in Mason's life.

If you enjoy authors such as Brad Thor, Lee Childs, Tom Wood,Ben Coes and David Baldacci and Chris Ryan, you're going to love Joshua Hood. Scot Harvath, Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, Victor, Dewey Andreas, Will Robie and Geordia Sharp have a new contemporary in Mason Kane and let's not forget the great Renee Hart.

A exciting, fast paced , action packed, character filled, brutal rollercoaster ride

Five stars , a great debut novel

[J.T. Patten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kicking Pages and Breaching Chapters, Hood Leads Readers into Awesome Fury ALL THE WAY!

Clear by Fire reviewed by J.T. Patten, former intelligence professional, author SAFE HAVENS: Shadow Masters

In Clear by Fire, Black ops warrior, Mason Kane, finds himself in the unenviable position of going from hunter to hunted. Worse, his former comrades are responsible for the shadowy conspiracy that has embroiled Kane and extends globally to wreak havoc with international security and renowned terror groups. However, the author gives the protagonist a formidable team of diverse allies, to include a strong female character who is anything but fluff. The whole cast is richly developed with just enough detail to provide context and flair, but not so much as to slow the pace. Were this novel just another story of rogue warriors and dark missions, it would be a great read. But sit tight. Debut author, Joshua Hood, isn’t just a solid writer, he’s former 82nd Airborne and a full time SWAT team member. Enter his world of door kicking assault stacks and double tapping heavy rolling operator knowledge, and you experience a highly realistic narrative that puts you in the melee with Hood capturing the full effect of cordite detonation, smells of vengeful death, and the unbroken bonds of camaraderie in combat. Grab a copy of Clear by Fire and roll out with Mason Kane as Josh Hood pulls smoke and paves the way calling back to his readers, “Follow me!”

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P42W...

[Ryan Steck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason Kane is an elite soldier that is part of the secretive Anvil Program, a dedicated unit of operatives that specializes in black ops, or missions done in the shadows. Kane is a loyal patriot with a conscience, which ends up costing him.

The Anvil program was created with one objective: train a team to fight like the enemy does, tossing out the rules of engagement and anything that might get in the way of completing the objecting – which is to kill bad guys.

When given an order to kill innocent people as part of a corrupt agenda, Kane refuses. By doing so, he draws attention from all the wrong people. Ultimately, he’s labeled a terrorist, and worse – a traitor to the county that he loves and has served so faithfully.

Up to his neck in a tangled web of lies and corruption, Kane is forced to go on the run. The very men that he bravely served with are now after him. Armed with his training and experience, Kane must stay one step ahead of those hunting him, while also working to clear his name. That’s considerably harder than it already sounds when you throw in that he’s also the first American to earn a “kill on sight” order.

The people after him want him dead, immediately.

What I Love About the Book

First and foremost, the book is very authentic. Author Joshua Hood is a decorated soldier who served as squad leader in the 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Hood is the real deal, living a life that resembles one of the heroes that thriller fans love to read about in fictional novels. In a lot of ways, as great as Mason Kane is, he’s still not on equal footing with the man who created him.

One of the things that really surprised me is Hood’s ability to paint vivid locations so masterfully on the page. As a combat veteran that now serves on a SWAT team in Memphis, Tennessee, I expected him to nail the action scenes. Which he does, by the way!

A lot of new authors that have served in the military or on a police force can naturally write action scenes because they’ve lived it.

My favorite authors, Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, weren’t in the military – yet both are known for their ability to write what they haven’t lived first hand: top notch action and espionage thrillers. Hood, in many ways, is the reversal of those iconic authors, but with similar results.

What makes Hood’s writing so unique for a guy with his resume is his ability to equally describe tactical situations and overseas locations, such as Morocco and Afghanistan. His concise, vibrant descriptions make you feel like you’re actually there – which can be a little unnerving when the bullets start flying. I felt my pulse quicken several times while reading this book!

In many ways the plot reminds me of a famous rollercoaster here in my home state of Michigan called Shivering Timbers, which is the sixth largest wooden roller coaster in the world.

