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The Ulterior Motive

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The fate of the United States hangs in the balance and only a select few can prevent the impending disaster.

Stanley Carmichael is an intelligent and hard-working member of the Central Intelligence Agency. Yet, he never expected to be named Deputy Director of the CIA so soon in his career. Nonetheless, he finds himself stepping into shoes that feel impossible to fill.

Anna Carmichael is a legend. She’s one of the fiercest ex-members of the Special Activities Division, where she saw more than enough blood and war for a lifetime. Now, she’s still CIA, but stuck behind a desk and bored. Luckily for her, it seems her fieldwork isn’t done yet. For as soon as Anna’s partnered with rookie FBI Special Agent Blayze Phillips, she realizes his investigation is a lot more dangerous than it seems—especially when it turns its attention to the mysterious Caliph al-Maqasid.
They know that the Caliph spent the last few years successfully uniting fractured terrorist groups in the Middle East. Now he's formed the most well-funded, strategically efficient operation that’s on its way to becoming a true global caliphate. But who is the Caliph, really? Why doesn’t anyone know anything about this infinitely clever, charismatic, and terrifying man? And what, exactly, is he plotting next?

The Carmichaels will have to work together to find out, because the Caliph is about to strike at the heart of America.

402 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2017

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12 people want to read

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Jack Coleston

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Clare O'Beara.
Author 25 books371 followers
November 2, 2017
This adventure takes a chapter or two getting under way, with meetings and first days at work in a new job leading the CIA. After that it's movement and violence all the way. When dealing with terrorist atrocities, it's long been the fiction standard to say they are carried out by a splinter group, even further from the extreme than the usual actors from our TV news. True to form we find a splinter of Iraqi jihadists and fellows of their cause, even more bloody-handed than the truth. The main caliph is mourning his family killed by a stray US bomb, but he is the only one whose behaviour is expained as the brotherhood decide their fellow believers who do not worship in the same way are their prime targets, followed by the west which they see as evil.

Mostly this is a male-dominated story, with one strong female actor coming in halfway and playing an increasingly large part. I noticed some careful and inventive attention to detail, from silenced submachine guns to tunnels under New York, from the remotely controlled tractor units being put to a more sinister use and the specs of drone weaponry in the air over the Middle East. I'm sure the author did stunning amounts of research.

Those who like a somewhat sterotypical portrayal of characters in order to get on with a brisk story full of death and strife, will probably give this another star; I would prefer some more sympathetic characters. Don't read this if you've got a PTSD problem. Otherwise enjoy the thriller.

The author kindly sent me an e-ARC. This is an unbiased review.
Profile Image for Kathi Defranc.
1,182 reviews497 followers
February 2, 2017
This is a very good thriller,involving the President,military,CIA,etc. trying to quell a group of terrorists,the IMJIW,as they spread through Iraq and Syria. The story was a little hard to get into,but once I was 1/3 in I totally enjoyed it. Stanley Carmichael is the new Director of the CIA,his wife Anna a well known agent with an exciting background. There are great descriptions of places., people and actions that keep you right in story. The national security of the USA is in trouble after an unbelievable action by this group,and the fast paced actions of CIA and military are needed to keep everyone safe. This is a very good action thriller once you figure out which are the main characters. I definitely recommend this to readers who like action stories,and I am definitely interested in the next saga written by this author.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
2,097 reviews22 followers
February 6, 2017
For a debut novel I thought this was really good, the author really put a lot of thought and time into writing this giving you a wonderful mixture of fiction, fact and history. I enjoyed the detail he gave to places it really made them story come alive you have no trouble picturing the scenes that play out before you. I thought this was a very believable story that was very fast paced with lots of action. It is a story that could very easily be taken right from our newspaper. Is a story that kept my attention but at times I was a little confused. There are a lot of characters to keep up with and hard keep them all clear in my mind. At times I had trouble remember who was who and had to back track to keep it all straight. For me it was a page turner with lots of action and thrills for those of us who crave it. I felt the danger and at times my heart beat a little faster. The buildup was great with just enough details to really keep it interesting and the reader invested. There really is not a dull moment throughout the story.

Stanley and Anna really have their hands full trying to stay one step ahead of a terrorist group and its mystery leader Caliph. IMJIW is a terrorist group that is spreading throughout Iraq and Syria. Being a big military support myself and being told many different stories from our soldiers that had been in Iraq it was very easy to buy into this story line with a plot that is not only exciting but thrilling. I almost felt I was right there with them. Not only is this group a threat to Iraq and Syria but to the US with our National Security being in danger it is a race against the clock.

I thought it was worth my time and really enjoyed the read. For those that like thrillers, adventure and action there is much to enjoy between these pages. You really need to pick a time when you can really focus on the story and play close attention as not to get confused with so many different characters. That is really the only issue I had with this story just too much going on to fast to keep up with. It is a very fast pace and enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws.
1,617 reviews257 followers
June 9, 2017
This was an interesting read!

Stanley and Anna Carmichael are a married couple working for the CIA. While Stanley finds it a daunting task to fill the position of Deputy Director of CIA a daunting task, Anna is stuck behind the desk pushing papers. When a field opportunity comes up, Anna is quick to grab the opportunity to partner up with FBI Special Agent Blayze Phillips for the hunt of Caliph al-Maqasid. The Caliph is a mysterious character who seem to round up the terrorist organizations and bring them under one banner. He is clearly a mastermind but the problem is that no one seems to know who it is. Will our protagonists be able to catch him before he dismantles the Middle East or worse; attack America?

The book is a thriller through and through. The story picks up quite quickly and the drama and action keep it going till the end with the help of a few well-placed twists. The plot feels simple and it is the antagonist that knocks the level of the game up. The author seems to have done a great deal of research and it shows in the plot and his writing. The settings are well painted and the dialogues are mostly crisp. I quite liked the main characters – they are properly developed and well balanced.

The winner for me in this book was the multiple POVs. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book from multiple angles. It is one of my personal quirks that I like multiple POVs. To get into the mind and heart of more than one character involved always make me feel more attached to the story. However, from experience I also know that it might confuse some readers and for some it may feel tedious. So, choose wisely before picking the book up.

By the looks of it, there is going to be a sequel and I will be sure to pick it up.



Profile Image for Cyrene Olson.
1,412 reviews18 followers
August 1, 2017
Uncaged Book Reviews

I was very surprised to learn that this is a debut novel by an author, and it’s an impressive first outing. This is a powerful political thriller that feels like a first-hand account of what could be going on today. The author takes you on a journey of kidnapping, espionage, terrorists and murder and has set the bar so high for both himself and fellow authors, that it will be very interesting if he can keep up the pace and the standards on his next novel. This is a home-run for suspense, and it will keep you turning the pages.

Be aware that you will hit multiple POVs, although it blended well and was refreshing instead of confusing. This is one of those rare books that could easily translate to the big screen. Reviewed by Cyrene
Profile Image for Scott Kennedy.
359 reviews4 followers
August 15, 2017
Pretty impressive for a first novel!! Great plot that had me guessing and scratching my head at points. Definitely kept me engaged throughout. Nice to have a husband and wife team who love each other and have integrity. Makes a change. Looking forward to the sequel.
988 reviews35 followers
August 28, 2017
A powerful non-stop thriller that keeps the adrenalin pumping the whole way through. From a ‘too believable plot’ to strong characters and descriptive locations, this story has it all. Thanks Jack Coleston for one of the best espionage/ thrillers I have read in a long tine.
Profile Image for Mollien Fote Osterman.
722 reviews11 followers
February 14, 2017
Title: The Ulterior Motive
Author: Jack Coleston
Series:
Publisher: Everlast Media
Reviewer: Mollien
Release Date: January 15, 2017
Genre(s): Political Drama
Page Count: 297 Pages
Heat Level: 0 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:


Stanley Carmichael is an intelligent and hard-working member of the Central Intelligence Agency. Yet, he never expected to be named Deputy Director of the CIA so soon in his career. Nonetheless, he finds himself stepping into shoes that feel impossible to fill.

Anna Carmichael is a legend. She's one of the fiercest ex-members of the Special Activities Division, where she saw more than enough blood and war for a lifetime. Now, she's still CIA, but stuck behind a desk and bored. Luckily for her, it seems her fieldwork isn't done yet. For as soon as Anna's partnered with rookie FBI Special Agent Blayze Phillips, she realizes his investigation is a lot more dangerous than it seems—especially when it turns its attention to the mysterious Caliph al-Maqasid.

They know that the Caliph spent the last few years successfully uniting fractured terrorist groups in the Middle East. Now he's formed the most well-funded, strategically efficient operation that's on its way to becoming a true global caliphate. But who is the Caliph, really? Why doesn't anyone know anything about this infinitely clever, charismatic, and terrifying man? And what, exactly, is he plotting next?

The Carmichaels will have to work together to find out because the Caliph is about to strike at the heart of America.




Review:
The Ulterior Motive is a well written political drama. It reads well with high action that will keep the reader interested until the very end. If you are anything like me, you will be wanting more of this book because things didn’t really end. The plot of this story is about Stanley Carmichael and his new role As Deputy Director of the CIA. This is a position that he does not feel that he is ready to tackle. Making matters worse the current director does not want him in this position. He had already groomed someone else to become the next deputy director and makes every effort to make that fact known. This story is also about Stanley’s wife. Not your typical stay at home mom. No, Anna is one of the most feared and respected ex-members of the Special Activities Division. Stanley and Anna are complete opposites and very much in love with one another. You can tell that there is hot explosive chemistry between Stanley and Anna. There is no competition between them, just a strong bond that will see them through a very difficult situation. As mentioned this story is full of action. It is very intense. It kept me turning the pages till I hit the end. Now I just want to read more about this couple as they continue to save the world. There are many characters in this story. We get to know a little about most of them. We learn the most about Stanley in this book and what shaped him to be the man that he is today. If this is going to be a series, I would love to learn what makes Anna tic. She really is an amazing character.

PLOT 5 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 4 Stars
PACING: 5 Stars
ENDING: 4 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 4 Stars



Review Copy of The Ulterior Motive provided by the Jack Coleston I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club
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47 reviews8 followers
March 4, 2017
The first book in a series of five comes out hitting the ground running!
The Carmichaels work for the CIA. Stanley just got promoted to Deputy Director, while his wife Anna is a legend in behind the lines ops.
On the other side of the world a crazy terrorist group led by a man bent on revenge for what happened to his family. Just who is this man?
A very well written story that reads like the headlines you read in any newspaper. Well researched and very engaging. I highly recommend this to anyone who are looking for a thriller that is a real page turner.
I wish to thank the publisher for sending me this book and Jack Coleston for writing this book. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Profile Image for Monie.
146 reviews6 followers
February 25, 2017
This is definitely a "ripped from the headlines" read. It was so realistic that I got chills in some parts of the story because I swear I've seen news stories that were very similar. It makes the book that much more compelling. I only hope that someone who can pass for a real life Anna Carmichael is out there protecting is.

The opening pages of the book begin with what actually plays out towards the ending which was a great way to keep me in suspense the entire time I was reading. I kept thinking "Who was it that Stanley saw?" and I never guessed correctly.

The only reason I didn't rate this one a full five stars was because a few of the scenes and some of the dialogue didn't seem to flow as well as a most of the book. Otherwise this was an awesome, fast-paced thriller and the best part is that this is just the first book in a series. I can't wait for more.

I recommend this one for anyone who loves political thrillers with real life scenarios.
88 reviews
February 18, 2017
Last updated on 18 Feb 2017

