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Pike Logan #7
No Fortunate Son
In the latest military thriller from the retired Delta Force Operator and New York Times bestselling author, a hostage situation places America’s most powerful political elite at the mercy of its worst enemies.
When veteran operator Pike Logan and partner Jennifer Cahill receive a letter from Blaisdell Consulting—the umbrella cover company for their real employer, a top secret counterterrorist unit called the Taskforce—they expect orders for their next mission-impossible tasking. Instead, they learn that their latest actions have gotten them fired, despite having saved thousands of innocent lives.
Pike’s shock and fury is redirected when their commander, Colonel Kurt Hale, asks him and Jennifer for help with a personal matter: His niece Kylie, an exchange student in England, has gone missing. Neither Pike nor Jennifer understands how critical her disappearance will become.
Meanwhile, all Taskforce teams have been redirected to a developing situation. A terrorist organization has targeted military relatives of key members of the US government, including the vice president’s son. Their seizure of hostages was far-reaching and meticulously coordinated, and the full extent of the threat—and potential demands—has thrown the government into turmoil. They face a terrible choice: Cease counter-terrorist operations, or watch hostages die one by one. How much is a single life worth? Unless the Taskforce can decipher the web of lies devised by their enemies, the United States is about to find out.
When veteran operator Pike Logan and partner Jennifer Cahill receive a letter from Blaisdell Consulting—the umbrella cover company for their real employer, a top secret counterterrorist unit called the Taskforce—they expect orders for their next mission-impossible tasking. Instead, they learn that their latest actions have gotten them fired, despite having saved thousands of innocent lives.
Pike’s shock and fury is redirected when their commander, Colonel Kurt Hale, asks him and Jennifer for help with a personal matter: His niece Kylie, an exchange student in England, has gone missing. Neither Pike nor Jennifer understands how critical her disappearance will become.
Meanwhile, all Taskforce teams have been redirected to a developing situation. A terrorist organization has targeted military relatives of key members of the US government, including the vice president’s son. Their seizure of hostages was far-reaching and meticulously coordinated, and the full extent of the threat—and potential demands—has thrown the government into turmoil. They face a terrible choice: Cease counter-terrorist operations, or watch hostages die one by one. How much is a single life worth? Unless the Taskforce can decipher the web of lies devised by their enemies, the United States is about to find out.
432 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2014
512 people are currently reading
2277 people want to read
About the author
Brad Taylor
48 books2,538 followersBrad Taylor served for more than twenty-one years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2010 as a Special Forces Lieutenant colonel. During that time he held numerous infantry and special operations positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operations Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
March 9, 2025
I so enjoy reading Brad Taylor’s books, especially the Pike Logan series. There is always action, frustration, humor and too often …. sadness.
This story involves the Irish and kidnapping of major players. They are also using people from other countries to mask their identities, subtly projecting the actions of terrorists. They have made deals with the devil that require payback.
What is happening with Pike during all of this you ask. The Grolier Recovery Services has been fired by the Oversight Committee due to Pike’s actions in his last engagement. Pike and Jennifer have been sidelined.
Pike is called back into unsanctioned action by Kurt only due to his niece’s disappearance. Knuckles team follows one thread hoping to recover the victims of the kidnapping while Jennifer and Pike follow another. From here the rollercoaster of action begins its ascent to the top of the rail to be followed by a explosive dive of excitement terminating in a climatic ending.
This is a great read my fellow GR friends. Enjoy the ride.
This story involves the Irish and kidnapping of major players. They are also using people from other countries to mask their identities, subtly projecting the actions of terrorists. They have made deals with the devil that require payback.
What is happening with Pike during all of this you ask. The Grolier Recovery Services has been fired by the Oversight Committee due to Pike’s actions in his last engagement. Pike and Jennifer have been sidelined.
Pike is called back into unsanctioned action by Kurt only due to his niece’s disappearance. Knuckles team follows one thread hoping to recover the victims of the kidnapping while Jennifer and Pike follow another. From here the rollercoaster of action begins its ascent to the top of the rail to be followed by a explosive dive of excitement terminating in a climatic ending.
This is a great read my fellow GR friends. Enjoy the ride.
November 28, 2018
Excellent! This book and author were recommended to me by a Goodreads friend. It did not disappoint.
It is a Pike Logan (main character) book. It is international, high adventure, and involves the highest level of our government as well as the most skilled and super secret agency in the world. The story evolves on multiple fronts and I could not put it down.
The clock is racing from the start to save some very important people. But on a different storyline, Pike is trying to save someone he loves at the same time and lots of other innocent people are at risk of death too. Plus they can't let it leak to the media. Just a good fast moving book with lots of twists and turns.
I will read the other Pike Logan books and the rest of Brad Taylor's books too. You should try one
Very good!
It is a Pike Logan (main character) book. It is international, high adventure, and involves the highest level of our government as well as the most skilled and super secret agency in the world. The story evolves on multiple fronts and I could not put it down.
The clock is racing from the start to save some very important people. But on a different storyline, Pike is trying to save someone he loves at the same time and lots of other innocent people are at risk of death too. Plus they can't let it leak to the media. Just a good fast moving book with lots of twists and turns.
I will read the other Pike Logan books and the rest of Brad Taylor's books too. You should try one
Very good!
February 7, 2017
This is a novel Taylor wrote specifically to work outside the Taliban-ISIS-terrorist venue. With five potential victims and numerous characters threatening all of them, the plot is necessarily complex. Taylor makes readers vividly feel Pike's annoyance as he strains at the leash for authorization to act when technically, he's not supposed to be anywhere in the vicinity.
Great action scenes with Pike, Jennifer, and a character named Nung. Series readers, and all adventure/thriller readers, will like No Fortunate Son.
Great action scenes with Pike, Jennifer, and a character named Nung. Series readers, and all adventure/thriller readers, will like No Fortunate Son.
