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Intrepid #4.5
Ranger
How far will Alex Morgan go to repay the man who saved his life?
Friends are a luxury that agents of INTERPOL's blacks ops division cannot afford, but Alex Morgan wasn't always a spy.
When a former US Army Ranger who saved Morgan's life in Afghanistan reaches out, convinced that Morgan is the only person who can help him, Morgan springs into action.
War hero John Nash has been off the grid for two years. Homeless and forsaken by the government that decorated him for valor, Nash believes he has discovered a trail of treachery and subterfuge that leads straight to the White House. And he might just be right. Hidden in plain sight behind a fortress of spin-doctored hype, the fate of humankind is being traded for votes.
Unable to sanction the mission via INTREPID, Morgan sheds their protection and goes solo. But what chance do they stand, a rogue agent and a homeless veteran, against the might of the US establishment?
This spy novella in the vein of Ian Fleming is perfect for readers of Frederick Forsyth and Clive Cussler.
69 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2016
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Chris Allen
6 books74 followersChris Allen is a former paratrooper, with service in the Australian Army - including attachments to the New Zealand Army, the British Parachute Regiment and deployments to Africa, South East Asia and Central America. He retired at the rank of Major.
In addition to his military career: Chris led security operations for a major international aid agency in East Timor during the 1999 emergency. In the wake of the September 11 attacks of 2001, he oversaw the upgrade of Counter Terrorism First Response measures at Sydney Airport. And in 2003 when protestors painted ‘No War’ on the sails of the Sydney Opera House, he was headhunted to take over the protection of the iconic landmark. In 2008 he was appointed Sheriff of New South Wales, one of Australia’s most historic law enforcement appointments.
Today, Chris is a full-time author and lives on the New South Wales south coast with his sons, Morgan and Rhett. You may even see him from time to time cruising up and down the east coast on his treasured Triumph Thunderbird LT!
Chris currently has four novels in his best-selling INTREPID series featuring ALEX MORGAN: DEFENDER, HUNTER, AVENGER and HELLDIVER, which were previously published by Pan Macmillan/Momentum. All four novels are currently available in audio format, published by Wavesound Australia. The INTREPID series has been optioned for film and television.
Chris has recently finished writing INTREPID #5 SHAPESHIFTER, the long awaited return of ALEX MORGAN!
In addition to his INTREPID series, Chris is currently working on an exciting new thriller series featuring former Commando and Australian Secret Intelligence Service veteran BENJAMIN RHETT. In the series, RHETT will be teamed up with former Army Intelligence Officer and current Australian Security Intelligence Organisation agent KAT THOMAS.
The first two novels in the series will be titled EMERALD BEACH and STORM POINT.
Chris is a member of the Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA) and an Associate Member of Screen Producers Australia (SPA).
In addition to his military career: Chris led security operations for a major international aid agency in East Timor during the 1999 emergency. In the wake of the September 11 attacks of 2001, he oversaw the upgrade of Counter Terrorism First Response measures at Sydney Airport. And in 2003 when protestors painted ‘No War’ on the sails of the Sydney Opera House, he was headhunted to take over the protection of the iconic landmark. In 2008 he was appointed Sheriff of New South Wales, one of Australia’s most historic law enforcement appointments.
Today, Chris is a full-time author and lives on the New South Wales south coast with his sons, Morgan and Rhett. You may even see him from time to time cruising up and down the east coast on his treasured Triumph Thunderbird LT!
Chris currently has four novels in his best-selling INTREPID series featuring ALEX MORGAN: DEFENDER, HUNTER, AVENGER and HELLDIVER, which were previously published by Pan Macmillan/Momentum. All four novels are currently available in audio format, published by Wavesound Australia. The INTREPID series has been optioned for film and television.
Chris has recently finished writing INTREPID #5 SHAPESHIFTER, the long awaited return of ALEX MORGAN!
In addition to his INTREPID series, Chris is currently working on an exciting new thriller series featuring former Commando and Australian Secret Intelligence Service veteran BENJAMIN RHETT. In the series, RHETT will be teamed up with former Army Intelligence Officer and current Australian Security Intelligence Organisation agent KAT THOMAS.
The first two novels in the series will be titled EMERALD BEACH and STORM POINT.
Chris is a member of the Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA) and an Associate Member of Screen Producers Australia (SPA).
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 6, 2016
* I received a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review *
This is my first experience of Chris Allen and his Intrepid series of books featuring Alex Morgan a spy for Interpol. I've been keen to check them out.
Ranger is about an old Army buddy of Morgans, Steve Nash a homeless Congressional Medal Of Honor recipient who stumbles onto something dangerous involving a Congressman and a .Com millionaires personal assistant. Knowing he's out of his depth Steve Nash makes contact with Morgan for help.
This is a great little novella and it's excellent for introducing new readers to Alex Morgan and the Intrepid series, I'm sure people who are already fans of the series will enjoy it too.
I'll definitely check out the other Intrepid books.
This is my first experience of Chris Allen and his Intrepid series of books featuring Alex Morgan a spy for Interpol. I've been keen to check them out.
Ranger is about an old Army buddy of Morgans, Steve Nash a homeless Congressional Medal Of Honor recipient who stumbles onto something dangerous involving a Congressman and a .Com millionaires personal assistant. Knowing he's out of his depth Steve Nash makes contact with Morgan for help.
This is a great little novella and it's excellent for introducing new readers to Alex Morgan and the Intrepid series, I'm sure people who are already fans of the series will enjoy it too.
I'll definitely check out the other Intrepid books.
October 13, 2018
Book format
March 28, 2016
'Surrender' is not a Ranger word - but INTREPID is!
I have said this in previous reviews of Chris Allen's writing, and I will say it again; as the INTREPID series goes on, both he and Alex Morgan get more comfortable in their skin. His approach to Morgan’s character is deepening, with his protagonist getting a little cooler in his approach, more wary of giving trust, but growing in his intensity and intelligence.
This time around, in RANGER, his INTREPID series novella, Allen demonstrates his always-on-the-mark passionate subject matter knowledge, interspersed with trademark wit and blasting action scenes - but also a degree of real-world grittiness that goes beyond anything we have seen yet.
The tone of RANGER is really summed up for me in two phrases – one, a quote at the very beginning of the book, and one towards the end (this is not a spoiler!). The first, words from FLOTUS Michelle Obama:
And so we meet Morgan’s old comrade in arms, John Nash, a former – you guessed it – US Army Ranger, whom he hears from out of the blue. I won’t go into their back story, as that would contain spoilers, but suffice to say Nash is not in a good place, emotionally or physically. He is one of the untold numbers of US veterans living on the streets after returning from active duty, and simply fading from the system. His belief in his government is shattered, and he has lost everything. Now though, apart from his past as one of the US military’s elite airborne soldiers, he has witnessed a crime – one with the potential to blow the US federal system and then the country apart, and the only person he trusts to see justice done, and the right people punished, is Morgan.
From a firecracker start in the drug-lord heavy jungles of Peru, through to decisive, tightly written action in the political jungles of Washington DC, RANGER is Allen’s best writing yet. Not only do we see Alex Morgan facing his own demons, but we also have the chance of understanding just how serious the human fallout of modern warfare is for those who stand up and say ‘I choose right, not easy’. That trauma and stress is embodied in John Nash, an elite soldier who will always remain at his post.
For me, the action was almost secondary in RANGER to the extremely good plot and drivers for Morgan. That’s not to say there isn’t action a-plenty for fans of INTREPID’s way of dealing with those who choose the dark side.
But Mr Allen, I have to say, I am now waiting for Alex Morgan to step off the plane in – where was it again? Ka-
Oh wait. That really would be a spoiler. And just as he would have in combat, this Ranger deserves to creep on you unknown. And also just as a real Ranger does, this novella leads the way - in terms of highlighting a very real issue.
Message Heard, Understood – and Acknowledged, Mr Allen. HUA indeed.
You can also find my latest interview with Chris Allen on my website, http://adifficultwoman.com, in Writer's Block. Next with their head on the (Writer's) Block is the wondrous Kate Forsyth, who has been kind enough to volunteer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Momentum Books for an advance e-version of Ranger.
I have said this in previous reviews of Chris Allen's writing, and I will say it again; as the INTREPID series goes on, both he and Alex Morgan get more comfortable in their skin. His approach to Morgan’s character is deepening, with his protagonist getting a little cooler in his approach, more wary of giving trust, but growing in his intensity and intelligence.
This time around, in RANGER, his INTREPID series novella, Allen demonstrates his always-on-the-mark passionate subject matter knowledge, interspersed with trademark wit and blasting action scenes - but also a degree of real-world grittiness that goes beyond anything we have seen yet.
The tone of RANGER is really summed up for me in two phrases – one, a quote at the very beginning of the book, and one towards the end (this is not a spoiler!). The first, words from FLOTUS Michelle Obama:
“When a Veteran comes home kissing the ground, it is unacceptable that he should ever have to sleep on it.”
And so we meet Morgan’s old comrade in arms, John Nash, a former – you guessed it – US Army Ranger, whom he hears from out of the blue. I won’t go into their back story, as that would contain spoilers, but suffice to say Nash is not in a good place, emotionally or physically. He is one of the untold numbers of US veterans living on the streets after returning from active duty, and simply fading from the system. His belief in his government is shattered, and he has lost everything. Now though, apart from his past as one of the US military’s elite airborne soldiers, he has witnessed a crime – one with the potential to blow the US federal system and then the country apart, and the only person he trusts to see justice done, and the right people punished, is Morgan.
From a firecracker start in the drug-lord heavy jungles of Peru, through to decisive, tightly written action in the political jungles of Washington DC, RANGER is Allen’s best writing yet. Not only do we see Alex Morgan facing his own demons, but we also have the chance of understanding just how serious the human fallout of modern warfare is for those who stand up and say ‘I choose right, not easy’. That trauma and stress is embodied in John Nash, an elite soldier who will always remain at his post.
“Yet, despite returning home to a thankless nation who were largely only interested in an endless torrent of sensationalist trash pop culture, at its core, his mission was still one of protection. He would always have a need to do what was right.”
For me, the action was almost secondary in RANGER to the extremely good plot and drivers for Morgan. That’s not to say there isn’t action a-plenty for fans of INTREPID’s way of dealing with those who choose the dark side.
But Mr Allen, I have to say, I am now waiting for Alex Morgan to step off the plane in – where was it again? Ka-
Oh wait. That really would be a spoiler. And just as he would have in combat, this Ranger deserves to creep on you unknown. And also just as a real Ranger does, this novella leads the way - in terms of highlighting a very real issue.
Message Heard, Understood – and Acknowledged, Mr Allen. HUA indeed.
You can also find my latest interview with Chris Allen on my website, http://adifficultwoman.com, in Writer's Block. Next with their head on the (Writer's) Block is the wondrous Kate Forsyth, who has been kind enough to volunteer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Momentum Books for an advance e-version of Ranger.
April 22, 2016
In a particularly poignant touch, all round good guy and saver of the world Alex Morgan shows an unsurprising side in RANGER with his care and concern for a returned vet who needs help.
This novella sees Morgan returning from rescue duties, to be immediately redirected to the US where returned vet and friend, John Nash has asked for his help. Without hesitating Morgan dives into the task without the normal INTREPID backing, and in the full understanding that his old army buddy might be struggling, but he will have a compelling story to tell.
It's interesting how much action has been combined into a novella, that is full of compassion and understanding as well. There's a message here about the way that returned vets are treated, as well as one about power and influence. Fast paced, as you'd expect, full of action and suspense, that's not the point of RANGER and it doesn't overwhelm. This is an exposé on the treatment of returning vets, and an equally important dig at the mindless, trash-culture obsession of modern day society. And it works really well on all levels.
Allen has always had a compelling and realistic action hero in Alex Morgan. In this novella he's added a level of compassion and support to the already very human character that he's created, and he's doing that for some very good reasons.
In 2015 Author Chris Allen was appointed the inaugural ambassador for the charity Veterans Off the Streets Australia (VOTSA). A not for profit organisation and charity, reliant on donations from the public, business and industry to facilitate their work in assisting veterans and ex-service personnel in finding crisis, temporary and permanent accommodation; to actively find and assist families who are looking for accommodation related assistance; and provide a concierge service for related areas to at risk personnel and their families. RANGER features a homeless, forsaken war hero as a way of highlighting the real situation that VOTSA and their associated groups worldwide are attempting to resolve. Donation links are included at the end of the book:
Australia:
http://www.votsa.org.au
http://360.org.au
Canada:
http://vetscanada.org/
http://woundedwarriors.ca/home/
New Zealand:
http://fallenheroes.org.nz/
http://rsa.org.nz/
United Kingdom:
http://www.soldierscharity.org/
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk
United States:
http://www.va.gov/homeless/
http://www.legion.org/careers/homesle...
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
This novella sees Morgan returning from rescue duties, to be immediately redirected to the US where returned vet and friend, John Nash has asked for his help. Without hesitating Morgan dives into the task without the normal INTREPID backing, and in the full understanding that his old army buddy might be struggling, but he will have a compelling story to tell.
It's interesting how much action has been combined into a novella, that is full of compassion and understanding as well. There's a message here about the way that returned vets are treated, as well as one about power and influence. Fast paced, as you'd expect, full of action and suspense, that's not the point of RANGER and it doesn't overwhelm. This is an exposé on the treatment of returning vets, and an equally important dig at the mindless, trash-culture obsession of modern day society. And it works really well on all levels.
Allen has always had a compelling and realistic action hero in Alex Morgan. In this novella he's added a level of compassion and support to the already very human character that he's created, and he's doing that for some very good reasons.
In 2015 Author Chris Allen was appointed the inaugural ambassador for the charity Veterans Off the Streets Australia (VOTSA). A not for profit organisation and charity, reliant on donations from the public, business and industry to facilitate their work in assisting veterans and ex-service personnel in finding crisis, temporary and permanent accommodation; to actively find and assist families who are looking for accommodation related assistance; and provide a concierge service for related areas to at risk personnel and their families. RANGER features a homeless, forsaken war hero as a way of highlighting the real situation that VOTSA and their associated groups worldwide are attempting to resolve. Donation links are included at the end of the book:
Australia:
http://www.votsa.org.au
http://360.org.au
Canada:
http://vetscanada.org/
http://woundedwarriors.ca/home/
New Zealand:
http://fallenheroes.org.nz/
http://rsa.org.nz/
United Kingdom:
http://www.soldierscharity.org/
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk
United States:
http://www.va.gov/homeless/
http://www.legion.org/careers/homesle...
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
March 16, 2016
Simply Brilliant. I can see why so many other readers have given Chris Allen five stars for his other books. Thoroughly deserving. This book is no exception. I enjoyed this story for a number of reasons. Firstly that it started out with one story and then progressed into another one. A great plot, with a good balance between the action scenes and a build up to a great ending. The Intrepid Agent Alex Morgan is the sort of character that readers are going to remember, and want to follow. I’d also like to read more about John Nash in future books, especially being a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and his skill set. The Author also has a strong message that Governments don’t really look after their Veterans. I definitely agree with this, and wish more people would add voice to this tragedy. Do yourself a favour and add Chris Allen to your reading list, you won’t be disappointed.
April 23, 2016
I received a copy of Ranger from the author in exchange for an early review.
I had never read or even heard of this author before this.
I enjoyed Ranger well enough. Based on other reviews, I was expecting a page turner with action that would leave me breathless. That never seemed to happen with this book.
I liked the character. I am interested in reading another in the series just to see if I can find what others have found.
I had never read or even heard of this author before this.
I enjoyed Ranger well enough. Based on other reviews, I was expecting a page turner with action that would leave me breathless. That never seemed to happen with this book.
I liked the character. I am interested in reading another in the series just to see if I can find what others have found.
April 8, 2016
Sensational. This is a great read in a more concentrated format with all the usual action and excitement we expect from Chris Allen. Written with authority and insight, this is a terrific story that brings fascinating characters to life in intriguing situations. The pace is fast. The issues are confronting and hero is convincing.
Excellent.
Excellent.
April 20, 2016
Ranger: Intrepid 4.5
A short fast paced highly entertaining novella by Chris Allen. Alex Morgan is asked by on old friend, a former Army Ranger who had saved his life to help him . Out of respect and friendship Morgan agrees. A very fast paced and enjoyable read!!!
A short fast paced highly entertaining novella by Chris Allen. Alex Morgan is asked by on old friend, a former Army Ranger who had saved his life to help him . Out of respect and friendship Morgan agrees. A very fast paced and enjoyable read!!!
July 24, 2016
Ranger : Intrepid 4.5
I thought it was a pretty good read.
I was glad that that it was wasn't a 500 pager.
whew
I thought it was a pretty good read.
I was glad that that it was wasn't a 500 pager.
whew
April 3, 2016
Chris Allen, Intrepid and Alex Morgan have done it again. The Novella format plunges us head first into the action that faces Alex Morgan in his most recent assignment. As with any great Alex Morgan read, gunfight ensues, criminals are dealt with and Alex is looking forward to R&R before his next assignment. It doesn't take long though before he is thrust into yet another assignment, this time helping an old friend out of a bind, a friend that has saved his life and who he now owes a favour.
Chris has hit the nail on the head with this short format story. Alex Morgan fans know what to expect from Chris' work and for those taking their first steps into the life of Alex Morgan will be met with a hard hitting fast paced story. As with the other books in the Intrepid/Alex Morgan series, the story is written with undertones related to the real life struggles of society, this one focused on the hardship of returned service personnel living tough on the streets.
Readers of Chris Allen's work will be left waiting for the next instalment to his shelves!
Chris has hit the nail on the head with this short format story. Alex Morgan fans know what to expect from Chris' work and for those taking their first steps into the life of Alex Morgan will be met with a hard hitting fast paced story. As with the other books in the Intrepid/Alex Morgan series, the story is written with undertones related to the real life struggles of society, this one focused on the hardship of returned service personnel living tough on the streets.
Readers of Chris Allen's work will be left waiting for the next instalment to his shelves!
April 27, 2020
Ranger
What can I say amazing book could of kept reading unable to put down once I started can't wait too read the next one.
What can I say amazing book could of kept reading unable to put down once I started can't wait too read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews