What do you think?
Rate this book
Trident Deception #4
Blackmail
“As in Tom Clancy’s technothrillers, the war maneuvers feel authentic and are described in stellar detail.” ―Booklist
The American aircraft carrier patrolling the Western Pacific is severely damaged by a surprise salvo of cruise missiles. The Russian government officially apologizes, but what it claims was an accident during training was actually a calculated attack. And now it’s time for Russia’s real mission to begin. . .
With the U.S. Pacific fleet at its weakest―and political unrest already spreading throughout Eastern Europe―the Russian president initiates a bold plan to reoccupy key industrialized areas of the former USSR. Doing so will mean cutting off much of the world’s oil and natural gas supply―and wiring every major pipeline with explosives. If the U.S. attempts to thwart Russia, every last resource will be destroyed. America’s only option is to launch a simultaneous attack on all fronts. But one false move could lead to a war of epic proportions―one that could do no less than destroy the world itself. . .
“Enthralling…The submarine and surface-ship battles are pitch-perfect.” ―Publishers Weekly
The American aircraft carrier patrolling the Western Pacific is severely damaged by a surprise salvo of cruise missiles. The Russian government officially apologizes, but what it claims was an accident during training was actually a calculated attack. And now it’s time for Russia’s real mission to begin. . .
With the U.S. Pacific fleet at its weakest―and political unrest already spreading throughout Eastern Europe―the Russian president initiates a bold plan to reoccupy key industrialized areas of the former USSR. Doing so will mean cutting off much of the world’s oil and natural gas supply―and wiring every major pipeline with explosives. If the U.S. attempts to thwart Russia, every last resource will be destroyed. America’s only option is to launch a simultaneous attack on all fronts. But one false move could lead to a war of epic proportions―one that could do no less than destroy the world itself. . .
“Enthralling…The submarine and surface-ship battles are pitch-perfect.” ―Publishers Weekly
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 27, 2017
306 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
About the author
Rick Campbell
13 books343 followersRICK CAMPBELL, a retired Navy Commander, served on four nuclear-powered submarines, finishing his career with tours in the Pentagon and the Washington Navy Yard. On his last submarine, he was one of the two men whose permission is required to launch the submarine's nuclear-warhead-armed missiles.
Upon retirement from the Navy, Rick was offered a two-book deal by Macmillan / St. Martin's Press for his novel The Trident Deception, which was hailed by Booklist as "The best submarine novel written in the last thirty years, since Tom Clancy's classic - The Hunt for Red October". His first six books were Barnes & Noble Top-10 and Amazon #1 bestsellers, and the 7th and 8th books in the series are scheduled for release in April 2024 and spring 2025.
To learn more, visit Rick Campbell's website and his "Submarine 101" page at www.rickcampbellauthor.com.
Upon retirement from the Navy, Rick was offered a two-book deal by Macmillan / St. Martin's Press for his novel The Trident Deception, which was hailed by Booklist as "The best submarine novel written in the last thirty years, since Tom Clancy's classic - The Hunt for Red October". His first six books were Barnes & Noble Top-10 and Amazon #1 bestsellers, and the 7th and 8th books in the series are scheduled for release in April 2024 and spring 2025.
To learn more, visit Rick Campbell's website and his "Submarine 101" page at www.rickcampbellauthor.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 26, 2017
Strong characters in the Trident Deception series return in book 4 facing a major international threat from a resurgent Russia. The President of Russia banks on the US and NATO allies backing down from it's expansionist invasions of Lithuania and Eastern Ukraine. He guesses wrong resulting in a major naval battle between the US and Russian navies. My only complaint with this book and the series in general are the author's unnecessarily long technical descriptions of weapon systems and Navy/submarine SOP's. Reading long military tech descriptions bog down an otherwise entertaining military thriller.
June 24, 2017
I thank Netgallery and the Publisher for providing the electronic review copy.
Blackmail is the fourth military thriller by long serving US Navy Veteran Rick Campbell. Written in the grand speculative fiction tradition of Clancy and Bond, Blackmail paints a picture of how the third world war could come to pass.
Picking a starting point in the current Cold War 2.0 between a nationalist Russia and the free world, the author then unfolds an ingenious conspiracy that the Russian military and espionage establishment seek to use in order to gain complete and utter world domination. Troops are mobilized, Russian spies provoke chaos within their enemies and most unexpectedly, the most critical oil and gas pipelines on earth, are subject to a hostile takeover like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
Standing in the Russian federation’s way, is the United States Armed Forces and Christine O’Connor, the national security adviser who is tasked with coming up with a suitable strategy to defeat the old enemy. Campbell has developed his skills as a writer marvellously since the rough, but promising start in The Trident deception.
With a crisp, fasted paced writing style, insider knowledge on modern conventional warfare, a rock hard grasp on the geopolitical realities facing the world and fully mastering the delicate task of characterization and character development, Blackmail is the culmination of a writer who has hit his stride and has reached the start of his great things period. Now the king of the naval military thriller sub – genre, the author is set for whatever awaits him and his work, and I wait with bated breath to see the next act in the saga he’s kicked off in this story.
Blackmail is the fourth military thriller by long serving US Navy Veteran Rick Campbell. Written in the grand speculative fiction tradition of Clancy and Bond, Blackmail paints a picture of how the third world war could come to pass.
Picking a starting point in the current Cold War 2.0 between a nationalist Russia and the free world, the author then unfolds an ingenious conspiracy that the Russian military and espionage establishment seek to use in order to gain complete and utter world domination. Troops are mobilized, Russian spies provoke chaos within their enemies and most unexpectedly, the most critical oil and gas pipelines on earth, are subject to a hostile takeover like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
Standing in the Russian federation’s way, is the United States Armed Forces and Christine O’Connor, the national security adviser who is tasked with coming up with a suitable strategy to defeat the old enemy. Campbell has developed his skills as a writer marvellously since the rough, but promising start in The Trident deception.
With a crisp, fasted paced writing style, insider knowledge on modern conventional warfare, a rock hard grasp on the geopolitical realities facing the world and fully mastering the delicate task of characterization and character development, Blackmail is the culmination of a writer who has hit his stride and has reached the start of his great things period. Now the king of the naval military thriller sub – genre, the author is set for whatever awaits him and his work, and I wait with bated breath to see the next act in the saga he’s kicked off in this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2017
“Blackmail” is the fourth book in Rick Campbell’s series of contemporary military thrillers. It is not necessary to have read the other books in the series, but readers who enjoy “Blackmail” will certainly want to read the previous books.
A Russian submarine encounters an American warship in the Pacific, and attacks. “We aren’t at war with the United States, but this might start one.” And so it begins.
Something has gone terribly wrong. The Russians apologize and say it was a malfunction. We know they are lying right from the start, but why? Why did they attack and why that ship? Political and economic turmoil are spreading across Europe and even threaten the United States. Disaster looms on every side; every action has an equally unpleasant response.
The action is fast-paced, and the events are so current that they could have been pulled from today’s newspapers. It is a political thrill ride from start to finish. The characters are complex, and the accurate, detailed descriptions put the reader right in the middle of everything.
“Blackmail” starts with a convenient list of characters to facilitate identifying the important players in each arena. In addition, each chapter begins with a notation of the location as the action shifts from ship to shore and country to country.
This is not the kind of book that I usually read, but when I saw the description, I was intrigued. Since I am not accustomed to reading books in this category, I gave it three stars, but I am sure that readers who are more familiar with this genera will give it five stars since it kept even me on the edge of my seat. I received a copy of “Blackmail” from St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley in exchange for my truthful review. I really enjoyed reading something out of my comfort zone.
A Russian submarine encounters an American warship in the Pacific, and attacks. “We aren’t at war with the United States, but this might start one.” And so it begins.
Something has gone terribly wrong. The Russians apologize and say it was a malfunction. We know they are lying right from the start, but why? Why did they attack and why that ship? Political and economic turmoil are spreading across Europe and even threaten the United States. Disaster looms on every side; every action has an equally unpleasant response.
The action is fast-paced, and the events are so current that they could have been pulled from today’s newspapers. It is a political thrill ride from start to finish. The characters are complex, and the accurate, detailed descriptions put the reader right in the middle of everything.
“Blackmail” starts with a convenient list of characters to facilitate identifying the important players in each arena. In addition, each chapter begins with a notation of the location as the action shifts from ship to shore and country to country.
This is not the kind of book that I usually read, but when I saw the description, I was intrigued. Since I am not accustomed to reading books in this category, I gave it three stars, but I am sure that readers who are more familiar with this genera will give it five stars since it kept even me on the edge of my seat. I received a copy of “Blackmail” from St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley in exchange for my truthful review. I really enjoyed reading something out of my comfort zone.
January 21, 2019
“Blackmail” the fourth book in the “Trident Deception” series opens with a Russian submarine attack on the USS aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. With damage to one of the already depleted carriers in the U.S. Pacific fleet after their war with the Chinese, the carrier heads to port, out-of- commission for six months. In a surprising apology the Russian President blames the accident on a misfire during a training exercise although the President and his advisers suspect something more sinister being planned.
With the Russians plagued with problems in their economy, President Kalinin’s popularity sliding before the election, this is the first step in their bold plan to reoccupy the Baltic States, part of the former USSR while blockading the world’s oil and natural gas transports to stop NATO interference. Increasing the threat Russia Special Forces have wired explosives into the oil and natural pipelines that seem impossible to defuse and they will detonate if provoked.
In a fast-paced and action-packed military thrill-ride, the world draws closer to war as NATO allies’ debate about intervening when the Russians take Lithuania and the Ukraine, the U.S. searches for a way to defuse the bombs, and the Russian ambassador negotiates support from China and India. As the Russian plot thickens Christine O’Connor the presidential national security adviser in a gripping subplot is headed to Moscow to negotiate the terms governing nuclear weapons only to later become embroiled in plan to neutralize the bombs on the pipelines by killing the Russian Defense Minister.
Intensity and suspense quickly escalate with the extraction of a Russian scientist by a US Special Ops team; the tension in the Strait of Hormuz; and Christine’s meetings with Chinese President Xiang, and her clash with the Russian SVG Director. With twists and turns in a smoothly flowing plot with quick short chapters that make the clash of wills and engagement of forces realistic, the excitement and tension mounts as the story explodes in a violent confrontation on land and sea.
With a large array of characters one of the personalities that stands out is Christine O’Connor a smart, honest and driven adviser to the President who’s constantly followed by trouble. With little time for a social life, she finds herself pursued by the Russian President and his Defense Minister while yearning for a Seal she once loved and lost. But the most chilling personality is that of Semyon Gorev the Director of the SVG who’s intimidating, domineering and cruel in the cat and mouse game he likes to play with Christine.
As always, I thoroughly enjoyed Rick Campbell’s fourth novel in the Trident Deception series. Well-written and very credible, I highly recommend it to those that like a great military thriller.
With the Russians plagued with problems in their economy, President Kalinin’s popularity sliding before the election, this is the first step in their bold plan to reoccupy the Baltic States, part of the former USSR while blockading the world’s oil and natural gas transports to stop NATO interference. Increasing the threat Russia Special Forces have wired explosives into the oil and natural pipelines that seem impossible to defuse and they will detonate if provoked.
In a fast-paced and action-packed military thrill-ride, the world draws closer to war as NATO allies’ debate about intervening when the Russians take Lithuania and the Ukraine, the U.S. searches for a way to defuse the bombs, and the Russian ambassador negotiates support from China and India. As the Russian plot thickens Christine O’Connor the presidential national security adviser in a gripping subplot is headed to Moscow to negotiate the terms governing nuclear weapons only to later become embroiled in plan to neutralize the bombs on the pipelines by killing the Russian Defense Minister.
Intensity and suspense quickly escalate with the extraction of a Russian scientist by a US Special Ops team; the tension in the Strait of Hormuz; and Christine’s meetings with Chinese President Xiang, and her clash with the Russian SVG Director. With twists and turns in a smoothly flowing plot with quick short chapters that make the clash of wills and engagement of forces realistic, the excitement and tension mounts as the story explodes in a violent confrontation on land and sea.
With a large array of characters one of the personalities that stands out is Christine O’Connor a smart, honest and driven adviser to the President who’s constantly followed by trouble. With little time for a social life, she finds herself pursued by the Russian President and his Defense Minister while yearning for a Seal she once loved and lost. But the most chilling personality is that of Semyon Gorev the Director of the SVG who’s intimidating, domineering and cruel in the cat and mouse game he likes to play with Christine.
As always, I thoroughly enjoyed Rick Campbell’s fourth novel in the Trident Deception series. Well-written and very credible, I highly recommend it to those that like a great military thriller.
September 26, 2017
A surprise Russian attack on a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Pacific leaves the already understrength fleet vulnerable. The Russians apologize for the “accident”, but it turns out the attack was only the opening salvo in a bold Russian plan to create a buffer zone along its border with Europe. Blackmail by Rick Campbell plays out this scenario in chilling detail. Whether a weakened U.S. fleet has the ability and the appetite to stand up to Russian aggression and whether they can do so without plunging the world into a new war is the question in Campbell’s exciting military techno-thriller.
The Russian president and military is betting that the United States does not have the appetite for further conflict after its recent battle with China, detailed in an earlier book. Blockading sea access to world oil supplies and booby-trapping major gas and oil pipelines serve as further threat to keep Western Europe and NATO forces from risking a response. The U.S. chooses an aggressive response attacking on multiple fronts simultaneously. If it doesn’t go exactly according to plan, the risk could be plunging the world into economic chaos and a new world war.
The action bounces among several locations from the presidencies in Washington and Moscow to locations on board submarines and aircraft carriers. National Security Advisor Christine O’Connor plays a central role both for her savvy and for the regard in which she is held by top leaders in the Russian administration.
The early part of the book is spent in setting up the conflict to come, with diplomacy as well as covert missions to achieve critical objectives. Once these pieces are maneuvered into place, the action takes off with compelling naval battle scenes as well as some up close and personal encounters. Campbell does a good job of staging a large military engagement with high speed action and a lot of moving pieces. The scale of the battle robs it of some of its intimacy. Casualties are a little less impactful without more of a personal connection to the people involved. Some of the political calculations also strain credulity, but overall this is a solid military thriller sure to please fans of Campbell’s previous work as well as fans of the genre in general.
The audio version is narrated by Michael Kramer. Kramer does a solid job here, particularly with the accents making it easy to distinguish when switching between Russian and American perspectives. The pacing is generally good, but long passages describing weapon systems and tactics occasionally run on, particularly in audio version. It is a quick listen with plenty of action.
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book and the audio from the publisher.
The Russian president and military is betting that the United States does not have the appetite for further conflict after its recent battle with China, detailed in an earlier book. Blockading sea access to world oil supplies and booby-trapping major gas and oil pipelines serve as further threat to keep Western Europe and NATO forces from risking a response. The U.S. chooses an aggressive response attacking on multiple fronts simultaneously. If it doesn’t go exactly according to plan, the risk could be plunging the world into economic chaos and a new world war.
The action bounces among several locations from the presidencies in Washington and Moscow to locations on board submarines and aircraft carriers. National Security Advisor Christine O’Connor plays a central role both for her savvy and for the regard in which she is held by top leaders in the Russian administration.
The early part of the book is spent in setting up the conflict to come, with diplomacy as well as covert missions to achieve critical objectives. Once these pieces are maneuvered into place, the action takes off with compelling naval battle scenes as well as some up close and personal encounters. Campbell does a good job of staging a large military engagement with high speed action and a lot of moving pieces. The scale of the battle robs it of some of its intimacy. Casualties are a little less impactful without more of a personal connection to the people involved. Some of the political calculations also strain credulity, but overall this is a solid military thriller sure to please fans of Campbell’s previous work as well as fans of the genre in general.
The audio version is narrated by Michael Kramer. Kramer does a solid job here, particularly with the accents making it easy to distinguish when switching between Russian and American perspectives. The pacing is generally good, but long passages describing weapon systems and tactics occasionally run on, particularly in audio version. It is a quick listen with plenty of action.
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book and the audio from the publisher.
February 28, 2021
The Fourth Book in the thrilling Submarine Thriller Series is one of my favorites. Full of suspense, action, and unthinkable surprises.
SURPRISES - The first part of the story was amazing. Surprises we’re jumping out of every corner. It seemed like Rick Campbell appeared out of the pages yelling, “surprise!”
ACTION - Lots of action. It’ll keep you glued to the book, and you won’t put it down until the end. I loved how the surprises created action as the story flowed.
LENGTH - Loved the length of the story. It is longer than I could imagine. The main reason is that Campbell never ended the story too fast. It was sound 400+ Pages in Paperback and I was very happy.
PLOT - The plot was near perfect. There are a few places that it is not good but most of the plot is nice. I especially loved the aircraft carriers and the plot to sink the USS Theodore Rosevelt.
SUBMARINES - The submarines were perfect. I especially liked the USS Michigan. I believe it’s the main submarine in the story. The really nice part about it is that Campbell describes the torpedoes flawlessly. Really nice.
RATING OUT OF 100 - 90. It wasn’t as good as the first book but it still had a really good plot which was entertaining. Because of that, I knocked off five points.
I received a review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
SURPRISES - The first part of the story was amazing. Surprises we’re jumping out of every corner. It seemed like Rick Campbell appeared out of the pages yelling, “surprise!”
ACTION - Lots of action. It’ll keep you glued to the book, and you won’t put it down until the end. I loved how the surprises created action as the story flowed.
LENGTH - Loved the length of the story. It is longer than I could imagine. The main reason is that Campbell never ended the story too fast. It was sound 400+ Pages in Paperback and I was very happy.
PLOT - The plot was near perfect. There are a few places that it is not good but most of the plot is nice. I especially loved the aircraft carriers and the plot to sink the USS Theodore Rosevelt.
SUBMARINES - The submarines were perfect. I especially liked the USS Michigan. I believe it’s the main submarine in the story. The really nice part about it is that Campbell describes the torpedoes flawlessly. Really nice.
RATING OUT OF 100 - 90. It wasn’t as good as the first book but it still had a really good plot which was entertaining. Because of that, I knocked off five points.
I received a review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
October 2, 2022
Plot: The Trident Deception Series consists of several full-length novels in the military genrè. A retired Navy author provides page-turning excitement of near-miss disasters in American conflicts, primarily with Russia. Suggest starting at the beginning of the series, as several characters - like the President, Chief of Staff, a navy seal, and a strong female lead traverse all novels written to date - will be more.
Liked: If you are a fan of The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy - you'll love The Trident Deception Series. All are nail-biting, page-turning stories. Some graphic violence; if you're a victim of wartime PTSD, these might not be for you. Clean reads, no sex, no objectionable language. Learned a bit about submarine tactics.
Not so hot: Audio speed is a bit slow for my taste; I bumped the rate to 1.4 on the iPhone.
Written by Rick Campbell, and narration is fine; there are several, each book in the area of 10-15 hours of listening in audiobook format, released from March 2014 to date by Blackstone Audio.
Recommended.
Liked: If you are a fan of The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy - you'll love The Trident Deception Series. All are nail-biting, page-turning stories. Some graphic violence; if you're a victim of wartime PTSD, these might not be for you. Clean reads, no sex, no objectionable language. Learned a bit about submarine tactics.
Not so hot: Audio speed is a bit slow for my taste; I bumped the rate to 1.4 on the iPhone.
Written by Rick Campbell, and narration is fine; there are several, each book in the area of 10-15 hours of listening in audiobook format, released from March 2014 to date by Blackstone Audio.
Recommended.
April 28, 2019
Entertaining story but could have gone longer into detail and character development.
Needs to add some new characters as the arcs for a lot of the existing ones are becoming predictable.
Needs to add some new characters as the arcs for a lot of the existing ones are becoming predictable.
July 17, 2017
The events in this book closely follow the previous books. It can be read independently of the other books, but you might lose some character continuity.
America has emerged from the war with China, bloodied, but not completely beaten. The shooting war continues with a new opponent and we get to go along for the ride.
The battle sequences and timing are very reminiscent of Tom Clancy. This book is less about the submarine service than the previous books and more about other aspects of war and government betrayals. We also find our heroine O'Conner playing an increasingly larger role in each and every book. She is a strong and resourceful character. I was getting to feel it was a bit over the top, but in reflection, she is just the badass heroine I have been missing for a while. I will look forward to the next in this series.
Add this to your reading list and have a GoodReads.
America has emerged from the war with China, bloodied, but not completely beaten. The shooting war continues with a new opponent and we get to go along for the ride.
The battle sequences and timing are very reminiscent of Tom Clancy. This book is less about the submarine service than the previous books and more about other aspects of war and government betrayals. We also find our heroine O'Conner playing an increasingly larger role in each and every book. She is a strong and resourceful character. I was getting to feel it was a bit over the top, but in reflection, she is just the badass heroine I have been missing for a while. I will look forward to the next in this series.
Add this to your reading list and have a GoodReads.
May 10, 2021
Great read
Held my interest the entire book .Now moving on to book 5.All the books I read in this series where very good.
Held my interest the entire book .Now moving on to book 5.All the books I read in this series where very good.
April 12, 2022
Book Review – Rick Campbell’s “Blackmail” is book four in the Trident Deception Series and is what I call a “more action-packed’ Tom Clancy submarine novel. Yes, the geopolitical politics is still there, but this series is a submarine thriller on battle steroids! In Blackmail, a US aircraft carrier patrolling the Western Pacific Ocean is severely damaged by a surprise salvo of cruise missiles. While the Russian government officially apologizes, claiming it was the result of a fire control accident during a training exercise, it was instead a calculated irritation. With the US Pacific fleet already severely under strength, the Russian president decides that the US’ response is a clear indication of their weakness, militarily and politically, and he decides to initiate a bold invasion plan. With political unrest spreading through the Eastern European states, the Russian Northern Fleet is commanded to move swiftly in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Russian army is moved west to their borders. The Russian Navy also mobilizes its fleets in the Baltic and Black Sea. To make matters worse, Russia's Special Forces have wired every major oil and natural gas pipelines with explosives. If the US makes one move to thwart Russia, Russia will destroy them all with nukes. Extremely suspenseful, enthralling and captivating, Blackmail is one military thriller that not only thrills, but questions whether if such ‘unthinkable’ is possible by the Russians? Campbell writes a very compelling tell that is scary good and somewhat troubling in the “what if this really happens” department. Heavy on the Navy submarine jargon, but it’s a submarine thriller. Again, a high-octane Clancy-like submarine tell that makes you want more...
November 26, 2017
Oh to be 15 again. If I were 14 or 15 again I would be all over this book, a nonstop war book so filled with action that a conventional war with two superpowers plus, would only take a couple of weeks or so. Gee we must have been doing something wrong in all our previous wars, they seemed to take years. And lets not forget our fearless national security advisor, a beautiful woman (of course) who kills the russian defense minister and the head of the SVR (was KGB) with her bare hands, and of course escapes russia with ease. This would make a great Saturday morning tv show, but only if it were an hour or less. That being said, if you have a 13-15yo boy, this book would make a great Christmass gift. You're welcome.
December 29, 2017
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I think the author does a "better job" when the scenario is smaller in scope and not so broad. The first half or so of the book is spent building up to the "climax" and then the last half of the book is the climax. It was exciting in parts, it was captivating in parts; he came up with some "solutions" and scenarios I do not recall having read before, which made elements of the story quite unique. At the same time, it felt "rushed" and that it was wrapped up a bit too neat - a little to "conveniently" (for lack of a better way to put it).
The entire concept was a great concept (and, hence, the title). On the one hand, though, it does kind of remind me of the 1980s TV mini-series "World War III" .
The character development was okay; the "main" character probably had the most development. I cannot say that I ever came to really have any "emotional attachment" to or investment with any of the characters, though.
I do like how he is trying to keep the novels accurate with each other (accurate is probably not the right word; maybe trying to maintain the continuity of his storyline?). The US Navy is still trying to recover from the short war with China, and some elements from the beginning of the book are the result of the events in the third book in the Arctic Circle. The events of this book will make the next one interesting in terms of seeing how the United States handles (is able to handle) future "world crises."
I did enjoy the book. It was a fast read, and parts of it did have me on the edge of my seat. I am glad that I read it.
The entire concept was a great concept (and, hence, the title). On the one hand, though, it does kind of remind me of the 1980s TV mini-series "World War III" .
The character development was okay; the "main" character probably had the most development. I cannot say that I ever came to really have any "emotional attachment" to or investment with any of the characters, though.
I do like how he is trying to keep the novels accurate with each other (accurate is probably not the right word; maybe trying to maintain the continuity of his storyline?). The US Navy is still trying to recover from the short war with China, and some elements from the beginning of the book are the result of the events in the third book in the Arctic Circle. The events of this book will make the next one interesting in terms of seeing how the United States handles (is able to handle) future "world crises."
I did enjoy the book. It was a fast read, and parts of it did have me on the edge of my seat. I am glad that I read it.
May 6, 2018
Originally posted on A to Z Book Reviews.
Retired submarine commander Rick Campbell’s naval thriller series have been repeatedly compared to Tom Clancy, and for good reason. Campbell’s fourth installment, Blackmail, is a thrilling story pulled straight from the headlines.
In Blackmail, we find America’s navy struggling after a prolonged war with China. While America’s navy is rebuilding, Russian President Yuri Kalinin sees an opportunity for Russia to continue to grow their dominance both by sea and by land. A Russian submarine fires on an American aircraft carrier in the western Pacific ocean and claims it was an accident from a training exercise. America accepts Russia’s apologies for the attack. Seeing that America is still weakened by previous wars, Russia greenlights their master plan to gain power. America knows from the start that Russia is up to something, and that becomes clearer when Russia invades Ukraine.
America tries to get NATO to come to the aid of Ukraine and react to Russia’s effort to annex Ukraine. Russia successfully blackmails the NATO countries by threatening to blow up gas and oil pipelines throughout the world. If successfully detonated, countries would be devastated and economies would come to a crashing halt. With the blackmail in place, NATO votes not to start a conflict with Russia, so America goes in alone. To stop an all out attack from the stronger Russian navy, America must attack with all their might all at one time.
Christine O’Connor, the national security advisor, serves as the fantastic tough-as-nails lead character in the series. Along with O’Connor, Campbell composes an ensemble cast that includes something for every reader. O’Connor and the President are great characters for those who love political thrillers. The Navy commanders and SEAL team operatives are perfect for readers who love a little more military action.
The realism portrayed in these books comes from real life experiences. Campbell’s life-long career makes these books shine. He is at his prime with Blackmail, and his thrillers are a must read for those who enjoy political and military thrillers. He uses modern day politics to set the stage in his books, and that’s what makes his books so appealing. You will finish his books and think, “Could this happen in the next few years?”
I finished all four of his books in just a few months, and I would highly suggest you start with the first book in the series. You’ll be hooked right away.
Retired submarine commander Rick Campbell’s naval thriller series have been repeatedly compared to Tom Clancy, and for good reason. Campbell’s fourth installment, Blackmail, is a thrilling story pulled straight from the headlines.
In Blackmail, we find America’s navy struggling after a prolonged war with China. While America’s navy is rebuilding, Russian President Yuri Kalinin sees an opportunity for Russia to continue to grow their dominance both by sea and by land. A Russian submarine fires on an American aircraft carrier in the western Pacific ocean and claims it was an accident from a training exercise. America accepts Russia’s apologies for the attack. Seeing that America is still weakened by previous wars, Russia greenlights their master plan to gain power. America knows from the start that Russia is up to something, and that becomes clearer when Russia invades Ukraine.
America tries to get NATO to come to the aid of Ukraine and react to Russia’s effort to annex Ukraine. Russia successfully blackmails the NATO countries by threatening to blow up gas and oil pipelines throughout the world. If successfully detonated, countries would be devastated and economies would come to a crashing halt. With the blackmail in place, NATO votes not to start a conflict with Russia, so America goes in alone. To stop an all out attack from the stronger Russian navy, America must attack with all their might all at one time.
Christine O’Connor, the national security advisor, serves as the fantastic tough-as-nails lead character in the series. Along with O’Connor, Campbell composes an ensemble cast that includes something for every reader. O’Connor and the President are great characters for those who love political thrillers. The Navy commanders and SEAL team operatives are perfect for readers who love a little more military action.
The realism portrayed in these books comes from real life experiences. Campbell’s life-long career makes these books shine. He is at his prime with Blackmail, and his thrillers are a must read for those who enjoy political and military thrillers. He uses modern day politics to set the stage in his books, and that’s what makes his books so appealing. You will finish his books and think, “Could this happen in the next few years?”
I finished all four of his books in just a few months, and I would highly suggest you start with the first book in the series. You’ll be hooked right away.
September 28, 2021
A story, poorly told (slow, boring), nibbled to death by amateurish writing. Here's one example among many hundreds: "She rose from her desk and strode across the office, forcing a smile onto her face as she extended her hand." Do we need to be told she forced a smile ONTO HER FACE? I hate to think where else she might force a smile. Excellent writers recognize the sign of the amateur, a great many words and phrases that carry no weight at all. I know, picky, picky. But the empty calories of words and phrases that can be deleted (as in this example) suck the energy out of the writing and out of the story. However, I might have gone as high as four stars if the story were otherwise well told. But, sadly, it wasn't. Page 11 (in hardcover) we get the full, blow-by-blow treatment of a submarine clearing its baffles before surfacing. Well, okay, Rick Campbell "spent more than 20 years on multiple submarine tours," so I accept that he knows how to surface a sub. But, page 55, we are treated once again to the blow-by-blow procedure of a submarine clearing its baffles and surfacing. Really? Deja vu. At that point, Campbell was just writing "filler," probably inadvertently, which is another hallmark of the amateur. A final nail in this coffin is on pages 59-60. We get a rather boring description of a meeting about to take place between Russian Defense Minister Chernov and China's President Chenglei. A few lines of empty dialogue ["Welcome to Beijing." "Thank you." "It was my pleasure."] and Chernov's very brief thoughts about what the meeting might mean or accomplish. Then, bam, no meeting. All we (readers) are told is "The meeting didn't take long." That's it. Chernov and his translator exit the building and get into a waiting sedan. No result. China's president was left mulling the offer over. End of chapter. Huh? But after the first chapter, that's how the first chapters went: talk, talk, talk, describe, describe, get nowhere, bland characters one and all. I was reading page 61 when I slowed down, coasted to a stop, and quit, like a car out of gas. Done. Life is too short to spend it reading . . . nothing. Two stars for effort. In school, that's called grade inflation.
November 5, 2019
I did not notice it until book four of this series, but this truly is a story arc that has embraced all of these novels. Actions from earlier stories have consequences in later ones. The characters evolve and when there is a loss, it hurts! Some things I have learned are: 1) Do not piss of the National Security advisor, Christine O'Connor. 2) Really good submarine commanders are worth their weight in gold. 3) I really enjoy Rick Campbell books.
In this one the Russian government gets stroppy and comes up with a really good plan to expand their teritorial interests in the Ukraine and Latvia. Bef0re the U.N. can intervene, they unveil their dastardly scheme (Which is a form of blackmail) and it puts a stranglehold on any sort of coalition. This leaves it up to the good old American military to thwart their efforts. Most of the recurring cast is back and, as always, the battles are well crafted, fast moving, and riveting. (I can't help but wonder though, after the events of the first 4 books, does the U.S. have any money left? The bill to repair and replace their losses must be astronomical!) Espionage also plays a role in this book and as always, this is where the President's National Security advisor gets involved and in trouble, again! However, refer to point 1 above.
One thing I want to point out again is that there is a fine line between the bad guys and the good guys in Rick's books. The actions taken by the protagonists are understandable. It would be really easy to turn these stories around and switch sides. The really good news is that this novel ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, paving the way for number 5. Treason. That I will be starting tomorrow. I appear to be a little addicted to Mr. Campbell. (In a good way!)
In this one the Russian government gets stroppy and comes up with a really good plan to expand their teritorial interests in the Ukraine and Latvia. Bef0re the U.N. can intervene, they unveil their dastardly scheme (Which is a form of blackmail) and it puts a stranglehold on any sort of coalition. This leaves it up to the good old American military to thwart their efforts. Most of the recurring cast is back and, as always, the battles are well crafted, fast moving, and riveting. (I can't help but wonder though, after the events of the first 4 books, does the U.S. have any money left? The bill to repair and replace their losses must be astronomical!) Espionage also plays a role in this book and as always, this is where the President's National Security advisor gets involved and in trouble, again! However, refer to point 1 above.
One thing I want to point out again is that there is a fine line between the bad guys and the good guys in Rick's books. The actions taken by the protagonists are understandable. It would be really easy to turn these stories around and switch sides. The really good news is that this novel ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, paving the way for number 5. Treason. That I will be starting tomorrow. I appear to be a little addicted to Mr. Campbell. (In a good way!)
April 20, 2025
I'd read two of the first three novels in the Trident series several years ago, and remembered liking them pretty well. Memories confirmed by solid, if unspectacular, reviews that I'd written for them here on Goodreads. So after finishing a book from the Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan Jr. Universe and feeling like more of the same, I dug out the copy of Blackmail that I'd apparently bought back in the day and set sail.
I didn't remember a lot about the world that had been created in the previous books, but it didn't take me too long to realize that it really didn't matter. The current geopolitics are laid out, and come to find there really is no cast of characters with unique personalities and little moments of their own. What we have instead is Christine; essentially this saga's Jack Ryan. Unfortunately she's the weakest link in a very weak story.
Christine is extremely unlikable. Almost insufferable really. The fact that Campbell saddles her with poorly written romantic melodrama doesn't help, but she's not an easy protagonist to root for regardless.
The story itself is absurd and doesn't even keep a single toe in reality. The stakes are big, but the logic is too convoluted for any of it to mean anything.
Bottom line is that if you want Clancy, read Clancy... or at least the various authors who've taken over his universe. They do a much better job than what Rick Campbell does here.
I didn't remember a lot about the world that had been created in the previous books, but it didn't take me too long to realize that it really didn't matter. The current geopolitics are laid out, and come to find there really is no cast of characters with unique personalities and little moments of their own. What we have instead is Christine; essentially this saga's Jack Ryan. Unfortunately she's the weakest link in a very weak story.
Christine is extremely unlikable. Almost insufferable really. The fact that Campbell saddles her with poorly written romantic melodrama doesn't help, but she's not an easy protagonist to root for regardless.
The story itself is absurd and doesn't even keep a single toe in reality. The stakes are big, but the logic is too convoluted for any of it to mean anything.
Bottom line is that if you want Clancy, read Clancy... or at least the various authors who've taken over his universe. They do a much better job than what Rick Campbell does here.
April 2, 2021
This is the fourth installment in the Trident Deception series, which inserts the central characters into international political situations that have tremendous global impact. The comparisons to Tom Clancy novels are spot-on, with the exception that you really have to suspend belief when it comes to many aspects of the stories the author weaves.
Christine O'Connell is the President's National Security Advsior, but one would think she is a James Bond-style operative. She gets into some of the most unbelievable and outlandish situations, and somehow seems to survive them all. While there is no denying that the storyline and situations are exciting and often tense, they have grown simply too unbelievable. I'm sorry, there is simply no way that an untrained individual is going to (a) repeatedly find themselves in these situation, and (b) get out of it and survive. It is simply too outlandish.
I am also finding that the U.S.'s opponents are underplayed, often appearing amateurish, at best. Their oversights and handling of situations is almost laughable, and border security for their sovereign nations is practically non-existant. Again, unbelievable.
Sadly, this has tarnished my opinion and enjoyment of the books, so my reading of the author's works will likely stop here.
Christine O'Connell is the President's National Security Advsior, but one would think she is a James Bond-style operative. She gets into some of the most unbelievable and outlandish situations, and somehow seems to survive them all. While there is no denying that the storyline and situations are exciting and often tense, they have grown simply too unbelievable. I'm sorry, there is simply no way that an untrained individual is going to (a) repeatedly find themselves in these situation, and (b) get out of it and survive. It is simply too outlandish.
I am also finding that the U.S.'s opponents are underplayed, often appearing amateurish, at best. Their oversights and handling of situations is almost laughable, and border security for their sovereign nations is practically non-existant. Again, unbelievable.
Sadly, this has tarnished my opinion and enjoyment of the books, so my reading of the author's works will likely stop here.
October 5, 2017
The premise of entitled Russian invasion and seizure of adjoining countries and an all out war between Russia and the US seems chillingly prescient in light of current geopolitical affairs. I have read all of Campbell's book to date and I continue to be impressed with not only the depth of knowledge of myriad technical details but the breadth of his grasp of the inner workings, and descriptive details, of other governments around the world. I do enjoy the tactical details and the suspense of the battles, but also enjoy some character development and I felt the author fleshed out the main players in this novel a little more and gave their relationships a three dimensional feel. This is a fast paced story that continues to build a stellar reputation for this author and cements his place among the elite of the international thriller genre.
February 7, 2019
The plot of this book should have been the most interesting to me. While it involved multiple nations all interacting for their own interests, thus it seemed the most realistic, it also had a smaller scope, focusing directly on the conflict in US/Russian relations.
But the story, for some reason, failed to draw me in like his previous books had, at least until the final third of the book. I'm not sure why...but I just didn't care as much about the story.
And while I'm glad that Rick Campbell has included a strong female character in a strong leadership role, I'm not a fan of the way that her sexuality becomes such a strong element of the story. This is not the case for his male characters.
I'll keep reading Rick Campbell's books, and I will consider my reaction to this book a bit of an anomaly, but I will continue to pay attention.
But the story, for some reason, failed to draw me in like his previous books had, at least until the final third of the book. I'm not sure why...but I just didn't care as much about the story.
And while I'm glad that Rick Campbell has included a strong female character in a strong leadership role, I'm not a fan of the way that her sexuality becomes such a strong element of the story. This is not the case for his male characters.
I'll keep reading Rick Campbell's books, and I will consider my reaction to this book a bit of an anomaly, but I will continue to pay attention.
December 30, 2018
I read this book without reading the other books in the series. This is because my wife bought it for me when I told her to buy me a war book. I did not know it was a part of a series until the very end. But it was enjoyable all on its own.
It moves very quickly and does a good job building the tension between the international powers at play. The story line with Christine was great and kept me riveted. However when it came to the actual battle scenes I was so lost with the submarine jargon. He even said he dumbed it down for the average reader but I still only got the slightest gist of what was happening in those scenes. But that’s my only complaint. It was an enjoyable read and I would like to read the rest in the series.
It moves very quickly and does a good job building the tension between the international powers at play. The story line with Christine was great and kept me riveted. However when it came to the actual battle scenes I was so lost with the submarine jargon. He even said he dumbed it down for the average reader but I still only got the slightest gist of what was happening in those scenes. But that’s my only complaint. It was an enjoyable read and I would like to read the rest in the series.
October 11, 2020
This is my third go around with Rick Campbell's "Trident" series. I must say I enjoyed this book more than the first two. Great action & intrigue. The two separate stories running all through the book were very good and kept me wanting to read one more chapter before I put the book down. The one drawback was that I felt Mr. Campbell told way more about what happened in the third book than he needed to. As I get these books from my local library I was unable to get the third book right away. So I decided to read this one not knowing he would tell much of the story from the third. I'm still waiting to get the third book but when I do I feel like it won't be as interesting as it might have been.
July 1, 2017
Rick Campbell's best offering yet. I've liked his previous works, but this is the best yet. Difficult to put down, with multiple plots unfolding simultaneously. Decent character development, and a knowledge of submarines unmatched by any other fiction writer.
The book does a good job of following the alternate history laid down in the previous books, and anticipating likely reactions to it. The Deus Ex Machina and most of the Mary Sue issues in some previous works are gone. Pick up this book, and you'll find a real page-turner that you won't want to set down.
Full disclosure: I am a Naval Academy classmate of the author and a named character in the book.
The book does a good job of following the alternate history laid down in the previous books, and anticipating likely reactions to it. The Deus Ex Machina and most of the Mary Sue issues in some previous works are gone. Pick up this book, and you'll find a real page-turner that you won't want to set down.
Full disclosure: I am a Naval Academy classmate of the author and a named character in the book.
May 23, 2018
Excellent read. Non-stop action. However, reviewers claim that Rick Campbell books can all be read individually without reading any previous versions. In "Blackmail" there was a lot of referencing previous stories, such as "Trident Deception #3". It would have been nice to have read the previous version. Nevertheless, this story could still be read without it. Though there was a lot of action, there was also a lot of detail in some cases, particularly in the naval scenes. But, it was still good and I learned a lot from it. Quite often I found myself Googling certain terminology and learning new things. This was a terrific story and I look forward to reading other books by Campbell.
October 28, 2018
While the books starts off very nicely, it loses plot towards the end. It appears as if there was an urgency to finish the book and in the process, the enemy i.e Russia is shown to be dumb in so far as their internal security process and external intelligence gathering is concerned.
No one leaves a high value target unguarded like the designer of the detonator and the defence minister's villa.
HUman intelligence has been totally ignored. It has been assumed that it is a cake walk for USA to feed wrong information to the Russian & Indian satellites and moving four carrier groups in to the Indian OCean & Arabian Sea, and nobody gets to know about it.
No one leaves a high value target unguarded like the designer of the detonator and the defence minister's villa.
HUman intelligence has been totally ignored. It has been assumed that it is a cake walk for USA to feed wrong information to the Russian & Indian satellites and moving four carrier groups in to the Indian OCean & Arabian Sea, and nobody gets to know about it.
June 11, 2019
Campbell presents an exquisitely detailed scenario of modern naval warfare. As I read Blackmail, I could not help but think back three decades to my first read of Red Storm Rising, perhaps my favorite of Tom Clancy. The strategy unfolds in pace with ensuing events, and left me on the edge of my chair, frantically turning pages to see what would happen next. This is a thoughtful, action-packed thriller. I wished the battle scenes had been drawn out and told from different POV, but that is a personal preference. If you enjoy naval thrillers, Campbell is an author you must get familiar with. Blackmail is outstanding!
August 18, 2019
The book wasn't so bad for a military thriller, but, from a tactical side and accuracy it was ridiculous-everything the americans did turned to gold, and everything any other country did turned to poop. Brand new Russian hardware including the S400 was pretty much written off as ineffective, but 20yr old american hardware was invincible. All a bit silly.
And then there were instances where the american president was calling up other presidents saying 'ooops, sorry, I sank your ship, haha'. Errrr, no.
And then there were instances where the american president was calling up other presidents saying 'ooops, sorry, I sank your ship, haha'. Errrr, no.
October 8, 2017
This is the fourth in an ongoing saga and I, unknowingly, plunged in the middle of the story. I have now read the second and the fourth of the story's chapters which is not fatal but when I knowingly embark on these adventures I really like to take them in order. This chapter, like the second, is a military, the U.S. Navy featured, story with world changing effects. It is well written and engaging in my opinion.
February 15, 2018
Rick Campbell's latest book, Blackmail, was definitely a page-turner. With so many twists and turns and surprises, I had a hard time putting it down. I highly recommend Campbell's series of submarine books. The books support a super strong female lead and the authenticity in the Naval warfare gives the reader the feeling that they're looking over the action as it's actually happening.
Thank you, Rick! Can't wait for your next book.
Thank you, Rick! Can't wait for your next book.
April 27, 2018
Seriously? I am from India & FYI that it's Prime Minister & not the president who is decision making authority.. One star gone for faux pas
Tomahawk missiles launched at Rashtrapathi bhavan & it looks as if india doesn't even have a clue & meek surrender is baffling..
Also the actions of Christine O'Connor has become over the top of late.. It seems she doesn't learn to decide when to quit & leave the espionage/spy stuff to the pros.. Another star gone
Tomahawk missiles launched at Rashtrapathi bhavan & it looks as if india doesn't even have a clue & meek surrender is baffling..
Also the actions of Christine O'Connor has become over the top of late.. It seems she doesn't learn to decide when to quit & leave the espionage/spy stuff to the pros.. Another star gone
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews