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Brad McLanahan #5

The Moscow Offensive

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America’s first line of defense—Brad McLanahan and the heroes of the Iron Wolf Squadron—must counter a dangerous Russian strike from within the homeland in this cutting-edge tale from the New York Times master of the high-tech military thriller, Dale Brown.

On a remote island estate, a billionaire investor sells his air freight company to a mysterious new owner. The purchaser is none other than the President of Russia, Gennadiy Gryzlov. The Russians will use these private planes to secretly transport dangerous cargo into the United States.

The inept American President Stacy Anne Barbeau has failed to account for the Russian threat. But others have been vigilant and will not leave America defenseless. Brad McLanahan and the Iron Wolf Squadron have joined forces with the newly formed Alliance of Free Nations in Eastern Europe, to prepare for the attack they know is imminent. Working with the most cutting-edge technology, the team will deploy CIDs—Cybernetic Infantry Devices—twelve-foot-tall humanoid combat robots, each armed with more firepower than a conventional platoon.

But their state-of-the-art weapons may not be enough to combat the threat. The Russians have managed to reverse engineer their own combat robots nearly decimated in a previous attack, and have slowly begun smuggling them across America’s borders. Dealing with an unprecedented danger and a feckless president and congress, McLanahan and the Iron Wolf Squadron will once again put their own lives on the line to check this new Russian peril and keep the home of the brave and the free world safe.

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2018

763 people are currently reading
1316 people want to read

About the author

Dale Brown

151 books1,132 followers
Former U.S. Air Force captain Dale Brown is the superstar author of 25 consecutive New York Times best-selling military-action-aviation adventure novels: FLIGHT OF THE OLD DOG (1987), SILVER TOWER (1988), DAY OF THE CHEETAH (1989), HAMMERHEADS (1990), SKY MASTERS (1991), NIGHT OF THE HAWK (1992), CHAINS OF COMMAND (1993), STORMING HEAVEN (1994), SHADOWS OF STEEL (1996) and FATAL TERRAIN (1997), THE TIN MAN (1998), BATTLE BORN (1999), and WARRIOR CLASS (2001). His Fourteenth Novel AIRBATTLE FORCE will be published in late Spring 2003... Dale's novels are published in 11 languages and distributed to over 70 countries. Worldwide sales of his novels, audiobooks and computer games exceed 10 million copies.

Dale was born in Buffalo, New York on November 2, 1956. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History and received an Air Force commission in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier in the B-52G Stratofortress heavy bomber and the FB-111A supersonic medium bomber, and is the recipient of several military decorations and awards including the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon.
Dale was also one of the nation's first Air Force ROTC cadets to qualify for and complete the grueling three-week U.S. Army Airborne Infantry paratrooper training course.

Dale is a director and volunteer pilot for AirLifeLine, a non-profit national charitable medical transportation organization who fly needy persons free of charge to receive treatment. He also supports a number of organizations to support and promote law enforcement and reading.

Dale Brown is a member of The Writers Guild and a Life Member of the Air Force Association and U.S. Naval Institute. He is a multi-engine and instrument-rated private pilot and can often be found in the skies all across the United States, piloting his own plane. On the ground, Dale enjoys tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and hockey. Dale, his wife Diane, and son Hunter live near the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

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577 (43%)
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489 (37%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
Profile Image for Jim.
581 reviews118 followers
July 1, 2018
This appears to be the 22nd book in the series but is the first which I have read. It was a Goodreads Giveaway win and I feel some obligation to read the book and write a review before I read the preceding twenty-one books. I had added this to my Thriller shelf but am thinking maybe I should tag it Science Fiction (too)?

The United States is being threatened by the Russians again only this time it is not interfering in a Presidential election. The President of Russia, Gennadiy Gryzlov, has bought an air freight company and is using it to transport dangerous cargo (a.k.a. weapons) into the United States. Brad McLanahan and the Iron Wolf Squadron have joined forces with the Alliance of Free Nations, comprised of Poland and other Eastern European nations. It will fall to the the Iron Wolf Squadron to defend, and save, America. Brad and his team have Cybernetic Infantry Devices (CID's) at their disposal. CID's are twelve foot humanoid combat robots, each armed with more firepower than a platoon. Reads like some sort of video game.

However, the Russians have managed to reverse engineer these CID's from an attack in a previous novel. They are now smuggling them into the United States. It will come down to a battle of the robots. Will the the Iron Wolf Squadron succeed in keeping the United States “the land of the free and the home of the brave”? It seems that the current President, Stacy Anne Barbeau, is inept and obsessed with blaming the threat on former President Martindale and Brad's father, Patrick.

This was an entertaining thriller. Not very realistic ... but entertaining. At least an inept President appears to be realistic. Fans of Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy will probably enjoy this one.
6,205 reviews80 followers
September 11, 2018
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Another satire from Dale Brown. The first female President of the United States, an obvious take on Hillary, doesn't know what she is doing, and lets Russia take over Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, patriots are training with their robot suits.

Things all come to a head, and everybody gets their just desserts. Funny and entertaining, but probably not for everybody.
Profile Image for SB.
468 reviews
June 25, 2018
#GoodreadsGiveaway -- I had forgotten how much I love Dale Brown books, but this one definitely reminded me. I got hooked on Dale Brown years ago when my hubby suggested his books after I read all the Jack Ryan books by Clancy. Then, I got into a YA phase...and hadn't picked up a Brown book in years. I'm sad that I've missed out on so many, but I plan on catching up because this was great!
Profile Image for Craig Pearson.
442 reviews11 followers
June 25, 2018
Very much follows in the Dale Brown genre of military thrillers. The over-the-top action keeps you interested from start to finish. The climactic ending is never in doubt but what happens to the good guy mercenaries getting there can be very convoluted. The CID is still the centerpiece of the action and it is getting a bit long in the tooth for a story to continually return to. Quality escapist entertainment.
Profile Image for Lou.
420 reviews
Read
July 8, 2018
This was an interesting book which took the focus off of Patrick MacLanahan and put in mostly on H s son Brad. While Brad has some of his father's characteristics, he is (right now) more human and practical. We'll see if coming novels have him becoming more like his Dad.
Profile Image for Alan Lewis.
414 reviews22 followers
March 10, 2019
Another techno-thriller by Dale Brown, who I was introduced to a couple of decades ago with his first book. Reintroduced again recently when I won this Kindle copy of this book via a #GoodreadsGiveaway.
Profile Image for Unseen Library.
985 reviews53 followers
January 15, 2019
I received a copy of The Moscow Offensive from Hachette Australia to review.

Rating of 4.5.

An intense and exhilarating military thriller filled with advanced military robots duking it out across America, now that sounds like my sort of novel! Prepare for an explosive technological thriller as Dale Brown, the bestselling author of the Patrick McLanahan series, returns with his latest novel, The Moscow Offensive.

For years, Russia’s ambition to conquer the entire world and defeat the United States has been growing, with its leaders unleashing a series of advanced weapons against the West. Russia’s dominance was only held in check thanks to the actions of United States pilot Patrick McLanahan, who utilised America’s most innovative technology to counter the Russian attacks. However, with McLanahan now believed dead, the brilliant and manipulative Russian president, Gennadiy Gryzlov, sets forth a new attack. Secretly buying a large airfreight company, Gryzlov uses this proxy business to ferry weapons and military personnel into the United States undetected. Identifying a string of high-value targets, Gryzlov attempts to cripple the United States from within, and strike its citizens with terror.

The only force that might be able to stand up to Gryzlov’s machinations is the legendary Iron Wolf Squadron and their parent private military company, Scion Aviation International. Formed by McLanahan and former United States President Kevin Martindale, the Iron Wolf Squadron utilises their advanced Cybernetic Infantry Devices (CIDs), twelve-foot-tall piloted combat robots, whose technology and weapons are capable of overpowering conventional military forces. Currently employed by Poland and its Alliance of Free Nations, the Iron Wolf Squadron is responsible for knocking back several of Russia’s attempted invasions and more ambitious bids for power. However, their success in Poland has alienated America’s selfish and paranoid president, Stacy Anne Barbeau, who is determined to bring Martindale and Scion down.

Taking advantage of President Barbeau’s incompetence, Gryzlov is able to launch a series of attacks, placing the blame on the Iron Wolf Squadron. Now targeted by both the Americans and the Russians, a small detachment of Iron Wolf Squadron CIDs, led by Patrick McLanahan’s son Brad, deploy to the United States to counter the Russians and reveal their involvement. However, the Russians have succeed in reverse-engineering combat robots of their own, and are now fully capable of going toe-to-toe with the Iron Wolf Squadron.

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186 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2019
Dale Brown...enough said

Another great novel by Mr. Brown. Great storytelling and characters in a seemingly plausible tale of revenge and political intrigue.
Profile Image for Barry Martin Vass.
Author 4 books11 followers
September 22, 2022
This novel has so many things in common with the real geopolitical world that it will have you scratching your head at times. Three years ago, Russia lost a war of aggression against a small, Eastern European nation. That nation was Poland, rather than Ukraine, and the reason they lost was because America and other Western nations armed Poland with the latest in offensive and defensive technology. Sound familiar? But now the scheming, devious president of Russia has decided to take his frustrations out on America itself. He covertly buys a freight company and an air-freight service, leases an abandoned airport in Moab, Utah, and begins carrying out armed strikes within the United States. When the president holds a campaign rally at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, a converted cargo plane uses cruise missiles to wipe out an entire squadron of F-35's and, gulp, Air Force One. Further, they get away scot-free, leaving the country quite anxious about what might come next. This novel also assumes that Cybernetic Infantry Devices - twelve-foot-tall, human-piloted, armed combat robots - have been developed by the Americans. Parts of one of these CID's were captured after it was destroyed in a Polish battle years ago, and the Russians have been able to reverse-engineer their own version of these combat robots. Which leads to some very interesting developments as this narrative goes forward. If you're looking for a good techno-thriller, don't miss The Moscow Offensive!
Profile Image for Jeff Miller.
1,179 reviews206 followers
June 25, 2018
This series continues to maintain my interest. Each entry is enough their own story within the context of the story arc to not be "just another entry". Even more so, still interested in the next one.
Profile Image for Clay Davis.
Author 4 books165 followers
June 14, 2018
Good story, the book cover is dull.
Profile Image for Gregory.
279 reviews5 followers
August 12, 2018
I don't mind suspending disbelief for technology, and maybe I should be more accepting of this implausible political intrigue, but I found it a bridge too far. Plus, he's unpleasantly misogynistic.
553 reviews
March 14, 2019
Better than the recent previous books in this series. This one is believably scary, but I never did figure out what the title meant. The story isn't finished, so there is another book coming.
1 review
January 7, 2019
Brilliant

Again another brilliant book., the plot is spell binding and keeps you glued. I can't wait for the next one.
189 reviews
July 26, 2018
On a remote island estate, a billionaire investor sells his air freight company to the devious president of Russia, Gennadiy Gryzlov. The Russians are plotting to use these massive private planes to secretly transport dangerous cargo into the United States.

The inept American president, Stacy Anne Barbeau, has failed to account for the Russian threat. Top-notch aviator Brad McLanahan and the elite Iron Wolf Squadron have joined forces with the Alliance of Free Nations in Eastern Europe to prepare for the imminent horrifying attack. Working with cutting-edge technology, the team will expertly pilot CIDs (Cybernetic Infantry Devices)—twelve-foot-tall humanoid combat robots—each armed with more firepower than a conventional platoon.

But their state-of-the-art weapons and honed battle skills may not be enough to stamp out this new menace. For the Russians have reverse engineered their own combat robots and they are smuggling them across America’s borders, planning to attack from within. McLanahan and the Iron Wolf Squadron will once again put their lives on the line to fiercely protect the home of the brave and the free world.
Profile Image for Julie.
654 reviews18 followers
July 12, 2018
When I first started reading this, I thought I wouldn't enjoy it because I hadn't read any of the other books in the series. But I kept reading. Then, I couldn't put it down and I tore right through it and wished earlier books in the series were available in electronic format because I rarely read paper books any more.

Thoroughly enjoyable and moves fast. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for Ronnie Taylor.
31 reviews1 follower
November 3, 2019
Another great story

I love those CIDS in action vs Russians lol ,this has great flying scenes ,good battles and why I love anything Dale brown writes ,I can't spoil the ending
88 reviews12 followers
July 17, 2018
I had never read a Dale Brown book and won this thru Goodreads. i definitely enjoyed it and look forward to reading previous of his books. This is a cross between military thriller and sci fi. Kept my interest all the way. Good book.
159 reviews16 followers
July 17, 2018
Although I have not read any other book in the series I really enjoyed this book. I now plan to read more of Dale Brown's books. A real page turner!

666 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2018
Well paced page-turner. Lots of clever tech, war strategy, etc. This one is almost as good as Flight of the Old Dog
3 reviews
August 3, 2018
.

T throughly enjoyed this book. Brown did an amazing job of keeping the main characters in the series while bringing new characters to the forefront. Look forward to the next book.
219 reviews4 followers
October 10, 2018
I love Dale Brown. I admit I'm a female but I love military thrillers. I fell in love with Patrick McLanahan in book #1 of this series and I still love him and his son. These are up to date books that grab you right off and don't stop the action until the last page. I thoroughly enjoy the military jargon and information passed along. This is a great read.
Profile Image for Andrew Anderson.
44 reviews
July 13, 2018
Another great addition to the story

I could not out this one down. I cannot wait until the next one comes out. These stories of the near future military technology always keep my interest.
671 reviews
September 25, 2018
An excellent futuristic Russian,USA conflict, with a clever Russian sneak attack on US soil.. well done
9 reviews
March 18, 2019
Read now

Good, fast action, familiar characters, can put down but does hold your attention, written so you believe it could happen
482 reviews
May 7, 2019
A n exciting novel. Excitement from the first page to the end. Some humor in good spots makes it an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Tehila.
254 reviews2 followers
October 3, 2018
An exciting read that delivered what it promised. Definitely looking for more in the series.

The only reason it took so long to finish this book is that I received a double stack of library books that I needed to finish before their due dates.

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Profile Image for Jo.
1,447 reviews
July 4, 2018
Love Dale Brown’s books and this one is one of the best. All of my favorite characters take on the Russians again.
Profile Image for Bill Donhiser.
1,236 reviews8 followers
August 17, 2018
Like all Dale Brown books, this is an action-packed technothriller. Once I picked it up I had a very hard time putting it down. It has the usual bad guys (Russia) and a good plot. It is a very enjoyable summer read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews

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