Fireplay

Jack Emery #0.5

by Steve P. Vincent

A chance lightning strike. A reporter in the right place. A scandal that will rock America.


Journalist Jack Emery has seen it all. Embedded for the New York Standard with the 8th Marine Regiment in the heart of Afghanistan, he has covered everything from firefights to the opening of new schools. But nothing has prepared Jack for the story that is about to explode right in front of him.


When a convoy Jack is riding in is attacked by a lone zealot, Jack asks a question that puts him on the path to a sensational story. But he’ll soon learn that his struggles to find the hook are nothing compared to the dangers of getting it out.

You’ll love Steve P. Vincent’s thrillers. Get to know Jack Emery before everyone else does .

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Ebooks, Action, Mystery, Military Fiction, Short Stories

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2015

About the author

Steve P. Vincent lives with his wife in a pokey apartment in Melbourne’s north-west, where he’s forced to write on the couch in front of an obnoxiously large television.

When he’s not writing, Steve keeps food and flat whites on the table working for the man. He enjoys beer, whisky, sports and dreaming up ever more elaborate conspiracy theories to write about.

He has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science and History. His honours thesis was on the topic of global terrorism. He has travelled extensively through Europe, the United States and Asia.

The Foundation is his first novel.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Emery was an Australian journalist who had been in Afghanistan for some time. He felt safe surrounded as he was by members of the 8th Marine Regiment under the charge of Lieutenant Daniel Ortiz. But when they were attacked by a lone soldier, the resulting questions took them to Camp Navitas deep in the heart of the country. Run by Major Brinson of the US Marines, Jack, with Dan by his side, felt uneasy – his intuition was telling him there was much more to the camp than what they could actually see…

With horrifying suddenness, Jack had a spectacular story – one which would shake America and the world to its core. But he was also under intense danger – the people involved would stop at nothing to keep Jack from putting the story out there. Would Jack get out alive?

Fireplay is an excellent, fast paced thriller by Aussie author Steve P. Vincent. It is the prequel to The Foundation: Jack Emery 1 which I’m now looking forward to reading. Fireplay is a short story; nevertheless the characters are well developed and the story is complete. Another new (to me) Aussie author whom I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crap! Was that really a novella????

Packed with excitement, Fireplay takes Jack to Afghanistan for a new story and more scandal. The excitement never stops in this powerful novella.

These books are so well written, even quick taste has me completely drawn into the fight. It takes a hell of an author to create such intensity in less than 40 pages.

I must admit, I have a major crush on Jack. He’s a mensch in every sense of the word. Vincent has created a character that will carry this series for the long haul. I see great things for Jack Emery!

4 stars for this quick and entertaining novella.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, its a short and quick read and very punchy. The author has crammed in a lot in to the pages given and it makes it a real page turner. I enjoyed the plot, the descriptions were brilliant and it made me feel as though I could be in the same room, very vivid. This is the first book that I have read by the author and it certainly won't be the last, I really really enjoyed it. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this short story and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Fireplay is the prequel to The Foundation starring Australian reporter Jack Emery. It's a gripping, fast paced page turner. Looking forward to delving into the series.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Emery jest dziennikarzem śledczym, bohaterem debiutanckiego cyklu powieściowego australijskiego pisarza Steve’a Vincenta. Rzuciwszy okiem na dość wysokie oceny i pochlebne opinie o tych książkach postanowiłam sama sprawdzić, zaczynając od wydanego w 2015 roku prequela serii. Jest to liczące zaledwie 45 stron opowiadanie, odwołujące się do realiów bulwersujących wówczas opinię światową.

Nowojorska gazeta, dla której pracuje załatwiła Jackowi akredytację w Afganistanie przy jednostce amerykańskich marines. Po okresie słania do redakcji tekstów o rozmaitych akcjach humanitarnych trafia mu się temat na opowieść o jakiej marzy każdy reporter wojenny, na reportaż zasługujący na Pulitzera. Konwój, w którym uczestniczy zostaje ostrzelany, jak się okazuje, przez afgańskiego rebelianta zbiegłego z więzienia w sąsiedniej amerykańskiej bazie. Zanim sam zginie, Afgańczyk zdradza parę szczegółów o miejscu, z którego uciekł, ale jak na rasowego dziennikarza przystało, Emery musi sam to zobaczyć. Jadą więc z zaprzyjaźnionym dowódcą oddziału przy którym stacjonuje do Camp Navitas. I uruchamiają lawinę … Dokąd sięgnie? Kogo zmiecie po drodze?