I received an advance reader's copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review and I can honestly say it was an excellent novel. It was edge of your seat action full and I loved it! Especially with the twist!
Profile Image for Diana.
319 reviews32 followers
February 6, 2017
The Ulterior Motive by Jack Coleston if a very fast pace, action packed political thriller.
This book was very intense and fascinating. I thought the author did a great job with the characters, some characters were developed and some were just in the background. I have no problems keeping up with this story.
I think what also intrigued me was the fact that Anna is a very strong alpha type character and her husband Stanley really wasn’t, he is the desk type person. I loved how these characters were developed. There isn’t much history about Anna, (maybe next book?) but her husband Stanley we our told more about him. I really liked both characters and I am pretty sure that is what kept me interested along with all the action.
If you love Political Thrillers this is a really great book to read. Very fast paced and lots of action. I love watching and reading stuff that has CIA and action in them. I had no problems picture this story in my head while reading it. I also want to add I don't recall any swearing in this book;
I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.
Profile Image for Lisacldmom2ksd.
175 reviews17 followers
February 8, 2017
Overall this book was good. I love stories like this. However the first 40 to 50% dragged for me. Even though alot of the information was needed I was wishing for a bit more action/intrigue sooner. But stick with because once it started it kept on going. I would say this is a good starter book for the series. Towards the I wanted read more about the lead couple and hope they're the main characters thru out the series.
Profile Image for Lee.
602 reviews13 followers
March 22, 2017
This book is very timely and quite suspenseful! Set in Washington, D.C. with people in high office as characters, the story is certainly current as leaders of terrorist groups start a reign of terror. It's scary because it is so possible, with Iraqi men who are bent on revenge against America. When a stray bomb hits an man's family, he spends years planning ways to get revenge. He builds a terror organization. I definitely can see this as a background for some of the terrorism that goes on today, especially as Isis is so inhumane and cruel nowadays. Stanley and his wife Anna, are main parts of the story, with them having pivotal roles in government and intelligence. I especially enjoy it when Stanley lets an arrogant jerk have it on the jaw after he says one too many things about his wife. And I think that Anna, as a tough, fearless agent, is awesome. I love reading about her exploits. I recommend this book, as a current, edge-of-your-seat thriller that is hard to put down. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the books in this series!
Profile Image for Sandra Heinzman.
657 reviews38 followers
March 27, 2017
I read this book in almost a single setting because I couldn't put it down! It is a debut novel and I thought Jack Coleston did a first-rate job! I found the story to be very contemporary and very realistic about what COULD happen in the US. Stanley Carmichael, the main character, has just been appointed Deputy Director of the CIA. His wife, Anna, is a well-known CIA operative. A revengeful Caliph wants to destroy the US for accidentally killing his family during the first Gulf War with an errant bomb. This terrorist and his followers need to be found and stopped. There are many twists and turns in this book and some gruesome beheadings, but the plot is well- written and thought out, in my opinion. I was literally holding my breath in parts and excitedly waiting to see what would happen. The book did not disappoint and the ending has an unexpected twist. The best part, there will be more books about the Carmichaels in a series by the author!! I highly recommend this book and am going to make my husband read it, too!
Profile Image for Chris Sanford.
67 reviews
March 27, 2017
I found this to be one of the best debut Novels I have read in long time. If you like military/political thrillers then this is the book for you. The plot is believable and fast paced. I found the characters refreshing and the twist on how revenge drives people in many circumstances to do violence while others can break away from violence a well place plot. People will do most anything for those they love.
It is easy to see why the leader, the Caliph, of IMJIW in Syria moving into Iraq wants revenge on America. After watching his family and home blown up in front of him by a stray bomb he rises to lead the vicious sect against the American monster. While Stanley Carmichael the deputy director of the CIA and his wife Anna a famous agent try to stop him. From kidnapping, coursing, beheading, killing senators, journalist and kidnapping with intent to kill the president this book covers it all.
Ulterior Motive does several things right. It shows work life balance in a family that is anything but normal. It shows how love can cause someone to turn evil and another to risk everything. The book shows that there is more to life than money. It shows a powerful woman respected by many in a role not often portrayed by women. It shows weakness in men and vulnerabilities in governments and men. It also shows that no one really wins from war.
I was hooked from the beginning and would recommend it to all. My only warning is that some may find the violence a bit much but I thought that it too was balanced well in the story.
139 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2017
I was hooked instantly! Loved the characters and the authors detailed account of this story. Really made me feel like I was readying an on depth depiction of a terrorist group in oder day as they made headline and ruined lives! I couldn't put it down and look forward to more by this author.
34 reviews
March 30, 2017
For a first novel by Jack Coleston this book is amazing and exciting. I couldn't put this book down and read it in less than a day. Jack Coleston introduces us to a madman and the people who are going to bring him down. That's predictable in any book like this, but the way this is done is completely thrilling and will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will love the main character Stanley Carmichael and his wife Anna. Stanley is not the kind of person you would expect in the situations he finds himself and yet despite his weaknesses his strengths will dominate. You're not left hanging as once the major characters are introduced the story moves at an amazing pace leaving you wanting for more.
Profile Image for John Johnstone.
261 reviews
March 30, 2017
We all know about the despicable deeds of the extremist groups from recent events around Europe. It is now the turn of the U.S. to succumb to their terror. As chaos and death hits Washington, Stanley and Anna Carmichael, both employed by the CIA but in totally different roles, try to track down and eliminate the threat of yet more terror. Anna a legend in the service is quietly happy to be back in the field again however she never expected the hunt for their target to be as dangerous. Expertly written the author has produced a very exciting full action thriller which fully conveys the fear generated by the actions and lack of morality of the terrorists. He has also used the thriller staple of revenge to drive the main story line. Excellent story if not possibly a little close to reality.
Profile Image for Amy Shannon.
Author 137 books134 followers
April 7, 2017
Triumph of Evil

The opening quote, "'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'? Edmund Burke" drew me in immediately. Then, I was introduced to Stanley, and the stagnant air of rot and something burned. The senses were in overdrive as I read on. I couldn't stop until I was finished. This book kept me focused on each word, waiting for the next scene. Stanley is one of those characters that become unforgettable. And then there was Anna ... I would give too much away if I commented on Anna. I highly recommend this book and the intrigue will keep you wanting more. Also, take the few seconds more to read the note from the author. I enjoy a glimpse into inspiration from the authors.
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