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Hail #1
Operation Hail Storm
Marshall Hail was a husband, a father, a Physics Nobel prize winner and industrial billionaire. But when Hail's family was killed in a terrorist attack, he became a deadly predator and redirected his vast industrial assets toward one goal, removing every person on the FBI's Top 10 Terrorist list. With the help of his MIT colleagues, Hail designed and built a devastating arsenal of attack drones of all shapes and sizes that are flown by the nation's best young gamers. The world will come to realize that Marshall Hail possesses the capability of getting to anyone, anywhere, at any time, unleashing an operation so disturbing that the CIA has named it Operation Hail Storm.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2016
598 people are currently reading
3054 people want to read
About the author
Brett Arquette
15 books399 followersB. 1960. Son of Lois Duncan. Worked as Chief Technology Officer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,193 reviews
December 16, 2017
Don't bother reading this book, even if Mr. Arquette sends you a free copy. It's badly written, badly edited and contains blatant plagiarism.
Like many of the other reviewers of this book, I received a spam message from Mr. Arquette. In the message he suggested that if I liked Michael Crichton, I might like his book. He offered a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is self-published, but was allegedly edited by two people. Based on their performance with this book, neither of those people should ever work again as editors. Typos, grammatical errors, and misspellings litter the pages of this book. Arquette isn't a strong writer either. He clearly needs someone to help edit his work. Some parts of the book were exceptionally repetitive. In one area we get the exact same dialogue twice. Once from the CIA spy, and once from the terrorist. This happens in back to back chapters.
The dialogue is not strong. The characters are not complex. The female characters, despite holding powerful traditionally male roles, end up being stereotypical women obsessed with clothes. As an example the female CIA spy, upon first being introduced to a group of people in a professional setting, responds with "I love your outfit." The "Mission Communication Analyst" responds "Well thank you. I designed and made it myself." To which our spy says, "You're kidding me. I wish I could do stuff like that. A dress seems like it would be so hard to make." The CIA spy is later distracted by being set loose in the shopping mall. Later this CIA spy, an expert in foreign languages, gives the wrong name for a North Korean leader. After being corrected by the director of the CIA she responds "Whatever, Ding, Dong, Wang, Chung, Cheech and Chong, all their names are so confusing." Her poor lady brain just can't handle these non western sounding names.
The main character, Marshall Hail, is a rich neckbeard. He's sad because his wife and kids were killed in a terrorist attack two years ago. But he's conflicted because the CIA spy is pretty and "there was also vulnerability in the woman that attracted him. And for some strange reason, Hail had always been drawn to people who were damaged or in need." Vomit.
After all of these problems, Arquette gets exceptionally lazy and instead of describing the White House Situation Room, he quotes "The Wiki". But as you'll see below, we should be happy Arquette at least quoted his source here.
The blatant plagiarism in this book should be enough to convince you not to read it. It's not as if it's a good book that happens to have some plagiarism. It's a bad book, with really sloppy plagiarism. After reading 75% of the book, I began to sense some passages were not actually written by Arquette. In one area shaped charges are described. This dialogue occurs:
Compare the italicized words to the wikipedia entry for shaped charges:
Later, in a particularly bad piece of writing, a character describes to himself the types of Russian food he'd prefer to eat over the food available in North Korea.
Compare that to the Cuisine of Post-Soviet Countries Blog.
I read this book because it was the first book offered to me for free. I felt I shouldn't give up on it, despite not enjoying it. Learn from my mistakes and skip this book.
Like many of the other reviewers of this book, I received a spam message from Mr. Arquette. In the message he suggested that if I liked Michael Crichton, I might like his book. He offered a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is self-published, but was allegedly edited by two people. Based on their performance with this book, neither of those people should ever work again as editors. Typos, grammatical errors, and misspellings litter the pages of this book. Arquette isn't a strong writer either. He clearly needs someone to help edit his work. Some parts of the book were exceptionally repetitive. In one area we get the exact same dialogue twice. Once from the CIA spy, and once from the terrorist. This happens in back to back chapters.
The dialogue is not strong. The characters are not complex. The female characters, despite holding powerful traditionally male roles, end up being stereotypical women obsessed with clothes. As an example the female CIA spy, upon first being introduced to a group of people in a professional setting, responds with "I love your outfit." The "Mission Communication Analyst" responds "Well thank you. I designed and made it myself." To which our spy says, "You're kidding me. I wish I could do stuff like that. A dress seems like it would be so hard to make." The CIA spy is later distracted by being set loose in the shopping mall. Later this CIA spy, an expert in foreign languages, gives the wrong name for a North Korean leader. After being corrected by the director of the CIA she responds "Whatever, Ding, Dong, Wang, Chung, Cheech and Chong, all their names are so confusing." Her poor lady brain just can't handle these non western sounding names.
