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A Bai Hsu Novel #1
Bai Tide
This is an Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00UP7O9O6
After the events of Blood Money, CIA case officer Bai Hsu is assigned to a high-security private school for what he’s told is an easy assignment. Just a few months after he arrives, a hostile operative with ties to North Korea tries to break in to a school event, with motives unknown.
As his investigation progresses, he unravels a plot that, if not stopped, will result in the untimely and murderous deaths of tens of millions of people. In order to stop the attack, Bai must recruit the one person he absolutely cannot trust in order to break into one of the most isolated, dangerous countries in the world.
Bai Tide is Bai’s greatest challenge yet. A mission that will take him from the windswept beaches of San Diego to a whiteout blizzard in the foothills of Pyongyang, and make him question everything he thought he knew about working in the field…and about himself.
After the events of Blood Money, CIA case officer Bai Hsu is assigned to a high-security private school for what he’s told is an easy assignment. Just a few months after he arrives, a hostile operative with ties to North Korea tries to break in to a school event, with motives unknown.
As his investigation progresses, he unravels a plot that, if not stopped, will result in the untimely and murderous deaths of tens of millions of people. In order to stop the attack, Bai must recruit the one person he absolutely cannot trust in order to break into one of the most isolated, dangerous countries in the world.
Bai Tide is Bai’s greatest challenge yet. A mission that will take him from the windswept beaches of San Diego to a whiteout blizzard in the foothills of Pyongyang, and make him question everything he thought he knew about working in the field…and about himself.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2015
3 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Erika Mitchell
8 books31 followersErika Mitchell is a thriller writer specializing in espionage. Her first book, Blood Money, dealt with the high-stakes reality of life as a CIA informant, while her new series revolves around the fantastical life of a CIA case officer who works in the field.
Her novels are characterized by vivid settings, snappy dialogue, and fast-paced plots, and her dedication to research is evident in the numerous true-to-life details that immerse readers in the world of modern-day espionage.
Erika is a firm believer in believable heroes, pulse-pounding chase scenes, and the Oxford comma. She lives in western Washington with her partner and two children.
Her novels are characterized by vivid settings, snappy dialogue, and fast-paced plots, and her dedication to research is evident in the numerous true-to-life details that immerse readers in the world of modern-day espionage.
Erika is a firm believer in believable heroes, pulse-pounding chase scenes, and the Oxford comma. She lives in western Washington with her partner and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 17, 2017
If I am being completely honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Bai Tide and, truly, I wasn’t expecting this book to really capture my interest. I don’t read a lot of espionage thrillers and I struggle with police procedurals. Now that I have finished this book, I have to say shame on me! Bai Tide is entertaining, fast paced and completely binge worthy!
The novel opens with a bang; Bai Hsu (undercover at a fancy San Diego prep school) is hot on the trail of an unknown assailant who had been creeping around a semi-formal. Believing this person to be targeting one of the girls, Hsu becomes extra vigilant to keep them safe. As his investigation progresses and danger becomes more imminent, Hsu finds himself working with an unlikely companion and travelling to North Korea to try and get to the bottom of his case.
The first thing that stood out for me about this novel was diversity. Bai Hsu is an Asian American, newbie spy, struggling to figure out the ropes. How often do you find a character like that in a novel? In fact, I found our protagonist, Bai Hsu, to be quite the character. Charming and witty, he, at times, had me laughing out loud. I loved the break from the typical “hardened” type of spy. Hsu still has his humanity.
Aside from the characters, this one had plenty of twists and turns; I found myself gasping several times throughout my reading. Mitchell truly is a master at skillfully navigating through a text and leaving several bombshells as she goes (see what I did there? Because it’s a spy thriller).
Overall, I devoured Bai Tide and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good espionage thriller. I gave it a 4/5 stars.
The next book in the series, Take the Bai Road will be coming out July 3. I will be anxiously awaiting it!
The novel opens with a bang; Bai Hsu (undercover at a fancy San Diego prep school) is hot on the trail of an unknown assailant who had been creeping around a semi-formal. Believing this person to be targeting one of the girls, Hsu becomes extra vigilant to keep them safe. As his investigation progresses and danger becomes more imminent, Hsu finds himself working with an unlikely companion and travelling to North Korea to try and get to the bottom of his case.
The first thing that stood out for me about this novel was diversity. Bai Hsu is an Asian American, newbie spy, struggling to figure out the ropes. How often do you find a character like that in a novel? In fact, I found our protagonist, Bai Hsu, to be quite the character. Charming and witty, he, at times, had me laughing out loud. I loved the break from the typical “hardened” type of spy. Hsu still has his humanity.
Aside from the characters, this one had plenty of twists and turns; I found myself gasping several times throughout my reading. Mitchell truly is a master at skillfully navigating through a text and leaving several bombshells as she goes (see what I did there? Because it’s a spy thriller).
Overall, I devoured Bai Tide and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good espionage thriller. I gave it a 4/5 stars.
The next book in the series, Take the Bai Road will be coming out July 3. I will be anxiously awaiting it!
May 26, 2017
Bai Tsu is a CIA case officer currently working as a gym teacher at a girls' prep school in San Diego. Someone is targeting one of the girls and it's his job to figure out who and why.
This book started out fast and didn't let up! I enjoyed getting to know Bai Tsu. He's smart, tough and has a great sense of humor. He was under the impression that his current assignment would be easy, so of course, it turned out to be complex. There were some secondary characters that we met who played a pivotal part in the story and there were times that I wasn't sure who to trust.
This was a fun read from beginning to end! There's lots of action and humor. There were also some twists and turns which kept it interesting. Part of it takes place in North Korea, where Bai was tested both physically and mentally. If you enjoy thrillers, this is a book and series you will want to read!
I received a complimentary copy via TLC Book Tours, which did not affect my review in any way
This book started out fast and didn't let up! I enjoyed getting to know Bai Tsu. He's smart, tough and has a great sense of humor. He was under the impression that his current assignment would be easy, so of course, it turned out to be complex. There were some secondary characters that we met who played a pivotal part in the story and there were times that I wasn't sure who to trust.
This was a fun read from beginning to end! There's lots of action and humor. There were also some twists and turns which kept it interesting. Part of it takes place in North Korea, where Bai was tested both physically and mentally. If you enjoy thrillers, this is a book and series you will want to read!
I received a complimentary copy via TLC Book Tours, which did not affect my review in any way
March 15, 2015
When you think of a guns-and-girls thriller you do not think of a wry twenty-something Asian-American newbie spy, frankly still figuring out the espionage ropes, and you do not think of an upscale girls' school, where said newbie spy is sent to guard the girls and suss out some very elusive and very bad guys.
So there's that. In addition, this book offers up a new kind of hero--the humorous and self-effacing Bai. He is, for me, the best part. A thriller protagonist is so often a hulking, monosyllabic, invincible type who never shows a crack in his facade. Bai is different. He is modest, funny, persistent, spunky, and fair-minded. In fact, Bai is quite capable of putting himself in the shoes of his adversary, almost to the point of sympathizing with his or her point of view. And some of the difficulties he finds himself in are clearly his fault. It's real, it's honest, and it's endearing.
While the rules of the genre require our hero to of course prevail in the end, Bai Tide supplies real suspense and real stakes along the way. You'll enjoy going along for the ride.
So there's that. In addition, this book offers up a new kind of hero--the humorous and self-effacing Bai. He is, for me, the best part. A thriller protagonist is so often a hulking, monosyllabic, invincible type who never shows a crack in his facade. Bai is different. He is modest, funny, persistent, spunky, and fair-minded. In fact, Bai is quite capable of putting himself in the shoes of his adversary, almost to the point of sympathizing with his or her point of view. And some of the difficulties he finds himself in are clearly his fault. It's real, it's honest, and it's endearing.
While the rules of the genre require our hero to of course prevail in the end, Bai Tide supplies real suspense and real stakes along the way. You'll enjoy going along for the ride.
March 7, 2015
Now, my expertise in espionage genre is limited. While I love the James Bond movies (especially the ones with Daniel Craig) and TV shows like Burn Notice and Chuck, I've never really read any books from this particular genre. After reading this one, I think that is going to change.
Now, I don't want you to get the wrong impression. Bai Hsu or Alan Broccoli as he is called through most of the book (gotta love spy covers) isn't some bad ass like Michael Weston or a ladies man like Bond (although he has his moments in both respects) but he is a highly trained, intelligent although relatively green operative. He hasn't had the time or experience to make him as cold or as hardened as the depiction of most spies. He still has his humanity of course, sometimes that can be more of a liability than a virtue.
Bai Tide is pretty much non stop action although that statement may be a little misleading. I'm not talking all hand to hand combat, shootouts, and exciting chases... there is plenty of that but there is also a good depiction of the other part of the espionage game. The undercover work. As a phys ed teacher and volley ball coach at an all girls school, he is charged with keeping his eyes open and keeping his charges safe. The day to day task turns into a fact finding mission when he foils a break in attempt at a school function. It seems that someone may be targeting the children of a protected informant and there is also the possibility that someone within the school may be trying to sell a nuclear formula to the highest bidder.
In many ways, it resonated with me much like the most recent 007 movies- Like Casino Royale, it gives the story of how experience shaped the spy. The assignment that Bai is given isn't his first, but it does have a tremendous impact on how he views his job and life. And if you have watched Casino Royale as many times as I have, you might catch a line in there that sounds similar to one delivered by Vesper. The other thing that made me think of this particular movie was the character of Agnes Schelling- for some reason, I pictured the headmistress to be much like Judi Dench's version of M, the only thing missing was her making a threat on the agent's life.
For me, this seemed much more realistic than other spy stuff I've seen. It wasn't as flashy but it was extremely intriguing and entertaining. I can't help but give this one a 10. The story was very well written- the characters were realistically crafted and the story flowed well. The variation in the settings was wonderfully done as well. I could easily picture everything from the sandy beach in San Diego to the snow covered forest in North Korea. I loved watching how things developed.throughout the story, the various twists and turns that took place and how they affected the characters. I think that Mitchell did a superb job in crafting a believable spy thriller and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Now, I don't want you to get the wrong impression. Bai Hsu or Alan Broccoli as he is called through most of the book (gotta love spy covers) isn't some bad ass like Michael Weston or a ladies man like Bond (although he has his moments in both respects) but he is a highly trained, intelligent although relatively green operative. He hasn't had the time or experience to make him as cold or as hardened as the depiction of most spies. He still has his humanity of course, sometimes that can be more of a liability than a virtue.
Bai Tide is pretty much non stop action although that statement may be a little misleading. I'm not talking all hand to hand combat, shootouts, and exciting chases... there is plenty of that but there is also a good depiction of the other part of the espionage game. The undercover work. As a phys ed teacher and volley ball coach at an all girls school, he is charged with keeping his eyes open and keeping his charges safe. The day to day task turns into a fact finding mission when he foils a break in attempt at a school function. It seems that someone may be targeting the children of a protected informant and there is also the possibility that someone within the school may be trying to sell a nuclear formula to the highest bidder.
In many ways, it resonated with me much like the most recent 007 movies- Like Casino Royale, it gives the story of how experience shaped the spy. The assignment that Bai is given isn't his first, but it does have a tremendous impact on how he views his job and life. And if you have watched Casino Royale as many times as I have, you might catch a line in there that sounds similar to one delivered by Vesper. The other thing that made me think of this particular movie was the character of Agnes Schelling- for some reason, I pictured the headmistress to be much like Judi Dench's version of M, the only thing missing was her making a threat on the agent's life.
For me, this seemed much more realistic than other spy stuff I've seen. It wasn't as flashy but it was extremely intriguing and entertaining. I can't help but give this one a 10. The story was very well written- the characters were realistically crafted and the story flowed well. The variation in the settings was wonderfully done as well. I could easily picture everything from the sandy beach in San Diego to the snow covered forest in North Korea. I loved watching how things developed.throughout the story, the various twists and turns that took place and how they affected the characters. I think that Mitchell did a superb job in crafting a believable spy thriller and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
June 8, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
I’m a huge fan of thrillers, but I don’t always enjoy espionage thrillers for one reason: sometimes authors overcomplicate matters, crafting plots so complex they have loopholes the size of Pluto. But not Erika Mitchell. In Bai Tide, she crafts a story that is entertaining without losing itself in complex explanations and reasoning, or without looking for far-fetched solutions.
Bai Hsu is an intriguing main character, kind of like a newbie James Bond with a mix of Robin (from Batman) thrown in. In this book (it’s part of a series, but I did not read the first book and it wasn’t really necessary to understand the story either) he infiltrates in a high-security private school, and soon has to stop a plot that could result in tens of millions of people dying. What’s supposed to be an easy assignment turns out to be anything but, and the CIA officer has to use all his wits and intelligence to get out of it alive.
The action is non-stop, picking up from page one and running on until the end. The secondary characters are interesting too, and the book has a few subplots that manage to be both entertaining and crucial for the main plot. The author also manages to mix action with some much-needed humor every now and then.
A great addition to the spy thriller genre, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I’m a huge fan of thrillers, but I don’t always enjoy espionage thrillers for one reason: sometimes authors overcomplicate matters, crafting plots so complex they have loopholes the size of Pluto. But not Erika Mitchell. In Bai Tide, she crafts a story that is entertaining without losing itself in complex explanations and reasoning, or without looking for far-fetched solutions.
Bai Hsu is an intriguing main character, kind of like a newbie James Bond with a mix of Robin (from Batman) thrown in. In this book (it’s part of a series, but I did not read the first book and it wasn’t really necessary to understand the story either) he infiltrates in a high-security private school, and soon has to stop a plot that could result in tens of millions of people dying. What’s supposed to be an easy assignment turns out to be anything but, and the CIA officer has to use all his wits and intelligence to get out of it alive.
The action is non-stop, picking up from page one and running on until the end. The secondary characters are interesting too, and the book has a few subplots that manage to be both entertaining and crucial for the main plot. The author also manages to mix action with some much-needed humor every now and then.
A great addition to the spy thriller genre, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 15, 2017
“No, this isn't how I want to spend my last hour. But that's okay, because this isn't going to be my last hour.” (208)
Fast paced, filled with lots of action and a main character that drips with self-effacing sarcasm, Bai Tide by Erika Mitchell is a fun read. If you love spy movies like James Bond, you'll find the same type of sequence. Case on hand that brings the spy, our main character Bai, aka Alan Broccoli into a world unexpected.
I really enjoyed this novel. The action sequence was well written, and the plotline well crafted to keep me interested. The character's background, a Chinese operative for the CIA who happens to be thrown in a case that touches on the North Korean-American tensions seems bold. Nevertheless, it was fun to read the dress up, the ladies, the action, the save and the possibilities of more. The ending was somewhat predictable, and with closure, but it still impel us head to the next book (which will be out on July 3rd). Bai Tide is an enjoyable read that doesn't create a lot of suspense, but the perfect pace makes it an easy read as well.
For my clean readers, please note there are some minor profanity, not excessive.
This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
Fast paced, filled with lots of action and a main character that drips with self-effacing sarcasm, Bai Tide by Erika Mitchell is a fun read. If you love spy movies like James Bond, you'll find the same type of sequence. Case on hand that brings the spy, our main character Bai, aka Alan Broccoli into a world unexpected.
I really enjoyed this novel. The action sequence was well written, and the plotline well crafted to keep me interested. The character's background, a Chinese operative for the CIA who happens to be thrown in a case that touches on the North Korean-American tensions seems bold. Nevertheless, it was fun to read the dress up, the ladies, the action, the save and the possibilities of more. The ending was somewhat predictable, and with closure, but it still impel us head to the next book (which will be out on July 3rd). Bai Tide is an enjoyable read that doesn't create a lot of suspense, but the perfect pace makes it an easy read as well.
For my clean readers, please note there are some minor profanity, not excessive.
This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
February 13, 2017
This was a fun and enjoyable read. I really liked the main character's humor and heart. Look forward to the next one. I won this book through a goodreads giveaway.
August 3, 2017
Good start to the series, and the North Korea setting was fascinating. She does a good job of making the characters realistic.
April 6, 2015
Erika writes thrillers for those of us that wouldn’t necessarily characterize ourselves as thriller-readers. If I was stranded at an airport and forced to choose between the latest sugary YA Vampwolf Saga or Steve Berry, you can guess which way I’d go.
All that was definitely turned on its ear when I started reading Erika’s work. She takes characters from unlikely circumstances (A professional StarCraft player and an accountant among them) and allows them to grow into the protagonists that she needs. Bai Hsu is her first “typical secret agent,” but even his assignment in the beginning of the novel is far from mundane.
We pick up shortly after “Blood Money,” with Bai on assignment at a private Girls’ School for the daughters of high profile political figures in California. Erika makes good use of the humor of the situation off the bat, with Bai making multiple remarks about his undercover work mixed with the more mundane aspects of his cover as a gym teacher.
“As an undercover counterintelligence operative, however, it was a matter of no little concern that I hadn’t caught and questioned the man who’d blown up a car to get away clean. I’d need to phone in to headquarters about this one and do a little digging, to say nothing of the inevitably unpleasant conversation I was going to have to have with [the headmistress] about why I’d failed.
All that and a volleyball tournament next Friday. It was shaping up to be a busy week.” (pg 4)
The action in this book doesn’t take long to kick off- from the first page you’re thrown in and scrambling along with Bai as he attempts to find out who on Earth would break into the school’s Welcome Formal and what their motives are. The plot is far from crystalline, though. There are some clever side plots involving other teachers and students at the school thrown in for interest. There’s even a thorny bit of romance for those of us who tend to lean more toward books with more kissing than butt-kicking in them.
The story is populated with a number of convincing characters, with distinct mannerisms and backstories. A particular highlight to me was Agnes, the headmistress of the school, who I immediately pictured as an “M” from James Bond (Most recently played by Dame Judi Dench).
The similarities to Bond don’t just end there though- Erika creates a twisty villain on par with some of the Bond villains, were there are far more dangerous motives lying beneath a pleasant façade. I wanted to keep reading, but at the same time almost wanted to look away for fear of what would happen when the end fireworks began.
For fear of giving away too much of the plot, I won’t say more, but definitely need to give props to the writing itself. I’m always in awe of just how much research goes into books, and it makes it that much more impressive when you’re in contact with the author and can picture her poring over martial arts styles and international airport terminal layouts. The challenge of getting a character from plot point a to plot point b is confusing enough without having to know the architecture of Beijing international and the perks of particular firearms. I think it’s fabulous that she’s managed to avoid some TSA watchlists, to be honest. ;)
In all seriousness, the action sequences are impressive, with great descriptions of hand to hand combat. Erika clearly did her research to make the fight sequences exciting, and not a standard recitation of “kick kick kick punch punch ow blood.” She also writes very well from the point of view of a cocky CIA agent. It was fun to get to know Bai a little better, and to see some vulnerability from him as well. He’s an entertaining hero with a young voice who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Though he’s obviously an elite agent, he’s far from stuffy and his internal monologue is relatable for a younger generation of readers looking to venture into espionage thrillers for the first time.
All that was definitely turned on its ear when I started reading Erika’s work. She takes characters from unlikely circumstances (A professional StarCraft player and an accountant among them) and allows them to grow into the protagonists that she needs. Bai Hsu is her first “typical secret agent,” but even his assignment in the beginning of the novel is far from mundane.
We pick up shortly after “Blood Money,” with Bai on assignment at a private Girls’ School for the daughters of high profile political figures in California. Erika makes good use of the humor of the situation off the bat, with Bai making multiple remarks about his undercover work mixed with the more mundane aspects of his cover as a gym teacher.
“As an undercover counterintelligence operative, however, it was a matter of no little concern that I hadn’t caught and questioned the man who’d blown up a car to get away clean. I’d need to phone in to headquarters about this one and do a little digging, to say nothing of the inevitably unpleasant conversation I was going to have to have with [the headmistress] about why I’d failed.
All that and a volleyball tournament next Friday. It was shaping up to be a busy week.” (pg 4)
The action in this book doesn’t take long to kick off- from the first page you’re thrown in and scrambling along with Bai as he attempts to find out who on Earth would break into the school’s Welcome Formal and what their motives are. The plot is far from crystalline, though. There are some clever side plots involving other teachers and students at the school thrown in for interest. There’s even a thorny bit of romance for those of us who tend to lean more toward books with more kissing than butt-kicking in them.
The story is populated with a number of convincing characters, with distinct mannerisms and backstories. A particular highlight to me was Agnes, the headmistress of the school, who I immediately pictured as an “M” from James Bond (Most recently played by Dame Judi Dench).
The similarities to Bond don’t just end there though- Erika creates a twisty villain on par with some of the Bond villains, were there are far more dangerous motives lying beneath a pleasant façade. I wanted to keep reading, but at the same time almost wanted to look away for fear of what would happen when the end fireworks began.
For fear of giving away too much of the plot, I won’t say more, but definitely need to give props to the writing itself. I’m always in awe of just how much research goes into books, and it makes it that much more impressive when you’re in contact with the author and can picture her poring over martial arts styles and international airport terminal layouts. The challenge of getting a character from plot point a to plot point b is confusing enough without having to know the architecture of Beijing international and the perks of particular firearms. I think it’s fabulous that she’s managed to avoid some TSA watchlists, to be honest. ;)
In all seriousness, the action sequences are impressive, with great descriptions of hand to hand combat. Erika clearly did her research to make the fight sequences exciting, and not a standard recitation of “kick kick kick punch punch ow blood.” She also writes very well from the point of view of a cocky CIA agent. It was fun to get to know Bai a little better, and to see some vulnerability from him as well. He’s an entertaining hero with a young voice who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Though he’s obviously an elite agent, he’s far from stuffy and his internal monologue is relatable for a younger generation of readers looking to venture into espionage thrillers for the first time.
February 28, 2017
This book is not what I expected. This is a very good book but more of a cozy spy novel rather than a thriller for me until the second half of the book. This had a lot of action moves and fast paced but was a little more predictable than I expected. Not that that’s a bad thing, sometimes my favorite thing is to sit down with a novel like this and read my day away. I loved that this wasn’t a book that I would need to take notes just to keep up or keep looking back. Since this is a super short book, only 238 pages to this story, it goes really fast. It’s perfect for those lazy days you don’t feel like doing anything.
The setting of this novel was unique and interesting. You don’t usually find spy novels with this type of setting and it is perfect in this book. The fact that this takes place in a prep school makes this a book than teens could relate to and enjoy as well. These characters were so strong and awesome that they are the people I would want protecting me or my children.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how fast paced and action packed it was. This is a great book for adults and teens alike. I would definitely recommend this book!
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*
The setting of this novel was unique and interesting. You don’t usually find spy novels with this type of setting and it is perfect in this book. The fact that this takes place in a prep school makes this a book than teens could relate to and enjoy as well. These characters were so strong and awesome that they are the people I would want protecting me or my children.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how fast paced and action packed it was. This is a great book for adults and teens alike. I would definitely recommend this book!
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*
April 10, 2015
Erika writes the kind of thrillers that are genuinely enjoyable to read, and Bai Tide was no exception. Here's why:
The action was nonstop, but not so overly complex that I needed to take notes as I read so I wouldn't lose track of who's who and what the hell is going on.
The characters are superhuman in a way that let me really enjoy following their exploits from my safe, warm home with a cup of hot tea in my hand. If they wound up in a bad situation where I would probably die immediately, I knew I could trust them to figure out what to do ... not that I knew what their next move would be, mind you. I was genuinely curious to see how they planned to escape the pickles they found themselves in.
But, they're not "I'm a handsome single 25-year-old self-made billionaire who is also a vampire"-level WTF-no-you're-not superhuman. So I can read about someone running for 20 miles and think "ugh, glad that's not me" without getting bogged down in rolling my eyes every fifteen seconds and screaming "this is absolute nonsense! No one could ever do what you're doing!"
I was on the edge of my seat, but I wasn't stressed out. And that, I think, is the biggest positive about Bai Tide. I feel that the whole point of reading is to escape from the stresses of my daily life, yet many thrillers seem hell-bent instead on adding new ones. They stick the reader with a protagonist who makes one bad decision after another, as a situation escalates to ludicrous levels of "you done screwed up now." Erika's protagonists, on the other hand, only make the kind of bad decisions that could happen to anyone, and these are offset by a million excellent decisions. In fact, the bad decisions seemed to catch ME by surprise as often as they did the characters themselves.
If you like to sit down with a good thriller that captures your attention and holds it tight without ever pissing you off or raising your blood pressure, Bai Tide is an excellent choice. I actually stayed late at work by accident one day because I was caught up in reading it. If that's not a sign of a good book, I don't know what is.
The action was nonstop, but not so overly complex that I needed to take notes as I read so I wouldn't lose track of who's who and what the hell is going on.
The characters are superhuman in a way that let me really enjoy following their exploits from my safe, warm home with a cup of hot tea in my hand. If they wound up in a bad situation where I would probably die immediately, I knew I could trust them to figure out what to do ... not that I knew what their next move would be, mind you. I was genuinely curious to see how they planned to escape the pickles they found themselves in.
But, they're not "I'm a handsome single 25-year-old self-made billionaire who is also a vampire"-level WTF-no-you're-not superhuman. So I can read about someone running for 20 miles and think "ugh, glad that's not me" without getting bogged down in rolling my eyes every fifteen seconds and screaming "this is absolute nonsense! No one could ever do what you're doing!"
I was on the edge of my seat, but I wasn't stressed out. And that, I think, is the biggest positive about Bai Tide. I feel that the whole point of reading is to escape from the stresses of my daily life, yet many thrillers seem hell-bent instead on adding new ones. They stick the reader with a protagonist who makes one bad decision after another, as a situation escalates to ludicrous levels of "you done screwed up now." Erika's protagonists, on the other hand, only make the kind of bad decisions that could happen to anyone, and these are offset by a million excellent decisions. In fact, the bad decisions seemed to catch ME by surprise as often as they did the characters themselves.
If you like to sit down with a good thriller that captures your attention and holds it tight without ever pissing you off or raising your blood pressure, Bai Tide is an excellent choice. I actually stayed late at work by accident one day because I was caught up in reading it. If that's not a sign of a good book, I don't know what is.
April 7, 2015
Do you dream of reading books you can’t put down but are struggling to find one these days? Have you ever been so caught up in a book you can’t stop turning the page and when you do, you just don’t stop thinking about how well written and full of detail the book is? Well Bai Tide is that book. It has it all; action, adventure, and an incredible setting.
Prepare to lose yourself in CIA operative Bai Hsu’s adventure. He is smart, fast, and strong while the story will keep you on the edge of your seat with your heart beating fast from the journey.
Author Erika Mitchell knows how to write a book so intense and leaves no detail out. Her words captivate and descriptions propel you right into the middle of the action.
This is a must read for anyone who loves a well written book with the added bonus of a fantastic case to be solved.
Prepare to lose yourself in CIA operative Bai Hsu’s adventure. He is smart, fast, and strong while the story will keep you on the edge of your seat with your heart beating fast from the journey.
Author Erika Mitchell knows how to write a book so intense and leaves no detail out. Her words captivate and descriptions propel you right into the middle of the action.
This is a must read for anyone who loves a well written book with the added bonus of a fantastic case to be solved.
April 7, 2015
Erika Mitchell's unique command of this genre places it spot onto the radars of those of us who enjoy espionage thrillers without having to muddle through an entourage of technical jargon. She focusses more on the human aspect of what it means to be a spy. I fell in love with Bai the moment he started speaking. He is not your ordinary spy—no, this man has heart and an idiosyncratic wisdom that immediately has you relating to his every situation. If you are looking for book you can really sink your mind into, and you enjoy a good twist or two, I highly recommend this book. It was a perfect sequel to her first book, Blood Money. I look forward to reading Erika's future books.
March 7, 2015
Wow, I had a hard time putting this book down! This is the second book I have read by Erika Mitchell and I am blown away with her ability to suck the reader into the mind of a character like CIA agent, Bai Tsu. She has clearly done a lot of research on the inner workings of the CIA and FBI, as well as research on North Korea to make this work of fiction sound like extremely well written non-fiction! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thrill ride.
January 20, 2017
A fairly good spy novel, featuring a Chinese American spy.
He's bodyguarding a prep school for rich young girls, and is warned that someone might want to kidnap one of the girls. Despite all precautions, this, of course happens. Turns out the kidnapper was a NOKO agent, who was our hero's girlfriend.
One thing leads to another, and the two infiltrate North Korea to destroy a nuclear missile.
Not bad. Some of the scenes in North Korea are harrowing.
He's bodyguarding a prep school for rich young girls, and is warned that someone might want to kidnap one of the girls. Despite all precautions, this, of course happens. Turns out the kidnapper was a NOKO agent, who was our hero's girlfriend.
One thing leads to another, and the two infiltrate North Korea to destroy a nuclear missile.
Not bad. Some of the scenes in North Korea are harrowing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2017
Review to follow 6 February 2017.
May 16, 2017
Bai Tide by Erika Mitchell is the first in a series featuring CIA agent Bai Hsu. This is the second book by the author, I did not read the first one but I understand Agent Hsu is there as well.
Bai Hsu, a CIA case officer, gets a “bonus” in the form of an easy assignment at a high-security private school. A North Korean operatives tries to break into the school and our hero must find out why.
As Hsu continues to investigate, and get the volleyball team ready for their tournament., he discovers a plot he must stops and save millions of people in the process.
Bai Tide by Erika Mitchell is a fun book filled with adventure and humor. The novel features an American CIA agent of Chinese origin who is brave, sarcastic, and self-deprecating.
I do enjoy the spy genre very much, and have read most of the Ian Fleming James Bond novels. This novel is more like the Bond movies and not like the books, even though Hsu and the literary Bond share the same self-doubt, guilt and obligatory cockiness, and loyalty to country and allies.
The book is mostly action, and I’m quite impressed that Ms. Mitchell managed to develop her characters in such a short book while keeping the story rolling along at a very fast pace. The author writes action very well, her description of hand-to-hand combat is fast, descriptive and exciting.
There are some plot holes, as in many other books of the genre and some of the rookie mistakes Agent Hsu made were, I felt, out of character for a trained agent. I’m nitpicking of course, it’s the little things as we all know, but I still enjoyed the book.
Bai Tide is a light, fast read with loveable characters and exploit. The book is easy to read and a good introduction to those interested in getting into the espionage or thriller genre.
Synopsis:
Bai Hsu, a CIA case officer, gets a “bonus” in the form of an easy assignment at a high-security private school. A North Korean operatives tries to break into the school and our hero must find out why.
As Hsu continues to investigate, and get the volleyball team ready for their tournament., he discovers a plot he must stops and save millions of people in the process.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Bai Hsu, a CIA case officer, gets a “bonus” in the form of an easy assignment at a high-security private school. A North Korean operatives tries to break into the school and our hero must find out why.
As Hsu continues to investigate, and get the volleyball team ready for their tournament., he discovers a plot he must stops and save millions of people in the process.
Bai Tide by Erika Mitchell is a fun book filled with adventure and humor. The novel features an American CIA agent of Chinese origin who is brave, sarcastic, and self-deprecating.
I do enjoy the spy genre very much, and have read most of the Ian Fleming James Bond novels. This novel is more like the Bond movies and not like the books, even though Hsu and the literary Bond share the same self-doubt, guilt and obligatory cockiness, and loyalty to country and allies.
The book is mostly action, and I’m quite impressed that Ms. Mitchell managed to develop her characters in such a short book while keeping the story rolling along at a very fast pace. The author writes action very well, her description of hand-to-hand combat is fast, descriptive and exciting.
There are some plot holes, as in many other books of the genre and some of the rookie mistakes Agent Hsu made were, I felt, out of character for a trained agent. I’m nitpicking of course, it’s the little things as we all know, but I still enjoyed the book.
Bai Tide is a light, fast read with loveable characters and exploit. The book is easy to read and a good introduction to those interested in getting into the espionage or thriller genre.
Synopsis:
Bai Hsu, a CIA case officer, gets a “bonus” in the form of an easy assignment at a high-security private school. A North Korean operatives tries to break into the school and our hero must find out why.
As Hsu continues to investigate, and get the volleyball team ready for their tournament., he discovers a plot he must stops and save millions of people in the process.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
May 16, 2017
3.5 stars
I've never really been a big fan of spy novels, so I was pleasantly surprised by Bai Tide. Bai Hsu is a CIA agent. He finds himself on assignment at a girls' private boarding school for the rich and elite. After chasing after an intruder and almost getting himself blown up in the process, he realizes someone at the school is in grave danger.
When I think of spies, James Bond or Jason Bourne usually come to mind. Bai isn't like either of those mentioned. He seems to be pretty new to the spy scene. He's smart and brave, but he also makes some rookie mistakes. I liked him, he had a great sense of humor, which is rare in a spy. He also comes across as more human and believable. He's a character I could see myself reading more about.
The plot was pretty easy to follow and it's fast paced. That is something I usually have issues with in spy novels. They can get too convoluted and confusing with too many characters. So, it was refreshing to have a story that reeled me in and wasn't confusing. There were a couple of twists that made it that much more entertaining. It is the second in a series, but I had no trouble following the storyline. I definitely recommend this one. It's a quick, fast paced and exciting read.
I've never really been a big fan of spy novels, so I was pleasantly surprised by Bai Tide. Bai Hsu is a CIA agent. He finds himself on assignment at a girls' private boarding school for the rich and elite. After chasing after an intruder and almost getting himself blown up in the process, he realizes someone at the school is in grave danger.
When I think of spies, James Bond or Jason Bourne usually come to mind. Bai isn't like either of those mentioned. He seems to be pretty new to the spy scene. He's smart and brave, but he also makes some rookie mistakes. I liked him, he had a great sense of humor, which is rare in a spy. He also comes across as more human and believable. He's a character I could see myself reading more about.
The plot was pretty easy to follow and it's fast paced. That is something I usually have issues with in spy novels. They can get too convoluted and confusing with too many characters. So, it was refreshing to have a story that reeled me in and wasn't confusing. There were a couple of twists that made it that much more entertaining. It is the second in a series, but I had no trouble following the storyline. I definitely recommend this one. It's a quick, fast paced and exciting read.
May 8, 2017
BAI TIDE (ChampagneBooks) by Ericka Mitchell is an espionage thriller for people who like explosions and sarcasm.
Author Ericka Mitchell must be part psychic, because a good part of her new classic spy tale takes readers in Pyongyang, North Korea – tapping into North Korean-American relations, which top headlines of every news organization today.
CIA case officer, Bai Hsu is stationed in San Diego, where his job is to safeguard the valuable emotional collateral of some of the world’s most powerful people (read: their kids). Just when he thinks he’s landed the easiest assignment of all time, an operative starts targeting the school and it’s up to Bai to figure out who the operative is after, and why. This fast-paced story will take you from the picturesque beaches of San Diego to a deadly blizzard in Pyongyang and make Bai question everything he thought he knew about working in the field, and about himself.
It’s obvious Mitchell has studied spy masters, John LaCarre and Frederick Forsyth before entering the theatre of page turning espionage thrillers. One has to wonder if there’s a movie in the works.
Author Ericka Mitchell must be part psychic, because a good part of her new classic spy tale takes readers in Pyongyang, North Korea – tapping into North Korean-American relations, which top headlines of every news organization today.
CIA case officer, Bai Hsu is stationed in San Diego, where his job is to safeguard the valuable emotional collateral of some of the world’s most powerful people (read: their kids). Just when he thinks he’s landed the easiest assignment of all time, an operative starts targeting the school and it’s up to Bai to figure out who the operative is after, and why. This fast-paced story will take you from the picturesque beaches of San Diego to a deadly blizzard in Pyongyang and make Bai question everything he thought he knew about working in the field, and about himself.
It’s obvious Mitchell has studied spy masters, John LaCarre and Frederick Forsyth before entering the theatre of page turning espionage thrillers. One has to wonder if there’s a movie in the works.
January 9, 2018
YES! This is the spy story I've been looking for. Bai is SO likeable. He's like the best parts of Sterling Archer and James Bond and Jason Bourne, but with this really earnest side where you genuinely care about him. I LOVED this book.
January 9, 2018
Good story. Fast plot, kept me interested.
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