Bogactwo treści mierzone nie tylko zwrotami akcji, także umiejętnym budowaniem atmosfery, zmianami nastroju i scenerii, jest jak na tak niewielką objętość, imponujące, co wynika z trafnego doboru środków stylistycznych i przemyślanej kompozycji opowiadania, od Prologu poprzez każdy z trzech rozdziałów. Natomiast pamięć o lawinie lub jak sugeruje tytuł nowelki, o zabawie z ogniem, do której wzniecenia bądź, jak kto woli, odkrycia u Vincenta przyczynił się Jack Emery, ta pamięć juź chyba w naszej świadomości mocno wyblakła. Mimo że swojego czasu języki ognia dotarły też do Europy, w tym do Polski. Tak to jest z politycznymi thrillerami, które zawsze osadzone są w konkretnych miejscach i czasach. I tak zapewne jest z innymi książkami o naprawianiu świata przez dziennikarza Jacka Emery’ego, po które kiedyś sięgnę, ale nie od razu. Bo na przykład pierwsza pełnowymiarowa powieść cyklu nawiązuje do zagrożenia na linii USA-Chiny, a o tym potencjalnym konflikcie akurat teraz nie chce mi się czytać.

Jeśliby ktoś natomiast miał ochotę odświeżyć sobie pamięć, jakie to odkrycie przypisuje autor swojemu bohaterowi, polecam hasło: CIA rendition program. Gazeta, w której publikuje Emery nosi tytuł New York Standard, w rzeczywistości aferę, tę autentyczną, pierwszy zdaje się opisał Washington Post

[Tony Parsons]

Jack Emery (New York Standard Journalist, EMCorp) has been assigned with the 8th. Marine Regiment. They are headed for the War zone in Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Daniel “Dan” Ortiz (Aussie) & his marines came upon Hewad Ghilzai (Afghan civilian).

It didn’t turn out well for Hewad.
The marines were now off to Camp Navitas prison (Helmand Province).
Major Brad Brinson (USMC) & showed them the 3 detention blocks that housed 12 detainees each.
The group of soldiers were headed back to Camp Leatherneck.
Jack was later approached by Major Gholem-Ali Jafari (ANA), Lieutenant Doost Mohammad (ANA), & Sonny Vacaro.
What did they want?

Jack has to write a story, what will it be about?

2 of my undergrad BS PS & History.

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 war (short story) 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 war great movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Pan Macmillan; the book locker; instafreebie; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking and scary Novella Prequel to the exciting Jack Avery Series. I say scary because of its unflinching depiction of rampant and untrammeled human evil, not subject to law nor morality. Jack Avery, journalist, is embedded with a Marine unit in Afghanistan during that war, and unexpectedly uncovers a story that will rock a notorious government agency and the Marine Corps. Now if only Jack can escape Afghanistan alive....

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to Jack Emery. It's a short story of 3 and a bit chapters (there's a prologue) that gives a nice taste of both the character and the writing style of Steve P. Vincent. Although the story is very condensed and you don't get the full experience I much prefer these short story teasers to the whole "first chapter" attempts to draw me in, the latter often leave me feeling a little empty because it's a snippet of a full length novel. Short stories are about giving you a conclusion though, they rely on some pace to get a complete story told. Where Vincent makes the format work however is he still manages some of the detail you expect from a novel.

So what about Jack Emery? He's a war reporter with a dose of investigative journalist. It's a good concept, and I was pleased to see it deliver on that potential. It gives a clever perspective on the military, even in this short offering we were treated to a broad view of the various characters that make up the armed forces. It also offered up a view of the political machinations of war. By using a journalist one stepped removed from the military we're treated to a more rounded view of it all. A step up from typical military adventures it dodges a lot of the typical antagonism between the various factions and allows the author to show a fresh take on these dynamics.

All in all a refreshing take on the genre, and well worth picking up to see the possibilities. Although it may tempt you further into the series.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Housekeeping first - FIREPLAY (Jack Emery) 0.5 is the novella based prequel to THE FOUNDATION, but released after the first full-length novel came out. The action in FIREPLAY clears up some of the backstory in THE FOUNDATION, but it doesn't matter a jot what order you read them in.

Having started with THE FOUNDATION, FIREPLAY was much appreciated. Nicely balanced between filling in some of the back story of protagonist Jack Emery, and telling a tale in it's own right, again we've got a tale that could come direct from real-life.

Embedded in Afghanistan reporting on the activities of a Marine Regiment, Emery stumbles on a secret Marine Camp deep in the Afghan countryside where there is something sinister not that far under the surface. The amount of action, detail and plot that's served up turns this novella into a page-turner, and a sobering political / come action thriller.

Along the way there's enough in FIREPLAY to also give new readers of Vincent's work a feel for their new protagonist Jack Emery. If you're new to these books then it wouldn't hurt to read them in order - this novella first, then THE FOUNDATION, leading us all to the latest outing STATE OF EMERGENCY. If you've read THE FOUNDATION first (as did this reader) then FIREPLAY works second equally as well.

This is definitely a series for fans of political action thrillers regardless of what order you read them in.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a punchy short prequal to The Foundation: Jack Emery 1 that tells the story behind Jack's Pulitzer Prize winning story. It gives a taste of Vincent fast paced method of story telling and his skill at weaving a good intriguing story, even in only a few pages. A great little read that just leaves you wanting more.

[Jane Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got to hand it to Steve P Vincent. He is truly the master of the simile. A taste: "Being surrounded by a whole lot of marines was like a condom for an embedded reporter". Follow Jack 'Rules are optional for Australians, mate' Emery in this absolute squeaker of a short story. Embedded with Emery for a few nights? Yes please!

[Kristyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Action packed episode in the adventures of Jack Emery. Great read for a winter afternoon and a nice lead into The Foundation from last year. Stand by for State Of Emergency (emery 2) next month. Free on iBooks.

[Joan Barstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

And, again, I change my type of book....I must say that I still don't care for war and soldier stories....but I'm happy to say that I did enjoy Fireplay. It was well written and fast paced. It sets you up nicely for The Foundation.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novella I was given to read by the author. Somewhat interesting, but was a bit too short. It needed a little more background. Still enjoyable.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

Fireplay is an exciting and frightening tale of brutality and betrayal in the midst of war. Jack Emery is an Australian journalist embedded in a Marine regiment where he has developed friendships and trust with the men.

As the regiment fights to recover from an exploded IED, a lone fighter approaches. He gives his name as Hewad Ghilzai and mentions Camp Navitas. Jack’s journalist mind reacts and the regiment heads off to the camp.

At the camp, they are greeted cordially with everything appearing organized and in order. But Jacks curiosity is aroused. He leaves his room and sneaks into the cell of a group of Afghani prisoners. Their story is very different from the camp commander’s. After leaving the camp, Jack finds himself in a life or death situation, tortured and threatened. Life becomes precarious. He is with some very dangerous men.

Fireplay is well written and the characters are well developed. An exciting story with twists that are surprising. I highly recommend this book. I’m looking forward to more.

[Craig Smedley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action-packed short story of an embedded journalist with US Marines in Afghanistan – the forerunner to the Jack Emery series.
On patrol with the Marines when attacked by an Afghan escapee from a camp nearby, this starts the story off and running. Suspicions arise about the actual purpose of the camp the escapee is from, and Jack investigates further and discovers that what he has found on the abuse of prisoners is astounding. Returning to base the following day, the Marine party are stopped by members of the Afghan National Army and Jack is taken into custody. There follows interrogation by a secretive American and further interrogation by the Afghans before Jack is released into the custody of the Australian Embassy in Kabul.
The Marine Lieutenant in charge of the team Jack was with when they were originally attacked, makes further contact and will provide more information, if Jack leaves Afghanistan. The Major in charge of the camp they have investigated kidnaps Jack and things look grim. But the Marine Lieutenant and a team rescue Jack and after he is evacuated from Afghanistan he is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the story that he has unearthed.
An easy-to-read story which whetting the appetite for more Jack Emery stories.
Moses

[Wendy Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A prequel to The Foundation - a must read.

Jack Emery is an Australian journalist in Afghanistan.

He is travelling with members of the 8th Marine Regiment under the charge of Lieutenant Daniel Ortiz when they are attacked by a lone soldier who has escaped from Camp Navitas. The leader of this prison camp is Major Brinson of the US Marines.

Jack discovers unspeakable horror at this camp and finds he has a dramatic story with pictures. He also finds himself in terrible danger.

This story reminds me a bit of what is reported to happen in Guantanamo Bay. Also, I thought of Julian Assange when I read this book.

Although, having said that, the book is unique and full of action. I loved this book and recommend it.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Emery is an Australian Journalist embedded with Marines in Afghanistan. When he witnesses an atrocity he is captured by local troops in an effort to stop publication. There is no disclaimer in the text that this is a work of fiction and alas we know that worse has probably occurred serving to illustrate why we should never have become involved in this country in the first place; placing our boys in a situation so brutal that they feel moved to adopt the tactics of the enemy. I do not condone the acts here described but I do condemn the politicians who placed these young men in such an ambiguous situation that they felt moved to retaliate in this manner.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

On patrol with the US Marines, Aussie reporter, Jack Emery, encounters a lone jihadist who attacks their convoy. Before he’s taken out, he talks of issues at a prison camp run by a marine unit. When Jack and his buddies arrive at the base, he uncovers a secret that many dangerous people are willing to go to any lengths—including killing him—to keep hidden.

Fireplay is a novella in the Jack Emery thriller series by Steve P. Vincent that moves at lightspeed from an explosive opening to an equally explosive conclusion. It explores official corruption and double dealing but doesn’t scrimp on the hot action. I received a free copy of this book. I give it four stars.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack is just like our reporters are. He takes risks and it costed him a great deal. Reading this book makes a person wonder…if our Marines do what these guys did? But it’s hard to think like that because I’ve had family and friends in the Marine’s…it feels wrong somehow.

I really enjoyed reading Fireplay! Steve does a wonderful portraying these characters! I highly recommend you read Fireplay if you haven’t yet!!!

[Balthazar Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Emery is a journalist embedded with US Marines in Afghanistan. His convey is attacked and during the engagement he hears information from one of the attackers that leads him to taking a closer look at a little know prison and the activities going on there. Ultimately it leads to a Pulitzer Prize.

This is an action packed prequel to the Jack Emery series. Worth reading if you like the series.

[Catherine Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. This story sounds very familiar. The story of a journalist who traveled to Afghanistan to follow a lead on a story. This journalist was a close family friend. Only thing different was he was not in the military. Anyway good book. . Some exciting action that got me on the edge of my seat. I might read the books in this series at a later date. It really is that good.

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'm Australian mate. Rules are optional for us."

I love coming across an Australian author. I love even more when they really embody the Aussie spirit and that's what Jack Emery does. This is the beginning of what could possibly be a really interesting series. I downloaded it on my Kobo because it was free and honestly I want to see how this story pans out after reading the prequel. I think this may end up being a really good consiparacy thriller.

[Woody James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was just about to start The Foundation when I saw there was a prequel to the series in this little novella. I decided to read it first. I'm glad I did. While a quick read it was very good. I just want to say that as a retired sailor, you got to watch those sly Marines. They will always try to sneak one by you.

[PAR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hang on! You are in for a fast ride!

Fireplay is a prequel to Steve P Vincent’s The Foundation. Having read Fireplay The Foundation sits in the number one spot on my reading list! The characters have depth and are believable. The storyline is well developed. It begins when Journalist Jack Emery is embedded with the 8th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan. Jack falls upon a story which he feels will “make” his career but one that he fears may throw the US and possibly even the rest of the world into unbelievable turmoil. Be prepared to give up some sleep as you may not be able to put down this book.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

All For The Story

This was a thrilling, action-packed novella. Vincent did a wonderful job in introducing the readers to Jack Emery and setting the scene for future full-length novels in the series. Even with the story’s short length, it packed a punch that leaves you wanting more.

[Joseph R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My nightmare and my life.

This very short story surprised me,by immediately getting my attention and also by keeping me interested in the outcome of the main character I was following. This is the type of story I find I love and wish I was reading in a much longer book. I will look up the author and see if they have any other books and if so get one and read it.

[Pat Welte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast read and fully fleshes characters right in the middle of a fire fight in a war zone. I truly liked that everyone did what I always expect of Marines and hardly ever see. Dangerous and hopeful at the same time.

[Clive Gerrard · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable short novel/Long story about the torture of prisoners in Afghanistan by a'Rogue' Marine Officer. The hero, an Australian journalist, endeavours to uncover the abuse but suffers as a result. Well written and realistic, it is a good way to spend 40 minutes or so of your time.

[Zandile Mveli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and exciting

I chose to give this book a five because,it was short,excitng and engaging.It sure reminded me of a movie I saw once,I would recommend this book to people who are adventurous as they might like to go on an adventure or two with Jack