What do you think?
Rate this book
The War Planners #2
The War Stage
A US Navy destroyer sinks an Iranian patrol craft during a controversial exchange in the Persian Gulf. With tensions soaring between the two nations, an Iranian politician secretly contacts the CIA with a chilling revelation involving the Chinese. Chase Manning is a rugged ex-SEAL working for the CIA's Special Operations Group in the Middle East. Now, he is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the Iranian claims before it is too late. But in the midst of battling deadly assassins and uncovering the layers of intrigue, Chase discovers that his own brother, David Manning, is right at the heart of the conspiracy.
Unknown Binding
First published April 22, 2015
2650 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Watts
42 books247 followersAndrew Watts graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2003 and served as a naval officer and helicopter pilot until 2013. During that time, he flew counter-narcotic missions in the Eastern Pacific and counter-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa. He was a flight instructor in Pensacola, FL, and helped to run ship and flight operations while embarked on a nuclear aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East.
Today, he lives with his family in Ohio.
Today, he lives with his family in Ohio.
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
June 13, 2025
Omg I gave my dad my kindle so he could read this and he obviously didn’t realise it’s linked to my account HAHAHAHAH and so he’s just marked as finished and rated 🤣🤣🤣🤣
My dad said it was 5 stars though, so we will just have to believe that ✨IN CHRIS WE TRUST✨🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 because you couldn’t pay me to read any of my dads books because even though war is gay as hell, these books definitely had no men kissing HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
💀💀💀💀💀
My dad said it was 5 stars though, so we will just have to believe that ✨IN CHRIS WE TRUST✨🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 because you couldn’t pay me to read any of my dads books because even though war is gay as hell, these books definitely had no men kissing HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
💀💀💀💀💀
March 15, 2016
Great book! This book starts off before the first 3 books in the series to provide more background on what is going to happen and builds up to the point where the first 3 books end. Andrew Watts has done an excellent job with the series so far and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out. Great job Andrew!
November 30, 2021
Really makes you think
The story is well thought out. Could this really happen, well you have to read these to find out. Lots of action and suspense, well done.
The story is well thought out. Could this really happen, well you have to read these to find out. Lots of action and suspense, well done.
February 24, 2017
Riveting
I had a hard time putting down! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can't wait for the next chapter to come out
I had a hard time putting down! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can't wait for the next chapter to come out
March 24, 2016
Great start to the next chapter of this intriguing story. While the first three books left us with many questions, this episode starts to give us the answers. Can China pull off this hostile takeover? Or will the Manning family be able to thwart the attack? The next episode looks to introduce us to the final member of the family, Victoria.
This was a fast read and tough to put down. Can hardly wait for the next installment!
This was a fast read and tough to put down. Can hardly wait for the next installment!
April 3, 2016
You will need all 4 of these to keep up with the storyline. It's a very compelling plot with good characters and will keep you wanting to read more.
February 1, 2017
A so-so thriller about bitcoin and Dubai!!!
May 9, 2019
This is a model of its type, engrossing and authentic in details of naval life. I'm sure the helicopter scenes are accurate beause the author is a helicopter pilot, but other details ring profoundly true as I've had a certain amount of sea time on Navy ships myself. I know what "Midrats" are and such authentic details flesh out the story.
But of course it's the plot and the characters that drives it, and the author has invented a complex but all too believable plot. He's given us good heroes to admire, a main character Chase who's the brother of David, the hero of book 1, and as I've said in earlier reviews, having a good villain is every bit as important. In this book, the incredible villain he created in volume 1, Lena Chou, comes back with a vengeance. She's "almost 6 feet tall" (I understand there's actually a place in China where people are exceptionally large, so the stereotype-bending aspect of this might not be so extreme as it sounds), beautiful, extremely athletic, and a total sociopath without the slightest twinges of conscience, in fact, she enjoys watching her victims squirm as she tortures them to get the information she requires. The only slight criticism I might make is that the author deliberately introduces her under an alias, and while he does say she has dark hair, he doesn't tell us she's Asian until her cover is blown for other reasons. In retrospect this seems to be taking suspense too far, as I didn't realize Lisa and Lena were the same until she'd met Chase and the plot thickened.
The action happens in Dubai (I've never been but the description seems believable) and on the high seas. This is the kind of book you can't stop reading till it's finished. Any reservations I had about the series after reading volume 1 don't apply to volume 2. It's a great series and I'm going to read volume 3.
But of course it's the plot and the characters that drives it, and the author has invented a complex but all too believable plot. He's given us good heroes to admire, a main character Chase who's the brother of David, the hero of book 1, and as I've said in earlier reviews, having a good villain is every bit as important. In this book, the incredible villain he created in volume 1, Lena Chou, comes back with a vengeance. She's "almost 6 feet tall" (I understand there's actually a place in China where people are exceptionally large, so the stereotype-bending aspect of this might not be so extreme as it sounds), beautiful, extremely athletic, and a total sociopath without the slightest twinges of conscience, in fact, she enjoys watching her victims squirm as she tortures them to get the information she requires. The only slight criticism I might make is that the author deliberately introduces her under an alias, and while he does say she has dark hair, he doesn't tell us she's Asian until her cover is blown for other reasons. In retrospect this seems to be taking suspense too far, as I didn't realize Lisa and Lena were the same until she'd met Chase and the plot thickened.
The action happens in Dubai (I've never been but the description seems believable) and on the high seas. This is the kind of book you can't stop reading till it's finished. Any reservations I had about the series after reading volume 1 don't apply to volume 2. It's a great series and I'm going to read volume 3.
June 14, 2022
I read this book through Prime Reads.
This book, the 2nd in the series, introduces David's brother chase who has been called to meet with the CIA chief of Dubai. Chase is being requested to meet with an Iranian regarding his brother. Chase goes to Dubai and mmeets this individual learns that Iranians have a list of so-called American Traitors and that Chase will receive this list once he performs a mission. Chase learns that there has been a mole discovered in the CIA Dubai office. Chase is to try and obtain information regarding Bitcoin from an informant. Before Chase can get it done, the informant is killed. In another attempt to get that list, Chase is given a task of rescuing someone on an island. This individual would be able to install someting so that Bitcoin transactions could be followed. Chase is able to accomplish this mission.
Chase later discovers that David his brother is jailed in Australia and he makes arrangement to get him free. Once David meets up with his brother, Chase is told of the events that happened regarding the "Red Cell" and how China was going to cause a war with the U.S. Later Chase is occupied and the peop;e watching his brother are killed and David is taken once omre by the group he escaped from. Chase was able to save Davi after a battle ensued.
To learn what other events happened which were bringing America closer to war with Iran, then you need to read this book. You won't want to wait to get the next book in the series.
This book, the 2nd in the series, introduces David's brother chase who has been called to meet with the CIA chief of Dubai. Chase is being requested to meet with an Iranian regarding his brother. Chase goes to Dubai and mmeets this individual learns that Iranians have a list of so-called American Traitors and that Chase will receive this list once he performs a mission. Chase learns that there has been a mole discovered in the CIA Dubai office. Chase is to try and obtain information regarding Bitcoin from an informant. Before Chase can get it done, the informant is killed. In another attempt to get that list, Chase is given a task of rescuing someone on an island. This individual would be able to install someting so that Bitcoin transactions could be followed. Chase is able to accomplish this mission.
Chase later discovers that David his brother is jailed in Australia and he makes arrangement to get him free. Once David meets up with his brother, Chase is told of the events that happened regarding the "Red Cell" and how China was going to cause a war with the U.S. Later Chase is occupied and the peop;e watching his brother are killed and David is taken once omre by the group he escaped from. Chase was able to save Davi after a battle ensued.
To learn what other events happened which were bringing America closer to war with Iran, then you need to read this book. You won't want to wait to get the next book in the series.
June 14, 2021
Another great War Planners book
Another chilling installment of the series, and no shortage of drama and tension. I recommend either the e-book or the audiobook, but not to try to do immersive reading because the audiobook jumps all over the place from the e-book and the actor performing the audiobook has a not so great pronunciation of some words (for example, instead of reading “supposedly”, he says “supposably”). And when you’re caught up in the excitement and pace of the book, the last thing you want to have is an abrupt stoppage when there is a mispronounced word like that. Also, chapter 7 is in a different order in the audiobook than it is in the e-book, so it was just difficult to follow. However, the story holds up and is still an amazing, suspenseful book! I did feel it was my duty to explain about the audiobook though because $7.50 is a lot to pay for the poor quality of the two combined for immersive reading (which I’m forced to do because of a brain injury). I’m on to book three!
Another chilling installment of the series, and no shortage of drama and tension. I recommend either the e-book or the audiobook, but not to try to do immersive reading because the audiobook jumps all over the place from the e-book and the actor performing the audiobook has a not so great pronunciation of some words (for example, instead of reading “supposedly”, he says “supposably”). And when you’re caught up in the excitement and pace of the book, the last thing you want to have is an abrupt stoppage when there is a mispronounced word like that. Also, chapter 7 is in a different order in the audiobook than it is in the e-book, so it was just difficult to follow. However, the story holds up and is still an amazing, suspenseful book! I did feel it was my duty to explain about the audiobook though because $7.50 is a lot to pay for the poor quality of the two combined for immersive reading (which I’m forced to do because of a brain injury). I’m on to book three!
December 1, 2019
A US Navy destroyer sinks an Iranian patrol craft. In the Persian Gulf, with tensions soaring, an Iranian politician secretly contacts the CIA with a revelation involving the Chinese. Chase Manning, ex-SEAL, working for the CIA is tasked with uncovering the truth. Chase then discovers his brother, David, is at the heart of the conspiracy.
This book contained a lot of action. It took effort to keep up with the plot but it was worth it. Tension filled the pages with twists and turns. Great read.
This book contained a lot of action. It took effort to keep up with the plot but it was worth it. Tension filled the pages with twists and turns. Great read.
February 19, 2021
Book 2 is slightly better than the first book. I found Chase to be better or more entertaining than his brother David. I didn't like the financial talk. kind of skimmed that part. I liked the slight twist of his female lady friend. I liked how we get to see the other side of the attacks reported in the first book. loved that actually. I liked the Island setting from book 1 compared to this books setting. Overall thoughts on the series so far is its great to follow a family of people in the military and how the overarching plot affects them. Onto book 3.
October 4, 2019
This 2nd installment moved a little slow for me. This was the introduction of Chace, David’s brother. Also, there was a brief appearance by their father. Chace is working with the CIA in Dubai & this seems to be the run up to full blown war that is coming in the next books.
We needed this info, but the bitcoin background just seemed so dry.
I’m in this for the long haul. I’m looking forward to the intro of their sister in the Pacific in the next book.
We needed this info, but the bitcoin background just seemed so dry.
I’m in this for the long haul. I’m looking forward to the intro of their sister in the Pacific in the next book.
June 26, 2025
2.5 Not as good as #1. Book #2 is more like Part 2 of book #1. Read it to 'finish' the first book since it was left in a cliffhanger.
Need my head examined because I somehow got sucked into the story and the what if scenario. I like the writing and have #1 - #5, will continue the series. Spoiler alert. The first book was about 1 brother. Second was about the other brother. Third is their sister (because the second book ended with her). Going to take a wild guess book 4 is their father.
Need my head examined because I somehow got sucked into the story and the what if scenario. I like the writing and have #1 - #5, will continue the series. Spoiler alert. The first book was about 1 brother. Second was about the other brother. Third is their sister (because the second book ended with her). Going to take a wild guess book 4 is their father.
May 10, 2017
Roller coaster
Book two in this tremendous series is nothing short of a roller coaster. You don't know who you can trust and nearly everyone is untrustworthy. This book is also like a maze, you're going in one direction and then the story pulls you in another direction. Lots of fun, these books. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this series!
Book two in this tremendous series is nothing short of a roller coaster. You don't know who you can trust and nearly everyone is untrustworthy. This book is also like a maze, you're going in one direction and then the story pulls you in another direction. Lots of fun, these books. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this series!
February 10, 2022
Secuela de The War Planners y, como su antecesora, te deja insatisfecho porque la historia no se cierra.
El libro es entretenido, con una potente trama de espionaje y acciones militares, un par de personajes nuevos que le dan un aire fresco y escenas chulas, pero cansa un poco que te deje colgando para el siguiente libro.
El libro es entretenido, con una potente trama de espionaje y acciones militares, un par de personajes nuevos que le dan un aire fresco y escenas chulas, pero cansa un poco que te deje colgando para el siguiente libro.
October 5, 2025
In Book One of his War Planners series, Andrew Watts focuses on a computer nerd. In Book Two, he focuses on a SEAL. The first book is all about the tension of evading baddies, while the second is about the release of demolishing baddies. The two protagonists are related, so the books tie together and move forward the larger "War Planners" story.
How good is it? Well, it's pretty good. The SEAL in question is appropriately superhero-ish. There are gunfights, explosions, villains - even an island lair. 'The War Stage' is a lot of fun.
How good is it? Well, it's pretty good. The SEAL in question is appropriately superhero-ish. There are gunfights, explosions, villains - even an island lair. 'The War Stage' is a lot of fun.
February 4, 2018
The plot thickens
I normally do not enjoy war time stories, but this one is highly engaging. The plot takes several twists and turns and has a few surprises for the reader. I am getting ready to read the next book in this series.
I normally do not enjoy war time stories, but this one is highly engaging. The plot takes several twists and turns and has a few surprises for the reader. I am getting ready to read the next book in this series.
April 18, 2018
Repeat
This book was very disappointing it was a complete repeat of the first book the war planners book 1 which I enjoyed but thought book two would be new and exciting but not a repeat all that was done was changed the cover and title it's what I would call a ripoff.
This book was very disappointing it was a complete repeat of the first book the war planners book 1 which I enjoyed but thought book two would be new and exciting but not a repeat all that was done was changed the cover and title it's what I would call a ripoff.
January 15, 2019
A continuing story
The description of Dubai was excellent having been there in the 1970's an then later during the massive construction book and then again a few years ago, a sight to behold. The storyline was interesting, but not quite believable.
The description of Dubai was excellent having been there in the 1970's an then later during the massive construction book and then again a few years ago, a sight to behold. The storyline was interesting, but not quite believable.
May 26, 2020
Great Action and Credibility
The author is clearly up to date on current events and intelligently incorporated them into this series. The pace is great as are the characters believable.
The author is clearly up to date on current events and intelligently incorporated them into this series. The pace is great as are the characters believable.
May 5, 2021
A useful book for passing the time. Interesting plot that feels like it has been done, or at least close to it, by other authors. Nothing earth-shattering. A generally mindless read with very few on-going sub-plots.
May 28, 2021
Exciting reading
In this the second book of the series we meet the rest of the Manning family. The action keeps changing and you have to have a scorecard to tell the bad guys from the good guys. Great reading thanks
In this the second book of the series we meet the rest of the Manning family. The action keeps changing and you have to have a scorecard to tell the bad guys from the good guys. Great reading thanks
March 16, 2023
Enjoyed
I'm looking forward to book 3. This book was filled with a lot of action and suspense. I took 1 star off because it ended at ~80% read. The rest was filled with a sample of book 3. I get that it was a good point to break off at, but this happened with Book 1 as well.
I'm looking forward to book 3. This book was filled with a lot of action and suspense. I took 1 star off because it ended at ~80% read. The rest was filled with a sample of book 3. I get that it was a good point to break off at, but this happened with Book 1 as well.
January 11, 2018
Excellent book
This book is full of action, drama and intrigue. It is easy to read and hard to put down. I am looking forward to #3.
This book is full of action, drama and intrigue. It is easy to read and hard to put down. I am looking forward to #3.
January 26, 2018
Juicy stuff
You will love the family angle. Now adding a whole new angle in the mix: spy stuff. Totally clandestine. New hero stepping up.
You will love the family angle. Now adding a whole new angle in the mix: spy stuff. Totally clandestine. New hero stepping up.
April 30, 2018
The War Planners series is an excellent military-techno-thriller story! Highly recommend!
July 26, 2018
Still no end. On to book 3.
September 2, 2018
I’m only reading the next new book to see what happens to Lena. Crazy laughable plot suitable for tv.
October 12, 2018
High octane series
Andrew Watts knows how to develop a fast paced espionage story with believable political, military and intelligence characters. Excellent and entertaining read!
Andrew Watts knows how to develop a fast paced espionage story with believable political, military and intelligence characters. Excellent and entertaining read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews