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Rob Stone #2
The Town
When Secret Service agent Rob Stone helps a stranger in an isolated Oregon mountain town, he makes a dangerous enemy. Rob is outnumbered and targeted, but he thrives in the wilderness — and the community’s tormentors have no idea what they are getting into…"A page-turner filled with action and intrigue!" - Bookbub
- GenresAudiobook
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2016
About the author
A.P. Bateman
44 books82 followersA P Bateman is the author of seventeen novels, with twelve of his titles reaching No.1 in Amazon's paid top 100 categories in all Amazon regions and four titles reaching No.1 in Kindle sales in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.
He has a background in close protection and investigations which has given him a unique insight into the scenarios and locations his characters find themselves in.
His hobbies are swimming, driving, archery, shooting and food; his passions are travel and writing.
He has recently released his seventeenth novel - "Hunter Killer" - the twelfth book in the highly acclaimed Alex King series.
You can keep up with A P Bateman and discover more at his Facebook page: @authorapbateman or his website: www.apbateman.com
Reading Order:
The Rob Stone Series:
1) The Ares Virus
2) The Town
3) The Island
The Alex King Series:
1) The Contract Man
2) Lies and Retribution
3) Shadows of Good Friday (A series prequel)
4) The Five
5) Reaper
6) Stormbound
7) Breakout
8) From the Shadows
9) Rogue
10) The Asset
11) Last Man Standing
12) Hunter Killer
Standalone Novels:
Hell's Mouth
Unforgotten
Short Stories:
The Perfect Murder?
Atonement (an Alex King thriller)
He has a background in close protection and investigations which has given him a unique insight into the scenarios and locations his characters find themselves in.
His hobbies are swimming, driving, archery, shooting and food; his passions are travel and writing.
He has recently released his seventeenth novel - "Hunter Killer" - the twelfth book in the highly acclaimed Alex King series.
You can keep up with A P Bateman and discover more at his Facebook page: @authorapbateman or his website: www.apbateman.com
Reading Order:
The Rob Stone Series:
1) The Ares Virus
2) The Town
3) The Island
The Alex King Series:
1) The Contract Man
2) Lies and Retribution
3) Shadows of Good Friday (A series prequel)
4) The Five
5) Reaper
6) Stormbound
7) Breakout
8) From the Shadows
9) Rogue
10) The Asset
11) Last Man Standing
12) Hunter Killer
Standalone Novels:
Hell's Mouth
Unforgotten
Short Stories:
The Perfect Murder?
Atonement (an Alex King thriller)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 14, 2021
The Town, a Rob Stone 2.
After the first book The Ares Virus I was expecting a lot, alas I expecting just a little too much, a step down from the first book, a little more far fetched although still a fast paced action packed thriller.
Rob Stone is taking time out to climb in the mountains of Oregon. Taking a break, drinking coffee in a diner in a small mountain town he watches a helpless man humiliated. Stepping in to help, he sparks a confrontation. Within an hour somebody tries to kill him.
A message has been sent, but Stone will not be pushed. As he starts to investigate what some people in the town do not want uncovered, the truth becomes unthinkable. Cruelty on a scale unimaginable, Stone is determined to shut it down and reclaim the town for its people.
Outnumbered, hunted through the dense forest and mountain terrain, his enemy are unaware that they haven’t gained the advantage. They have merely released him into his element.
Murder, abduction, betrayal…
Sometimes you can’t see the woods for the trees…
A good story, well paced, action yes lots, but number two in the series looses a star due to the fact that our hero, our lead character just happens to survive so much, so many bad injuries, so many beatings but keeps coming back, keeps going.
Can a human being honestly suffer so much and keep coming back fighting. Yes I like the hero, the good, the man saving the world along as it makes sense.
Yes I enjoyed it , read it quite quick, but just in the back of my head was "How can be do that" !
But otherwise enjoyed the story, the characters. Just not quite as strong and realistic as the first book
Four star, really 3.5 stars.
After the first book The Ares Virus I was expecting a lot, alas I expecting just a little too much, a step down from the first book, a little more far fetched although still a fast paced action packed thriller.
Rob Stone is taking time out to climb in the mountains of Oregon. Taking a break, drinking coffee in a diner in a small mountain town he watches a helpless man humiliated. Stepping in to help, he sparks a confrontation. Within an hour somebody tries to kill him.
A message has been sent, but Stone will not be pushed. As he starts to investigate what some people in the town do not want uncovered, the truth becomes unthinkable. Cruelty on a scale unimaginable, Stone is determined to shut it down and reclaim the town for its people.
Outnumbered, hunted through the dense forest and mountain terrain, his enemy are unaware that they haven’t gained the advantage. They have merely released him into his element.
Murder, abduction, betrayal…
Sometimes you can’t see the woods for the trees…
A good story, well paced, action yes lots, but number two in the series looses a star due to the fact that our hero, our lead character just happens to survive so much, so many bad injuries, so many beatings but keeps coming back, keeps going.
Can a human being honestly suffer so much and keep coming back fighting. Yes I like the hero, the good, the man saving the world along as it makes sense.
Yes I enjoyed it , read it quite quick, but just in the back of my head was "How can be do that" !
But otherwise enjoyed the story, the characters. Just not quite as strong and realistic as the first book
Four star, really 3.5 stars.
March 24, 2021
One Town - One Secret Service Agent - it's all you need.
Bateman crafts a fine take of what happens when people surrender to evil. They think they solved their problem, but they only made a down-payment. A well- written novel with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
Bateman crafts a fine take of what happens when people surrender to evil. They think they solved their problem, but they only made a down-payment. A well- written novel with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
May 17, 2021
I would have given this 4 stars had the author not supplied an endless number of bad guys to chase Stone around the town.
It reads like a western tale with the protagonist taking the town back from the bad guys.
It reads like a western tale with the protagonist taking the town back from the bad guys.
August 23, 2019
Not bad, as these types of book go. Superman type hero turns up and racks up a body count saving the local community from evildoers.
I must say I’m partial to this sort of adventure. My only criticism is that the main protagonist gets battered and beaten, rolled in cars and dropped off mountains with seemingly little impact on his ability to charge around killing anyone that moves.
It’s a bit of a lark I guess, but not the most interesting character that this author has produced.
I must say I’m partial to this sort of adventure. My only criticism is that the main protagonist gets battered and beaten, rolled in cars and dropped off mountains with seemingly little impact on his ability to charge around killing anyone that moves.
It’s a bit of a lark I guess, but not the most interesting character that this author has produced.
January 18, 2023
Non stop action, a mystery to solve. It reminded me a lot of the Jack Reacher books (one man up against the bad guys) even though the main character is a Secret Service Agent.
There is a mostly happy ending but some characters didn't survive.
SPOILER PSOILER SPOILER SPOILER
The bad guys are the Conrad brothers. They are using slave labor (runaways, drifters, alcoholics) picked up from the streets to dig in their silver mine. They also are running a black market organ trafficking ring. The entire town is stuck. They cut the cell phone lines, and the landlines to town and nobody can drive out of the town.
The police chief is a former lover and friend and Secret Service Agent. The bad guys kidnapped her son and won't return him unless she does what they say. She is desperate to get her son back. So she called him after finally driving somewhere with cell reception and told him she needed help. She didn't tell him what was going on.
He came and killed most of the bad guys and got her son back. But she didn't know that because he didn't call her. He knew she was telling the bad guys what he was doing. She tried to shoot him but ended up shooting and killing her son by mistake.
Rob Stone had called the FBI and the state police and they came to town and charge the surviving Conrad brothers with their crimes.
There is a mostly happy ending but some characters didn't survive.
SPOILER PSOILER SPOILER SPOILER
The bad guys are the Conrad brothers. They are using slave labor (runaways, drifters, alcoholics) picked up from the streets to dig in their silver mine. They also are running a black market organ trafficking ring. The entire town is stuck. They cut the cell phone lines, and the landlines to town and nobody can drive out of the town.
The police chief is a former lover and friend and Secret Service Agent. The bad guys kidnapped her son and won't return him unless she does what they say. She is desperate to get her son back. So she called him after finally driving somewhere with cell reception and told him she needed help. She didn't tell him what was going on.
He came and killed most of the bad guys and got her son back. But she didn't know that because he didn't call her. He knew she was telling the bad guys what he was doing. She tried to shoot him but ended up shooting and killing her son by mistake.
Rob Stone had called the FBI and the state police and they came to town and charge the surviving Conrad brothers with their crimes.
March 16, 2026
This was my first time reading a book by A P Bateman and it won't be my last. I loved it. The action started at the beginning and didn't stop until the story ended. Rob Stone works for the Secret Service as the President's Man. When he is called in to find out what is going on in a small town named Abandon by the local Sheriff, he finds a nearly deserted town and the few people still living there afraid for their lives and missing loved ones who disappeared. The town is owned and run by the three Conrad brothers who are evil. Rob refuses to leave even after being severely beaten. The few townspeople who are still living in town are wonderful characters and willingly help Rob get their town back and find out what happened to their missing loved ones. I highly recommend this action packed book. The surprise ending is great. This is my voluntary and honest review.
August 26, 2024
A Rival for Reacher
If you loved Jack Reacher you will adore Rob Stone. Ex-military turned Secret Service agent, Stone has all the fighting skills, physical strength and intelligence to defeat crazy odds.
Summoned by a former flame to a remote mountain town in Oregon, aptly named Abandon (as in ‘abandon all hope ye who enter here), Stone rapidly draws the attention of the Conrad brothers who ‘own’ the town and everyone in it. They expect a beating will bully him into submission, and if that doesn’t work, well their private army will kill him.
But Stone’s adversaries have no idea just what is coming for them. This is a rip-roaring read with a lot of detail about fighting techniques and weaponry but also some psychological nuance. Enjoy.
If you loved Jack Reacher you will adore Rob Stone. Ex-military turned Secret Service agent, Stone has all the fighting skills, physical strength and intelligence to defeat crazy odds.
Summoned by a former flame to a remote mountain town in Oregon, aptly named Abandon (as in ‘abandon all hope ye who enter here), Stone rapidly draws the attention of the Conrad brothers who ‘own’ the town and everyone in it. They expect a beating will bully him into submission, and if that doesn’t work, well their private army will kill him.
But Stone’s adversaries have no idea just what is coming for them. This is a rip-roaring read with a lot of detail about fighting techniques and weaponry but also some psychological nuance. Enjoy.
April 10, 2021
Too much descriptions regarding everything. Too much about the woods. mountains, animals, guns. I think without all that talk, talk, talk about all that stuff there would not have been much of a book. The story would have been quite short without all that. Here's Stone, getting beat up so badly SO MANY TIMES, broken ribs, smashed nose, shot at and wounded and still running around like nothing has happened. He was a one man army. killing about a dozen people or more even after he was so beaten and wounded. I got into 15% of the book and couldn't get a refund of $2.99. So I did finish the book. Was a waste of time for me. Too unbelievable.
April 30, 2021
In A.P. Bateman’s “The Town”, the author continues to develop his main character, Rob Stone. The author fills in some of Rob Stone’s background in the military prior to joining the Secret Service. We learn that Rob Stone served in Afghanistan in the Army. He believes in good versus evil and has no qualms in defending himself. He is loyal to his friends even if they themselves are willing to turn their blind eye away from wrong doing. The Town is an interesting novel that somewhat reminds me of the first Rambo novel with good wining over evil only after several people are trampled over. Look forward to the next Rob Stone novel.
June 7, 2021
Hold on to your hat!!!!
Well, this was a nice surprise! A large , full cup of tea needed to even start this read. Very well written, active and we'll thought out plot, great character development. Rob is not quite "Dirty Harry" but just as nasty when called for. Loved the action! Kinda like "Jack Reacher" but I am sure it will be a box office hit movie. Well done A P Bateman, well done!
Well, this was a nice surprise! A large , full cup of tea needed to even start this read. Very well written, active and we'll thought out plot, great character development. Rob is not quite "Dirty Harry" but just as nasty when called for. Loved the action! Kinda like "Jack Reacher" but I am sure it will be a box office hit movie. Well done A P Bateman, well done!
July 18, 2021
I have enjoyed all the Alex King books and the first Rob Stone
However this read more like Reacher novel without the intricate plots of the other books
Having said that couldn’t put it down - a fast moving plot with plenty of bad guys
Just started The Island so looking forward to a few hours entertainment
I think the skill going into your story telling should put you up with all the other thriller writers
However this read more like Reacher novel without the intricate plots of the other books
Having said that couldn’t put it down - a fast moving plot with plenty of bad guys
Just started The Island so looking forward to a few hours entertainment
I think the skill going into your story telling should put you up with all the other thriller writers
December 20, 2022
unbelievable
I must confess to not knowing this author. Well that’s about to change!! I could not put this book down, it’s impossible!! The story had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning, I couldn’t wait for the end to know who survived and who didn’t, until the realisation that once there….I need another book NOW !!! Absolutely the most exciting, character filled novel I have read this year. Do yourself a favour and get this book, you will no regret it
I must confess to not knowing this author. Well that’s about to change!! I could not put this book down, it’s impossible!! The story had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning, I couldn’t wait for the end to know who survived and who didn’t, until the realisation that once there….I need another book NOW !!! Absolutely the most exciting, character filled novel I have read this year. Do yourself a favour and get this book, you will no regret it
January 20, 2023
Definitely a "Guys" book!
Rob Stone goes to a town called Abandon ostensibly to climb a mountain. But, eventually the reader learns that he is not who he appears to be. What follows is a cascade of violence, betrayal, and murder with a lot of technical description of weapons and the merits of each for the specific situation in which he finds himself. Don't say you weren't warned!
Rob Stone goes to a town called Abandon ostensibly to climb a mountain. But, eventually the reader learns that he is not who he appears to be. What follows is a cascade of violence, betrayal, and murder with a lot of technical description of weapons and the merits of each for the specific situation in which he finds himself. Don't say you weren't warned!
March 21, 2021
Research a bit
There is no such thing as an automatic 45 1911 pistol. There is no switch on an AR-15 that goes into semi auto mode. Why, because AR-15s aren't anything but semi autos. Do a little Google search for gosh sakes. You're writing on a guy who's secret service. Don't be an ignorant dumbass on weapons.
There is no such thing as an automatic 45 1911 pistol. There is no switch on an AR-15 that goes into semi auto mode. Why, because AR-15s aren't anything but semi autos. Do a little Google search for gosh sakes. You're writing on a guy who's secret service. Don't be an ignorant dumbass on weapons.
March 24, 2021
Great book
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engrossed, with twists and turns in the plot. I will be reading more books by this author. I live in Washington state and Oregon has a similar back country as ours, so it was easy to place myself in the area surrounding Abandon. I was not anticipating the recovery of the missing townspeople, it was a nice ending.
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engrossed, with twists and turns in the plot. I will be reading more books by this author. I live in Washington state and Oregon has a similar back country as ours, so it was easy to place myself in the area surrounding Abandon. I was not anticipating the recovery of the missing townspeople, it was a nice ending.
April 27, 2021
Rob Stone is like the Energizer Bunny, he just never stops. Because, he knows if he stops he's dead. As several of the folks in "The Town" state, "Nothing is what it seems." And Rob knows that from previous experiences. What he's not prepared for is betrayal at the hands of the one he most wants to help. If you are a fan of Jack Reacher you will like "The Town".
June 17, 2021
Once again, a well-written story that keeps you hanging in there! But...
But, once again, Bateman's craftsmanship is marred by sloppy editing with typographical errors everywhere! A great meal, but with flies on it! With any 7th grade student being able to proofread this, it could move from a 5 star to a 6 star rating!!
But, once again, Bateman's craftsmanship is marred by sloppy editing with typographical errors everywhere! A great meal, but with flies on it! With any 7th grade student being able to proofread this, it could move from a 5 star to a 6 star rating!!
August 1, 2021
Read this book. It's a stick to it story.
Enjoyed the story. Well written and entertaining. Characters fit well in the plot and the end produced a feel good smile. I did think the injuries Rob suffered were too much to believe anyone person could suffer and continue on. I'll be looking for the next novel.
Enjoyed the story. Well written and entertaining. Characters fit well in the plot and the end produced a feel good smile. I did think the injuries Rob suffered were too much to believe anyone person could suffer and continue on. I'll be looking for the next novel.
February 5, 2023
My new favourite Author
Yet another exciting thriller from A P Bateman,read all his Alex King novels an enjoyed all of them,now this Rob Stone thriller is up.to the same standard!!!.Don't know how he maintains so a high standard. What's more on Kindle the books are so affordable. Beats Lee Child's latest Reacher novels by a mile. Can't wait to read his next novel
Yet another exciting thriller from A P Bateman,read all his Alex King novels an enjoyed all of them,now this Rob Stone thriller is up.to the same standard!!!.Don't know how he maintains so a high standard. What's more on Kindle the books are so affordable. Beats Lee Child's latest Reacher novels by a mile. Can't wait to read his next novel
September 25, 2024
Rampant Excitement
Very well written. It flows. Exciting adventure that keeps growing and getting more complex. Would put some Teacher Books to shame. The Secret Service like the FBI has lost a lot of credibility lately with the two assumption attempts on former president Trump. The SS needs all that good publicity that it can get. Fun to read
Very well written. It flows. Exciting adventure that keeps growing and getting more complex. Would put some Teacher Books to shame. The Secret Service like the FBI has lost a lot of credibility lately with the two assumption attempts on former president Trump. The SS needs all that good publicity that it can get. Fun to read
November 22, 2024
The Town
A brilliant read from start to finish.
