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Tommy Carmellini #8
The Armageddon File
The next exciting thriller from New York Times bestselling author Stephen Coonts!
Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini race to solve the mystery of a potentially stolen election before Americans' faith in our democracy, sovereignty, and federal government become completely undone.
Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini race to solve the mystery of a potentially stolen election before Americans' faith in our democracy, sovereignty, and federal government become completely undone.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2017
858 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Coonts
177 books750 followersStephen Coonts (born July 19, 1946) is an American thriller and suspense novelist.
Coonts grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia, a small coal-mining town and earned an B.A. degree in political science at West Virginia University in 1968. He entered the Navy the following year and flew an A-6 Intruder medium attack plane during the Vietnam War, where he served on two combat cruises aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). He accumulated 1600 hours in the A-6 Intruder and earned a number of Navy commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he served as a flight instructor on A-6 aircraft for two years, then did a tour as an assistant catapult and arresting gear officer aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68). His navigator-bombardier was LTjg Stanley W. Bryant who later became a Rear Admiral and deputy commander-in-chief of the US naval forces in Europe.
After being honorably discharged from duty as a lieutenant in 1977, Coonts pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at the University of Colorado, graduating in 1979. He then worked as an oil and gas lawyer for several companies, entertaining his writing interests in his free time.
He published short stories in a number of publications before writing Flight of the Intruder in 1986 (made into a movie in 1991). Intruder, based in part on his experiences as a bomber pilot, spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists in hardcover and launched his career as a novelist. From there he continued writing adventure-mysteries using the character from his first book, Jake Grafton. He has written several other series and stand-alone novels since then, but is most notable for the Grafton books.
Today Coonts continues to write, having had seventeen New York Times bestsellers (out of 20 books), and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and son.
Taken from Wikipedia
Learn more about Stephen Coonts on the Macmillan website.
Coonts grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia, a small coal-mining town and earned an B.A. degree in political science at West Virginia University in 1968. He entered the Navy the following year and flew an A-6 Intruder medium attack plane during the Vietnam War, where he served on two combat cruises aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). He accumulated 1600 hours in the A-6 Intruder and earned a number of Navy commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he served as a flight instructor on A-6 aircraft for two years, then did a tour as an assistant catapult and arresting gear officer aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68). His navigator-bombardier was LTjg Stanley W. Bryant who later became a Rear Admiral and deputy commander-in-chief of the US naval forces in Europe.
After being honorably discharged from duty as a lieutenant in 1977, Coonts pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at the University of Colorado, graduating in 1979. He then worked as an oil and gas lawyer for several companies, entertaining his writing interests in his free time.
He published short stories in a number of publications before writing Flight of the Intruder in 1986 (made into a movie in 1991). Intruder, based in part on his experiences as a bomber pilot, spent 28 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists in hardcover and launched his career as a novelist. From there he continued writing adventure-mysteries using the character from his first book, Jake Grafton. He has written several other series and stand-alone novels since then, but is most notable for the Grafton books.
Today Coonts continues to write, having had seventeen New York Times bestsellers (out of 20 books), and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and son.
Taken from Wikipedia
Learn more about Stephen Coonts on the Macmillan website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
March 2, 2018
No Mas. The last Coonts book for me. 0 of 10 stars
March 7, 2018
Coonts has become an alt right conspiracy theorist, a la Sean Hannity. No more of his books for me.
January 14, 2018
This book received so many rave reviews by respected sources I had to get it. What a mistake. Not sure if all were suffering from "Emperor's New Clothes" syndrome, or just didn't read past the first few chapters, but they were far too generous. The action (an important part of the genre, right?) literally stopped less than half way through the book. After that it was "all talk", simply rehashing the last Presidential election drama, instead of morphing it into something really clever. I quit reading several times, but came back thinking, "Nah, this has to get better. It's Coonts, for crying out loud." Nope. Our hero, Carmellini, just isn't as smart or politically savvy as his musing, no, ramblings, portrayed him in this book. He doesn't need to be. He's a spook. That's interesting enough. It takes brains and courage to serve in the CIA, and with plenty of that real spy info available these pages could have been filled to the gills. I kept screaming, in my mind only to avoid my wife's eye-rolling, "ENOUGH with the blathering. Go DO something!" Overall, the book was timely, even ripped from the headlines, but just not fun, especially since the ending was so flat. I so hoped for the Cracker Jack prize, but no such luck, and the Carmellini corn was stale. Back to Greaney and The Gray Man for me.
December 30, 2017
While this book will not win any prizes, I found it humorous in many areas as well as a quick and easy read.
If you are politically liberal, or even socially liberal... this may not be the book for you.
the story is culled from the current media and headlines, and while the names have been changed, it is obvious who these characters are.
crooked elections
crooked politics
CIA
FBI
bad guys Galore
not a bad book to read on vacation or in a cold Winter's Night.
If you are politically liberal, or even socially liberal... this may not be the book for you.
the story is culled from the current media and headlines, and while the names have been changed, it is obvious who these characters are.
crooked elections
crooked politics
CIA
FBI
bad guys Galore
not a bad book to read on vacation or in a cold Winter's Night.
December 19, 2017
Write a story; leave politics to the professionals
Good characters, flow and storytelling. But the heavy, and unnecessary, reliance on current politics down to the character names just became another propaganda piece. I couldn’t finish it. I’m sure Trump loves it, the rest of us are left with an eye roll.
Good characters, flow and storytelling. But the heavy, and unnecessary, reliance on current politics down to the character names just became another propaganda piece. I couldn’t finish it. I’m sure Trump loves it, the rest of us are left with an eye roll.
May 15, 2018
Will whoever is holding the real Steven Coonts captive please release him? The person who wrote this novel pretending to be him is terrible. Please let him go so we can enjoy the quality stories he used to write.
November 26, 2017
Nothing compares to The Flight of the Intruder. Coonts tries to be relevant with the times, but I found his characters, names corny as spinoff from our current administration.
December 26, 2017
I have loved Stephen Coonts novels since the Flight of the Intruder with both Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmelli characters and their stories. However, the author has chosen to use this story to prophesize his ultra-right political views. Although the names have changed, the story clearly is about the Trump-Clinton election. Coonts tells the story an attempt of election-fraud by Democrats during campaign that backfired due to heroic efforts of a professor. He directly calls Democrats as fascists and portrays the source of the backfired election fraud to ensure Hilliary's win to an ex-Nazi. If you are politically ultra-right, you may enjoy this. But moderates and Democrats will hate this story. His use of writing to further his political views has gotten me to write Stephen Coonts off my reading list.
December 22, 2017
Despite a lot of murders, The Armegeddon is a timely, 'fun' read.
As in his 2015 novel Liberty's Last Stand, Stephen Coonts writes a timely tale with tongue in cheek.
Characters have names and backgrounds similar to current political figures in the US. In this book, a loud, pompous Republican candidate for President has pulled a big upset by defeating the progressive Democrat candidate Secretary Hinton. The new President's Chief of Staff is Reem Kiddus!
The story is about CIA Director Jake Grafton and his right hand man Agent Tommy Carmellini and their investigation into the possibility some person or persons had attempted to rig the recent election.
Much of the story is told by Tommy Carmellini, a hot-shot, wise-ass, and very effective CIA agent.
The possible bad guys include FBI agents, Mafia types, and an extremely wealthy and influential progressive individual who believes that socialism is far superior to capitalism.
Again, a fun read and a timely story.
As in his 2015 novel Liberty's Last Stand, Stephen Coonts writes a timely tale with tongue in cheek.
Characters have names and backgrounds similar to current political figures in the US. In this book, a loud, pompous Republican candidate for President has pulled a big upset by defeating the progressive Democrat candidate Secretary Hinton. The new President's Chief of Staff is Reem Kiddus!
The story is about CIA Director Jake Grafton and his right hand man Agent Tommy Carmellini and their investigation into the possibility some person or persons had attempted to rig the recent election.
Much of the story is told by Tommy Carmellini, a hot-shot, wise-ass, and very effective CIA agent.
The possible bad guys include FBI agents, Mafia types, and an extremely wealthy and influential progressive individual who believes that socialism is far superior to capitalism.
Again, a fun read and a timely story.
November 19, 2017
Mr. Coonts did his usual superb story telling with Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini. I normally enjoy historical fiction as I can learn a great deal about real history in a comfortable story. However, I thought this was a bit over the top with the political correlation to our 2016 presidential election. I mean, the losing candidate was named Cynthia Hinton. The president's chief of staff was named Reem Kiddus (Reince Priebus anyone?). I guess using real names, even in a work of fiction, would have been too close to the truth? Otherwise, the interaction between Grafton, Carmellini and Sarah was its usual riveting pace.
December 23, 2017
This was a excellent read. Some of today's power players would fit some of the characters in this book. You could not mistake that this book was using some of today's news as a plot line for this book. This book started off fairly fast and got going strong by chapter 2. I found it was extremely hard to put this book down. Even though this book was shorter than most of his books it was every bit as good.
November 30, 2017
Fun read. I enjoyed this book much more than his previous #17 Liberty's Last Stand although both are inspired by current events. The Armageddon File was fast paced, concise with satisfactory spy action.
January 26, 2018
Political polemic
I’m a huge counts fan ! Read Flight of the Intruder as a former Naval Aviator! His subsequent novels were interesting and well done ! HOWEVER , the last two have been pro Trump, anti Clinton excursions. Fundamentally don’t disagree with the latter motivation , but miss a good book , well written ! The last two have been obvious propaganda ! Regrettably !
I’m a huge counts fan ! Read Flight of the Intruder as a former Naval Aviator! His subsequent novels were interesting and well done ! HOWEVER , the last two have been pro Trump, anti Clinton excursions. Fundamentally don’t disagree with the latter motivation , but miss a good book , well written ! The last two have been obvious propaganda ! Regrettably !
February 15, 2021
A fictional retelling of the 2016 election & the suspect election fraud, with foreign collusion...Grafton & Carmellini dig up the dirt on a widespread effort by the Left's evil billionaire Soros-like mastermind to throw the election...though fiction, much of the speculation is spot on!...LOVED IT!!!
December 12, 2017
Another fine fast action packed Tommy Carmellini/Jake Grafton adventure. This time it is election fraud and global socialism. I enjoyed this book it was fun but it reminded me a little more of something written by Oliver North than Stephen Coonts
September 16, 2024
In my teens, I was a dedicated reader of thrillers. Tom Clancy, Jack Higgins, Clive Cussler, Dale Brown, and yes Stephen Coonts were all a part of my reading landscape. I found myself with a soft spot for Coonts with his output ranging from Flight of the Intruder (which still sits on my book shelf today) to his edited anthologies of novellas from World War II and the early 2000s, and his science fiction tehcnothriller mash-up Saucer. Having been less dedicated to the genre in recent years, I’ve found myself recently picking it up once more, especially upon finding one a good price. Or so I thought when I found the Coonts penned The Armageddon File in an Ollie’s a few weeks back. Having sat down and read it, however, I wished that I hadn’t bothered as this is one of the worst novels I’ve ever read.
Indeed, it almost feels unfair to call it a novel. True, it mostly fits the definition supplied by Oxford of being “a fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing character and action with some degree of realism.” At least the first two-thirds of that statement is true. The Armageddon File is certainly of book length, if on the short side at roughly 250 pages. Though the short length may well be a blessing in disguise.
It features characters, so we can check off that box. They include notably CIA director Jake Grafton (the hero of previous novels by Coonts that includes the aforementioned The Flight of the Intruder) and his protege CIA operative Tommy Carmellini. Never mind that the latter, as a millennial working for the CIA, instead reads and talks like someone twice his age or more as a more youthful fulfillment figure for the author himself. Again, that’s part and parcel of the genre (look at Ian Fleming and James Bond or Tom Clancy and Jack Ryan). Characters, too, whose observations and dialogue likewise sound like they were meant for some unmade straight-to-DVD movie or worse. Among them being the character who sets the plot in motion by trying to cut a deal on his child porn charge that the recent Presidential election was rigged comparing watching said material with the female coworker who turned him in being a lesbian.
It has action, too. Namely characters moving from place to place having meetings when not getting into firefights or action sequences out of a straight-to-DVD movie. Not to mention a bit of globe-trotting toward the end to expand the canvas of what’s already a novel thin on plot.
Which brings us to the last bit of that Oxford definition: “some degree of realism.”
The degree present in The Armageddon File is tenuous at best. Because the novel isn’t so much a story held together by cardboard characters with poor dialogue and iffy characterization or aforementioned action set pieces out of a low-budget movie. Because what Coonts offers readers across 250 pages, and starting on the second page, isn’t so much an entertaining thriller as it is a thinly disguised conspiracy theory laced rant. One that sees its characters stop for (at one point) a twelve line, 150-200 word ran about the virtues of the Electoral College or spend a paragraph telling readers their thoughts on how modern day progressives are actually the successors to the Nazis. Or presents a recently defeated Democratic nominee for president named Cynthia Hinton backed by an ex-Nazi “progressive” billionaire not-so cleverly sharing the initials as Adolf Hitler.
Of course, if I’d been more aware of Coonts more recent work (and the novel proceeding this one, Liberty’s Last Stand which was wonderfully and deservedly skewered by David Eppenstein elsewhere on Goodreads), I would have known what to expect. And, also to be fair, a reader doesn’t have to agree 100% (let alone much less) with the politics of an author to find some enjoyment from their work. It hasn’t stopped me from re-reading Clancy, for example, or reading the continuation novels authorized by his estate and publishers. The problem here is that what’s present in The Armageddon File is nothing of what makes a novel a rewarding and entertaining experience. Indeed, it reads not like the work of a multi-time bestselling author with decades of experience behind him as a barely edited first draft in desperate need of revision, if not a full-on rewrite. Because this isn’t a novel so much as the meme of the old man yelling at a cloud, only trying to dress it up as a story.
Or, as I wondered as I read The Armageddon File across three days, is it a case of the memory cheats? Just how good were those Coonts novels I once read? I’m not sure I want to know, honestly. But I’ll tell you this: it will be a cold day before I pick up another Coonts novel and that makes me sad, indeed.
Indeed, it almost feels unfair to call it a novel. True, it mostly fits the definition supplied by Oxford of being “a fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing character and action with some degree of realism.” At least the first two-thirds of that statement is true. The Armageddon File is certainly of book length, if on the short side at roughly 250 pages. Though the short length may well be a blessing in disguise.
It features characters, so we can check off that box. They include notably CIA director Jake Grafton (the hero of previous novels by Coonts that includes the aforementioned The Flight of the Intruder) and his protege CIA operative Tommy Carmellini. Never mind that the latter, as a millennial working for the CIA, instead reads and talks like someone twice his age or more as a more youthful fulfillment figure for the author himself. Again, that’s part and parcel of the genre (look at Ian Fleming and James Bond or Tom Clancy and Jack Ryan). Characters, too, whose observations and dialogue likewise sound like they were meant for some unmade straight-to-DVD movie or worse. Among them being the character who sets the plot in motion by trying to cut a deal on his child porn charge that the recent Presidential election was rigged comparing watching said material with the female coworker who turned him in being a lesbian.
It has action, too. Namely characters moving from place to place having meetings when not getting into firefights or action sequences out of a straight-to-DVD movie. Not to mention a bit of globe-trotting toward the end to expand the canvas of what’s already a novel thin on plot.
Which brings us to the last bit of that Oxford definition: “some degree of realism.”
The degree present in The Armageddon File is tenuous at best. Because the novel isn’t so much a story held together by cardboard characters with poor dialogue and iffy characterization or aforementioned action set pieces out of a low-budget movie. Because what Coonts offers readers across 250 pages, and starting on the second page, isn’t so much an entertaining thriller as it is a thinly disguised conspiracy theory laced rant. One that sees its characters stop for (at one point) a twelve line, 150-200 word ran about the virtues of the Electoral College or spend a paragraph telling readers their thoughts on how modern day progressives are actually the successors to the Nazis. Or presents a recently defeated Democratic nominee for president named Cynthia Hinton backed by an ex-Nazi “progressive” billionaire not-so cleverly sharing the initials as Adolf Hitler.
Of course, if I’d been more aware of Coonts more recent work (and the novel proceeding this one, Liberty’s Last Stand which was wonderfully and deservedly skewered by David Eppenstein elsewhere on Goodreads), I would have known what to expect. And, also to be fair, a reader doesn’t have to agree 100% (let alone much less) with the politics of an author to find some enjoyment from their work. It hasn’t stopped me from re-reading Clancy, for example, or reading the continuation novels authorized by his estate and publishers. The problem here is that what’s present in The Armageddon File is nothing of what makes a novel a rewarding and entertaining experience. Indeed, it reads not like the work of a multi-time bestselling author with decades of experience behind him as a barely edited first draft in desperate need of revision, if not a full-on rewrite. Because this isn’t a novel so much as the meme of the old man yelling at a cloud, only trying to dress it up as a story.
Or, as I wondered as I read The Armageddon File across three days, is it a case of the memory cheats? Just how good were those Coonts novels I once read? I’m not sure I want to know, honestly. But I’ll tell you this: it will be a cold day before I pick up another Coonts novel and that makes me sad, indeed.
July 30, 2018
Oh my gosh, 5 great big stars for the utter laugh out loud nerve of Stephen Coonts.
When I opened The Armageddon File I expected typical Jake Grafton/Tommy Carmellini hijinks in the world of spies and America's enemies.
Whoo boy did I get that wrong. Coonts went head on into the 2016 election and the claims of vote tampering. How he got away with barely disguised names (Cynthia Hinton, former senator, former Secretary of State and wife of an impeached former President with a corrupt 'Hinton Foundation. Oh my. Whoever could that be?) and apt, on point descriptions of real people (The King of Chaos, a 90 year old billionaire with bags under his eyes who nearly sank the UK economy by shorting the pound. Oh my. Whoever could that be?) I'll never know, but yes, he went there.
I laughed my dimples off all the way through.
There are those who gave 1 star to The Armageddon File based on their perceived ideology of the author. I would encourage them, and future readers, to read, to understand these quotes and appreciate what we Americans have before accepting that 1 star based on any reviewers disappointed political dreams.
Again, 5 great big beautiful stars for the utter laugh out loud nerve of Stephen Coonts and a great, scary tale based in reality.
When I opened The Armageddon File I expected typical Jake Grafton/Tommy Carmellini hijinks in the world of spies and America's enemies.
Whoo boy did I get that wrong. Coonts went head on into the 2016 election and the claims of vote tampering. How he got away with barely disguised names (Cynthia Hinton, former senator, former Secretary of State and wife of an impeached former President with a corrupt 'Hinton Foundation. Oh my. Whoever could that be?) and apt, on point descriptions of real people (The King of Chaos, a 90 year old billionaire with bags under his eyes who nearly sank the UK economy by shorting the pound. Oh my. Whoever could that be?) I'll never know, but yes, he went there.
I laughed my dimples off all the way through.
There are those who gave 1 star to The Armageddon File based on their perceived ideology of the author. I would encourage them, and future readers, to read, to understand these quotes and appreciate what we Americans have before accepting that 1 star based on any reviewers disappointed political dreams.
"'The American people must decide for themselves,' he said two dozen times. 'If we humans do not have the freedom to rule ourselves, to make choices for the future, we are just farm animals waiting to be fed and slaughtered when the master chooses.'"
"Harry thought the political process, the collective decision-making process, was one of life's great miracles. Voters aren't always right, but the democratic process is self-correcting. Kings and dictators make wrong decisions too and those decisions wreck nations and ruin lives.
"He would tell his students to forget ideology. Someone has to decide how we are going to fix the potholes, keep clean water flowing through the pipes, pay the teachers, protect the citizens. Someone must decide, not some saint or fanatic or idiot son. Very human, flawed people must make those decisions. That's us! We decide because we vote. We are the decision makers!
"'Look at America!' he used to shout. "We have schools, highways, bridges, airports, garbage dumps, sewage treatment plants, hospitals, animal shelters, safe food for sale, a power grid that works 99 percent of the time, and the rule of law. Is our society perfect? Of course not. Will we imperfect people ever achieve perfection? Of course not.'
"Harry thought democracy was the last, best chance for mankind to learn to live together on this crowded planet with finite resources."
Again, 5 great big beautiful stars for the utter laugh out loud nerve of Stephen Coonts and a great, scary tale based in reality.
December 20, 2017
A Very Realistic Political Thriller
The Armageddon File tells a story of election fraud… but it’s not just about election fraud. It goes so much deeper. Deep enough that murder is on the table to cover it up. So deep that the CIA isn’t even sure who funded it all.
I was really happy with the storyline and the way that this story developed. I have not read any of the other Carmellini books, but I might look into them after this. He was a combination of a lot of other thriller and mystery characters but had a couple new things going for him. His point of view was always my favorite part and when he got an idea in his head he would run with it. I liked that about him.
The character development was good. Not having read the other books in this series I still felt like I knew Carmellini as a character and that speaks to good writing on the part of Coonts. I remember seeing the cover of this and being intrigued. Then I read the synopsis and decided that I needed to read it. I’m glad that I did. It was a political thriller mixed with an old-fashioned “whodunit”.
The addition of the actual Armageddon File written by someone who was studying political science and voters history really added a real feel to it. I believe that there are people out there whose sole job is to predict how a certain city or region will vote and that people are paid a lot of money for insights like that.
Overall, The Armageddon File was a political thriller with a twist. There were almost real-life situations in here (and a lot of allusions to other real things). It was an interesting mix of “did this really happen” and “of course it didn’t happen, (right?).
The Armageddon File tells a story of election fraud… but it’s not just about election fraud. It goes so much deeper. Deep enough that murder is on the table to cover it up. So deep that the CIA isn’t even sure who funded it all.
I was really happy with the storyline and the way that this story developed. I have not read any of the other Carmellini books, but I might look into them after this. He was a combination of a lot of other thriller and mystery characters but had a couple new things going for him. His point of view was always my favorite part and when he got an idea in his head he would run with it. I liked that about him.
The character development was good. Not having read the other books in this series I still felt like I knew Carmellini as a character and that speaks to good writing on the part of Coonts. I remember seeing the cover of this and being intrigued. Then I read the synopsis and decided that I needed to read it. I’m glad that I did. It was a political thriller mixed with an old-fashioned “whodunit”.
The addition of the actual Armageddon File written by someone who was studying political science and voters history really added a real feel to it. I believe that there are people out there whose sole job is to predict how a certain city or region will vote and that people are paid a lot of money for insights like that.
Overall, The Armageddon File was a political thriller with a twist. There were almost real-life situations in here (and a lot of allusions to other real things). It was an interesting mix of “did this really happen” and “of course it didn’t happen, (right?).
March 17, 2018
The presidential election is over and America is stunned by the result: an outspoken entrepreneur who has never held elected office has handily beaten a seasoned politician. The new president-elect promises great change and his message struck a chord with the public. His victory may not be as amazing as it seems, however, when allegations arise that a foreign power may have interfered with the integrity of the voting process. CIA Director Jake Grafton tasks Tommy Carmellini with determining if there is any truth to the allegations. As the investigation progresses, Carmellini realizes it will take him far beyond America’s borders and to the heart of two of its biggest global rivals. What he finds out could very well change the American political process for decades to come.
The Armageddon File by Stephen Coonts is the 8th entry in the series spun off of the popular Jake Grafton series. Coonts’ novels are full of action that keep the reader engaged and this one is no exception. It is literally ripped from the headlines of just over a year ago, as if Coonts was able to predict with uncanny accuracy what the result of the 2016 election would be. I enjoyed this book immensely, with its larger-than-life characters and multiple twists and turns. I would definitely recommend this book to nearly everyone and give it 4/5 stars.
*A copy of this ebook was the only consideration given in exchange for this review for Edelweiss.*
The Armageddon File by Stephen Coonts is the 8th entry in the series spun off of the popular Jake Grafton series. Coonts’ novels are full of action that keep the reader engaged and this one is no exception. It is literally ripped from the headlines of just over a year ago, as if Coonts was able to predict with uncanny accuracy what the result of the 2016 election would be. I enjoyed this book immensely, with its larger-than-life characters and multiple twists and turns. I would definitely recommend this book to nearly everyone and give it 4/5 stars.
*A copy of this ebook was the only consideration given in exchange for this review for Edelweiss.*
October 3, 2017
Coonts succeeds once again.
It's been a while since a new release to continue the saga, but this will help fill the void for a few days. Unfortunately, it's then up to another wait; hopefully not another year and a half.
There is a new President and ripped from real life recent headlines is a suspicion of voter fraud and other countries trying to mess with our elections. It can be a little rough at times switching back and forth from the third person narrative to Tommy Carmellini in the first person, but Coonts' readers should be used to that by now.
The plot is good and feasible and leaves you to wonder where the border is between fact and fiction. Fortunately, Coonts doesn't try to use the worn out plot additive of having a near death experience for one of the lead characters.
It's been a while since a new release to continue the saga, but this will help fill the void for a few days. Unfortunately, it's then up to another wait; hopefully not another year and a half.
There is a new President and ripped from real life recent headlines is a suspicion of voter fraud and other countries trying to mess with our elections. It can be a little rough at times switching back and forth from the third person narrative to Tommy Carmellini in the first person, but Coonts' readers should be used to that by now.
The plot is good and feasible and leaves you to wonder where the border is between fact and fiction. Fortunately, Coonts doesn't try to use the worn out plot additive of having a near death experience for one of the lead characters.
December 22, 2017
Did someone tamper with the presidential election outcome? This book uses aliases, but they're so thinly veiled no one will miss that they're talking about Obama, Trump, Clinton, Sanders and Soros.
It starts with a man arrested for having child porn on his laptop. One of his co-workers turned him in. He asks to talk with the FBI to cut a deal. He claims to be part of a group that tampered with the voting machines. But before the FBI can interrogate him, he is assassinated in the jail. Tommy Carellini is tasked with looking into this to determine if foreign nationals meddled in the election process. As the investigation proceeds, more bodies start dropping. Even Tommy is a target.
SO, did someone tamper? And who? And for which side? You won't find out until the end. This is a short book (256 pages) and a good story.
It starts with a man arrested for having child porn on his laptop. One of his co-workers turned him in. He asks to talk with the FBI to cut a deal. He claims to be part of a group that tampered with the voting machines. But before the FBI can interrogate him, he is assassinated in the jail. Tommy Carellini is tasked with looking into this to determine if foreign nationals meddled in the election process. As the investigation proceeds, more bodies start dropping. Even Tommy is a target.
SO, did someone tamper? And who? And for which side? You won't find out until the end. This is a short book (256 pages) and a good story.
October 9, 2017
Mirroring the current political situation in the US, this book gives an alternative version of how a presidential election could be rigged. It has a convoluted plot, interesting characters and lots of fast-paced action. I especially liked how bits of common everyday life (who is going to pay for towing charges or how much insurance will be reimbursed for a destroyed car, e.g.) are mingled with the complicated story line. I also enjoyed how Jake Grafton and Tom Carmellini make an effective, dynamic team and I suspect they will have some compelling adventures ahead of them. Bottom line, this is an fun and easy read that I would recommend.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
December 1, 2017
Great Story!
Tommy Carmellini, my favorite spy, and Jake Grafton, the worlds greatest spy master, team up for a story ripped from today’s headlines. The richest man in the world tried to fix an American election, but the wrong candidate won.
Thinly disguised from the headlines, this is a story about the last presidential election. Liberals (Progressives) won’t like this book. It hits to close to home, but if you have an open mind and a suspicious heart, you’ll love “The Armageddon File”.
Tommy Carmellini, my favorite spy, and Jake Grafton, the worlds greatest spy master, team up for a story ripped from today’s headlines. The richest man in the world tried to fix an American election, but the wrong candidate won.
Thinly disguised from the headlines, this is a story about the last presidential election. Liberals (Progressives) won’t like this book. It hits to close to home, but if you have an open mind and a suspicious heart, you’ll love “The Armageddon File”.
November 15, 2017
An interesting book with unusual twist
After first few chapters I became less and less enthusiastic about the book because,frankly, I am really bored with that never-ending rigged Presidential election story.
However, the plot of The Armageddon File suddenly changed into something fresh and unexpected, the story took a new turn and became a true pleasure to read.
And Tommy Carmellini wit and humour is superb as usual!
After first few chapters I became less and less enthusiastic about the book because,frankly, I am really bored with that never-ending rigged Presidential election story.
However, the plot of The Armageddon File suddenly changed into something fresh and unexpected, the story took a new turn and became a true pleasure to read.
And Tommy Carmellini wit and humour is superb as usual!
December 2, 2017
Similar to Coonts last book this follows current events with a election rigging plotline and characters relating to current politicians, Trump, Hillary and George Soros. Like the last one this was just tolerable at best. Okay story but with the current climate and people in it it seemed to be more of a political point than a story.
December 23, 2024
This book is wrier for MAGA fans who believe Trump’s lies about the 2016 elections. The story is told as though they are all true and Clinton (Hinton in the book) is a world class criminal. Although I finish books that I don’t like, I was unable to get to the end of this one.
April 16, 2018
too much right wing nonsense. no more from this author.
February 26, 2020
Thrilling and kept my interest until the end.
March 8, 2025
Stolen election, murder, fast read.
September 10, 2018
Not up to Coonts normal quality. Chock full of nonsense, such as accusing Democrats and “left wingers” of supporting Nazis and tearing up the Constitution.
Left wing Nazis? Coonts needs to study basic political science.
Really about put it away without finishing at that point. Stephen, shut off the Faux News and return to the reality based world!
Left wing Nazis? Coonts needs to study basic political science.
Really about put it away without finishing at that point. Stephen, shut off the Faux News and return to the reality based world!
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