While other rides captivate thrill-seekers by spinning and flipping you around, Timbers takes you slowly up 100 feet above the ground before dropping nearly straight down. Traveling 65 miles per hour, riders are rocketed up and down a series of hills, dropping at a rate that causes each person to experience what’s known as “ejector air-time” – which is a fancy way of saying you experience weightlessness.

That’s the best way to describe Clear by Fire, a roller coaster of events moving at blazing speeds. The pacing is brilliant, which makes the book nearly impossible to put down. All of that leads up to an ending that is both satisfying and leaves you wanting more – in a good way.

The only drawback is that fans, myself included, will have to wait until next year to read Hood’s follow-up novel. It can’t come fast enough!

Why You Should Read It

Hood’s debut novel, Clear by Fire, offers what I truly believe is the unique opportunity to see a legend in the making burst onto the scene.

Mason Kane is a new type of hero. Compared to other known protagonists, Kane is darker and edgier, and perhaps a bit more caustic at times. He’s also the perfect blend of someone that is outgoing and confident, but also stoic, which is fun to read.

Having grown up as one of the only non-Latino children in East Los Angeles, Kane learned to blend in at a young age. His childhood wasn’t easy. His mom is a drunk and his father, well, let’s just say he’s not around.

Mason had every reason to become hardened and do nothing with his life. Instead, he chose better for himself.

Kane’s past helped to mold him into an Apex predator, where he sits at the top of the food chain in the world of black operations and dangerous missions. He’s not someone you want to cross, but he’s definitely the guy I would want on my side if any type of trouble were to go down.

As much as I love Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath, I can’t say that I read their books when Vince Flynn and Brad Thor first introduced their characters in 1999 and 2002, respectfully. However, Mason Kane boasts many of the same qualities that have made those characters household names.

I’m honored to have been given an advance copy of Clear by Fire, and feel privileged to be a fan from the very beginning.

I’m confident that everyone else who reads this book will feel the same way!

Final Thoughts

While Kane is the star, there are a plethora of other well developed characters around him. Fans will also really like Renee Hart, a female Special Operations operative who helps Mason out while he’s one the run.

Some people are comparing Hood to fellow author Brad Taylor, who writes the New York Times Bestselling Pike Logan series. I understand where the comparisons come from, since both men served decorated careers in the military before writing their first novel. However, their writing styles are slightly different.

For starters, Taylor has adopted a first-person narrative for his thrillers. Hood, meanwhile, writes in third-person. Both are terrific authors, with compelling main characters, and I highly recommend their work.

Because he’s new, I’ve been asked several times which famous protagonist Mason Kane most resembles . It’s a question I’ve thought long and hard about, so here’s my answer…

Rather than choose an established character to compare Mason Kane to, I’d be willing to wager that by this time next year, people will be comparing other new characters to Mason!

After The Survivor by Kyle Mills, and Code of Conduct by Brad Thor, Clear by Fire is the next must-read book of the year!

Book Details:

Clear by Fire is published by Touchstone Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It will be available on 8/18/2015.

[Joshua Hood]

"Fast paced and with a sharp eye for detail, Clear by Fire reads like it was written by someone who carries a gun for a living. There is no substituting authenticity, and Hood has it in spades."
– Kevin Maurer, coauthor of No Easy Day

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No matter what happens next, don't be too hard on yourself. Even now, after all you've done, you can still go home. Lucky you."
-Spec Ops: The Line

"I've seen horrors, horrors that you've seen. But you have no right to call me a murderer. You have a right to kill me. You have a right to do that, but you have no right to judge me."
- Apocalypse Now

"You Shall Judge A Man By His Foes As Well As By His Friends"
- Joseph Conrad.

"Clear By Fire"
- Infantry term which basically means to clear out a hostile objective.

Family. A common theme in fiction. Countless novels have explored what happens when the ones you love are in danger. But what happens if the people you considered family betrayed you? What happens if they turned their guns on you? This delightful twist on an old concept is one of the two big themes of "Clear By Fire", the debut novel of Joshua Hood, a decorated veteran of the legendary 82nd Airborne Regiment. The second theme is also just as compelling. Ending the war on terror.

For more than a decade now, the legion of Islamist extremist scumbags whom the West has spent billions in trying to destroy have instead survived and prospered. From the increasing sophistication of groups like Boko Haram who in an attack lasting a week, killed 2000 people in the Nigerian countryside, to Daesh, which despite taking a few knocks isn't down for the count and the current European migration crisis which has been caused by people attempting to flee from the monsters who are burning down the Middle East, regardless of the re-emergence of great power issues (Russia/China), Islamic Terrorism is still the main geopolitical problem for the West.

But with withdrawals being scheduled and the public getting tired of what seems to be a fruitless endeavor, some drastic so-called "suggestions" have taken shape among certain members of society in ending the conflict in one fell swoop. WMD's for starters. On one hand, the general concept of making the terrorist thorn in the side of the civilized world go away at the press of a few buttons is an appetizing thought. On the other hand, one must consider the millions of innocent people in the Middle East and South Asia who never asked for a bunch of delusional religious zealots to give them a bad name overseas and loathe them just as much as we do.

Morality can be infuriating occasionally, and it should not be thrown out the window. But what if someone with the planning skills and resources, decided to "cut things short", large scale collateral damaged be damned? "Clear By Fire" focuses on such a scenario. Now to the review. What happens when someone who is beyond caring about what is right and wrong, decides to clear by fire, the most dangerous place on earth?

We start the novel in sunny Morocco. The main character Mason Kane foils a sting operation mounted by the CIA against him. A fugitive on the run from crimes he did not commit, he has a few advantages compared to most hunted men. Excellent language skills allowing him to blend into the background and support from a Libyan intelligence officer turned powerful criminal. Not to mention formidable combat training as a member of the "Anvil Program", a black-ops team which was allowed to take the gloves off in destroying threats to America's national security. Briefly misdirecting the CIA officer hunting him, Mason intercepts an interesting piece of intelligence about an upcoming operation in South Asia being run by the men who framed him.

We then cut to California where Rene Hart, Special Forces soldier seconded to the DIA is taking part in a domestic counter-terrorist op. It goes badly, but after shooting her way out of an ambush Renee gets a lead on a scheme involving chemical warfare. And in Afghanistan, a rogue black ops team begins their date with destiny by cutting a swathe of destruction through a remote village, infiltrating a CIA black site and to top things off, appropriating a Predator Drone to conduct the assassination of the Afghan President.

These actions send alarm bells ringing in Washington. Plans are drawn up. Hart is sent to investigate who was behind the attacks and realizes something is wrong when she learns of a shoddy cover up. And Kane manages to capture an enemy, whose revelations send him on the trail of a conspiracy to rewrite the geopolitics of the Post 9/11 world and kill millions in the process. All these threads come together in a story of loss, vengeance and death where those who enter the fires of war, exit, transformed beyond recognition.

In terms of plot. Clear By Fire is on target. Most first novels either don't have the scope which can make a sizable impact or screw up with the structure. Joshua Hood clears these hurdles admirably. The story is a sweeping snapshot of the screwed-up Post 9/11 world we live in, touching on conflicts like the Syrian Civil War and issues such as the seeming futility of counter-terrorism work along with its costs; this book explores them with a depth not usually found in the genre. Add a potent blend of real life events such as the Wardack Province incident and "what if" situations like the repercussions of the Afghan President becoming road kill, there's more than enough twists and turns to satisfy even the most jaded post 9/11 thriller fiction fan.

Next, the action and setting. Joshua Hood has created a fascinating fictional universe, one which delves into the shadow world which exists alongside us. He also has a talent for vividly bringing to life the environments and life-or-death situations which his characters battle through better than a lot of his peers. From a journey across the lawless deserts of the Libyan/Chad border, to a duel to the death in the Afghan mountains and finishing with a race-against time gunfight through a Damascus suburb, Mr Hood's writing effortlessly grabs you by the scruff of the neck and throws you into the warzone, where survival isn't certain and anything is permitted when trying to stay alive.

Research? Being a Veteran of one of the elite units of the US Armed Services and current law enforcement officer, as you would expect when it comes to tactics and kit, Mr Hood knows his stuff, but does not let his knowledge take over the plot and narrative. Every action whether it be ambush tactics utilized and equipment like the HK 416 assault rifles featured has a clear purpose and isn't there "for show" or merely because it's "cool". Many 21st century thriller writers make the mistake that the hardware is important, and neglect everything else. Thankfully, Mr Hood is not in that category, a sign that he'll go very far in his writing career.

Now, to characters. There were many standouts in this book. First I'll focus on the deuteragonists of Clear By Fire, Mason Kane and Renee Hart. The author successfully establishes them well, and explores one of the main themes of the book through them, namely family. Kane's an orphan while Hart is estranged from hers. Instead they tried to find their own families by joining the military and fighting in the war on terror. What gives their character arcs startling depth is that in the events of "Clear By Fire", they both lose each of their surrogate families and are forced to deal with this loss. At the start of the novel, Mason is dealing with the betrayal by his unit commander and former comrades, while Renee gets into a situation where all her skill and experience is rendered impotent in the span of a few minutes as she's forced to watch those she cares about get taken from her. It's that symmetry which makes their characterization all the more compelling and helps enrich the story.

As for the main protagonists individually, first let’s look at Mr Kane.
He reminded me of many a protagonist from British military thriller writer Chris Ryan. The difference? I actually cared about his survival, a testament to his characterization by Mr Hood, who is by far superior to Mr Ryan in that department. Kane is a soldier's soldier. Having served his country well, his life takes a turn for the worst when he refuses to fall in line after he witnesses a war crime. While damaged and vengeful, he resolutely tries to keep his humanity intact despite all the suffering he goes through in the story. But a boy scout he is not and his combat abilities are devastating and combined with his cunning and tradecraft he's picked up along the way; he's more than capable of keeping up with the men who want him dead.

Then, we have Renee Hart, who I have to say stole the show. As the only female Special Forces soldier in the US Armed Services, she's part of the recent wave of female characters in Post 9/11 fiction. Hart is also one of the few done right. Competent? Absolutely. Tough? And how! She doesn't disappoint. Whether it be exchanging gunfire with members of a rogue counter-terrorist unit or dealing with people who hold her in contempt despite her accomplishments and experience, she doesn't hesitate or suffer in silence; instead, Renee goes for the jugular. Even after being hit with a tragic loss, she pulls herself together and soldiers on. I find it also refreshing that Mr Hood doesn't fall into the old trap of getting "descriptive" shall we say. Yes, Ms. Hart is beautiful. But that's not important. What is relevant however is that she easily keeps up with Mason Kane and the people trying to murder them both, if not more so. I look forward to seeing where she goes on the character arc Mr Hood has begun to send her on.

Next, secondary characters. Ahmed and "Zeus". First Ahmed. He's a former Libyan intelligence officer who once ran into Kane and helped him kill Gadhafi. Having utilized his contacts and skillset to become a powerful crime lord, he acts as a patron and father figure of sorts for the fugitive American soldier whom he's taken a liking to. Then there's his employee "Zeus". Also a former spy like his boss, he's Kane's partner in crime. Easily holding his own in the life or death situations they both get themselves into, the banter between him, Ahmed and Kane provides some funny moments and a bit of welcome levity in this very dark story.

Finally, we have the villain of the piece, Colonel Barnes. He's the character which is used to explore the second big theme of the book, ending the war on terror in a single, devastating attack. What sort of man would have the guts and lack of morals to try? Barnes gives us a good idea. Channeling "Apocalypse Now's" Kurz, but with far more gleeful malevolence, while he's the just the point-man for some power brokers, on the ground he's the one driving events. Brilliant, but with an ego as big as the Middle East, he sets in motion a scheme to neutralize a clear and present danger to the USA. However he does so regardless of the mountain of corpses will pile up if he succeeds. A well intentioned extremist? Or a man who wants to play God and has conveniently found an opportunity to have the power of life and death over millions? The good colonel will keep you guessing and debating all the way to the very end. One thing is for sure, he can match his bark with a painful bite, having the planning abilities to come out on top and ensure most of the people hunting him come to very sticky ends. And while his plan to set the Middle East aflame doesn't come together, Barnes manages to pull off a Houdini, and leave the book alive.

Minor quibbles. Some of the prose in Clear By Fire is a little rough around the edges, but nothing some minor editing wouldn't fix. Secondly, character interaction between Hart and Kane. Good for the most part but there was one scene where it almost became dangerously forced. There's no need for that. The dynamics between them are still emerging and it's best to let their relationship develop naturally. Thirdly, some events alluded to in the story could have done with a flashback or two. That aside, Mr Hood has demonstrated excellent writing abilities and I'm sure he'll continue to develop and improve his skills for the sequel novels, which will probably elaborate on the events that we only got to hear about.

So overall, my verdict is this. Clear By Fire is an outstanding start to a soon to be growing military thriller series. With vivid, brutal action scenes, impressive characterization, a surprising use of themes to enrich an already impressive narrative and a plot which deals with relevant issues that more people need to be discussing before it’s too late; Joshua Hood joins the ranks of the second generation of Post 9/11 fiction writers alongside the likes of Brad Taylor and Mark Greaney. The opportunities for this series are endless, and I’m confident Mr Hood will seize them. I don’t know where Mr Kane, Ms. Hart and their allies will be going as they begin their journey into the darkness, but having faced the fire in this book and survived, we will most certainly be seeing them again.

ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to get an Advance Reader Copy of this fantastic book. As a fan of actions/thriller writers such as Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, Ben Coes, David Baldacci, and many others, I heard a lot about Hood and his book by another fan and friend of Hood's. I was skeptical for about five seconds because Hood is a fighter, not a writer, right? Wrong. Apparently the two are not mutually exclusive.

So if you enjoy the authors I mentioned above, you're going to love Joshua Hood. Scot Harvath, Mitch Rapp, Dewey Andreas, and Will Robie have a new contemporary in Mason Kane, and Hood adds in a strong female character to boot!

War is a messy business, but when Kane finds himself on the hit-list for choosing to do what was morally right when those around him choose the opposite, he must use his wits to stay alive, figure out who he can trust and get to the bottom of what's really going on before he's silenced for good.

The characters are well formed and human, thoroughly likable and the plot is thought-provoking. Where do you draw the line in war and at what cost? What happens when you stop at the line and others around you cross it? Read Clear by Fire and find out. And rest assured Kane's not finished yet!

[Slaven Tomasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just received the book earlier this morning after stalking my mail man so I didn't have to wait an extra 3 hours. I'm not done reading it yet, but felt I've gotten more than enough information to do an initial review. Mason Kane is the next big thing, he reminds me of a young Mitch Rapp in Kill Shot, alone and unafraid, got put in a difficult situation and his training kicks in & takes over. It is so obvious that Joshua Hood writes with the first hand knowledge & experience of what combat is like. Not just from the perspective of doing combat, but the little details only those of us in the 1% of the current population that have served our great country know. I am already excited for the next book in the #HurriKane series and am hoping Joshua provides us with a book per year like Brad Thor does. Joshua's attention to detail is comparable to that of Vince Flynn's and his protagonist Mason is as formidable at Mitch Rapp. Get Clear by Fire I promise you will NOT be disappointed.

[L.A. Starks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Top-notch military action book by Joshua Hood. He understands weapons, operating in dangerous, borderless countries, and writes a great action scene.

However, a la repeated reminders from tech expert Lee Lofland: Hood and his editors missed one big red flag: cordite (again). Cordite was last used about a hundred years ago. No current-day warrior would be smelling it because cordite is not used.

Everything else is well-done, but the references to cordite are glaring. Writers (and readers) should prefer 'gunpowder' or 'propellant'.

[Yigal Zur · Rating 2 out of 5]

very shallow. a lot of words. pack with action with is no sense. no real chacaters

[Lois Nettles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have Clear By Fire by Joshua Hood on both my Kindle and Audio. Started reading it and didn't want to stop to work, so switched over to my headphones. I am enjoying both, reading and listening!!!

This is a really great book. I am not finished yet, but have thoroughly enjoyed it thus far and will definitely be awaiting the next book.

Grab a copy, you won't be disappointed.

[Ryan Hillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller about the war in Afghanistan!! Can't wait till the next entry the series!!

[Phil Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome first novel loaded with kick ass action and great characters! A must read y'all!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to like this book. The hype around this author was high and therefore so were my expectations. I stopped reading this for awhile to read The Wolves and was proud that I came back to finish it as I was not enjoying it at all. But I didn't want to be a quitter and was hopeful it would redeem itself.
My biggest issue was the flow. I found myself going back over pages read to see if I had missed something. I'd start a new chapter and be completely confused. Would love to hear if anyone else had these issues as I felt disjointed while reading most of the time. I did like the character Mason and Renee and hope that the author doesn't fall into predictable female tropes with the upcoming book.
I am a sucker for punishment so will be giving the next book a go!

[Danield · Rating 5 out of 5]

hi everybody
One of the best I've read this year till now amongst the 3 best
Well writen perfectly researched and a bit of humor well placed
Jos takes the book to new combat level,well explained but pretty creepy
I know it's only fiction but the book kept so tensed that I forgot about being only fiction
Many times I catched myself talking to Mason Kane that's even more creepy but be assured I'm not yet nuts

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been psyched about a new author since Ben Coes a few years back. Joshua Hood didn't disappoint, Clear by Fire was awesome, I didn't want to put it down. It's a must read for fans of Thor, Taylor, Flynn or any military/techno thriller.

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the beginning of the book and less about the end. If you want to build it as a series, built the character a little better.

[Steven Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLEAR BY FIRE, the inaugural book in infantry veteran Joshua Hood's Search and Destroy series, is a solid thriller.

Following the exploits of former JSOC operator MSG Mason Kane and DIA case officer Renee Hart, CLEAR BY FIRE focuses on a group of rogue operators from an off-the-books project code-named Anvil, which was designed to wage total war on jihadists. They take their mission to heart and decide t wreak total havoc in the Middle East, with the objective being the annihilation of jihadists by any means necessary, no matter how heinous.

Kane was once an Anvil operator, until the Anvil CO, a Kurtz-like Special Forces colonel named Barnes, asks Kane to cross a line he was unwilling to cross. The team considered his life forfeit, which rendered him hunted by the institutions that he once trusted.

Hart is tasked with investigating Decklin, another former Anvil operator who has gone completely off the reservation and has engaged in the CBRN arms trade.

Kane's fight for survival and Hart's investigation eventually collide, and they become partners in a quest to stop Barnes from enacting his maniacal plan.

I want to focus on the flaws of the book so that they will better highlight the book's strengths.

The first flaw of CLEAR BY FIRE is that the characters aren't 100% properly introduced. I know some people expect the author to hold their hand every step of the way, and I'm not one of those people. So, I like hints and insinuation and letting the reader catch on as they go. With CLEAR BY FIRE, the hints and insinuations are too subtle. A little exposition to further expand on the characters and the links between them would have been good here. I eventually caught on near the end of the book, but I think it should have been broken down more clearly earlier on.

I also found it convenient that a Special Forces NCO not only knew of the Anvil program and Barnes, but also somehow had enough faith in Kane to recommend that Hart seek him out for answers on Barnes. Perhaps I misread (which is entirely possible), but I was under the impression the SOF and IC community looked at Kane as burned and off the reservation.

I know it's a work of fiction, but I was mildly vexed by the notion of DIA conducting raids on US soil. While there is some historical accuracy at the DIA (controversially) conducting surveillance operations against persons on US soil, the DIA is not a law-enforcement entity and thus has no authority to execute arrests. This could have been forgiven if it was more of an off-the-books, low-vis job, but a massive gun battle in Everytown, USA with armed DIA personnel would have caused a much greater headache than it did in the novel, both PR wise and legally.

I also thought the interactions between Hart and Kane were hit and miss. In some aspects, Hood was right on the money on how they should interact. In others, it seemed out of character, given recent events within the prose. This could have been much worse (and I have read much worse). It also has room for improvement.

I also would have liked to learn a little more about Kane. Hood did a bang-up job fleshing out Hart as a character, to the point where it seemed more that Hart was the main character as opposed to Kane. I would have liked to seen more about Kane and his personality type.

I thought the ending was a little rushed. I would have let the ending linger a bit longer. I'm not sure if Hood meant to end it that quickly, or if his editor told him to cut material to make word count.

Now, those criticisms make it seem like I didn't like the book.

That would be an erroneous assumption.

**Despite** all of the above, I still found myself turning the page to find out what happens next. That's skill with plotting and pacing. That's natural writing talent, and Joshua Hood has it.

If anything, my critiques are detailed and in depth because I hope he reads them and chooses to implement some of them. He's got the raw talent. All that's left now is experience and writing growth, which every writer from Joe Nobody to the late Tom Clancy experiences.

CLEAR BY FIRE was action packed, with all sorts of tidbits that one would only know if they have deployed downrange. It was also very knowledgeable in the affairs of our current war zones, and set the stage for a long-spanning political conspiracy, which has me wanting to go back for Hood's second book (which I probably will at pay day).

I think Joshua Hood has the makings of a great writer, and that CLEAR BY FIRE is a solid start overall. I look forward to seeing more work from him.

[myreadingescapism · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger series, aka a military thriller.. but it's hard to beat that. This was decent, was just a bit lacking of action for my taste.

[Nate Granzow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author for the purpose of review.

Joshua Hood has entered the field of thriller authors with a bang. "Clear By Fire," his freshman attempt, reads like an espionage thriller with a definite tactical flare. To compare, I found his writing most similar in style to the late Vince Flynn. The novel's protagonist bears more than a passing resemblance to Flynn's Mitch Rapp—a super soldier with a mixed ethnicity perfect for blending in around the Middle East. That said, I actually felt that the central star in this book was Renee Hart, a former operator who is quick thinking and cold as ice under pressure. I got the sense that she was meant to share the spotlight with Kane, but I thought she usurped him as the leading protagonist. The antagonist, Colonel Barnes, struck me as a bit of a Kurtz figure a la "Apocalypse Now": the educated, albeit ruthless leader who coldly murders Afghan locals and American soldiers in order to achieve his mission of compelling the U.S. to remain at war in the country.

It's obvious that the author has military experience and more than a passing understanding of foreign policy. His portrayals of house raids, shootouts, and the situation on the ground in Afghanistan were all so detailed, there's no question he's writing from a position of experience.

Minor quibbles:
*The author drops you directly into the action without telling you specifically what's going on or giving background on new characters, which I appreciated at first, thinking the author would double back and give me a little background for which to anchor the character. Ordinarily that shows that the author trusts the reader enough to figure it out without hand-holding, and demands that the reader trust the author to reveal the salient information when it's appropriate. Here, though, the plot was complex enough and the character list so comprehensive, I felt lost at times and could have used a little more explanation for why characters were where they were and their motivations.
*The cover art shows a badass soldier fighting through an explosion, which is sweet, but a full cartridge—not just the bullet—is shown flying across the page. I'm going to chalk that one up to the publisher's art designer, and not the author, as I'm pretty certain that, given his military background, he understands how firearms, and cartridges, function.
*There's no real introduction of ancillary characters. Most authors, if they assign a character a name beyond "thug number one," provide a brief introduction to the character with a defining characteristic or feature that gives the reader something for which to remember who that character is later. There was no such help here, and it made it difficult for me to recall who was who whenever someone beyond the three or four primary characters was involved.

Overall:
This is a very strong start for this new author. Although the book suffered from a mildly confusing cast of characters and dialogue that struck me as a bit mechanical (with all political leaders speaking as gruff and profane, all protagonists speaking as the clear and level-headed voice of reason, and all ancillary political players as sniveling and submissive), the book read quickly, the action was taut, and the overall prose was well done.

[Bodo Pfündl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to a promising new series!

Clear by Fire is a crisply written and tightly plotted military thriller, with great characters, cinematic action scenes and an overarching story-arc, which promises intrigue and betrayal for many novels to come.

The protagonist is a special forces soldier with a troubled past and a lot of rage in his heart. It took me some time to truly connect to him, but he grew on me as the book progressed. His buddy Zeus an ex-Libyan intelligence officer was great fun and delivered the best one-liners. But the character stealing the show from the others, was Renee Hart. A female badass with both the brawls and the brains, who kicked feminine cliché in the groin! Her backstory is the most interesting one and still holds a lot of promise for future novels.

Overall I really enjoyed this debut by Joshua Hood. Only because of some minor complaints did I not give it 5 stars. The prose was a bit sturdy at times, the protagonist appeared a bit too cold and brutal to be likable at first and there were some inconsistencies in the plot. But like I said, those things were all minor and since I have heard great things about the next one, I will definitely be around for Hood’s next ride!

[Jarek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is absolutely perfect, both in terms of the quality of writing and accurate presentation of the subject matter. The attention to details, combined with author's hands-on experience in military operations, results in unmatched authenticity and realism.

The characters also make the novel stand out, as they are definitely not black-and-white. There are no heroic patriots nor simple bad guys. Everyone's motives and actions are complex, which makes the characters very real.

If Joshua Hood's subsequent novels will be similar in style and quality, the series will be definitely better than those by Brad Thor or Vince Flynn.

I'm looking forward to the next book from this author.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make room Mitch Rapp!

Move over Kyle Mills, Ben Coes and Brian Haig! There is a new and dynamic author leading the pack. With Joshua Hood's first novel, he has hit a home run! His main character, Mason is a bad ass with an axe to grind! I just can't wait to see where Mr. Hood takes Mason, his new "friend", Renee and and his battle buddy, Zeus! There are a lot of bad guys remaining from this story for the three amigos to keep chasing! A REALLY GOOD NOVEL! Hope this continues in a long running series!

[Chris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my favorite book of 2015. Don't get me wrong I loved Kyle Mills The Survivor and a couple others but this one took me to a different level of reading. The vivid pictures painted and described are second to none. Joshua destroyed the competition incorporating multiple angles from two stellar characters. If you haven't read Clear By Fire you are doing a severe disservice to yourself!!!!

[Christopher Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good debut novel. If you're a fan of Vince Flynn or Brad Thor you'll like this one.

[John of Canada · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoy thrillers of this nature, but I did have a few problems with this. First of all there were acronyms all over the place. I mean wtf? The action was non-stop to a point where I was saying please stop. And worst of all, the cliffhanger ending. Cheap stunt to sell the next book. On the plus side, I thought the characters were well drawn, and I was interested in Hood's descriptions of the Middle East conflicts.

[Ashima Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear by Fire is the first in the Search and Destroy series and has Mason Kane in the lead who is part of the secret operation called the Anvil Program which also conducts blacks ops.

Written by a decorated soldier, this book is as authentic as you can get. And since it falls in the genre of my favourite category of military thrillers (spycraft, covert ops, black ops), It had me hooked so badly that I read it from start to finish in the duration of one night.

[Douglas Barrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read. You could tell it was written by an experienced operator with all the details he gives of battles. He puts you right in the middle of the action with all the good and bad results. We are introduced to Mason Kane who is battling his way to through North Africa to find traitors to the US government who want to start an all out war against radical Islam by blowing up a Shia Islamic mosque in Syria. It's an exciting story and it appears... there is more to come.

[Adrienne]

I found this book too difficult to complete. For me it simply had too many characters for me to track, even using pen and paper.

[Chuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cold, dark, grim story of clandestine CIA/Special Forces operations in the Middle East. It was too cold, dark and grim for my taste.