January 28, 2024
Another great entry in the Pike Logan series. Each book gets better and better. Pike and Jennifer are growing and changing, which I really enjoy. And there's nothing like a good kidnapping to amp up the suspense. This one had a little more levity than usual, which made a nice change of pace. Overall, and excellent read and my favoriten(so far!)
February 21, 2015
A kidnapping is a treasure trove for the thriller writer. The suspense is already implicit in the concept. Someone needs to be found before the criminals put them to death. When the victims are children, the suspense is ratcheted up tenfold. Naturally, a thriller writer is going to return to this type of plot again and again, merely changing the story angle and victim. Add in that the kidnappers are terrorists, the parent in this case is not a grieving Mom or Dad, but the United States itself, who will do anything to find the kidnappers and has the soldiers and spies to do so, and now we are cooking up some good hot military suspense.
In "No Fortunate Son", Brad Taylor's latest Pike Logan novel, Pike and his girlfriend / partner Jennifer have been booted from their secret quasi government agency because of Pike's running off the reservation during his last adventure in "Days of Rage". While fuming at the injustice of it all, his boss Kurt Hale throws him a bone. Hale's niece Kylie, who Pike knows for a long time, is missing and Hale's sister is afraid that something has "happened". Hale asks Pike and Jennifer to investigate her disappearance in England.
While Pike and Jennifer are on their own interviewing Kylie's roommate, America and its intelligence and anti terrorist apparatus are gearing up to finding terrorists who have seized the sons and daughters of prominent American political leaders. After a gruesome killing of one of the hostages, the terrorists have America's undivided attention.
The action switches between America's hunt for the terrorists, Pike and Jennifer's investigation, the terrorists and their plotting and the victims. We soon know who has Kylie and who has the other kidnapping victims. We feel her pain. She is no soldier or child of privilege. Just a girl on what turns out to be a really bad date. But her boyfriend has convinced the kidnappers that she is his fiancée, so they let her live. Big Mistake for them because now Pike Logan is after them.
Meanwhile Pike, a trouble magnet, and Jennifer, find that Kylie was meeting a soldier. Their low key investigation soon leads to serious results. It seems that Kylie may have been taken with her boyfriend, who it turns out has been hiding his identity from Kylie. Like the film of the same name, Pike and Jennifer turn up the heat.
Pike and Jennifer may be on the sidelines of America but they still have access to its technology. A little call to Hale, and they have satellite imagery and Pike's instincts are always top notch.
Then Taylor switches to other hostages, who are also prisoners. Twins of the same terrorists. They are held separately, in a room rigged with explosives.
Can Pike and Jennifer find the two separate groups of hostages. It's a roller coaster ride. The terrorists are not one single group and they have plans to hurt the US and its allies too. So there is a race to find the kidnapping victims plus the added thrills from stopping the other terrorists plots. Meanwhile, you will be racing to finish this great piece of escapist fiction.
Pedal to the metal, it's a fast great read.
In "No Fortunate Son", Brad Taylor's latest Pike Logan novel, Pike and his girlfriend / partner Jennifer have been booted from their secret quasi government agency because of Pike's running off the reservation during his last adventure in "Days of Rage". While fuming at the injustice of it all, his boss Kurt Hale throws him a bone. Hale's niece Kylie, who Pike knows for a long time, is missing and Hale's sister is afraid that something has "happened". Hale asks Pike and Jennifer to investigate her disappearance in England.
While Pike and Jennifer are on their own interviewing Kylie's roommate, America and its intelligence and anti terrorist apparatus are gearing up to finding terrorists who have seized the sons and daughters of prominent American political leaders. After a gruesome killing of one of the hostages, the terrorists have America's undivided attention.
The action switches between America's hunt for the terrorists, Pike and Jennifer's investigation, the terrorists and their plotting and the victims. We soon know who has Kylie and who has the other kidnapping victims. We feel her pain. She is no soldier or child of privilege. Just a girl on what turns out to be a really bad date. But her boyfriend has convinced the kidnappers that she is his fiancée, so they let her live. Big Mistake for them because now Pike Logan is after them.
Meanwhile Pike, a trouble magnet, and Jennifer, find that Kylie was meeting a soldier. Their low key investigation soon leads to serious results. It seems that Kylie may have been taken with her boyfriend, who it turns out has been hiding his identity from Kylie. Like the film of the same name, Pike and Jennifer turn up the heat.
Pike and Jennifer may be on the sidelines of America but they still have access to its technology. A little call to Hale, and they have satellite imagery and Pike's instincts are always top notch.
Then Taylor switches to other hostages, who are also prisoners. Twins of the same terrorists. They are held separately, in a room rigged with explosives.
Can Pike and Jennifer find the two separate groups of hostages. It's a roller coaster ride. The terrorists are not one single group and they have plans to hurt the US and its allies too. So there is a race to find the kidnapping victims plus the added thrills from stopping the other terrorists plots. Meanwhile, you will be racing to finish this great piece of escapist fiction.
Pedal to the metal, it's a fast great read.
January 5, 2015
The secret's out that after reading the last 2? or 3? Brad Taylor books, I'm kinda hooked. When I need a book that I can quickly escape into, and get lost in I turn to books like this with bad-ass characters who you wouldn't want to be caught with a knife in their gunfight with. Yes Pike Logan is da man. He traipse the globe with his team of other bad-asses named the Taskforce. They are a super secret group that only the top guys in Washington know about. Their missions are usually to save those who have no idea what type of danger their really in.
One huge glaring difference in No Fortunate Son is that Pike doesn't have his team. After the actions he took in his last adventure (Days of Rage
What's the current situation? I'm glad you asked. A slew of Irish terrorists kidnap children of men in power such as the Vice President's son, and the Secretary of Defense... so on and so forth. And this is where things get interesting and falter a little bit.
Taylor ropes in his readers with action that doesn't cease but when I look back, I see a lot of holes that I just didn't come together in the end. One major idea is that potentially the US doesn't care if a bunch of nobodies die so it makes more sense to take someone a lot closer to home. That was fine and dandy. But eventually, there's talk that something the kidnapped may know that can be used a potential leverage. That never really comes into fruition. I don't know... but I never really felt these plot twists were used to their full potential or seen through.
Besides my little plot gripes I will continue to read more Brad Taylor novels and follow Pike Logan to the ends of the Earth because I know he will save me from any bad guy there. He's still haunted by the deaths of his wife and daughter enough to make him an interesting character that is worth liking in all his bad-assery. Overall, fans of this series won't be disappointed and potential fans of this series, be warned that one crazy thrill-ride will ensue upon opening No Fortunate Son.
Copy Provided by Penguin Group Dutton via Netgalley
One huge glaring difference in No Fortunate Son is that Pike doesn't have his team. After the actions he took in his last adventure (Days of Rage
What's the current situation? I'm glad you asked. A slew of Irish terrorists kidnap children of men in power such as the Vice President's son, and the Secretary of Defense... so on and so forth. And this is where things get interesting and falter a little bit.
Taylor ropes in his readers with action that doesn't cease but when I look back, I see a lot of holes that I just didn't come together in the end. One major idea is that potentially the US doesn't care if a bunch of nobodies die so it makes more sense to take someone a lot closer to home. That was fine and dandy. But eventually, there's talk that something the kidnapped may know that can be used a potential leverage. That never really comes into fruition. I don't know... but I never really felt these plot twists were used to their full potential or seen through.
Besides my little plot gripes I will continue to read more Brad Taylor novels and follow Pike Logan to the ends of the Earth because I know he will save me from any bad guy there. He's still haunted by the deaths of his wife and daughter enough to make him an interesting character that is worth liking in all his bad-assery. Overall, fans of this series won't be disappointed and potential fans of this series, be warned that one crazy thrill-ride will ensue upon opening No Fortunate Son.
Copy Provided by Penguin Group Dutton via Netgalley
December 26, 2022
Former Delta Force squadron commander and bestselling author Brad Taylor keeps cranking out the hits with his Pike Logan thriller series. NO FORTUNATE SON is another quality entry in that series.
Once again blending past history with current events, the Real Irish Republican Army plays a huge part in this story, kidnapping the children of several high-level government officials in an attempt to extort the United States government. The Bergdahl exchange also plays a role in that it shows the willingness of the USG to negotiate with terrorists and mentions deprogramming of hostages, both of which come into play with the plot.
Pike and Jennifer are now on the outs, due to their actions in DAYS OF RAGE, and Taskforce commander Kurt Hale asks them to go off the reservation to find his missing niece, Kylie. That quickly collides with the terrorist plot, and Pike finds himself once more entangled in Taskforce operations.
The action is top notch, as usual, and the prose and plotting are tight and move at a breakneck speed. I read most of this book in the first seven hours of picking it up, and finished it in an additional hour later down the road. Literally could not put the book down. I also loved the character development between Pike and Jennifer, who have both come a long way since ONE ROUGH MAN.
Definitely looking forward to jumping into the next Pike Logan thriller. Excellent read, as always.
Once again blending past history with current events, the Real Irish Republican Army plays a huge part in this story, kidnapping the children of several high-level government officials in an attempt to extort the United States government. The Bergdahl exchange also plays a role in that it shows the willingness of the USG to negotiate with terrorists and mentions deprogramming of hostages, both of which come into play with the plot.
Pike and Jennifer are now on the outs, due to their actions in DAYS OF RAGE, and Taskforce commander Kurt Hale asks them to go off the reservation to find his missing niece, Kylie. That quickly collides with the terrorist plot, and Pike finds himself once more entangled in Taskforce operations.
The action is top notch, as usual, and the prose and plotting are tight and move at a breakneck speed. I read most of this book in the first seven hours of picking it up, and finished it in an additional hour later down the road. Literally could not put the book down. I also loved the character development between Pike and Jennifer, who have both come a long way since ONE ROUGH MAN.
Definitely looking forward to jumping into the next Pike Logan thriller. Excellent read, as always.
February 2, 2015
This review is for the recorded version of the book:
Recorded Books; eleven compact discs, thirteen hours.
In this timely and terrifying narrative, Kurt Hale’s niece Kylie has disappeared and he presses Pike Logan into service to find her. But it soon becomes clear that Kylie’s disappearance is not an isolated incident; family members of several key Washington officials have been kidnapped. And with the vice president’s son being one of the hostages, the Task Force must find a way to get them back.
Here the bad guys loathsomely evil, the good guys aren’t above breaking a few rules to rescue the hostages, and readers are treated to a story filled with twists and turns and plenty of non-stop action. As might be expected with this tale of terrorists and intrigue, there’s plenty of violence and coarse language, but it is appropriate to the rough characters and gritty situations.
Henry Strozier and Rich Orlow serve as the readers for this unabridged edition and their reading carries just the right tone for the various characters. The book is recorded in three minute tracks, making bookmarking easy; however, listeners are likely to be far too involved in this narrative to make use of them.
Recommended.
Recorded Books; eleven compact discs, thirteen hours.
In this timely and terrifying narrative, Kurt Hale’s niece Kylie has disappeared and he presses Pike Logan into service to find her. But it soon becomes clear that Kylie’s disappearance is not an isolated incident; family members of several key Washington officials have been kidnapped. And with the vice president’s son being one of the hostages, the Task Force must find a way to get them back.
Here the bad guys loathsomely evil, the good guys aren’t above breaking a few rules to rescue the hostages, and readers are treated to a story filled with twists and turns and plenty of non-stop action. As might be expected with this tale of terrorists and intrigue, there’s plenty of violence and coarse language, but it is appropriate to the rough characters and gritty situations.
Henry Strozier and Rich Orlow serve as the readers for this unabridged edition and their reading carries just the right tone for the various characters. The book is recorded in three minute tracks, making bookmarking easy; however, listeners are likely to be far too involved in this narrative to make use of them.
Recommended.
January 6, 2015
I think Brad Taylor is getting better as a writer. He’s always been a good storyteller, and the Pike Logan/Taskforce series has always been entertaining – but NO FORTUNATE SON is a much better book than the previous titles in the series.
As an example, the plot has layers of complexity that Taylor handles masterfully. Jennifer’s character has always wrestled with “taking off the gloves.” Pike’s character has seldom shown restraint. I think Taylor allows both characters to grow in this novel in ways that make for a compelling read.
Two further examples would be the dialogue and pacing.
For lack of a better word, Taylor wrote some cheesy dialogue in his earlier books. In that area he’s gotten better by leaps and bounds.
As for pacing, Taylor has always been great at the beginning and the end, but in the middle I always felt derailed. That’s not the case with NO FORTUNATE SON – this is a wild, frenetic, satisfying ride from beginning to end.
As an example, the plot has layers of complexity that Taylor handles masterfully. Jennifer’s character has always wrestled with “taking off the gloves.” Pike’s character has seldom shown restraint. I think Taylor allows both characters to grow in this novel in ways that make for a compelling read.
Two further examples would be the dialogue and pacing.
For lack of a better word, Taylor wrote some cheesy dialogue in his earlier books. In that area he’s gotten better by leaps and bounds.
As for pacing, Taylor has always been great at the beginning and the end, but in the middle I always felt derailed. That’s not the case with NO FORTUNATE SON – this is a wild, frenetic, satisfying ride from beginning to end.
June 13, 2020
Another entry in the Pike Logan series.
The Task Force is fired, due to Logan's actions in the previous novel, when as luck would have it, terrorists are kidnapping family members of VIPs. One of these people just happens to be the niece of Logan's former boss, who sends him after the miscreants.
Pike stumbles around and finds the terrorists. As conspiracies go, this one is a little tough to believe, but Taylor makes it work.
Some pretty exciting stuff, if not the most believable story.
The Task Force is fired, due to Logan's actions in the previous novel, when as luck would have it, terrorists are kidnapping family members of VIPs. One of these people just happens to be the niece of Logan's former boss, who sends him after the miscreants.
Pike stumbles around and finds the terrorists. As conspiracies go, this one is a little tough to believe, but Taylor makes it work.
Some pretty exciting stuff, if not the most believable story.
August 9, 2024
Pike and team travel the globe to stop a kidnapping/terrorist scheme like no other.
January 19, 2015
A FRIEND IN NEED.
[4.5 stars rounded down to four]
"After all, my wife and I have given nine hostages to fortune. Our children and your children are more important than anything else in the world. The kind of America that they and their children will inherit is of grave concern to us all."- Joseph Patrick Kennedy
The writing machine. That's a nickname Brad Taylor's former colleague turned fellow military thriller writer "Dalton Fury" coined to describe the author of the smash hit, critically acclaimed Pike Logan/Jennifer Cahill saga. 7 books and a growing bundle of short stories in the span of a few short years. But each of them is some of the best Post 9/11 military thriller work the genre has seen in quite a while. The research is impeccable, the authors prose is crisp and clean. plots are relevant and reflect the real world geopolitical concerns of today and the characters have only become more developed as the series has progressed. "No Fortunate Son" continues this trend. Rather than an epic threat however, Taylor appears to have gone with a personal story like the incredible "Enemy Of Mine", his third book, which focused on the characters to great effect. Now to the review. How bloody could things get when personal and professional lives explode in the world of counter-terrorism?
The novel begins in a bar at Fort Bragg. Some Irishmen attempt to abduct one of the patrons but botch it when they're forced to exchange gunfire. We then cut to Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill. After a quick glimpse of their domestic life, they get an unceremonious letter in the mail terminating their employment from the counter-terrorist unit, "The Taskforce". Meanwhile, from Europe to Okinawa, certain US Armed services personnel are disappearing. The one thing they have in common? Family connections to influential officials. One in particular causes the current administration to panic, which only rises when the group responsible sends a clip of a cabinet member's son getting a hole drilled through the front of his head with an AK47. Meanwhile, Kurt Hale, commander of the Taskforce, requests a rendezvous with Pike and Jennifer, contracting them to find his nephew who appears to have been scooped up with the hostages. Pike and Jennifer accept the task, fly to Europe and begin an investigation into a elegantly complex plot whose endgame is to reignite one of the original terrorist causes which has been long forgotten.
"No Fortunate Son" appears to have slightly less focus on plot compared to the previous book. Nonetheless, it's solid. From a hunt through the Paris underground, a frantic race up the London Eye and culminating in a climax through Camden Town, Pike and Jennifer get to show what they're made of when they can't use the resources of the Taskforce. The research for this book is still up to the standard of the previous entries. This time, we get a look at how social media apps are being utilized like never before by international terrorists. Snapchat for instance, plays a key role in the book and in the climax, but not in the way you would think.
Now to the characters, which are the focus of the book. I'll focus on three.
First Pike and Jennifer. Now with a lot of leeway on his hands, Pike doesn't waste this opportunity. Whether it be Serbian criminals, RIRA terrorists or Metropolitan Police, even when he doesn't have the guns, kit and eyes which he normally has on speed dial, Pike is dogged and is methodically ruthless at running down leads. He's also become a much better person since the first book. When he realizes that one of his friends is in danger of experiencing the situation which ruined his life back in book one, he steps up to the bat, even when still chaffing about getting made redundant.
Next, Jennifer. One of my top three favorite female protagonists in the military/spy thriller genre, she is on fire in "No Fortunate Son", kicking arse and taking names. As the series has progressed, she's suffered a lot (to put it mildly) but she's only grown in competence during each book. In this story, she is at the top of her game and during the climax, she's the only thing standing between Kurt Hale's nephew and a group of approaching shooters. Its her quick thinking which saves them both.
Then, there's Kurt Hale. The author fleshes him out considerably and puts him in a position of vulnerability which he hasn't been in. As if attempting to untangle his personal and professional concerns isn't enough, he's also trying to fight an increasingly difficult battle to get his best friend back on board.
Overall, "No Fortunate Son" maintains Brad Taylor's position as one of the top authors in the military thriller genre. Despite being less focused on plot, fleshing out the characters and the relationships further makes this another excellent entry. I wait with bated breath at book 8 which focuses on a plot by Daesh, and in the meantime, recommend this one to the rest of you.
RECOMMENDED
[4.5 stars rounded down to four]
"After all, my wife and I have given nine hostages to fortune. Our children and your children are more important than anything else in the world. The kind of America that they and their children will inherit is of grave concern to us all."- Joseph Patrick Kennedy
The writing machine. That's a nickname Brad Taylor's former colleague turned fellow military thriller writer "Dalton Fury" coined to describe the author of the smash hit, critically acclaimed Pike Logan/Jennifer Cahill saga. 7 books and a growing bundle of short stories in the span of a few short years. But each of them is some of the best Post 9/11 military thriller work the genre has seen in quite a while. The research is impeccable, the authors prose is crisp and clean. plots are relevant and reflect the real world geopolitical concerns of today and the characters have only become more developed as the series has progressed. "No Fortunate Son" continues this trend. Rather than an epic threat however, Taylor appears to have gone with a personal story like the incredible "Enemy Of Mine", his third book, which focused on the characters to great effect. Now to the review. How bloody could things get when personal and professional lives explode in the world of counter-terrorism?
The novel begins in a bar at Fort Bragg. Some Irishmen attempt to abduct one of the patrons but botch it when they're forced to exchange gunfire. We then cut to Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill. After a quick glimpse of their domestic life, they get an unceremonious letter in the mail terminating their employment from the counter-terrorist unit, "The Taskforce". Meanwhile, from Europe to Okinawa, certain US Armed services personnel are disappearing. The one thing they have in common? Family connections to influential officials. One in particular causes the current administration to panic, which only rises when the group responsible sends a clip of a cabinet member's son getting a hole drilled through the front of his head with an AK47. Meanwhile, Kurt Hale, commander of the Taskforce, requests a rendezvous with Pike and Jennifer, contracting them to find his nephew who appears to have been scooped up with the hostages. Pike and Jennifer accept the task, fly to Europe and begin an investigation into a elegantly complex plot whose endgame is to reignite one of the original terrorist causes which has been long forgotten.
"No Fortunate Son" appears to have slightly less focus on plot compared to the previous book. Nonetheless, it's solid. From a hunt through the Paris underground, a frantic race up the London Eye and culminating in a climax through Camden Town, Pike and Jennifer get to show what they're made of when they can't use the resources of the Taskforce. The research for this book is still up to the standard of the previous entries. This time, we get a look at how social media apps are being utilized like never before by international terrorists. Snapchat for instance, plays a key role in the book and in the climax, but not in the way you would think.
Now to the characters, which are the focus of the book. I'll focus on three.
First Pike and Jennifer. Now with a lot of leeway on his hands, Pike doesn't waste this opportunity. Whether it be Serbian criminals, RIRA terrorists or Metropolitan Police, even when he doesn't have the guns, kit and eyes which he normally has on speed dial, Pike is dogged and is methodically ruthless at running down leads. He's also become a much better person since the first book. When he realizes that one of his friends is in danger of experiencing the situation which ruined his life back in book one, he steps up to the bat, even when still chaffing about getting made redundant.
Next, Jennifer. One of my top three favorite female protagonists in the military/spy thriller genre, she is on fire in "No Fortunate Son", kicking arse and taking names. As the series has progressed, she's suffered a lot (to put it mildly) but she's only grown in competence during each book. In this story, she is at the top of her game and during the climax, she's the only thing standing between Kurt Hale's nephew and a group of approaching shooters. Its her quick thinking which saves them both.
Then, there's Kurt Hale. The author fleshes him out considerably and puts him in a position of vulnerability which he hasn't been in. As if attempting to untangle his personal and professional concerns isn't enough, he's also trying to fight an increasingly difficult battle to get his best friend back on board.
Overall, "No Fortunate Son" maintains Brad Taylor's position as one of the top authors in the military thriller genre. Despite being less focused on plot, fleshing out the characters and the relationships further makes this another excellent entry. I wait with bated breath at book 8 which focuses on a plot by Daesh, and in the meantime, recommend this one to the rest of you.
RECOMMENDED
September 1, 2024
4 Stars. Another solid outing for Taylor, Pike and Company. I enjoyed the setting and mystery. Taylor made it feel like we were in the UK with the crew. The whole time I found myself thinking that this would make a great series for one of the major streaming services.
The Taskforce, however, might be in a little trouble following the last two outings. It will be interesting to see where Taylor takes us next.
The Taskforce, however, might be in a little trouble following the last two outings. It will be interesting to see where Taylor takes us next.
February 8, 2023
Definitely a 4.5 to 5 stars for me. This book takes me a longer time to finish due to my own distraction. However it is nice to see Nung back into action. Make me want to re-read The Widow's Strike when he is first introduced. Overall the plot is full of action.
December 28, 2014
I loved this book. I was surprised to find myself liking "No Fortunate Son" so much as I usually don't like military/political thrillers much. I'm really not any kind of a political animal or military enthusiast so anything to do with either category really never interested me, until this book. I am now sure I've found a new spectacular author in Brad Taylor.
Mr. Taylor has written a slam-bang, run as fast as you possibly can and read well into the night to get to the end of this stunningly well written book. Our main characters, Pike Logan and partner Jennifer Cahill are summarily fired from their jobs with an undercover counterterrorist unit called Taskforce. They are both shocked. With their last mission, Pike had broken many rules but had also saved many lives. You'd think a successful mission that saved thousands of lives would be a positive thing, but the oversight committee has decided to put their foot down. What the committee doesn't know is they'll need Pike & Jennifer's keen skills to get through the latest terrorist threat to the country.
The book starts with Colonel Kurt Hale, Pike's former commander, asking for his and Jennifer's help in finding Hale's niece who has disappeared from her University in England. Kylie is an exchange student and hasn't been heard from for several days. There has been no social media interactions from Kylie and her Uncle is worried. At the same time, the Taskforce team has been called into action. Key members of the government have had their children or relatives kidnapped, including the Vice President's son. It's a complicated and huge mission, to track down the terrorists who coordinated this monumental feat. Who took the hostages and how do you negotiate when you official policy is that "we don't negotiate with terrorists"?
Brad Taylor has written an intricate and complicated thriller that draws you in from the first page and doesn't let you go until the last paragraph. As the reader, you cheer for Pike and Jennifer, no matter what they have to do to win against the terrorists. You'll love the blatant good against evil theme. This is a five out of five book, go, run or click onto to your nearest bookstore on December 30 and GET THIS BOOK. You won't regret it, in fact, you'll hate yourself if you don't.
Mr. Taylor has written a slam-bang, run as fast as you possibly can and read well into the night to get to the end of this stunningly well written book. Our main characters, Pike Logan and partner Jennifer Cahill are summarily fired from their jobs with an undercover counterterrorist unit called Taskforce. They are both shocked. With their last mission, Pike had broken many rules but had also saved many lives. You'd think a successful mission that saved thousands of lives would be a positive thing, but the oversight committee has decided to put their foot down. What the committee doesn't know is they'll need Pike & Jennifer's keen skills to get through the latest terrorist threat to the country.
The book starts with Colonel Kurt Hale, Pike's former commander, asking for his and Jennifer's help in finding Hale's niece who has disappeared from her University in England. Kylie is an exchange student and hasn't been heard from for several days. There has been no social media interactions from Kylie and her Uncle is worried. At the same time, the Taskforce team has been called into action. Key members of the government have had their children or relatives kidnapped, including the Vice President's son. It's a complicated and huge mission, to track down the terrorists who coordinated this monumental feat. Who took the hostages and how do you negotiate when you official policy is that "we don't negotiate with terrorists"?
Brad Taylor has written an intricate and complicated thriller that draws you in from the first page and doesn't let you go until the last paragraph. As the reader, you cheer for Pike and Jennifer, no matter what they have to do to win against the terrorists. You'll love the blatant good against evil theme. This is a five out of five book, go, run or click onto to your nearest bookstore on December 30 and GET THIS BOOK. You won't regret it, in fact, you'll hate yourself if you don't.
January 16, 2015
Task Force's Pike and Logan are officially fired from their covert government relationship (contract?) but are recommissioned, unofficially, by their former boss when his daughter and several other relatives of government officials, including the VP's son, are kidnapped by terrorists. Who are the terrorists? Islamist extremists? Eastern Europeans? Non-stop action with plenty of espionage tactics and bag of tricks procedures. I enjoyed this read to the max. There is upsetting killing and some language, but nothing more than you would see on contemporary news programs. It's right up to date and well-worth your time. My thanks to Penguin's First to Read program for a complimentary copy of the book.
January 24, 2015
No Fortunate Son: A Pike Logan Thriller
Welcome to another side of terrorism that most have forgotten that this element still exists. Their specialty, kidnapping highly visible relatives of key U S government personnel. Caught up in the scheme is related to Pike himself, along with the son of the vice president. Worse, Pike and his team have been released (fired) by the government, leaving Pike and Jennifer to operate without any support from uncle Sam. Hang on, you're in for the ride of your life. Thanks for another great read.
Welcome to another side of terrorism that most have forgotten that this element still exists. Their specialty, kidnapping highly visible relatives of key U S government personnel. Caught up in the scheme is related to Pike himself, along with the son of the vice president. Worse, Pike and his team have been released (fired) by the government, leaving Pike and Jennifer to operate without any support from uncle Sam. Hang on, you're in for the ride of your life. Thanks for another great read.
August 25, 2020
Brad Taylor, keeps getting better and better by each book. I cannot wait to catch up on this series!!
I love the way Brad Taylor uses different locations in every book, instead of just sticking to one location. He really makes you feel like you are there with Pike and Jennifer.
Pike and Jennifer's relationship and interaction keeps getting better.
And now even Kurt Hale is bending the rules, Pike is rubbing off on him.
This time Brad Taylor goes to a more kidnap genre than a military thriller genre and it is just as great and thrilling.
Can't wait till the next book!
I love the way Brad Taylor uses different locations in every book, instead of just sticking to one location. He really makes you feel like you are there with Pike and Jennifer.
Pike and Jennifer's relationship and interaction keeps getting better.
And now even Kurt Hale is bending the rules, Pike is rubbing off on him.
This time Brad Taylor goes to a more kidnap genre than a military thriller genre and it is just as great and thrilling.
Can't wait till the next book!
February 12, 2015
Still one of the Best!!
Taylor still brings it with Logan! Some of the best action, personal dilemmas, character developments, government crap, and skilled players in all writing today. This is what action/escapist reading is all about! Please keep it coming!
Taylor still brings it with Logan! Some of the best action, personal dilemmas, character developments, government crap, and skilled players in all writing today. This is what action/escapist reading is all about! Please keep it coming!
May 10, 2023
Great read as always. Nice change in terrorists, thanks.
November 27, 2019
This was an amazing journey. Loved the book and the action and it also shows the power of women in an elite force. The whole combination works for me.
May 20, 2019
Honestly, these are just very good. To be fair it has to be the sort of thing you'd like and you probably have to be in the mood for some popcorn, albeit nicely spiced and flavoured popcorn, but they do exactly what they say on the tin. Decent characters (both the good and the bad side), proper development and none of the rampant sexism that this type of book sometimes suffers from.
Obviously well researched in terms of bacground with an ex-special forces author who clearly knows his stuff.
Very entertaining.
Obviously well researched in terms of bacground with an ex-special forces author who clearly knows his stuff.
Very entertaining.
February 8, 2015
Pike Logan has no official resources, no time, and no information – and his friend’s niece is missing, along with the vice-president’s son. Can Pike find one or both of them before it’s too late?
The story:
Pike and Jennifer officially work for a small archaeological recovery firm, but are unofficially contracted out to the Taskforce: a top secret US special forces unit. After Pike’s last mission, where he took matters into his own hands, he and Jennifer have been de-commissioned for insubordination. Pike’s contact in the government, Kurt Hale, has done what he can, but it seems Pike’s government days are over.
Pike wants Kurt to stay focussed on getting him back in to the Taskforce; Pike is the best at what he does and everyone knows it. He suspects intervention from forces in the government who don't like him. But Kurt is distracted, and rightfully so; the children of a selection of important people have gone missing, including Nicholas Seacrest, the son of the US vice-president. The Taskforce have to move, but the government realise any mistake could cost the Taskforce its anonymity and therefore its existence. All signs are pointing to an Islamic group being responsible for the kidnappings, but Kurt feels as though something is off. Kurt isn't allowed to get Pike involved, but instead sends Pike on a personal and seemingly unrelated mission: Kurt's niece Kylie has gone missing from her University exchange.
Pike and Jennifer investigate the disappearance of Kylie, but it's looking more and more as though she was unwittingly caught up in the kidnappings. Kurt authorises Pike to dig deeper, while the Taskforce follow other leads. As Pike gets closer he realises that the situation is big, complex, and risks civilian lives, but Kurt can't authorise backup for Pike and Jennifer. Can the two of them single-handedly foil a complex terrorist plot and get the kidnapped kids back while the rest of the Taskforce chase after red herrings?
The style:
I've never read Brad Taylor before, and I feel as though this is a real gap in my reading. The terrorist/government thriller isn't really my genre, I mean, I read The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and figured after Le Carre, what was the point of reading anything else in that genre? I've also found that when I do venture into the political thriller genre in general, contemporary thrillers tend to be too textbook, all very similar, and all a bit to macho to keep my interest. Because, you know, political thrilling is a man's game. So I tend to steer clear.
But Brad Taylor, you've won my heart. I think it's probably all in the style. Taylor is ex military himself, so speaks his bio, and previously I've found such authors to be lacking in humour and a bit too desperate to convince the reader about how awesome they are. Brad Taylor is clearly legitimately awesome, as well as being a natural at writing. His style is clear and evocative, he knows how to play with suspense, he keeps a lot of balls in the air character-wise, and most importantly, he's got a quiet, sort of playful humour infused through the plot. It's not a comedy or anything, but he knows when observational humour is called for because of the thrilling. Also, I appreciated a couple of strong female characters throughout the story, and the observations of sexism and gender inequality in the workplace were there, but not tired.
Also, story-line wise, the plot was a corker. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much if Taylor didn't have such a way with words, but it was suspense filled and also pretty complex, certainly not just-your-average modern Tom Clancy. I finished No Fortunate Son in record time and was disappointed when it finished.
Who is this book for?
Do you like that tv show Chris Ryan's Strike Back? This is just as extreme, but better. Do yourself a favour and have a read.
If you like this book, you would also like...
So turns out (pardon my ignorance) that Brad Taylor has written OTHER BOOKS STARRING THE CHARACTER PIKE. I know what I'm buying on Amazon before I go to Sydney next week.
The story:
Pike and Jennifer officially work for a small archaeological recovery firm, but are unofficially contracted out to the Taskforce: a top secret US special forces unit. After Pike’s last mission, where he took matters into his own hands, he and Jennifer have been de-commissioned for insubordination. Pike’s contact in the government, Kurt Hale, has done what he can, but it seems Pike’s government days are over.
Pike wants Kurt to stay focussed on getting him back in to the Taskforce; Pike is the best at what he does and everyone knows it. He suspects intervention from forces in the government who don't like him. But Kurt is distracted, and rightfully so; the children of a selection of important people have gone missing, including Nicholas Seacrest, the son of the US vice-president. The Taskforce have to move, but the government realise any mistake could cost the Taskforce its anonymity and therefore its existence. All signs are pointing to an Islamic group being responsible for the kidnappings, but Kurt feels as though something is off. Kurt isn't allowed to get Pike involved, but instead sends Pike on a personal and seemingly unrelated mission: Kurt's niece Kylie has gone missing from her University exchange.
Pike and Jennifer investigate the disappearance of Kylie, but it's looking more and more as though she was unwittingly caught up in the kidnappings. Kurt authorises Pike to dig deeper, while the Taskforce follow other leads. As Pike gets closer he realises that the situation is big, complex, and risks civilian lives, but Kurt can't authorise backup for Pike and Jennifer. Can the two of them single-handedly foil a complex terrorist plot and get the kidnapped kids back while the rest of the Taskforce chase after red herrings?
The style:
I've never read Brad Taylor before, and I feel as though this is a real gap in my reading. The terrorist/government thriller isn't really my genre, I mean, I read The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and figured after Le Carre, what was the point of reading anything else in that genre? I've also found that when I do venture into the political thriller genre in general, contemporary thrillers tend to be too textbook, all very similar, and all a bit to macho to keep my interest. Because, you know, political thrilling is a man's game. So I tend to steer clear.
But Brad Taylor, you've won my heart. I think it's probably all in the style. Taylor is ex military himself, so speaks his bio, and previously I've found such authors to be lacking in humour and a bit too desperate to convince the reader about how awesome they are. Brad Taylor is clearly legitimately awesome, as well as being a natural at writing. His style is clear and evocative, he knows how to play with suspense, he keeps a lot of balls in the air character-wise, and most importantly, he's got a quiet, sort of playful humour infused through the plot. It's not a comedy or anything, but he knows when observational humour is called for because of the thrilling. Also, I appreciated a couple of strong female characters throughout the story, and the observations of sexism and gender inequality in the workplace were there, but not tired.
Also, story-line wise, the plot was a corker. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much if Taylor didn't have such a way with words, but it was suspense filled and also pretty complex, certainly not just-your-average modern Tom Clancy. I finished No Fortunate Son in record time and was disappointed when it finished.
Who is this book for?
Do you like that tv show Chris Ryan's Strike Back? This is just as extreme, but better. Do yourself a favour and have a read.
If you like this book, you would also like...
So turns out (pardon my ignorance) that Brad Taylor has written OTHER BOOKS STARRING THE CHARACTER PIKE. I know what I'm buying on Amazon before I go to Sydney next week.
December 26, 2016
Action packed!
I am loving this series! The characters are personable, with real emotions. Each book pulls you in making it very difficult to put down.
I am loving this series! The characters are personable, with real emotions. Each book pulls you in making it very difficult to put down.
January 25, 2015
Operatives Pike Logan and his partner, Jennifer Cahill receive a letter terminating their services with Blaisdell Consulting, an umbrella company of their real employer, a counterterrorist unit called the Taskforce. Some governmental officials felt that Pike and Jennifer had gone too far in their last case.
They arrive in Washington and their commander, Col.Kurt Hale ask them for help because his niece is missing. He thinks it's part of some terror operation where a number of children of government officials have been kidnapped.
Hale says he'll pay them privately and that he's worried about Kylie, his niece who is an exchange student in England.
Pike and Jennifer get to work and it's as if Jason Bourne and James Bond were mixed together. There is a complicated plot involving a splinter group of IRA terrorists, a Croatian arms dealer, and Somalia terrorists have combined to plan the capture of the children of government officials for a unique ransome, combined with a jewel robbery and the Somalia's planting a bomb in London.
There's lots of action interspersed with meetings in Washington of the officials who were skeptical of Pike and Jennifer from their past operation. The children of many of these officials are involved and we observe their thoughts.
The novel was very complicated and had to be read slowly to appreciate it. The author is a master of suspense but the action was long in coming and I was growing weary of what would come next.
I enjoyed the story and look forward to another book by Brad Taylor but wish this one ended sooner.
They arrive in Washington and their commander, Col.Kurt Hale ask them for help because his niece is missing. He thinks it's part of some terror operation where a number of children of government officials have been kidnapped.
Hale says he'll pay them privately and that he's worried about Kylie, his niece who is an exchange student in England.
Pike and Jennifer get to work and it's as if Jason Bourne and James Bond were mixed together. There is a complicated plot involving a splinter group of IRA terrorists, a Croatian arms dealer, and Somalia terrorists have combined to plan the capture of the children of government officials for a unique ransome, combined with a jewel robbery and the Somalia's planting a bomb in London.
There's lots of action interspersed with meetings in Washington of the officials who were skeptical of Pike and Jennifer from their past operation. The children of many of these officials are involved and we observe their thoughts.
The novel was very complicated and had to be read slowly to appreciate it. The author is a master of suspense but the action was long in coming and I was growing weary of what would come next.
I enjoyed the story and look forward to another book by Brad Taylor but wish this one ended sooner.
January 24, 2015
A fast pace thriller, weaving a complicated path of greed, politics, and espionage as the author brings a hostage taker's plan together. The private contractor brought in to bring home one politician's niece must bring all of the pieces of the puzzle together if he has even the most minute chance to locate his target.
This book brings all of the present-day smartphone and Internet technology not only to his hero, but to the enemy, which made the story very interesting and believable.
This book brings all of the present-day smartphone and Internet technology not only to his hero, but to the enemy, which made the story very interesting and believable.
March 19, 2015
I prefer the hero on offense and don't particularly care for victims being brutalized. That's why my rating is a 3 instead of 4. 6 of 10 stars
March 29, 2025
3.75 stars
August 30, 2019
An impulse pick, in an effort to read a new author, and I’m glad I picked Brad Taylor.
This is the 7th in Pike Logan series. There are multiple references to previous stories, which I’m already eager to read. This book however, is fast paced and captivating as it can get. Involving government and officials across continents, political drama, thriller, missing people, fear of loss of important people and loved ones.. all the elements to keep you on ur toes all night long... an absolute page turner.
The character Pike Logan reminded me of Lee Child’s brainchild ‘Jack Reacher’ in some ways...
Looking forward to reading the series from Brad.... happy reading
This is the 7th in Pike Logan series. There are multiple references to previous stories, which I’m already eager to read. This book however, is fast paced and captivating as it can get. Involving government and officials across continents, political drama, thriller, missing people, fear of loss of important people and loved ones.. all the elements to keep you on ur toes all night long... an absolute page turner.
The character Pike Logan reminded me of Lee Child’s brainchild ‘Jack Reacher’ in some ways...
Looking forward to reading the series from Brad.... happy reading
September 19, 2021
Easily the best Pike Logan book to date. Taylor decided to break the "stop a terrorist attack formula" to really shake things up and introduce a kidnapping plot and a search for hostages. Everything about the story worked really well. The new locations and new bad guys with different motives really brought something fresh to the series. Also the hostage povs were really good. I hope this is a good omen for the rest of the series now that I'm at the halfway point.
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