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Standard #1
The Standard
An international coalition is planning a return to the gold standard.
Meanwhile, a network of drug cartels and financial speculators are preparing to launch Operation an attack against gold depositories that would give them control over the global economy.
With both US and UK pitted against a worldwide criminal enterprise, MI-6 assigns William Shanahan to disrupt Operation Blackout with the help of Jack Gawain, of the Ulster Defense Association. As the operation moves forward with full force, Shanahan and Gawain face an array of moral issues and deadly enemies.
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the two enter a race against time and insurmountable odds.
Praise from
★★★★★ - "A thoroughly compelling read with some very interesting commentaries on personal ethics and morality and what we as a society are willing to sacrifice in the name of safety. You'll find yourself wondering where you would draw the line."
★★★★★ - "A James Bond style thriller, but with grit rather than glamour. The author has thrown an enormous amount of plot into this book; there is never a dull moment."
★★★★★ - "John Reinhard Dizon weaves an intricate tale of espionage and intrigue into an excellent read."
Meanwhile, a network of drug cartels and financial speculators are preparing to launch Operation an attack against gold depositories that would give them control over the global economy.
With both US and UK pitted against a worldwide criminal enterprise, MI-6 assigns William Shanahan to disrupt Operation Blackout with the help of Jack Gawain, of the Ulster Defense Association. As the operation moves forward with full force, Shanahan and Gawain face an array of moral issues and deadly enemies.
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the two enter a race against time and insurmountable odds.
Praise from
★★★★★ - "A thoroughly compelling read with some very interesting commentaries on personal ethics and morality and what we as a society are willing to sacrifice in the name of safety. You'll find yourself wondering where you would draw the line."
★★★★★ - "A James Bond style thriller, but with grit rather than glamour. The author has thrown an enormous amount of plot into this book; there is never a dull moment."
★★★★★ - "John Reinhard Dizon weaves an intricate tale of espionage and intrigue into an excellent read."
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2013
70 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
John Reinhard Dizon
84 books62 followersJohn Reinhard Dizon was born and raised in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn, NY. He participated in local and high school sports at Bishop Loughlin MHS, excelling in wrestling, hockey and football. The lead vocalist of the Spoiler and the Ducky Boys, he was a key figure on the Brooklyn rock scene during the Punk Revolution of the 70's. Relocating to San Antonio TX in the 80's, he moonlighted as a pro wrestler while working as a legal assistant. He successfully pursued a BA at UTSA and degrees in Korean martial arts during the 90's. He currently lives in KC MO where he is studying for his MA in English at UMKC. Mr. Dizon has been studying and writing about Irish history for over twenty-five years.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 13, 2018
The Standard has the wow factor
Being an avid reader, I often devour 2 - 3 books a week, often reading into the early hours, and here was a book that demanded a few sleepless nights
It's action all the way as Shanahan and Gawain, an unlikely partnership, are thrown together and find themselves battling drug barons, and the cartels that control them, gangsters, and Al Quieda in a tense, action packed thriller, packed with action and excitement from start to finish.
One MI6 agent and a former Irish loyalist terrorist, our heroes are never going to be the best of friends but somehow they find a way to put their mission first as they set aside their differences in their attempts to thwart the terrorists plan to explode a nuclear weapon on American soil.
I loved this book and really and truthfully found it hard to put down. Definitely a five star read from a highly talented author.
Being an avid reader, I often devour 2 - 3 books a week, often reading into the early hours, and here was a book that demanded a few sleepless nights
It's action all the way as Shanahan and Gawain, an unlikely partnership, are thrown together and find themselves battling drug barons, and the cartels that control them, gangsters, and Al Quieda in a tense, action packed thriller, packed with action and excitement from start to finish.
One MI6 agent and a former Irish loyalist terrorist, our heroes are never going to be the best of friends but somehow they find a way to put their mission first as they set aside their differences in their attempts to thwart the terrorists plan to explode a nuclear weapon on American soil.
I loved this book and really and truthfully found it hard to put down. Definitely a five star read from a highly talented author.
December 6, 2018
Now this is a good book....
This book has the three things that make a British espionage story a good book: reference to sights and sounds around England, reference to MI6 and it's agents and operatives, and the possibility of a good text to speech file for great Britain (Brian GBR). I like this book.
This book has the three things that make a British espionage story a good book: reference to sights and sounds around England, reference to MI6 and it's agents and operatives, and the possibility of a good text to speech file for great Britain (Brian GBR). I like this book.
October 5, 2020
Fast Paced Special Forces Excitement
The characters in this book are fun, romantic and extremely BAD ASS! I highly recommend this book and watch out, you might become hooked just as I have been!
The characters in this book are fun, romantic and extremely BAD ASS! I highly recommend this book and watch out, you might become hooked just as I have been!
March 7, 2018
Great read
Despite a few ( very few ) spelling mistakes , this book was an action packed , exciting thriller . Get it , it's great reading
Despite a few ( very few ) spelling mistakes , this book was an action packed , exciting thriller . Get it , it's great reading
March 14, 2018
When I wake up to M-F being said because I fell asleep on the story, that’s not good.
December 21, 2018
Good story about honor loyal and stupidity.
Enjoyed the story. Some of it rambles. Some of it not believable. Characters developed ok. Good read on a rainy day.
Enjoyed the story. Some of it rambles. Some of it not believable. Characters developed ok. Good read on a rainy day.
September 19, 2013
William Shanahan has done his time in the field with the SAS and the SBS. He now dreams of nothing more than a desk job near the center of power on Downing Street, and a strategic marriage to a woman of means. One last job in the murky world of MI6 and then it's all his, except …
Except his assignment is to babysit a convicted psychopath from the other side of the Northern Irish divide. And the target this loose canon has been pointed at is unclear, to put it mildly.
The Tea Party Republicans in the United States have decided to return the world to the gold standard in order to stabilize the current global depression. And in their wisdom they have pre-announced their move, giving literally every cashed up member of the underworld something to buy with their money.
Sidelining one Enrique Chupacabra of the Medellin Cartel is only the beginning. Somebody bigger is pulling his strings, and has a bigger plan. The united underworld can't buy enough gold to make much of a difference … unless the gold reserves of a few key countries are destroyed. And this only needs a few North Korean/Iranian nuclear bombs in the hands of Al Qaida.
'The Standard' by John Reinhard Dizon is an old-school action-filled thriller. The good guys are one play-by-the-rules Catholic government agent paired with a break-all-the-rules Protestant Ulster Freedom Fighter. The bad guys are legion – every underworld kingpin has been brought together to cash in on America's latest folly. The stakes are as high as is possible – nuclear weapons and global domination.
The events are very current, so don't wait five years to read this book. If you don't like the fast women, fast cars, and fast pace, you'll at least enjoy the many gourmet meals and penthouse hotel suites. You might even learn something – such as the fact that tungsten and gold have almost identical densities.
Except his assignment is to babysit a convicted psychopath from the other side of the Northern Irish divide. And the target this loose canon has been pointed at is unclear, to put it mildly.
The Tea Party Republicans in the United States have decided to return the world to the gold standard in order to stabilize the current global depression. And in their wisdom they have pre-announced their move, giving literally every cashed up member of the underworld something to buy with their money.
Sidelining one Enrique Chupacabra of the Medellin Cartel is only the beginning. Somebody bigger is pulling his strings, and has a bigger plan. The united underworld can't buy enough gold to make much of a difference … unless the gold reserves of a few key countries are destroyed. And this only needs a few North Korean/Iranian nuclear bombs in the hands of Al Qaida.
'The Standard' by John Reinhard Dizon is an old-school action-filled thriller. The good guys are one play-by-the-rules Catholic government agent paired with a break-all-the-rules Protestant Ulster Freedom Fighter. The bad guys are legion – every underworld kingpin has been brought together to cash in on America's latest folly. The stakes are as high as is possible – nuclear weapons and global domination.
The events are very current, so don't wait five years to read this book. If you don't like the fast women, fast cars, and fast pace, you'll at least enjoy the many gourmet meals and penthouse hotel suites. You might even learn something – such as the fact that tungsten and gold have almost identical densities.
July 7, 2014
I don't think I've enjoyed an action thriller this much since I finished the last James Bond written by Ian Fleming. Pairing up Captain Willaim Shanahan of Britain's M16 and Jack Gawain, an Irish terrorist serving a life sentence, to take down Operation Blackout is a sure recipe for an action-packed thriller. As the team take on the forces trying to control the world economy, they come to have revelations of defects with their own moral compasses. This is a book for everyone - a truly entertaining page-turner.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews