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Black Ops #3
Jacknife
No one captures the true spirit of America like William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. Jacknife is their most pulse-pounding and timely thriller yet.
America Is Under Attack
And this time, it's not New York City or Washington.
A sleeper cell of Middle Eastern terrorists are targeting the heartland: an all-American superstore on opening day, right outside of Fort Worth, Texas. The day after Thanksgiving. As insurance, the terrorists have also hidden a suitcase nuke somewhere in the store which they plan to detonate--a strike fifty times worse than 9/11 that will paralyze America.
A Plot To Cripple The Country
Brad Parker is the lone American intelligence agent who uncovers the plot after a raid on a terrorist training camp in Pakistan. But Parker is one man up against the inept bureaucracy of Homeland Security and the State Department--who refuse to listen. . .and now it's too late.
They Call Him Jacknife
The only thing stopping the kill-crazy terrorists is already inside the superstore--a truck-driving, former Special Forces op named John "Jacknife" McCabe. He's where the perfect terror plan is about to blow apart. Because Jacknife won't go down without a fight. And with this guy as leader, the terrorists will find their way to paradise a lot sooner than they think. . .
America Is Under Attack
And this time, it's not New York City or Washington.
A sleeper cell of Middle Eastern terrorists are targeting the heartland: an all-American superstore on opening day, right outside of Fort Worth, Texas. The day after Thanksgiving. As insurance, the terrorists have also hidden a suitcase nuke somewhere in the store which they plan to detonate--a strike fifty times worse than 9/11 that will paralyze America.
A Plot To Cripple The Country
Brad Parker is the lone American intelligence agent who uncovers the plot after a raid on a terrorist training camp in Pakistan. But Parker is one man up against the inept bureaucracy of Homeland Security and the State Department--who refuse to listen. . .and now it's too late.
They Call Him Jacknife
The only thing stopping the kill-crazy terrorists is already inside the superstore--a truck-driving, former Special Forces op named John "Jacknife" McCabe. He's where the perfect terror plan is about to blow apart. Because Jacknife won't go down without a fight. And with this guy as leader, the terrorists will find their way to paradise a lot sooner than they think. . .
345 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
174 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,040 books1,390 followersWilliam W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 10, 2021
This book is terrible.
Grammatical and continuity errors are all over the book.
Just a few examples involving the hero. An NFL game on Thanksgiving between Washington and Dallas. Seconds remain and Dallas lines up to kick a field goal. The author describes the additional distance for the holder but forgets during his lecture that the ball travels 10 yards across the end zone too. Seriously.
Then, after Dallas hits it to win, the hero and his daughter celebrate, bringing up similar memories.
Then he is called in to work on Black Friday. Be at the warehouse to pick up your load at 8am.
On Black Friday his family is excited at 6am that he will arrive at 8am and can shop with them.
Then, at 8am he arrives to get his load (not drop it off and shop) and is told there is a delay. He goes to the office to relax and is excited to read the paper so he can see who won the Washington/Dallas game on Thanksgiving. Even though he watched it. Watched his daughter dance.
There are errors describing weapons (everything is "fully automatic").
There are errors in the timeline.
Somehow, the author masterfully avoided skilled editing. The book alludes to the author dying and a family member finishing it. If this is true, did they actually read what he had written? They managed to take a great story, with a serious allegory to our political leadership, and destroy it by allowing SO many mistakes. It is too bad.
Grammatical and continuity errors are all over the book.
Just a few examples involving the hero. An NFL game on Thanksgiving between Washington and Dallas. Seconds remain and Dallas lines up to kick a field goal. The author describes the additional distance for the holder but forgets during his lecture that the ball travels 10 yards across the end zone too. Seriously.
Then, after Dallas hits it to win, the hero and his daughter celebrate, bringing up similar memories.
Then he is called in to work on Black Friday. Be at the warehouse to pick up your load at 8am.
On Black Friday his family is excited at 6am that he will arrive at 8am and can shop with them.
Then, at 8am he arrives to get his load (not drop it off and shop) and is told there is a delay. He goes to the office to relax and is excited to read the paper so he can see who won the Washington/Dallas game on Thanksgiving. Even though he watched it. Watched his daughter dance.
There are errors describing weapons (everything is "fully automatic").
There are errors in the timeline.
Somehow, the author masterfully avoided skilled editing. The book alludes to the author dying and a family member finishing it. If this is true, did they actually read what he had written? They managed to take a great story, with a serious allegory to our political leadership, and destroy it by allowing SO many mistakes. It is too bad.
November 19, 2020
Food for thought
Although not a work of great literature, it was a book that provided food for thought. Especially in these days of media manipulation, blind following of ideals in direct opposition of freedom, and the force feeding of political agendas, one can only hope that the seeds of our country our embedded more deeply than we demonstrate.
Although not a work of great literature, it was a book that provided food for thought. Especially in these days of media manipulation, blind following of ideals in direct opposition of freedom, and the force feeding of political agendas, one can only hope that the seeds of our country our embedded more deeply than we demonstrate.
December 30, 2021
This was a terrible attempt to stereotype everyone. The Liberals as cowards and stupid, the Texans as Rednecks, The President as weak and power hungry, and the Muslims as full of hate for infidels. Don't waste your time. Worse book I've read in a long time. Yes, I'm a liberal, one who served his country for 24 years as a military officer.
July 7, 2017
Fast moving Johnstone style. Love his no holds bar action. Gets you thinking about the world around you. This book hooks you do you don't want to stop reading.
Can't wait for the next one.Thank for such good reading material why can't you accept my review with fewer words!!
Can't wait for the next one.Thank for such good reading material why can't you accept my review with fewer words!!
May 2, 2020
This is the first Johnstone book I had to put poor ratings as I found, rather surprisingly, very poorly paced with the building of the plot and intolerable incessant gibberish talking. Haven't enjoyed it a bit.
April 25, 2024
What a great read. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story quite like this one and I could hardly put this book down. The storyline was great and he made the character seem so real. Great job to the author.
August 4, 2018
Off to vote.
Great storyline line but way to politicised. Go red white and blue and all that. A guest appearance by John Wayne would not have surprised me.
Great storyline line but way to politicised. Go red white and blue and all that. A guest appearance by John Wayne would not have surprised me.
May 8, 2019
Good
I honestly thought that this book was not as good as the two previous books by the author. But I still enjoyed reading it though.
I honestly thought that this book was not as good as the two previous books by the author. But I still enjoyed reading it though.
June 4, 2022
Another version of the author's previous book Black Friday which itself was a version of Stephen Hunter's book Soft Target. All three books were ejoyable.
October 31, 2023
Read beyond the fiction and see the facts we face today
An exciting story which made me believe it was written in 2020. But JA & WW put together an exciting but unnerving adventure as we witness millions entering the U.S. without proper controls. As we see our country decline those who hate our country are free to commit acts as outlined in this novel. I look forward to future tales and hope they remain fiction.
An exciting story which made me believe it was written in 2020. But JA & WW put together an exciting but unnerving adventure as we witness millions entering the U.S. without proper controls. As we see our country decline those who hate our country are free to commit acts as outlined in this novel. I look forward to future tales and hope they remain fiction.
March 7, 2017
Terrorists target U.S. commercialism
I read William W. Johnstone's westerns off and on over the years and enjoyed them. This is a modern day story about terrorists on U.S. soil.
I'm not quite sure of the logistics of how Johnstone's current books are being written since he passed away in 2004. From looking around on the Web, it looks like J.A. Johnstone worked closely with William W. as an assistant, typist, fact checker, and researcher and was chosen by the family to continue his writing tradition. Some of the books since 2004 are written WITH William W. (I am assuming using notes and outlines left behind when he died). I am now seeing newer books written just by J.A., so hopefully in the same vein. It is my understanding that J.A. is. either the niece or nephew of William W.
None of that matters too much though because I enjoyed JACKNIFE. It is a fast paced thriller taking place in Texas, outside of Dallas-Ft. Worth at the grand opening of a new mega store on Black Friday. Good characterization, vile villains, and a spot of humor here and there make this a quick page turner.
One thing that is very apparent in the story is the author's political leanings - I would say extremely right wing. I am pretty conservative myself but in spots this was a bit over the top, even for me.
I'm getting ready to read another book by this duo that sounds VERY similar called BLACK FRIDAY. It takes place in a shopping mall rather than a single huge store but I'm wondering how different it can be.
I will let anyone that's interested know in the BLACK FRIDAY review.
I read William W. Johnstone's westerns off and on over the years and enjoyed them. This is a modern day story about terrorists on U.S. soil.
I'm not quite sure of the logistics of how Johnstone's current books are being written since he passed away in 2004. From looking around on the Web, it looks like J.A. Johnstone worked closely with William W. as an assistant, typist, fact checker, and researcher and was chosen by the family to continue his writing tradition. Some of the books since 2004 are written WITH William W. (I am assuming using notes and outlines left behind when he died). I am now seeing newer books written just by J.A., so hopefully in the same vein. It is my understanding that J.A. is. either the niece or nephew of William W.
None of that matters too much though because I enjoyed JACKNIFE. It is a fast paced thriller taking place in Texas, outside of Dallas-Ft. Worth at the grand opening of a new mega store on Black Friday. Good characterization, vile villains, and a spot of humor here and there make this a quick page turner.
One thing that is very apparent in the story is the author's political leanings - I would say extremely right wing. I am pretty conservative myself but in spots this was a bit over the top, even for me.
I'm getting ready to read another book by this duo that sounds VERY similar called BLACK FRIDAY. It takes place in a shopping mall rather than a single huge store but I'm wondering how different it can be.
I will let anyone that's interested know in the BLACK FRIDAY review.
May 30, 2015
'Jacknife' is just plain fun! A well written battle through nutty folks who think they will take over the world one large over-sized department store at a time.
The Johnstone Clan seems to have connected a ghostwriter of earlier thrillers to this book as it reads much like a few others with similar characters. Can't recall if I've written this before, but there is a strong flavor of Vince Flynn to the point that I wonder if he was involved with this book. One way to tell is if the sound of these thrillers slips from this level, with Flynn now gone.
The writing is strong. Nowhere near the writing of other recent books I've read, such as Colin Dexter, Marjorie Rawlings or Edmund Crispin. But the engagement is concrete and the need to propell forward to find out what happens next and the want to read more like it, transcends the better writing. This is great storytelling.
Troubles with the book: Plenty seems unbelievable. There is a definite political slant (That is fine with me). Still, if a reader can enjoy reading this much, then the weakness is not that, but part of the whole that is the entertainment of great storytelling, if I may repeat myself and underscore what the Johnstone Clan excels at.
As is true in the Clan set, the characters are outstanding in their written definitions. The writer(s) and editor(s) involved deserve continued applause. The Hiram Stackhouse character is a hoot.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 of 10.
The Johnstone Clan seems to have connected a ghostwriter of earlier thrillers to this book as it reads much like a few others with similar characters. Can't recall if I've written this before, but there is a strong flavor of Vince Flynn to the point that I wonder if he was involved with this book. One way to tell is if the sound of these thrillers slips from this level, with Flynn now gone.
The writing is strong. Nowhere near the writing of other recent books I've read, such as Colin Dexter, Marjorie Rawlings or Edmund Crispin. But the engagement is concrete and the need to propell forward to find out what happens next and the want to read more like it, transcends the better writing. This is great storytelling.
Troubles with the book: Plenty seems unbelievable. There is a definite political slant (That is fine with me). Still, if a reader can enjoy reading this much, then the weakness is not that, but part of the whole that is the entertainment of great storytelling, if I may repeat myself and underscore what the Johnstone Clan excels at.
As is true in the Clan set, the characters are outstanding in their written definitions. The writer(s) and editor(s) involved deserve continued applause. The Hiram Stackhouse character is a hoot.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 of 10.
July 26, 2016
Not a bad book but was pretty predictable once you got into it. For a Johnstone book it was a tad of a let down which makes me wonder if this was a ghost written book from notes he had left after his death.
The idea behind the book is a takeover of a major shopping center on Black Friday by a terrorist group. Not a bad idea of course but it was very easy to figure out the who, the where and the when.
The action scenes are very well done however and it is a still an enjoyable read with some minor twists thrown in as well.
The idea behind the book is a takeover of a major shopping center on Black Friday by a terrorist group. Not a bad idea of course but it was very easy to figure out the who, the where and the when.
The action scenes are very well done however and it is a still an enjoyable read with some minor twists thrown in as well.
July 30, 2008
Terrorist plan to blow up the grand opening of the UltraMegamart in Fort Worth, Texas. Holding hundreds of customers hostage, only one man inside has the guts to challenge them. John "Jackknife" McCabe is ex-special forces. He's fought terrorists on their home ground. Now they are on his.
October 8, 2012
William W Johnstone escapes from the western genre and writes a modern day thriller. A large department store is taken over by terrorists.
April 11, 2015
I love this author. The audiobook produced by Grafic Audio was fun to listen to while driving.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews