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Nick Foley #1
Beijing Red
When a team of charity workers in rural China suddenly succumbs to a mysterious illness, Nick Foley, an ex-Navy SEAL with a war-torn past, discovers the makings of a global catastrophe.
Still reeling from a mission gone wrong, Nick is reluctant to get back in the game, but with lives hanging in the balance, he must fight to uncover the truth and overcome his own demons. Along for the ride is Dr. Chen Dazhong, a brilliant, beautiful, and tough scientist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Together, they unveil the outbreak's unsettling ties to the Chinese government--and a conspiracy greater than either could have ever imagined.
As the trail of death leads from village to village, Chen and Foley must race against time—and geopolitics—to thwart an enemy too small to see in Alex Ryan's debut thriller Beijing Red.
Still reeling from a mission gone wrong, Nick is reluctant to get back in the game, but with lives hanging in the balance, he must fight to uncover the truth and overcome his own demons. Along for the ride is Dr. Chen Dazhong, a brilliant, beautiful, and tough scientist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Together, they unveil the outbreak's unsettling ties to the Chinese government--and a conspiracy greater than either could have ever imagined.
As the trail of death leads from village to village, Chen and Foley must race against time—and geopolitics—to thwart an enemy too small to see in Alex Ryan's debut thriller Beijing Red.
410 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
May 12, 2016
Awesome read! Fast paced and thrilling--just like I hoped :)
October 9, 2024
Well thought and well written.
April 12, 2016
First book in the Nick Foley series is a bit like a locomotive. It starts off a little slow, but before you know it, the thing's barrelling down a tunnel, and it'll take a half mile to stop it.
Foley is the usual PTSD affected former SEAL, now trying to make amends by working at an NGO among the Chinese Muslims. Then an outbreak occurs and a whole lot of people die.
Nick and a few others are put into isolation, and meets Dr. "Dash," a beautiful epidemiologist. After some bureaucratic nonsense, the two try to stop the contagion and, of course, fall in love.
Some good action, and realistic science fiction make this a good read. There is already a good supporting cast in place by the end of the novel, as well as a couple of loose ends that might make it into later books. This has the makings of a good series.
Foley is the usual PTSD affected former SEAL, now trying to make amends by working at an NGO among the Chinese Muslims. Then an outbreak occurs and a whole lot of people die.
Nick and a few others are put into isolation, and meets Dr. "Dash," a beautiful epidemiologist. After some bureaucratic nonsense, the two try to stop the contagion and, of course, fall in love.
Some good action, and realistic science fiction make this a good read. There is already a good supporting cast in place by the end of the novel, as well as a couple of loose ends that might make it into later books. This has the makings of a good series.
July 31, 2016
DNF at 70%. I honestly thought I was going to finish this one, but alas, the overabudance of crazy coincidences has finally worn me out. I liked the premise, I liked the protagonists, I was curious to find out what was really going on, but the moment it was revealed who is responsible for the supposed outbreak, the book has jumped the shark for me. Really? THAT person? Of all the people who could have been involved? It was painfully obvious it was a setup to put Nick and Dazhong together and it so did not work for me.
And another thought: I really liked Dazhong, I liked how vulnerable she was, but how strong in spirit and determination - but I absolutely hated the way she was primarily described as "beautiful". What does being beautiful have to do with her smarts, her expertise, her knowledge? And why oh why does Nick absolutely HAS to sneak a peek at her while she's undressing? Ugh. Of course, I know why - to cater to male audiences and stereotypical Hollywood cliches - so the simple fact of it being there raised all the red flags for me.
All in all, I didn't hate "Beijing Red" - remove all the bad, and it was a pretty engaging story. I imply had different expectations and mistakenly believed that I could trust the authors not to follow overused cliches.
And another thought: I really liked Dazhong, I liked how vulnerable she was, but how strong in spirit and determination - but I absolutely hated the way she was primarily described as "beautiful". What does being beautiful have to do with her smarts, her expertise, her knowledge? And why oh why does Nick absolutely HAS to sneak a peek at her while she's undressing? Ugh. Of course, I know why - to cater to male audiences and stereotypical Hollywood cliches - so the simple fact of it being there raised all the red flags for me.
All in all, I didn't hate "Beijing Red" - remove all the bad, and it was a pretty engaging story. I imply had different expectations and mistakenly believed that I could trust the authors not to follow overused cliches.
May 24, 2021
Sons of Valor isn’t out until June 8th and I’m pretty sure listening to the Tier One series for the 5th time in as many years is a bit much… so I decided to dig into Andrews & Wilson’s backlist. I found Beijing Red written under their (not at all a secret) pseudonym, Alex Ryan. Bonus – it’s currently included in the Audible Plus plan. Yay!
I will admit I did give this a bit of the side eye because I wasn’t sure how I felt about a plot involving a bio-terrorism threat originating in China. While this 2016 book may seem creepily foretelling of 2020 – the similarities were superficial and I was able to truly enjoy this fast pace and engaging book.
Nick, a retired SEAL working for an NGO finds himself in the middle of a race to discover the origin of a mysterious illness and thwart the people responsible. He teams up with Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen in what turns out to also be part political thriller. As with other books from this writing duo, female characters turn out to be intelligent, capable, and valued members of the investigation. Dash, in particular, is an equally important and respected addition to the group fighting for answers.
I loved the action scenes and that while I managed to guess a few times where things were going – it wasn’t predictable. I’m looking forward to jumping into book 2, Hong Kong Black. (also in Audible Plus)
Narration:
MacLeod Andrews narration style compliments the story and writing well. He gives all the characters distinct voices and consistent accents. I was totally immersed in the story and finished it in two days.
I will admit I did give this a bit of the side eye because I wasn’t sure how I felt about a plot involving a bio-terrorism threat originating in China. While this 2016 book may seem creepily foretelling of 2020 – the similarities were superficial and I was able to truly enjoy this fast pace and engaging book.
Nick, a retired SEAL working for an NGO finds himself in the middle of a race to discover the origin of a mysterious illness and thwart the people responsible. He teams up with Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen in what turns out to also be part political thriller. As with other books from this writing duo, female characters turn out to be intelligent, capable, and valued members of the investigation. Dash, in particular, is an equally important and respected addition to the group fighting for answers.
I loved the action scenes and that while I managed to guess a few times where things were going – it wasn’t predictable. I’m looking forward to jumping into book 2, Hong Kong Black. (also in Audible Plus)
Narration:
MacLeod Andrews narration style compliments the story and writing well. He gives all the characters distinct voices and consistent accents. I was totally immersed in the story and finished it in two days.
July 10, 2016
This is a review of the audiobook edition of Beijing Red by Alex Ryan.
Beijing Red is the best new arrival in years for readers/listeners who like espionage and intrigue. If you like authors like Lee Child and Brad Thor, then Alex Ryan will be an author you need to check out. If the inevitable sequels are close to being as good as Beijing Red, this series will be awesome.
The synopsis available on Audible or Goodreads is sufficient and any more exposition may lead to spoilers. Just let me say that there is no boring or tedious parts to this excellent book. It immediately establishes a likeable protagonist, Nathan, with motivations that are easily understood, the plot is fast-paced, and the brown smelly stuff is hitting the spinning turbines very early in the story. It was a joy to hit play and let the roller coaster rocket down the hill as our intrepid hero tries to navigate the events and obstacles in this realistic story.
I do not know the author’s bio but, as a retired Navy veteran myself, his military references and inflections are spot on and authentic. Too many times, in this genre, authors will write of military experience and, if they don’t have the experience themselves, not have it proofread/fact checked by competent subject matter experts. I assure you that this is not the case with Beijing Red and I, for one, am grateful. It made an excellent novel even better and gave it a gravitas that is lacking in a lot of the genre. If I am nit-picking, Nathan is a little young at 28 for a former Navy Seal but it also allowed the author to give Nathan the innocence and inexperience that prevents him from simply being a bad-ass superman that powers his way through all obstacles like a Jet Li or Jason Stratham character. There was a certain amount of realism imposed by the author in that the hero is not simply shooting everyone in sight on his way to bed the female: he is an American in modern day China, can’t speak any of the various languages of China, and doesn’t have a knife, much less a gun. He is a foreigner in what is probably the most racist country in the world (the author doesn’t allude to this) and the author shows superior restraint and skill at not allowing our protagonist to simply go all Bruce Willis on the evil-doers’ asses.
The narration by MacLeod Andrews was professional and his skill as an experienced narrator shows. He gives a quiet, authoritative performance and displayed skill with the various foreign accents and genders. I never wondered who was speaking and appreciated his skill at pronouncing various difficult (for us Americans, at least) Chinese names and words. The audio production quality is top-notch, as I have come to expect from all Blackstone Audio productions.
Bottom Line: Beijing Red is an excellent audiobook and comfortably sits alongside the best Jack Reacher novels for fans of that genre. If you like your lone-wolf hero competent amid a fast-paced, well-written plot, then you owe it to yourself to check out Beijing Red.
I received a copy of Beijing Red, courtesy of Blackstone Audio and Audiobook Jukebox, in return for an unbiased review and it has no impact on my review, positive or negative.
Story (plot) :4
Performance. :4
Production Quality :4
Attention Holding. :5
Beijing Red is the best new arrival in years for readers/listeners who like espionage and intrigue. If you like authors like Lee Child and Brad Thor, then Alex Ryan will be an author you need to check out. If the inevitable sequels are close to being as good as Beijing Red, this series will be awesome.
The synopsis available on Audible or Goodreads is sufficient and any more exposition may lead to spoilers. Just let me say that there is no boring or tedious parts to this excellent book. It immediately establishes a likeable protagonist, Nathan, with motivations that are easily understood, the plot is fast-paced, and the brown smelly stuff is hitting the spinning turbines very early in the story. It was a joy to hit play and let the roller coaster rocket down the hill as our intrepid hero tries to navigate the events and obstacles in this realistic story.
I do not know the author’s bio but, as a retired Navy veteran myself, his military references and inflections are spot on and authentic. Too many times, in this genre, authors will write of military experience and, if they don’t have the experience themselves, not have it proofread/fact checked by competent subject matter experts. I assure you that this is not the case with Beijing Red and I, for one, am grateful. It made an excellent novel even better and gave it a gravitas that is lacking in a lot of the genre. If I am nit-picking, Nathan is a little young at 28 for a former Navy Seal but it also allowed the author to give Nathan the innocence and inexperience that prevents him from simply being a bad-ass superman that powers his way through all obstacles like a Jet Li or Jason Stratham character. There was a certain amount of realism imposed by the author in that the hero is not simply shooting everyone in sight on his way to bed the female: he is an American in modern day China, can’t speak any of the various languages of China, and doesn’t have a knife, much less a gun. He is a foreigner in what is probably the most racist country in the world (the author doesn’t allude to this) and the author shows superior restraint and skill at not allowing our protagonist to simply go all Bruce Willis on the evil-doers’ asses.
The narration by MacLeod Andrews was professional and his skill as an experienced narrator shows. He gives a quiet, authoritative performance and displayed skill with the various foreign accents and genders. I never wondered who was speaking and appreciated his skill at pronouncing various difficult (for us Americans, at least) Chinese names and words. The audio production quality is top-notch, as I have come to expect from all Blackstone Audio productions.
Bottom Line: Beijing Red is an excellent audiobook and comfortably sits alongside the best Jack Reacher novels for fans of that genre. If you like your lone-wolf hero competent amid a fast-paced, well-written plot, then you owe it to yourself to check out Beijing Red.
I received a copy of Beijing Red, courtesy of Blackstone Audio and Audiobook Jukebox, in return for an unbiased review and it has no impact on my review, positive or negative.
Story (plot) :4
Performance. :4
Production Quality :4
Attention Holding. :5
August 22, 2017
Warning: Don't start reading Beijing Red in the evening before a school or a work day even if you're a speed reader because you won't want to stop at a reasonable time, and you won't want the story to end.
So many elements of story structure, POV, and attention to details make Beijing Red a totally delicious read. It's Nick and Dash separately and together that really hooked me. Both of them embody a mix of pragmatic altruism that keeps them from being naive without becoming bitterly jaded. Within the cast of characters there's an overall sense of community created by dedication to achieving shared mission objectives regardless of nationality, gender, ethnicity, social class, bureaucratic affiliation, etc.
[side bar: The body count is high and some descriptions are gross, but not in a gratuitous way.]
So many elements of story structure, POV, and attention to details make Beijing Red a totally delicious read. It's Nick and Dash separately and together that really hooked me. Both of them embody a mix of pragmatic altruism that keeps them from being naive without becoming bitterly jaded. Within the cast of characters there's an overall sense of community created by dedication to achieving shared mission objectives regardless of nationality, gender, ethnicity, social class, bureaucratic affiliation, etc.
[side bar: The body count is high and some descriptions are gross, but not in a gratuitous way.]
October 1, 2016
For once, the hero was not a self-absorbed jerk, and the woman was admirable, too. And it was an interesting technical story.
March 30, 2016
ScienceThrillers review:
Beijing Red is the first book in a new thriller series by Alex Ryan, the pseudonym for the writing team Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Andrews and Wilson, both thriller novelists with books of their own, happen to both be US Navy veterans, Andrews having served as an officer aboard a nuclear submarine, and Wilson as a combat surgeon with the Navy SEALs. International Thriller Writers annual summer conference ThrillerFest brought these two together, and a collaboration was born.
The result is awesome. I love it when smart people who can write, write thrillers, and their intelligence shines through.
Beijing Red delivers everything you'd want from a thriller: an exotic setting (China), an unlikely pairing of hero and heroine (a former Navy SEAL and a Chinese scientist), a ticking clock to mass disaster, and plenty of twists. On top of that, it's got science.
The book opens with a sudden, unexplained, gruesome death. An unknown killer germ is high on the list of suspects. Dash's investigation of the deadly agent proceeds in a largely believable way (with the exception, perhaps, of her inadequate protections against a possible BSL-4 organism) and the laboratory scenes get a thumb's up from me. When the nature of the agent was revealed, I gave a squeal of delight. Any thriller that correctly uses acquired vs innate immunity, and apoptosis, makes my day.
While I was attuned to the science aspects of this novel, its military / special operations angle is perhaps its greatest strength. Nick Foley, the main character, is an ex-Navy SEAL medic, and the expertise of the authors shows in their portrayal of this man. You'll get a sense of how real veterans must think when confronted with a hunt, or a threat. And there's plenty of military lingo and weapons vocabulary, all of which I'm sure is accurate (not that I would know).
In fact, I think the strongest scene in the entire book isn't even part of the central plot. It's a flashback to Foley's time in Afghanistan, and the scene is brilliant.
Twists in Beijing Red don't rise to the level of being total, breathtaking surprises, but they're good enough. Without giving a spoiler, I'll say that I particularly liked the way certain alliances were formed counter to my expectations.
The novel has its imperfections. My main criticism is that logic and motivation are sometimes given a back seat to the page-turning plot. A couple of great scenes unfold that make the reader happy, but they do raise my eyebrows in terms of whether they are believable. Late in the novel, a decision to enter Beijing's Underground City was an example of this.
But this is a thriller novel. In exchange for entertainment, the reader will forgive a little unreality. Beijing Red delivers the goods in terms of fun, thrills, a little horror, science, and heroics. The Nick Foley series is off to a great start.
This book should appeal to:
Fans of James Rollins's Sigma Force series
Beijing Red is the first book in a new thriller series by Alex Ryan, the pseudonym for the writing team Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Andrews and Wilson, both thriller novelists with books of their own, happen to both be US Navy veterans, Andrews having served as an officer aboard a nuclear submarine, and Wilson as a combat surgeon with the Navy SEALs. International Thriller Writers annual summer conference ThrillerFest brought these two together, and a collaboration was born.
The result is awesome. I love it when smart people who can write, write thrillers, and their intelligence shines through.
Beijing Red delivers everything you'd want from a thriller: an exotic setting (China), an unlikely pairing of hero and heroine (a former Navy SEAL and a Chinese scientist), a ticking clock to mass disaster, and plenty of twists. On top of that, it's got science.
The book opens with a sudden, unexplained, gruesome death. An unknown killer germ is high on the list of suspects. Dash's investigation of the deadly agent proceeds in a largely believable way (with the exception, perhaps, of her inadequate protections against a possible BSL-4 organism) and the laboratory scenes get a thumb's up from me. When the nature of the agent was revealed, I gave a squeal of delight. Any thriller that correctly uses acquired vs innate immunity, and apoptosis, makes my day.
While I was attuned to the science aspects of this novel, its military / special operations angle is perhaps its greatest strength. Nick Foley, the main character, is an ex-Navy SEAL medic, and the expertise of the authors shows in their portrayal of this man. You'll get a sense of how real veterans must think when confronted with a hunt, or a threat. And there's plenty of military lingo and weapons vocabulary, all of which I'm sure is accurate (not that I would know).
In fact, I think the strongest scene in the entire book isn't even part of the central plot. It's a flashback to Foley's time in Afghanistan, and the scene is brilliant.
Twists in Beijing Red don't rise to the level of being total, breathtaking surprises, but they're good enough. Without giving a spoiler, I'll say that I particularly liked the way certain alliances were formed counter to my expectations.
The novel has its imperfections. My main criticism is that logic and motivation are sometimes given a back seat to the page-turning plot. A couple of great scenes unfold that make the reader happy, but they do raise my eyebrows in terms of whether they are believable. Late in the novel, a decision to enter Beijing's Underground City was an example of this.
But this is a thriller novel. In exchange for entertainment, the reader will forgive a little unreality. Beijing Red delivers the goods in terms of fun, thrills, a little horror, science, and heroics. The Nick Foley series is off to a great start.
This book should appeal to:
Fans of James Rollins's Sigma Force series
April 21, 2017
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway and am glad I did. It grabbed me from the beginning and kept me interested until the end. It was a fast paced story, relevant to the world we live in, in which the author did a nice job of quickly developing believeable characters. I found myself enjoying the developing relationship between Dash and Nick. There were a couple of times the book took twists I didn't see coming and that makes a book enjoyable for me. This one is worth a read.
November 28, 2016
A little slow getting going, but soon had me hook, line & sinker.
February 25, 2017
Very fun read!
March 10, 2017
An exciting medical thriller without unwarranted violence.
November 19, 2017
An exciting thriller, spy story, action-adventure story. Probably not very helpful toward prepping me for my trip to China...but, hey, a girl has to have fun!
September 2, 2021
Reading this during the covid-19 pandemic feels really weird. It was pretty interesting though!
I wasn't a big fan of how much this is like your American action movie, especially the protagonist. I'd rather have Dr. Dazhong Chen as the protagonist, I liked her a lot better! While she is a great character, it just annoyed me that like in those American movies, she would of course be a love interest as well as a partner. It was so obvious from what Nick Foley thinks of her as he meets her.
The ending was just too easy, I definitely think that could have been stretched out and made a little more complicated.
While I did enjoy it, it's not really the type of book I'd usually read (or movie I'd see, this book seemed very movie-like). If you're looking for a fairly short, casual read, but full of action, I'd check this out.
I wasn't a big fan of how much this is like your American action movie, especially the protagonist. I'd rather have Dr. Dazhong Chen as the protagonist, I liked her a lot better! While she is a great character, it just annoyed me that like in those American movies, she would of course be a love interest as well as a partner. It was so obvious from what Nick Foley thinks of her as he meets her.
The ending was just too easy, I definitely think that could have been stretched out and made a little more complicated.
While I did enjoy it, it's not really the type of book I'd usually read (or movie I'd see, this book seemed very movie-like). If you're looking for a fairly short, casual read, but full of action, I'd check this out.
June 9, 2019
I listened to the unabridged audio version of this book. It has been a while since I read a good spy thriller with international intrigue. The suspense was killing me. I had to keep listening. There is a biological weapon angle adding a science-medical twist. And, an unrequited love thread to add to the tension. This is the first book in a series and I plan to keep reading.
December 12, 2023
That was a very enjoyable read great twists and wonderful characters
wish-list-possibles
May 3, 2017Second book out has high rating. Interesting plot.
December 31, 2020
Fast paced, a race for good to triumph over evil. Decent characters with twists and turns you don't always see coming. I read book 2 before book 1 and was still on the edge of my seat.
October 29, 2020
An Excellent novel. In the times we currently live, there is a lot of truth in this fiction. I've enjoyed these authors for quite some time as they write with excitement, adventure, intrigue, passion and both have a true love of patriotism.
I can't quite say that Nick Foley is as great as John Dempsey. However John had a great team backing him and Nick is more of a loner. But he did have a partner in this book. Can't wait to read Hong Kong Black now. For those who love this kind of adventure, I highly recommend the book.
I can't quite say that Nick Foley is as great as John Dempsey. However John had a great team backing him and Nick is more of a loner. But he did have a partner in this book. Can't wait to read Hong Kong Black now. For those who love this kind of adventure, I highly recommend the book.
November 2, 2020
Sounds like today. I could understand things happening in the book to some current experiences and current events. I really enjoyed this book. Really 4.5 for me.
Read
March 25, 2018MWSA Review
Thoroughly enjoyable techno-thriller
Thrown together by an investigation of a gruesome death, Nick Foley and Dr. “Dash” Chen are the unlikeliest of allies—a former U.S. Navy SEAL and a Chinese microbiologist. However, when the two realize they're dealing with a terrifying new technology that may put thousands of lives at risk, they spring into action. Racing against time, they must figure out who they can trust, and even if they can trust each other.
One has a proven combat record, fighting terrorists in Afghanistan. The other has a proven record fighting microscopic viral and bacteriological enemies with the Chinese Centers for Disease Control. One is comfortable in the world of cloak and dagger, the other with lab coat and scalpel.
Recently separated from his elite warrior comrades, Nick Foley is used to risking his life for his own country, but not for another country… or another woman. Along the way the two cope with international and institutional turf battles, get help from unlikely sources, and track an elusive enemy through underground passageways hidden below modern Beijing.
Beijing Red has it all: chase scenes, twists and turns, betrayal, and international intrigue. Get ready to break out a microscope and an assault rifle to ride along with Nick and Dash. You'll enjoy this page-turning joy ride.
MWSA Reviewer: John Cathcart
Thoroughly enjoyable techno-thriller
Thrown together by an investigation of a gruesome death, Nick Foley and Dr. “Dash” Chen are the unlikeliest of allies—a former U.S. Navy SEAL and a Chinese microbiologist. However, when the two realize they're dealing with a terrifying new technology that may put thousands of lives at risk, they spring into action. Racing against time, they must figure out who they can trust, and even if they can trust each other.
One has a proven combat record, fighting terrorists in Afghanistan. The other has a proven record fighting microscopic viral and bacteriological enemies with the Chinese Centers for Disease Control. One is comfortable in the world of cloak and dagger, the other with lab coat and scalpel.
Recently separated from his elite warrior comrades, Nick Foley is used to risking his life for his own country, but not for another country… or another woman. Along the way the two cope with international and institutional turf battles, get help from unlikely sources, and track an elusive enemy through underground passageways hidden below modern Beijing.
Beijing Red has it all: chase scenes, twists and turns, betrayal, and international intrigue. Get ready to break out a microscope and an assault rifle to ride along with Nick and Dash. You'll enjoy this page-turning joy ride.
MWSA Reviewer: John Cathcart
March 8, 2017
Entertaining thriller about the potential to spread a plague with current technology. Characters are likeable and believeable.
January 24, 2023
⭐️ 3.5/4 stars ⭐️
Read
May 26, 20164.5*
While working as an NGO volunteer for a non-profit organisation, overseeing a clean water project in western China, Nick Foley, a decorated ex Navy SEAL, is caught up in the outbreak of a deadly and unknown disease. He witnesses his friend, Batur, a Muslim and member of the local Uyghur community, die a horrifying and unexplained death. Nick and some of his team rush Batur to the hospital where they are held under guard, then moved to a quarantine ward.
When it becomes apparent the disease is not contagious, Nick is interrogated by Commander Zhang, the leader of the Snow Leopards, an elite counter terrorism unit, along with Dr Dazhong Chen (Dash), a scientist with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It appears a specific area was targeted and Nick is a suspect in what could be either a biological attack against Muslims or a plot against China by the United States.
Nick’s suspicions, and Dash’s, are aroused when the government shut down Dash’s investigation into the possible origins of the disease, then attribute the disaster to an industrial accident and close the case. Nick and Dash join forces and uncover corruption, lies and a government conspiracy, risking their lives in the process.
Beijing Red is the very promising first book in a series by two established, but new to me, authors, Jeffrey Wilson and Brian Andrews, writing under the pseudonym of Alex Ryan. Their real knowledge and experience as Navy veterans, one a nuclear submarine officer and the other a combat surgeon, shows in the well developed and realistically unfolding plot.
Nick and Dash, the two main characters, are well defined and engaging, with credible back stories. The powerfully described flashback to Nick’s time in Afghanistan, and a terrible tragedy which still torments him, says much about his character. Nick’s collaboration with Dash in relation to the complex and multi layered plot is plausible, and the attraction between the two of them adds to the excitement and tension. Fast moving action drives the story along at a cracking pace, the shadowy world of political intrigue and espionage is very believable. Sometimes the narrative is a little over descriptive, clothes and weapons spring immediately to mind, and the complexities of the medical aspect of the story are quite hard to grasp. Bit it’s obvious the authors know their stuff, not only scientifically but also politically.
The villains are never obvious and there are some surprising twists in the storyline, unexpected connections formed and just when it seems Nick and Dash are on the same side, doubts are raised.
MacLeod Andrews’ performance, as always, is stellar and I’m looking forward to the next book.
While working as an NGO volunteer for a non-profit organisation, overseeing a clean water project in western China, Nick Foley, a decorated ex Navy SEAL, is caught up in the outbreak of a deadly and unknown disease. He witnesses his friend, Batur, a Muslim and member of the local Uyghur community, die a horrifying and unexplained death. Nick and some of his team rush Batur to the hospital where they are held under guard, then moved to a quarantine ward.
When it becomes apparent the disease is not contagious, Nick is interrogated by Commander Zhang, the leader of the Snow Leopards, an elite counter terrorism unit, along with Dr Dazhong Chen (Dash), a scientist with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It appears a specific area was targeted and Nick is a suspect in what could be either a biological attack against Muslims or a plot against China by the United States.
Nick’s suspicions, and Dash’s, are aroused when the government shut down Dash’s investigation into the possible origins of the disease, then attribute the disaster to an industrial accident and close the case. Nick and Dash join forces and uncover corruption, lies and a government conspiracy, risking their lives in the process.
Beijing Red is the very promising first book in a series by two established, but new to me, authors, Jeffrey Wilson and Brian Andrews, writing under the pseudonym of Alex Ryan. Their real knowledge and experience as Navy veterans, one a nuclear submarine officer and the other a combat surgeon, shows in the well developed and realistically unfolding plot.
Nick and Dash, the two main characters, are well defined and engaging, with credible back stories. The powerfully described flashback to Nick’s time in Afghanistan, and a terrible tragedy which still torments him, says much about his character. Nick’s collaboration with Dash in relation to the complex and multi layered plot is plausible, and the attraction between the two of them adds to the excitement and tension. Fast moving action drives the story along at a cracking pace, the shadowy world of political intrigue and espionage is very believable. Sometimes the narrative is a little over descriptive, clothes and weapons spring immediately to mind, and the complexities of the medical aspect of the story are quite hard to grasp. Bit it’s obvious the authors know their stuff, not only scientifically but also politically.
The villains are never obvious and there are some surprising twists in the storyline, unexpected connections formed and just when it seems Nick and Dash are on the same side, doubts are raised.
MacLeod Andrews’ performance, as always, is stellar and I’m looking forward to the next book.
October 17, 2020
Excellent story. A little transparent but well done.
November 10, 2025
I found this randomly on a public library shelf, and I'm addicted. I think action thrillers might be my new fav genre.
February 22, 2017
Genre: thriller
Rating: 3.75
I listened to this book.
Enjoyed the biological aspects.
MacLeod Andrews does a great job narrating.
Rating: 3.75
I listened to this book.
Enjoyed the biological aspects.
MacLeod Andrews does a great job narrating.
March 27, 2023
Book Review - Beijing Red - Alex Ryan (Andrews & Wilson)
Author Alex Ryan is a pseudonym for the best-selling coauthor team of Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Both are U.S. Navy veterans - Andrews served aboard a nuclear submarine and Wilson was a combat surgeon supporting Navy SEALs. They are also the coauthors behind the well-known military thriller series, Tier One and soon to be coauthors of the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan, Sr. series. “Beijing Red” is an action thriller novel about a former Navy SEAL, Nick Foley, traveling to China to find his purpose and escape his past, only to stumble upon a mysterious and deadly outbreak in a remote area of western China. He ends up becoming the lead suspect in a bioterrorism investigation being conducted by China's elite Snow Leopard counter-terrorism unit and ends up teaming up with a beautiful Chinese CDC microbiologist to find out who was really behind the attack. They risk everything to stop a mad man villain before he unleashes a deadly super-bio weapon in Beijing, China. Andrews and Wilson have great military and literary credentials so they pulled from their experiences in telling this interesting tale. But unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. Mixing high tech medical science with a spy espionage theme was a little too complicated for me. A fresh and thought-provoking storyline but too complex to follow, especially the bioscience and medical minutia. I admit, I gave this book the side eye at first but the plot and storyline involving a bio-terrorism threat originating in China was very creative and well written, so I finished reading it. Fast pace, engaging and intriguing, Beijing Red is not a bad read, especially for those readers that don’t mind the mixture of bioscience, military action and espionage. I personally just couldn’t get into it, but again, not a bad story.
Author Alex Ryan is a pseudonym for the best-selling coauthor team of Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Both are U.S. Navy veterans - Andrews served aboard a nuclear submarine and Wilson was a combat surgeon supporting Navy SEALs. They are also the coauthors behind the well-known military thriller series, Tier One and soon to be coauthors of the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan, Sr. series. “Beijing Red” is an action thriller novel about a former Navy SEAL, Nick Foley, traveling to China to find his purpose and escape his past, only to stumble upon a mysterious and deadly outbreak in a remote area of western China. He ends up becoming the lead suspect in a bioterrorism investigation being conducted by China's elite Snow Leopard counter-terrorism unit and ends up teaming up with a beautiful Chinese CDC microbiologist to find out who was really behind the attack. They risk everything to stop a mad man villain before he unleashes a deadly super-bio weapon in Beijing, China. Andrews and Wilson have great military and literary credentials so they pulled from their experiences in telling this interesting tale. But unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. Mixing high tech medical science with a spy espionage theme was a little too complicated for me. A fresh and thought-provoking storyline but too complex to follow, especially the bioscience and medical minutia. I admit, I gave this book the side eye at first but the plot and storyline involving a bio-terrorism threat originating in China was very creative and well written, so I finished reading it. Fast pace, engaging and intriguing, Beijing Red is not a bad read, especially for those readers that don’t mind the mixture of bioscience, military action and espionage. I personally just couldn’t get into it, but again, not a bad story.
April 9, 2016
"Beijing Red" (Crooked Lane 2016) is the series debut for what promises to be an exciting, fast-moving adventure starring Nick Foley, former Navy SEAL now working for a non-profit in China, and Dr. Chen Dazhong (nicknamed 'Dash'), a brilliant and beautiful bio-scientist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. When a virulent disease breaks out at the site Foley is working, Dash is called in to unravel its origins and determine how to contain it. What she fears is Ebola turns out to be much more worse. When her bosses try to shut down her investigation, she finds an unlikely ally and partner in Foley. Together they search for the cause of a violent illness that is 100% fatal to those who contract it, not knowing how close to home it will be for Dash.
This is the first in a collaborative partnership between Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, writing under the pseudonym of 'Alex Ryan'. The plot is well-developed, unfolds believably, and is fast-moving and tight. It includes deep details about identifying and analyzing bioweapons, almost a procedural on this topic. The characters are well-constructed and appealing, with lots of charisma between Dash and Nick to make the series even more exciting. Ryan does a completely natural job of showing how these two very different people ended up relying on each other to save Beijing, delving into their motivations and desires in such a way I never doubted it could happen. The setting in China is a treat. It's clear these two authors are well-versed on Chinese geography, culture, and customs.
Overall, this is a winner. I'm looking forward to their next in the series.
This is the first in a collaborative partnership between Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, writing under the pseudonym of 'Alex Ryan'. The plot is well-developed, unfolds believably, and is fast-moving and tight. It includes deep details about identifying and analyzing bioweapons, almost a procedural on this topic. The characters are well-constructed and appealing, with lots of charisma between Dash and Nick to make the series even more exciting. Ryan does a completely natural job of showing how these two very different people ended up relying on each other to save Beijing, delving into their motivations and desires in such a way I never doubted it could happen. The setting in China is a treat. It's clear these two authors are well-versed on Chinese geography, culture, and customs.
Overall, this is a winner. I'm looking forward to their next in the series.
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