The main character, Marshall Hail, is a rich neckbeard. He's sad because his wife and kids were killed in a terrorist attack two years ago. But he's conflicted because the CIA spy is pretty and "there was also vulnerability in the woman that attracted him. And for some strange reason, Hail had always been drawn to people who were damaged or in need." Vomit.
After all of these problems, Arquette gets exceptionally lazy and instead of describing the White House Situation Room, he quotes "The Wiki". But as you'll see below, we should be happy Arquette at least quoted his source here.
The blatant plagiarism in this book should be enough to convince you not to read it. It's not as if it's a good book that happens to have some plagiarism. It's a bad book, with really sloppy plagiarism. After reading 75% of the book, I began to sense some passages were not actually written by Arquette. In one area shaped charges are described. This dialogue occurs:
"The most common of the linear-shaped charge is conical, with an internal apex angle of 40 to 90 degrees. Different apex angles yield different distributions of jet mass and velocity. Small apex angles can result in jet bifurcation, or even in the failure of the jet to form at all, if you can believe that," she laughed knowingly, "and this is attributed to the collapse velocity being above a certain threshold, normally slightly higher than..."
Compare the italicized words to the wikipedia entry for shaped charges:
The most common shape of the liner is conical, with an internal apex angle of 40 to 90 degrees. Different apex angles yield different distributions of jet mass and velocity. Small apex angles can result in jet bifurcation, or even in the failure of the jet to form at all; this is attributed to the collapse velocity being above a certain threshold, normally slightly higher[.]
Later, in a particularly bad piece of writing, a character describes to himself the types of Russian food he'd prefer to eat over the food available in North Korea.
Or even pelmeni, a traditional Russian dish usually made with minced meat filling, wrapped in thin dough.
Compare that to the Cuisine of Post-Soviet Countries Blog.
Pelmeni are a traditional Russian dish usually made with minced meat filling, wrapped in thin dough.
I read this book because it was the first book offered to me for free. I felt I shouldn't give up on it, despite not enjoying it. Learn from my mistakes and skip this book.
February 6, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. It’s a very clever Action Thriller, with a very unique and interesting plot, that really captured my attention. Brett Arquette has done an amazing job with the characters, and I like that he kept me guessing throughout the story. Some of the weapons in this book are incredible. After losing his family in a terrorist attack, Hail has made his home on a cargo ship specially fitted out for a very important task. His goal is to track down those responsible for taking his wife and daughters from him, and he’s keen to wipe them from the face of the earth. however, he is going to need some help to be able to achieve this. For the US Government to pass on the information and intelligence, that Hail requires to track down and kill the US’s top 10 most wanted men, they insist that their CIA Agent Kara Ramey be able to join his team. They also want Hail to track down the intercontinental ballistic missiles that have been sold to the North Koreans, and destroy them. North Korea wants them desperately to launch nuclear weapons at America. Kara looks like she has met her match with Hail. Unlike most men that are very taken with her beauty, and they can’t see that she is running rings around them. However, Hail works her out quite quickly and he sure isn’t going to let this attractive and intelligence CIA Agent get the better of him. Hands down this is a great book, and well worth a read. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 7, 2017
This is an exciting story!! I am so glad I read it,it is futuristic with technology used today mixed in. Marshall Hail is a man who lost his wife and two daughters when five different jets were taken down by terrorists. The day is called 'The Five',like we say 9/11 today. Hail is a very intelligent man,a multi-billionaire,using money to start using nuclear waste converted to clean energy. He assembles a team of people who also lost someone during The Five,many from MIT and all living on his ships,developing a system of drones that can be used to fight any war or kill anybody without having a human being actually physically there. Hail decides to go down the USA's most wanted list and remove the person on it,then asks the government for the bounty offered. This starts a new conversation with the President,a woman,as both sides want something from each other. A fast paced story,excellent plot and great characters,it was really a very interesting novel.
February 16, 2017
I received this book directly from the author in exchange for a review.
Wow, how best to approach a book that I found both amazing and yet amazingly frustrating? Let me begin by saying I loved this book. Any "criticisms" are intended more as advance warning to potential readers of the things that I found difficult, but in no way does anything detract from what I think is an amazingly well-told story.
First, the author approached me because I enjoyed "The Killing Floor" by Lee Child, a Jack Reacher novel. In no way, shape or form is Operation Hail Storm like The Killing Floor in terms of plot. If I were to compare, it is far closer to Tom Clancy's "The Hunt for Red October" with a little Robert Ludlum's Bourne novels mixed in. The author is slavish in his attention to the technical details. As I have a strict attitude toward spoilers, none will be given but do NOT approach this novel as a light read. Mr. Arquette goes into extreme detail on the minutiae of the central premises of the story. Readers who are lost in such details will struggle terribly with this novel.
The novel, as I read it, consists of four episodes: The opening, in which we meet Marshall Hail as he executes a plan which sets the entire novel's plot into motion. In the process, we meet much of Hail's team and get a sense of the nature of the story itself. The second episode introduces the reader to the female lead, Kara Ramey, and sets the end-narrative in motion. Put another way, while the opening is important, it is an ancillary episode to the main story. The third episode brings Kara and Marshall together, establishes the nature of their relationship very effectively, and opens the door to the fourth and final episode. If I am going to say there is something that the author does extremely well, it is establish scene and character. His attention to detail extends beyond the technical. While we are teased early in the narrative with references to The Five, the author fleshes out this arc and, in much the same way Ludlum did with Bourne, give Marshall Hail a powerful history and Kara's motivations have far more definition than I would have imagined.
Characters are too numerous to catalog, so I focus mostly on Kara and Marshall. Marshall's supporting cast is magnificent in their skills and personalities. Kara's, on the other hand, seem rather "linear." Largely government officials, they function mostly as half-antagonists to the end-game for Marshall and his team. Trust, when you read this novel, you do not love the officials in Washington. But Kara is an exercise in writing a female character. She is the "sexy spy" but has more depth than that implies. Much of her appeal to me comes after her introduction, when she is interacting with Marshall, as she tries to play "spy-games" with him and....well, its a well-choreographed set of interactions. Marshall, as befits the title character, is a man on a mission, and the reader is left to decide if that mission makes him a hero or a threat to the nation. But here I would be remiss if I omitted the paragraph I wrote for this review when I was a third of the way through this novel.
A special mention must be made that I believe the author has made the "tech" a character unto itself, a character who only speaks through actions and descriptions perhaps, but a character nonetheless. Entire pages of e-text are dedicated to almost loving descriptions of servos, batteries, weight ratios, technical jargon, and the artistry of their functions. If I had to equate this "character" to the work of another author, it would have to be Tom Clancy, who did much the same in his Jack Ryan novels as well as the Rainbow Six narratives. Readers who are easily mired in excessive detail would be well-advised to use caution when reading this novel as a result.
Would I recommend this novel? Wholeheartedly. Marshall Hail is a technophile's dream character. What makes him so delightful is, in my opinion, the way he compares to other author's masterpiece characters. Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan, James Bond, and now Marshall Hail are characters who are not perfect, nor should they be. They are broken men who have a purpose. The reader is taken along on a journey with them, and I thoroughly enjoyed going with Hail, and hope for an opportunity to see where he goes next.
Wow, how best to approach a book that I found both amazing and yet amazingly frustrating? Let me begin by saying I loved this book. Any "criticisms" are intended more as advance warning to potential readers of the things that I found difficult, but in no way does anything detract from what I think is an amazingly well-told story.
First, the author approached me because I enjoyed "The Killing Floor" by Lee Child, a Jack Reacher novel. In no way, shape or form is Operation Hail Storm like The Killing Floor in terms of plot. If I were to compare, it is far closer to Tom Clancy's "The Hunt for Red October" with a little Robert Ludlum's Bourne novels mixed in. The author is slavish in his attention to the technical details. As I have a strict attitude toward spoilers, none will be given but do NOT approach this novel as a light read. Mr. Arquette goes into extreme detail on the minutiae of the central premises of the story. Readers who are lost in such details will struggle terribly with this novel.
The novel, as I read it, consists of four episodes: The opening, in which we meet Marshall Hail as he executes a plan which sets the entire novel's plot into motion. In the process, we meet much of Hail's team and get a sense of the nature of the story itself. The second episode introduces the reader to the female lead, Kara Ramey, and sets the end-narrative in motion. Put another way, while the opening is important, it is an ancillary episode to the main story. The third episode brings Kara and Marshall together, establishes the nature of their relationship very effectively, and opens the door to the fourth and final episode. If I am going to say there is something that the author does extremely well, it is establish scene and character. His attention to detail extends beyond the technical. While we are teased early in the narrative with references to The Five, the author fleshes out this arc and, in much the same way Ludlum did with Bourne, give Marshall Hail a powerful history and Kara's motivations have far more definition than I would have imagined.
Characters are too numerous to catalog, so I focus mostly on Kara and Marshall. Marshall's supporting cast is magnificent in their skills and personalities. Kara's, on the other hand, seem rather "linear." Largely government officials, they function mostly as half-antagonists to the end-game for Marshall and his team. Trust, when you read this novel, you do not love the officials in Washington. But Kara is an exercise in writing a female character. She is the "sexy spy" but has more depth than that implies. Much of her appeal to me comes after her introduction, when she is interacting with Marshall, as she tries to play "spy-games" with him and....well, its a well-choreographed set of interactions. Marshall, as befits the title character, is a man on a mission, and the reader is left to decide if that mission makes him a hero or a threat to the nation. But here I would be remiss if I omitted the paragraph I wrote for this review when I was a third of the way through this novel.
A special mention must be made that I believe the author has made the "tech" a character unto itself, a character who only speaks through actions and descriptions perhaps, but a character nonetheless. Entire pages of e-text are dedicated to almost loving descriptions of servos, batteries, weight ratios, technical jargon, and the artistry of their functions. If I had to equate this "character" to the work of another author, it would have to be Tom Clancy, who did much the same in his Jack Ryan novels as well as the Rainbow Six narratives. Readers who are easily mired in excessive detail would be well-advised to use caution when reading this novel as a result.
Would I recommend this novel? Wholeheartedly. Marshall Hail is a technophile's dream character. What makes him so delightful is, in my opinion, the way he compares to other author's masterpiece characters. Jason Bourne, Jack Reacher, Jack Ryan, James Bond, and now Marshall Hail are characters who are not perfect, nor should they be. They are broken men who have a purpose. The reader is taken along on a journey with them, and I thoroughly enjoyed going with Hail, and hope for an opportunity to see where he goes next.
January 24, 2017
WOW ! You've all heard about drones for the last couple of years. This book is going to make you think another way completely. This was a fantastic read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. A real page turner for me. If you enjoy the action genre you will absolutely love this book. Great not too far in the future military type read. I highly recommend it !
January 7, 2017
Marshall Hail was a father, a Physic's Nobel prize winner and an industrial billionaire.
Hail's family is killed in a deadly terrorist attack and he becomes a deadly predator when
he directs his vast assets around one goal. He wants to remove every person on the FBI's
10 most wanted terrorist list.With the help of his MIT colleagues they design and build a
devastating arsenal of attack drones that are flown by the nations best young gamers. The world will soon realize that Hail possesses the capability of getting to anyone, anywhere,
at anytime. This book has a fair amount of action and the story will keep you interested
from start to finish. This is book one in the Hail series so I guess that Mr. Arquette,s new
fan will be waiting for the next one. Also by the time that you finish this you will know
a good deal about drones.
Hail's family is killed in a deadly terrorist attack and he becomes a deadly predator when
he directs his vast assets around one goal. He wants to remove every person on the FBI's
10 most wanted terrorist list.With the help of his MIT colleagues they design and build a
devastating arsenal of attack drones that are flown by the nations best young gamers. The world will soon realize that Hail possesses the capability of getting to anyone, anywhere,
at anytime. This book has a fair amount of action and the story will keep you interested
from start to finish. This is book one in the Hail series so I guess that Mr. Arquette,s new
fan will be waiting for the next one. Also by the time that you finish this you will know
a good deal about drones.
March 2, 2017
I was sent a copy of this book for a honest review.
Marshall Hail's family was killed in a terrorist attack 2 years ago and he is out to avenge their murders. With the help of his MIT colleagues, he has ships with the latest technology to help him in his quest. He has adopted teenagers whose parents were victims of terrorism and they are using their gaming skills to send drones into countries undetected in order to kill terrorists. I found this unique action-packed book to be very easy to read with interesting characters and a well-paced plot. There were twists and turns towards the end which kept the pages flying. I especially enjoyed the interaction between the two main characters, Marshall Hail and CIA member, Kara Ramsey. I look forward to reading more of Brett Arquette's books and I would highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy Clive Cussler or paramilitary stories.
Marshall Hail's family was killed in a terrorist attack 2 years ago and he is out to avenge their murders. With the help of his MIT colleagues, he has ships with the latest technology to help him in his quest. He has adopted teenagers whose parents were victims of terrorism and they are using their gaming skills to send drones into countries undetected in order to kill terrorists. I found this unique action-packed book to be very easy to read with interesting characters and a well-paced plot. There were twists and turns towards the end which kept the pages flying. I especially enjoyed the interaction between the two main characters, Marshall Hail and CIA member, Kara Ramsey. I look forward to reading more of Brett Arquette's books and I would highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy Clive Cussler or paramilitary stories.
March 12, 2017
Loved this book. Marshall Hail is a whiz kid who's wife and twin daughters were killed in a Terror Attack known as The Five (five aircraft were destroyed simultaneously around the world) which killed Americans on every flight. Kara is a CIA spy who lost her parents as part of the same disaster. Both are on a mission to find and kill the perpetrators.
The book is fast paced, continuous action, a good mix of character development and mind blowing technology. Kept the pages turning for me, highly recommend this!
The book is fast paced, continuous action, a good mix of character development and mind blowing technology. Kept the pages turning for me, highly recommend this!
February 4, 2017
This book was made available to me at no charge, in exchange for an honest review. The author’s knowledge of his subject matter comes through with flying colors. I found this book very difficult to put down and fast-paced enough to stay totally engrossed. The story is built around drone technology, some of which is perhaps a bit futuristic, but not beyond belief. Character development has been done to the degree that a reader can create a good visual picture as the story progresses.
The ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel, which I really look forward to!
The ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel, which I really look forward to!
February 2, 2017
This book blew me away. It has action, suspense, a great story unique unto itself with well developed, three dimensional characters.
It's storyline is in a class by itself and I wouldn't be surprised if I hear about the movie coming out in the near future.
I think drones are the wave of the future both in civilian and military in their application and the way Brett uses the many 'creatively designed' drones in his novel are way too cool and believable...
This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last....
I loved it and give it a "Five Start Rating-With A Bullet..... :-)"
It's storyline is in a class by itself and I wouldn't be surprised if I hear about the movie coming out in the near future.
I think drones are the wave of the future both in civilian and military in their application and the way Brett uses the many 'creatively designed' drones in his novel are way too cool and believable...
This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last....
I loved it and give it a "Five Start Rating-With A Bullet..... :-)"
January 9, 2017
A fascinating futuristic view mixed with some current technology. So much futuristic that an aircraft carrier, that as far as I know was struggling to make sea trials is on location in Asian seas. The story revolves around drone technology, some may already exist or at least are in the works. The whole plot rocks and I for one am a big supporter of the concept. Some observations: the nuclear reactors are a new concept for me, as I went through the US Navy Nuclear Power program and then on to serve aboard two different nuclear submarines. I am a fan of PWR (pressurized water reactors), but certainly open to newer and cheaper technology after someone proves it to me. I have been aboard new USNS Sealift Command ships and while they are impressive, including the Captain’s stateroom they are nothing like the opulence described in this story. Drones have been in use for a good while, although nothing on the scale described. And finally, a woman POTUS. A story that grabs you with an iron grip, unfortunately the proof reading was sloppy but not to the point of distracting from the story. The extraordinary use of the drones minus the boring details of their construction allows the story to flow easily, captivating the imagination. To think a drone can be used to slip into a country, poison a terrorist thug and slip out all unseen should have military contractors scrambling. I have heard there are currently drones the size of flies that are in use as spies. More complex than just a story about drones the characters involved are themselves an interesting tale, plotters, schemers, politicians, military leaders and the lives of a conglomeration personnel from varying backgrounds, many with a tragic past. Finally, I think the idea of using sneaky devious little machines to slip in and destroy a supply of weapons of mass destruction, all unobserved, and leaving no fingers of accusation to be pointed is genius as opposed to at least one allied country using fighter bombers to just flat out unapologetically fly in and destroy the weapons that would destroy them. I anxiously await the second installment. Every bit of five stars.
February 3, 2017
Quick read. I really liked the story line. Great thriller. I like the interaction between Kara and Marshall. Will definitely recommend this book.
February 6, 2017
Operation Hail Storm. Brett Arquette
Marshal Hail lost his family in one of the five jets destroyed by terrorists. He knows know who sold the weaponry to them. He has a huge tanker, that is actually his base of operations. A very sophisticated crew....they utilize drones with capabilities that are off the charts. This is an extremely well written and very believable novel. I'm hoping there is a sequel!! Enjoyed tremendously!
Marshal Hail lost his family in one of the five jets destroyed by terrorists. He knows know who sold the weaponry to them. He has a huge tanker, that is actually his base of operations. A very sophisticated crew....they utilize drones with capabilities that are off the charts. This is an extremely well written and very believable novel. I'm hoping there is a sequel!! Enjoyed tremendously!
January 20, 2017
A terrific ride and very hard to put down all the way until the very end! If you enjoy international spy thrillers and technology, you'll love this new novel. It's a great drama featuring authentic characters and a thrilling global plot involving terrorism and nuclear weapons. The author introduces us to a new crime fighting hero who lost his family in a horrific terrorism attack, deeply wounding his psyche. A brilliant and successful industrialist, he seeks his retribution using his vast resources, science, technology and his Physics PhD. He develops a highly strained relationship with a newly elected American president and her senior advisors, throwing more political drama into the mix. The author has done his homework in technology and he creates a thoroughly believable plot where modern technology, powerful computers and next generation drones reinvent modern spycraft. It's almost too believable. This can and should develop into a lengthy series of novels spanning the globe. I eagerly await the next installment.
February 4, 2017
I received this free. I had not read anything by this author before this book. I read about 80 books a year mostly in the thriller genre. The only negative I have is I think there is a little too much operational detail at times. That was not enough though to bring me off the 5 star rating. The plot was fresh as it pertains to fighting and killing terrorists. It was entertaining and had just the right amount of humor in it. And the ending was great leading me to believe that this could be the start of something really good for a series of books. Only time will tell but it is off to a great start. Cant wait until the next one!
February 23, 2017
WOW! What a great read by a great new author. This is a truly unique look at a possible future, involving drone technology, killing terrorists. The crew are techno-geeks, and not the typical testerone-laden former SF soldier or Navy Seal veterans. I like the plot twist of a independently weathly scientist who looses his entire family to a terrorist attack, and then has "nothing to loose" when he sets out to reduce the number of terrorists in the world. I am less critical than the readers who complain about proof-reading errors. As described by another read, this book is very hard to put down. The action moves very fast. The story is truly unique and well crafted. This is truly an action-thriller - but the action is more in line-with video-game death and destruction fought from the arm-chair of a drone-driver. My ONLY complaint is one that I am sure is outside of the control of the author. I am a practicing physician, and I don't do KINDLE, etc. So the type-font of the PAPERBACK was much smaller than I would PREFER for easy reading. Also, very small point - the author mentions a five-star admiral.... and there hasn't been a five star rank since World War II, and very likely will NEVER be one again. Any beta-reader with some military experience would have challenged the author with this small detail. I look forward to the next installment in this new series
February 15, 2017
Folks, this is an excellent book. Author's descriptions of events and drones was expansive. Lots of research and knowledge. Very good storyline, lots of action, spot-on character development, and a "can't wait to turn the page" mentality. Very will written. The humor and wit shown by the characters was outstanding. Only downside, which was a minor distraction, were the grammar errors that popped up throughout the reading. Bottomline: Order this book and read it. You will be instantly thrown into a plausible, near future experience that will keep you reading until the late hours. I am waiting, patiently, to read the sequel to this novel once finished.
February 12, 2017
When you stop to think about all the marvelous technology we have in our world today, we fail to understand there is new and sometimes scary technology already out there. Arquette's book takes the reader down deep into the secrets of how things are accomplished in our world where high profile people make decisions, but don't get their hands dirty. Captain Marshall Hail and his crew of geniuses build drones. Not just any drones. Kinds that search, target, eliminate, and if the world knew, scare the hell out of people. If you like a fast paced, smartly written book, this is for you. And the next time you see a drone in the sky, it may not just be a delivery from a company.
February 2, 2017
This was a totally amazing book and right up my street. Lots of planning, tension and excitement but also about subject of which I know very little. I enjoy having the pleasure of reading a good book and also learning something new during the process, an added bonus. Great characters and well described interacti0ns and the detail was phenomenal. I struggled to put it down and enjoyed every minute.
March 3, 2017
According to Eric Spearman, "I do not think it would be an exaggeration if I were to say that Hail has the ability to kill anyone, anytime, anywhere and leave little to no trace that he was even there."
What a story, it's believable from beginning to end. A well devised plot, especially regarding the time we're living and what is going on around us. Good character base including Marshall Hail, Kara Ramey, Victor Kornev, and many others.
The storyline brings today's technologies,and many future possible technologies to the forefront and presents them in such a way that we can believe they wield the power they might have just as the author describes.
Not to give the plot away, lets just say that Marshall Hail, his cargo ship "The Hail Nucleus", and its crew are able to accomplish what needs to be done with little to no help from the US Government.
Kudos Brett Arquette, and thank you for allowing me to read your book before it was released to the public. I will definitely recommend it!
What a story, it's believable from beginning to end. A well devised plot, especially regarding the time we're living and what is going on around us. Good character base including Marshall Hail, Kara Ramey, Victor Kornev, and many others.
The storyline brings today's technologies,and many future possible technologies to the forefront and presents them in such a way that we can believe they wield the power they might have just as the author describes.
Not to give the plot away, lets just say that Marshall Hail, his cargo ship "The Hail Nucleus", and its crew are able to accomplish what needs to be done with little to no help from the US Government.
Kudos Brett Arquette, and thank you for allowing me to read your book before it was released to the public. I will definitely recommend it!
February 22, 2017
I was sent a copy of this book by the author to read and honestly review it.
An unbelievable masterpiece! Mr. Arquette did a bang up job in developing his characters. We see their psychological side, which are so well described that I felt their fears, their anger, and their need for retribution. I actually shouted out loud for their success (no, I'm not crazy). The plot is very sophisticated and will keep you at the edge of your seat for most of the story.
If you, like me, have ever thought that allowing the general public to have access to drones was a bad idea, this will really set your mind spinning. I could not put this book down, and am hoping the author makes this the first one of a series. I am eagerly waiting for the next one.
An unbelievable masterpiece! Mr. Arquette did a bang up job in developing his characters. We see their psychological side, which are so well described that I felt their fears, their anger, and their need for retribution. I actually shouted out loud for their success (no, I'm not crazy). The plot is very sophisticated and will keep you at the edge of your seat for most of the story.
If you, like me, have ever thought that allowing the general public to have access to drones was a bad idea, this will really set your mind spinning. I could not put this book down, and am hoping the author makes this the first one of a series. I am eagerly waiting for the next one.
December 26, 2017
Fast paced and so exciting
This was an amazing ride. It started off a little slow with a lot of techno descriptions (I must confess I skipped over some of these) BUT oh my goodness please keep reading. This is simply an exciting book that will keep you riveted. There are some spelling and grammatical errors but these do not detract and can be overlooked. It had so much h technology but it was explained smoothly and had enough humor mixed in to make this a seriously good read. Honestly you need to read this book. Highly recommended
This was an amazing ride. It started off a little slow with a lot of techno descriptions (I must confess I skipped over some of these) BUT oh my goodness please keep reading. This is simply an exciting book that will keep you riveted. There are some spelling and grammatical errors but these do not detract and can be overlooked. It had so much h technology but it was explained smoothly and had enough humor mixed in to make this a seriously good read. Honestly you need to read this book. Highly recommended
February 5, 2017
Pyongyang, North Korea (Kangdong Hills). Minister Kim Yong Chang (People’s Armed Forces)
watched as a drone (Eagles) flew overhead of him.
Alex Knox (piolet) informed Captain Marshall Hail (MIT) the Hail Nucleus (tanker) was being fired upon.
Marshall’s other team members are: Gage Renner (data analyst, MIT; aeronautics), Tanner Grant (18, drone pilot), Shana Tran (Asian, communications, MIT; satellite communications, CS), Oliver “Oli” Fox (drone piolet), Paige Grayson (drone piolet), Alex Knox (drone piolet), Pierce Mercier (data analyst, École Polytechnique; oceanography, meteorologist), Dallas Stone (25+, security center supervisor), Taylor (19, refugee, security), Lex Vaughn (weapons controller, security), Titus Penn (orphan, weapons controller), Alba Zorn (Security Analyst, linguistics), Eric Rugmon (drone designer, production/customization mission devices/control systems), & Terry Garber (f, lab production mgr. new product research/adaptation).
There were other available fleet cargo ships: Hail Laser, Hail Atom, Hail Electron, & Hail Proton.
2 yrs. ago Marshall's family: wife Madalyn Hail, & the twin girls: Tabitha Hail & Courtney Hail were killed in Istanbul by a terrorist group.
Marshall Hail (widow husband/father, MIT; physics, Physics Nobel prize, industrial billionaire) had turned vigilante.
Moscow, Russia. Sheremetyevo International Airport. Tonya had transferred all of Victor’s cell phone data to her cell phone.
Washington, D.C. White House Oval Office. FBI Director Trevor Rogers was addressing
President Joanna Weston, 4* General Quentin Ford (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Eric Spearman (Director of NIA), & CIA Director Jarret Pepper, with the news about Minister Chang.
Later President Weston decided it was time for her & the cabinet members to meet with Marshall.
Kara Ramey (CIA op) was going along with Marshall & his group to observe.
Wonsan, North Korea. What were Victor Kornev, & Kim Won Dong (Minister of State Security) meeting about?
Tightey whiteies only for real old guys, boxers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written covert operation adventure book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment.
There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great adventure covert operation thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued? A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; First Printing; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
watched as a drone (Eagles) flew overhead of him.
Alex Knox (piolet) informed Captain Marshall Hail (MIT) the Hail Nucleus (tanker) was being fired upon.
Marshall’s other team members are: Gage Renner (data analyst, MIT; aeronautics), Tanner Grant (18, drone pilot), Shana Tran (Asian, communications, MIT; satellite communications, CS), Oliver “Oli” Fox (drone piolet), Paige Grayson (drone piolet), Alex Knox (drone piolet), Pierce Mercier (data analyst, École Polytechnique; oceanography, meteorologist), Dallas Stone (25+, security center supervisor), Taylor (19, refugee, security), Lex Vaughn (weapons controller, security), Titus Penn (orphan, weapons controller), Alba Zorn (Security Analyst, linguistics), Eric Rugmon (drone designer, production/customization mission devices/control systems), & Terry Garber (f, lab production mgr. new product research/adaptation).
There were other available fleet cargo ships: Hail Laser, Hail Atom, Hail Electron, & Hail Proton.
2 yrs. ago Marshall's family: wife Madalyn Hail, & the twin girls: Tabitha Hail & Courtney Hail were killed in Istanbul by a terrorist group.
Marshall Hail (widow husband/father, MIT; physics, Physics Nobel prize, industrial billionaire) had turned vigilante.
Moscow, Russia. Sheremetyevo International Airport. Tonya had transferred all of Victor’s cell phone data to her cell phone.
Washington, D.C. White House Oval Office. FBI Director Trevor Rogers was addressing
President Joanna Weston, 4* General Quentin Ford (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Eric Spearman (Director of NIA), & CIA Director Jarret Pepper, with the news about Minister Chang.
Later President Weston decided it was time for her & the cabinet members to meet with Marshall.
Kara Ramey (CIA op) was going along with Marshall & his group to observe.
Wonsan, North Korea. What were Victor Kornev, & Kim Won Dong (Minister of State Security) meeting about?
Tightey whiteies only for real old guys, boxers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written covert operation adventure book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment.
There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great adventure covert operation thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued? A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; First Printing; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
March 1, 2017
This is the first of this genre I have ever read and I am highly impressed. The writing is inventive and imaginative, the plot is incredible (a bit far fetched but not by much), the characters are well developed and the ending is a cliff-hanger. The sections of the book with a lot of tech information about drones is interspersed with funny or ironic quips to lighten the reading. Highly recommend this book!
February 7, 2017
You know what, I enjoyed this a lot! Lots of technobabble, but really well done and certainly feels well researched – I'm not an expert so wouldn't know if it was complete garbage, but it holds together and is absolutely not boring. The book feels a bit Clive Cussler to me, not plagiaristic, just to give people a feel for what they are getting into! Some likeable, if damaged characters, with very decent dialogue and a plot that races along.
Well worth a read for anyone who likes easy reading thrillers with a slightly military/epionage bent.
Well worth a read for anyone who likes easy reading thrillers with a slightly military/epionage bent.
January 18, 2017
Very nice read!
I found this to be a fast paced, well written book (except for the numerous typos). I truly enjoyed the very futuristic possibilities presented in the plot, and the formidable usage of knowledge our future generations will encounter.
I found this to be a fast paced, well written book (except for the numerous typos). I truly enjoyed the very futuristic possibilities presented in the plot, and the formidable usage of knowledge our future generations will encounter.
February 19, 2017
I hadn't heard of Brett Arquette or this book previously, but the author emailed me and asked if I would like a free copy of his book since based on my reviews, it should be right up my alley. I thought why not?
This book was AWESOME! If you like Jack Reacher (Lee Childs), or Cormorman Strike (Robert Galbraith) this is right up your alley.
Marshal Hail is a damaged billionaire tech genius, who's family was killed in a massive terrorist event. He has more access to the underworld of the world, than the president, CIA, and FBI combined. Does he use this for good or for evil is the question.
Kara is a gorgeous CIA agent whose family was killed in the same terrorist event. She joined the CIA to get access to the terrorists so she can launch her own revenge mission.
Killing people via drone, for your own agenda or that of the nation, always provides an exciting book.
Although I thought Kara was a little expectedly cheesy at times, I love Marshal Hail. He's a guy that you could read into a series and you want to win in every situation.
I would love a 2nd Hail book, maybe with slightly less explanation of the technogadgets and physics that occupied the first 50 pages. Once I got through that, I sped through the rest.
It was easy, super fun, and deliciously suspenseful.
5 out of 5 stars.
This book was AWESOME! If you like Jack Reacher (Lee Childs), or Cormorman Strike (Robert Galbraith) this is right up your alley.
Marshal Hail is a damaged billionaire tech genius, who's family was killed in a massive terrorist event. He has more access to the underworld of the world, than the president, CIA, and FBI combined. Does he use this for good or for evil is the question.
Kara is a gorgeous CIA agent whose family was killed in the same terrorist event. She joined the CIA to get access to the terrorists so she can launch her own revenge mission.
Killing people via drone, for your own agenda or that of the nation, always provides an exciting book.
Although I thought Kara was a little expectedly cheesy at times, I love Marshal Hail. He's a guy that you could read into a series and you want to win in every situation.
I would love a 2nd Hail book, maybe with slightly less explanation of the technogadgets and physics that occupied the first 50 pages. Once I got through that, I sped through the rest.
It was easy, super fun, and deliciously suspenseful.
5 out of 5 stars.
February 22, 2017
Simply put, I loved this book. Tech savvy without being boring, it takes the reader on one hell of a ride. With cool drones, talented pilots and even a rail gun, the author certainly knows how to keep your attention.
Billionaire Marshall Hail lost his wife and children in a terrorist attack. He is now laser focused on retribution. Hail is no raving madman, though; he has assembled a topnotch group of techies, pilots, security personnel, etc. He and his people go after the bad guys in a cool and calm manner, and we are along for their missions.
Throw in a little interaction between Hail and the US government and a beautiful CIA operative, and things get more than a little sticky. Give this book a read to see how the team weather's the storm.
I hope this book turns into a series. I would hate to think we have seen the last of Marshall Hail.
Billionaire Marshall Hail lost his wife and children in a terrorist attack. He is now laser focused on retribution. Hail is no raving madman, though; he has assembled a topnotch group of techies, pilots, security personnel, etc. He and his people go after the bad guys in a cool and calm manner, and we are along for their missions.
Throw in a little interaction between Hail and the US government and a beautiful CIA operative, and things get more than a little sticky. Give this book a read to see how the team weather's the storm.
I hope this book turns into a series. I would hate to think we have seen the last of Marshall Hail.
March 5, 2017
Superb, I really enjoyed this book. A great story which kept me turning the pages. I'd love to see if Hail and Kara team up to rid this world of some of it's top rated scum!
February 18, 2017
I really enjoyed this book ! It was a fast paced and well done thriller. It reminded me of the early, classic novels of Tom Clancy. I think Operation Hailstorm could be this generation's Hunt For Red October. Great read !
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