Rob Stone arrives in town to a chilly reception. No rooms available in a seemingly empty motel, a bar that wont serve him food although the chef is cooking. Two attempts on his life in a short time convince him to dig further to find out why.
A brilliant read from start to finish.
Rob Stone arrives in town to a chilly reception. No rooms available in a seemingly empty motel, a bar that wont serve him food although the chef is cooking. Two attempts on his life in a short time convince him to dig further to find out why.
March 22, 2026
improvement
Far better editing for this release. A good story, exciting action and a feel good ending. Rob Stone is rapidly becoming a good series. The recovery aspects after his wounds was a bit unrealistic but I don’t want to read a boring factual description.
All in all an enjoyable read
Far better editing for this release. A good story, exciting action and a feel good ending. Rob Stone is rapidly becoming a good series. The recovery aspects after his wounds was a bit unrealistic but I don’t want to read a boring factual description.
All in all an enjoyable read
April 3, 2026
one tough cookie
Jon Stone certainly takes a lot of punishment in this book. Some of it is hard to believe that anyone could survive. However, the story holds together. I couldn’t put it down when I got to the final showdown or conflict despite the resolution coming pretty quickly
Jon Stone certainly takes a lot of punishment in this book. Some of it is hard to believe that anyone could survive. However, the story holds together. I couldn’t put it down when I got to the final showdown or conflict despite the resolution coming pretty quickly
February 4, 2017
The Town
This is the 2nd book of the series was different to the first which is always good. I did think can people really take such a battering and carry on...
But it is fiction it did hold my attention from the beginning, nicely tied up at the end
This is the 2nd book of the series was different to the first which is always good. I did think can people really take such a battering and carry on...
But it is fiction it did hold my attention from the beginning, nicely tied up at the end
August 10, 2018
This is a lovely endearing tale. .Very beautifully written.
A few spelling and grammatical errors spoiled the flow at times.. something that could be rectified with better proof reading.
A few spelling and grammatical errors spoiled the flow at times.. something that could be rectified with better proof reading.
October 5, 2018
Good read would recommend this Author for his store's
Good read would recommend this Author for his work really enjoyed this book I've read all his books in order and looking forward to the next one
Good read would recommend this Author for his work really enjoyed this book I've read all his books in order and looking forward to the next one
February 18, 2021
Amazing read.
This is a fast pace action filled book from beginning to end. It has just enough of everything to make it interesting but not over the top in any one area to take away from the story.
This is a fast pace action filled book from beginning to end. It has just enough of everything to make it interesting but not over the top in any one area to take away from the story.
April 7, 2021
Good story that moved along quickly
A good story with a lot of action, good character development and a few surprises. The minute details of every single gun was a little tedious to me, but then I'm not a gun buff! I'm looking forward to the next adventure for Rob Stone.
A good story with a lot of action, good character development and a few surprises. The minute details of every single gun was a little tedious to me, but then I'm not a gun buff! I'm looking forward to the next adventure for Rob Stone.
April 13, 2021
Reacher and Rambo move over
Rob Stone is Jack Reacher and John Rambo combined. If you like Reacher -like action you'll enjoy Rob Stone as he cleans up the small corrupt village of Abandoned. Ill be reading the next one for sure.
Rob Stone is Jack Reacher and John Rambo combined. If you like Reacher -like action you'll enjoy Rob Stone as he cleans up the small corrupt village of Abandoned. Ill be reading the next one for sure.
May 13, 2021
Great read
Really enjoyed this book for it’s face-paced, can’t put it down plot. Ive already moved on to the other two books even though I’m reading them out if sequence. I’m hooked!
Really enjoyed this book for it’s face-paced, can’t put it down plot. Ive already moved on to the other two books even though I’m reading them out if sequence. I’m hooked!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews