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Jon Hunt #9
Conspiracy
This is the ninth book in the 'Jon Hunt' series based on the Royal Navy and events of recent years.
The terrorist attack in New York on 9/11 starts a chain reaction that alters the balance of power in the Middle East.
Jon Hunt, having left command of the Formidable and newly promoted to Commodore is thrust into the middle of events just as the allies invade Iraq looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction. But do they even exist? Why is the British Government so convinced that they do? He is given the task of finding them despite his personal misgivings over the war. What he discovers is a conspiracy going right to the top.
Will he intervene to stop an even greater tragedy taking place?
The terrorist attack in New York on 9/11 starts a chain reaction that alters the balance of power in the Middle East.
Jon Hunt, having left command of the Formidable and newly promoted to Commodore is thrust into the middle of events just as the allies invade Iraq looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction. But do they even exist? Why is the British Government so convinced that they do? He is given the task of finding them despite his personal misgivings over the war. What he discovers is a conspiracy going right to the top.
Will he intervene to stop an even greater tragedy taking place?
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2017
31 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Larry Jeram-Croft
41 books12 followersBest selling author, Larry Jeram-Croft spent thirty years in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and engineer. He then worked in industry for seven years before retiring. When he retired, he and his wife bought a yacht and went to live in the Caribbean. It was this experience that led to the idea for his 'Jacaranda trilogy'. The novels are based on true events in the West indies of Nelson's time and provide thrilling and exciting stories for all who love the sea and sailing. Brought up on the books of C S Forester and Patrick O'Brian he was surprised that no one was writing similar stories about the modern Royal Navy, especially with so much going on in previous decades. As he was himself a Lynx helicopter pilot during the Falklands War, he decided to start there, using his own extensive knowledge of the conflict. 'Sea Skimmer' was the result; a book based on many true stories, the main one being why the Argentinian Exocet missiles failed to explode. Directly involved in anti Exocet countermeasures and also with a grandstand seat of the final Exocet raid of the war, the book, although a novel, has an authenticity that cannot be bettered. More books have followed. The latest 'Diamant' is a historical novel set in 1805 about the Royal Navy setting up a garrison on Diamond Rock off Martinique an exercise that almost brought Nelson and the French together well before Trafalgar.
In addition to his fiction, last year he published his first non- fiction work, an operational history of the RN Lynx helicopter. Another about the RN Wasp helicopter is due out this year.
Larry now lives in Martock, Somerset and spends most of his time writing and playing golf extraordinarily badly.
You can keep up to date on his blog at: http://sowethereyet.blogspot.co.uk/
In addition to his fiction, last year he published his first non- fiction work, an operational history of the RN Lynx helicopter. Another about the RN Wasp helicopter is due out this year.
Larry now lives in Martock, Somerset and spends most of his time writing and playing golf extraordinarily badly.
You can keep up to date on his blog at: http://sowethereyet.blogspot.co.uk/
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 13, 2021
We take up with Jon Hunt as he relinquishes command of HMS Formidable in 2001, the ‘latest’ Royal Navy aircraft carrier. Believing this to be his last at sea command, Hunt is considering his options. Does he really want to be chained to a desk? The attacks of Sept 11 change things, and he is quickly recruited to help investigate the rationale for the upcoming invasion of Iraq. Working undercover in the US with a few senior officers and a new MI6 recruit, Hunt uncovers inconsistencies, but nothing concrete.
As the potential invasion of Iraq becomes a certainty, Hunt is promoted to Commodore and as ever finds himself in the middle of the situation searching for WMDs. However, he has doubts they exist, despite the British government being adamant they do.
Having read all the Hunt books, I found this to be the weakest by far. The first issue is the September 11 conspiracy theory nature of the book, which I disliked. That said, it is of course the author’s story, so fair enough. Unlike some of the others, I found this book to be a bit thin – there is a situation on Intrepid en route to Iraq which seems superfluous – it is dealt with incredibly quickly and does not seem to have a point except as a way to get Brian into the story briefly. The final act when Hunt is in Iraq is also handled rather too quickly, and there is little sense of anticipation or jeopardy (although book 10 tells us Hunt does not die), there are a lot of loose ends and the finale is just a bit dull. Perhaps it is just my dislike of the conspiracy theory that put me off, but everything seemed very one-eyed – anyone who wasn’t totally against the war was written off as a crackpot. The main villain was a caricature. I also found the usual authors notes at the end, where he all but promotes the conspiracy theory unnecessary.
Overall, the book is readable, and if you have read the previous eight you will probably want to read this as well. That said, I recall that I found book 8 rather slow. Perhaps Hunt’s career has run its course and there is nothing left to say, although I know there is a tenth book. For the first time, I do not have the next one queued on my Kindle and I am not sure if I will get around to it to be honest. If it appears on a cheap offers list at some point, I might. It's probably a 5/10 but as Amazon has a 5 star rating, I felt I could only give it two given some of my other 3-star ratings. For me this is a bit of a disappointing end for Hunt. The first five or six are excellent, with The Caspian Monster probably my favourite, but I think perhaps that last couple have come up a bit short of the standard of those earlier books. That said, thanks to LJ-C for an excellent series overall.
As the potential invasion of Iraq becomes a certainty, Hunt is promoted to Commodore and as ever finds himself in the middle of the situation searching for WMDs. However, he has doubts they exist, despite the British government being adamant they do.
Having read all the Hunt books, I found this to be the weakest by far. The first issue is the September 11 conspiracy theory nature of the book, which I disliked. That said, it is of course the author’s story, so fair enough. Unlike some of the others, I found this book to be a bit thin – there is a situation on Intrepid en route to Iraq which seems superfluous – it is dealt with incredibly quickly and does not seem to have a point except as a way to get Brian into the story briefly. The final act when Hunt is in Iraq is also handled rather too quickly, and there is little sense of anticipation or jeopardy (although book 10 tells us Hunt does not die), there are a lot of loose ends and the finale is just a bit dull. Perhaps it is just my dislike of the conspiracy theory that put me off, but everything seemed very one-eyed – anyone who wasn’t totally against the war was written off as a crackpot. The main villain was a caricature. I also found the usual authors notes at the end, where he all but promotes the conspiracy theory unnecessary.
Overall, the book is readable, and if you have read the previous eight you will probably want to read this as well. That said, I recall that I found book 8 rather slow. Perhaps Hunt’s career has run its course and there is nothing left to say, although I know there is a tenth book. For the first time, I do not have the next one queued on my Kindle and I am not sure if I will get around to it to be honest. If it appears on a cheap offers list at some point, I might. It's probably a 5/10 but as Amazon has a 5 star rating, I felt I could only give it two given some of my other 3-star ratings. For me this is a bit of a disappointing end for Hunt. The first five or six are excellent, with The Caspian Monster probably my favourite, but I think perhaps that last couple have come up a bit short of the standard of those earlier books. That said, thanks to LJ-C for an excellent series overall.
May 25, 2018
Gifted a copy for review. This is the first time in 192 reviews that I have given a single star. The book has no hook, therefore a reason to continue reading. The content is boring, the punctuation atrocious, and I stopped reading in chapter five. Don't waste your time or money on this one.
September 2, 2023
exposing damn lies
I Liked the action. The conspiracy plot was believable. I opposed the 2nd Irac war as tired of the B.S. and the military-industrial complex’s undue influence on prosecution of the war.
I Liked the action. The conspiracy plot was believable. I opposed the 2nd Irac war as tired of the B.S. and the military-industrial complex’s undue influence on prosecution of the war.
June 9, 2021
Imaginative plot, gets the military “vibe”, well written, well paced. What more can I say?
March 9, 2023
A scary take on the Iraq war
Violent and complex with the usual characters. The author’s feelings on the Iraq war, if not the plot and details, agrees with many analytical people.
Violent and complex with the usual characters. The author’s feelings on the Iraq war, if not the plot and details, agrees with many analytical people.
February 14, 2025
Good yarn
Thoroughly enjoyed the series to date. Interesting historical and technical details with plausible plots. Looking forward to the Swan song.
Thoroughly enjoyed the series to date. Interesting historical and technical details with plausible plots. Looking forward to the Swan song.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews