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Pike Logan #13
Daughter of War
Former Special Forces Officer and New York Times bestselling author Brad Taylor delivers a heart-pounding thriller featuring Taskforce operators Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill as they come face to face with a conspiracy where nothing is as it seems.Hot on the trail of a North Korean looking to sell sensitive US intelligence to the Syrian regime, Pike Logan and the Taskforce stumble upon something much graver: the sale of a lethal substance called Red Mercury.
Unbeknownst to the Taskforce, the Syrians plan to use the weapon of mass destruction against American and Kurdish forces, and blame the attack on terrorists, causing western nations to reassess their participation in the murky cauldron of the Syrian civil war.
Meanwhile, North Korea has its own devastating agenda: a double-cross that will dwarf the attack in Syria even as it lays the blame on the Syrian government. Leveraging Switzerland's fame for secrecy and its vast network of military bunkers, now repurposed by private investors for the clandestine storage of wealth, North Korea will use Red Mercury to devastate the West's ability to deliver further sanctions against the rogue regime.
As the Taskforce begins to unravel the plot, a young refugee unwittingly holds the key to the conspiracy. Hunted across Europe for reasons she cannot fathom, she is the one person who can stop the attack--if she can live long enough for Pike and Jennifer to find her.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2019
1786 people are currently reading
1416 people want to read
About the author
Brad Taylor
48 books2,537 followersBrad Taylor served for more than twenty-one years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2010 as a Special Forces Lieutenant colonel. During that time he held numerous infantry and special operations positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operations Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
April 18, 2019
I'm a big fan of Brad Taylor, but not this story because it doesn't get anywhere and seems pointless. 2 of 10 stars
December 23, 2018
Daughter of War is an action-packed Black ops thriller that brings together bad actors from North Korea and Syrian terrorists. An American crack team of specialists is out to stop them, that is, if they ever figure out what the bad guys are up to. And, into the fray without meaning to get involved is Amena, a fourteen year old Syrian refugee keen on working the tourist’s pockets on the Riviera and ending up like poor Frodo with the one thing everyone wants and will kill anyone to get. All the action takes place not in Syria or the DMZ but on the French Riviera, the casinos of Monaco, or the Swiss Alps. Because these days this kind of action could really explode in the heart of Europe. Not the first book in these long-running series, but filled with lots of action, lots of intrigue, and lots of excitement.
July 29, 2025
I haven't given a 5 star in a while. To be honest, I went into this book thinking I wasn't going to like it. Boy, am I eating my words now because this book was amazing. I loved every second of this book. Such a page turner bursting with action at every turn.
Very fast-paced. I believe this is a new author to me, and after this book, I will read more of his books. Loved the plot and the word building.
I ate this book up. I recommend you give this book a read 😊
Very fast-paced. I believe this is a new author to me, and after this book, I will read more of his books. Loved the plot and the word building.
I ate this book up. I recommend you give this book a read 😊
January 2, 2020
A great thriller with a lot of action. A good plot which takes Pike Logan and Task Force through Europe with its focus on Red Mercury and a new character, a Syrian refugee girl. Action sequence were repeated from two perspective is strange to say the least otherwise this is a 5 star book.
November 2, 2018
New York Times bestselling author Brad Taylor (Operator Down, 2018, etc.) presents another chilling, all-too-plausible plot in his latest nail-biting thriller.
In Monaco to stop the sale of stolen data between North Korea and Syria, Pike Logan and the rest of his Taskforce team have been ordered to make sure that the top-secret information, which supposedly contains vital intelligence on a number of important members of the United States government, never changes hands. Instead, Pike and company discover that they’ve got the mission all wrong.
The good news is that North Korea isn’t hawking info stolen from the Chinese, after all. The bad news, though, is that they’re moving something much worse: a deadly chemical called Red Mercury.
Extremely poisonous and nearly untraceable, Red Mercury poses a very real and present danger to America and the rest of the world. The story takes another turn, however, when Amena, a young Syrian refugee who relies on her skills as a petty thief to feed herself and her brother, accidentally lifts a new iPhone that contains the details of the attack from the pocket of a Syrian intelligence officer. Suddenly, everyone from the North Koreans to the Syrians and even the Russians are in pursuit of Amena, who has no clue that she’s in possession of the one thing that could cause the murderous plot to fail.
With the clock ticking down and bad guys closing in on her from every direction, it’s once again up to Pike Logan to find Amena and save the day before it’s too late . . . and this time, he’s got his work cut out for him.
By now readers know about Taylor’s (a retired lieutenant colonel) military background, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force. Few authors can put that on their resumes, and while there’s no question that Taylor knows his way around an action scene better than most — constantly interjecting a gritty authenticity to his stories — it’s hard to believe that writing wasn’t his first career. Armed with a strong prose and natural storytelling ability, Brad Taylor continues to dominate the military thriller genre, and it’s not close.
While Pike Logan is the star of the series (and part-time narrator), Taylor has done an exceptional job . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/10/29...
In Monaco to stop the sale of stolen data between North Korea and Syria, Pike Logan and the rest of his Taskforce team have been ordered to make sure that the top-secret information, which supposedly contains vital intelligence on a number of important members of the United States government, never changes hands. Instead, Pike and company discover that they’ve got the mission all wrong.
The good news is that North Korea isn’t hawking info stolen from the Chinese, after all. The bad news, though, is that they’re moving something much worse: a deadly chemical called Red Mercury.
Extremely poisonous and nearly untraceable, Red Mercury poses a very real and present danger to America and the rest of the world. The story takes another turn, however, when Amena, a young Syrian refugee who relies on her skills as a petty thief to feed herself and her brother, accidentally lifts a new iPhone that contains the details of the attack from the pocket of a Syrian intelligence officer. Suddenly, everyone from the North Koreans to the Syrians and even the Russians are in pursuit of Amena, who has no clue that she’s in possession of the one thing that could cause the murderous plot to fail.
With the clock ticking down and bad guys closing in on her from every direction, it’s once again up to Pike Logan to find Amena and save the day before it’s too late . . . and this time, he’s got his work cut out for him.
By now readers know about Taylor’s (a retired lieutenant colonel) military background, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force. Few authors can put that on their resumes, and while there’s no question that Taylor knows his way around an action scene better than most — constantly interjecting a gritty authenticity to his stories — it’s hard to believe that writing wasn’t his first career. Armed with a strong prose and natural storytelling ability, Brad Taylor continues to dominate the military thriller genre, and it’s not close.
While Pike Logan is the star of the series (and part-time narrator), Taylor has done an exceptional job . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/10/29...
January 14, 2019
This is strong addition to the series and one of Brad Talylor's finest novels to date. As usual, there is an original and relevant plot with original characters. This one is especially strong on character, with the surprising stand-out being Amena, the thirteen-year-old girl after whom the book is named. A Syrian refugee in Europe, she witnesses the murder of her family after stealing a cell phone from a Syrian spy that contains instructions on where to pick up a a North Korean chemical weapon. From there, the plot gets rather complicated, but Amena's path eventually intersects with Pike Logan's team. The interactions between Pike and Jennifer and Amena are genuinely touching and funny, and Taylor creates a good deal of tension over what will become of the young girl. Throw in a lethal Russian MMA terminator assassin, a flaky CIA officer, a jihadist cell, a North Korean black ops team, and the threat of an impending chemical weapon attack, and this solid thriller shows why Brad Taylor is an absolute pro.
September 1, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars
Another fantastic entry in the Pike Logan series. Each time I start one, I think "he can't possibly get any better" but he does. This time it's North Korea, Syria and chemical weapons. And a Syrian refugee who, like Frodo, ends up with the one ring...this time it's an iPhone. Pike is in the dark for most of the time, not really sure who the bad actors are or what they're trying to do. Having a young girl who keeps getting in harms way despite his best efforts adds an unexpected amount of emotion. If I had to complain about anything, the bad actors were a little too one dimensional this time out, but not enough for me to knock a star off the rating. Pike and Jennifer make up for any deficiencies in that department. Overall, a really well done thriller.
Another fantastic entry in the Pike Logan series. Each time I start one, I think "he can't possibly get any better" but he does. This time it's North Korea, Syria and chemical weapons. And a Syrian refugee who, like Frodo, ends up with the one ring...this time it's an iPhone. Pike is in the dark for most of the time, not really sure who the bad actors are or what they're trying to do. Having a young girl who keeps getting in harms way despite his best efforts adds an unexpected amount of emotion. If I had to complain about anything, the bad actors were a little too one dimensional this time out, but not enough for me to knock a star off the rating. Pike and Jennifer make up for any deficiencies in that department. Overall, a really well done thriller.
July 17, 2019
The Task Force bumps around Europe trying to find terrorists, some of which want some red mercury, which either does or doesn't exist, depending on who you are reading.
Of course, the refugee "crisis" is going on, and the team picks up an adorable waif. If this were a movie, we'd all be throwing things at the screen whenever she showed up.
Other than that, this is pretty much a standard book of the series.
Of course, the refugee "crisis" is going on, and the team picks up an adorable waif. If this were a movie, we'd all be throwing things at the screen whenever she showed up.
Other than that, this is pretty much a standard book of the series.
April 29, 2021
Logan and Jennifer are in France working their cover job in an old church when the call comes that the team is needed in Monaco. Word is that there's a North Korean selling a WMD to an unknown Syrian.
And so the chase begins. A 13 year old Syrian refugee girl gets caught up in the affair and the action takes them to Switzerland.
Another great thriller from Lt Colonel Taylor with all his expertise that he brings to all his books
And so the chase begins. A 13 year old Syrian refugee girl gets caught up in the affair and the action takes them to Switzerland.
Another great thriller from Lt Colonel Taylor with all his expertise that he brings to all his books
November 23, 2018
Was given an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review from First to Read online.
This had an amazing storyline with awesome action scenes, amazing characters, and tremendous flow. Brad has always been a talented author but this had me turning pages nonstop. Pike and Jennifer are flung into the middle of an extremely lethal substances impending release on humanity with so many layers that I was honestly wondering what would happen next. The spotlight is shown on a young girl, from a war torn country who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pike’s team is awesome and are professional as they come and I love their banter while being able to operate in tough situations.
I highly recommend this and hope you pick it up!
This had an amazing storyline with awesome action scenes, amazing characters, and tremendous flow. Brad has always been a talented author but this had me turning pages nonstop. Pike and Jennifer are flung into the middle of an extremely lethal substances impending release on humanity with so many layers that I was honestly wondering what would happen next. The spotlight is shown on a young girl, from a war torn country who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pike’s team is awesome and are professional as they come and I love their banter while being able to operate in tough situations.
I highly recommend this and hope you pick it up!
February 25, 2020
It’s no secret that I enjoy when action thrillers throw in a young child as an accomplice/victim in need of escorting. It changes up the dynamics and adds a bit of disorder in usually military precise planning and procedures. It’s just the right kind of monkey wrench to throw into a long-going novel series.
With the exception of Baldacci’s The Innocent, which was the first installment in the Robie & Reel series, all the rest are like book 3 to 5 to see how the operator or team functions normally. It’s crazy the the Pike Logan series waited till book 13 to introduce Amena. But, man, is she a pistol.
From escaping the two terrorists who broke her little brother’s neck and slit her dad’s throat, ultimately killing one, to helping out the Taskforce identify the whole Red Mercury plot and helping to kill three more of the terrorists, she sure does a lot to drive the plot forward here. And all that and only thirteen years old to boot.
I’m kind of looking forward to when and how they bring her back.
With the exception of Baldacci’s The Innocent, which was the first installment in the Robie & Reel series, all the rest are like book 3 to 5 to see how the operator or team functions normally. It’s crazy the the Pike Logan series waited till book 13 to introduce Amena. But, man, is she a pistol.
From escaping the two terrorists who broke her little brother’s neck and slit her dad’s throat, ultimately killing one, to helping out the Taskforce identify the whole Red Mercury plot and helping to kill three more of the terrorists, she sure does a lot to drive the plot forward here. And all that and only thirteen years old to boot.
I’m kind of looking forward to when and how they bring her back.
February 10, 2019
Great adventure thriller that could be torn from newspaper headlines. WMD, DPRK, Syrian regime, and a conspiracy. Great characters, Pike Logan & his bad attitude met his match with a young female Syrian refugee, who gives him an even match, Jennifer Cahill Logan’s partner and the rest of his Taskforce. Great locations, Switzerland & Monaco.
My issues are, overuse of a word and questionable Korean conversation.
“Interdict” is used far too often. “‘Tell them they have Omega to interdict anyone . . .’” (330) “‘Don’t interdict.’” (310) “‘Jennifer, get the team mobilized. Get them ready to interdict.’” (298) “‘If the Americans interdicted one of the Syrians, . . .’” (288) “‘You want to interdict them?’” (259) “‘I had to interdict.’” (166) ‘“Because The CIA had no capability to interdict, . . . ‘“ (74) As a reader, when one word continues to pop out at me, I find it detracts from the story. This word, interdict, did that for me.
A conversation with a DPRK general and the doc who developed the WMD didn’t make sense especially when the doc thought to himself, “But in the DPRK, it never hurt to lie.” (377) Everything I’ve ever hear or read about that country tells me otherwise.
Then I get to the end and Taylor writes his acknowledgements and he writes of his wife, “She’s my first reader, which is to say she’s the first one who has to tell me something’s not right in my manuscript and then live with my petulant, sullen reaction.” (387-8). How did she miss all the interdiction?
My issues are, overuse of a word and questionable Korean conversation.
“Interdict” is used far too often. “‘Tell them they have Omega to interdict anyone . . .’” (330) “‘Don’t interdict.’” (310) “‘Jennifer, get the team mobilized. Get them ready to interdict.’” (298) “‘If the Americans interdicted one of the Syrians, . . .’” (288) “‘You want to interdict them?’” (259) “‘I had to interdict.’” (166) ‘“Because The CIA had no capability to interdict, . . . ‘“ (74) As a reader, when one word continues to pop out at me, I find it detracts from the story. This word, interdict, did that for me.
A conversation with a DPRK general and the doc who developed the WMD didn’t make sense especially when the doc thought to himself, “But in the DPRK, it never hurt to lie.” (377) Everything I’ve ever hear or read about that country tells me otherwise.
Then I get to the end and Taylor writes his acknowledgements and he writes of his wife, “She’s my first reader, which is to say she’s the first one who has to tell me something’s not right in my manuscript and then live with my petulant, sullen reaction.” (387-8). How did she miss all the interdiction?
November 15, 2021
Brad Taylor once again, did an outstanding job of developing the characters of the Taskforce members and introduced a new character, Amena, who couldn't have had a much harsher or more difficult life, hence the book's title. Logan and company, find her in the process of a different tasking but then finds that she is at the center of it, unknown to them both. The book is fast-paced and difficult to put down. I accidentally skipped it, but then came back to it and sorry that I skipped it, but glad that I back-tracked and read it. Great job, LTC!
February 18, 2022
Another very enjoyable Pike Logan thriller from Brad Taylor. Maybe not the highest of highs of the series, but a solid story with plenty of edge of your seat moments. The aspect of this book that I think I most appreciated is the part that relates to the title. I won't give that away because it's a bit spoilery, but the way it ties in to Pike's character and some of his personal background is pretty cool. The other thing I'll say is that these books continue to set themselves apart in the genre by having more of a team aspect to then rather than just lone wolf super human kicking ass and taking names. There's still plenty of action, but I like how we see how the team works together and they each have their own strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. That character work isn't something you see a lot of in this genre, and it shows how Taylor has really grown as a writer over the years.
April 24, 2019
I have to admit I'm a big fan of Brad Taylor's books, but this, by far, is one of his best stories. He's taken Pike and Jennifer, along with the rest of the team on some amazing journey's but the introduction of Amena and her story really did tug at the heartstrings. I highly recommend all his books and highly recommend following the story of Pike Logan from the beginning, but this book is certainly one of his best. Thanks Brad!
September 28, 2023
Another outstanding Pike Logan thriller. He’s the type of man if you saw him on the street, your instincts might tell you to go to the other side of the road. Like a wolf among sheep! But he’s the type of man when things go wrong, you find yourself hoping that there’s a man, a sheepdog like him to help protect those you love. Onto book 14 in this series!
November 4, 2019
In the midst of stressful family events, this book providesd me with a momentary escape. I've said this before but I really like Pike Logan. He's unapologetically tough and knows he's a killer, but he also had a strong sense of right or wrong. This time, we see North Korea and Syria obtaining a chemical WMD. Of course, Pike's team happens to be in the vicinity and is deployed to investigate. We also see Amena, a 13 year old Syrian refugee, eking out a living as a pickpocket. She happened to steal the wrong item and is thrust into dangerous world of spies and terrorists. The usual suspects are also here: Jennifer, Knuckles, Blood, Creed, and Veep. This is one action-packed, save-the-world, easy-to-read book.
February 19, 2021
Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan series continues to exceed my expectations when I recently read Daughter Of War (released – 2019) and experienced a remarkable spy classic of our era. With a keen eye for detail, complex web of plots, humanized yet fun characters, international intrigue, emotional and psychological depth, tactical gear and tech, and the use of real world conflicts in this brilliant story, I now wish I’d read this book sooner.
Like most Brad Taylor books, there are a lot of plots going on simultaneously from the beginning from many different sides but all seemingly connected. The DPRK(North Koreans) have created a chemical weapon labeled after the mythically fabled WMD – Red Mercury. The weapon is just a form of Sarin Gas that becomes harmless after an hour of being dispersed into the atmosphere. That one hour in a crowded location has a deadly potential, enough to attract terror groups and all sorts of troublemakers, though the North Korean’s plans are more complex and layered with disastrously deceptive objectives.
The main protagonist of this book (while still being in the Pike Logan series) is a thirteen-year-old Syrian refugee named Ameena who’s made her way to Morocco with her younger brother and father after barely surviving and escaping the damage of the Syrian civil war. With her wits and her younger brother’s help, she spends her time pick pocketing the tourists in order to afford their food. When she accidentally overhears a man’s phone call and understands that he’s working for the Assad regime that destroyed her home and killed her mother, she goes on to steal his iPhone X. This happens soon after the Syrian intelligence officer is given the iPhone from DPRK’s agents, as it’s the key for a proxy terror attack staged with the Red Mercury.
This happens when Pike Logan and his TaskForce team (a counter-terrorism black ops unit) arrive at the Monte Carlo casino in Monaco to tail a North Korean spy whom they suspect of selling classified intel about the US to a Syrian Arab. Though the TaskForce team chase tails and don’t find anything serious, there are some fun moments of Pike’s disappointment about the reality of the Monte Carlo casino, which is very different from the charade he(and we) had experienced in the Bond movies.
Pike’s team is forced to coordinate with a CIA officer who’s only interested in advancing his career and damages the TaskForce’s operation by tipping off the Syrian, whom he thinks he’s running as his asset. This drives a wrench into the plot when the Syrian spy later tries to use the desperate CIA spook for his own profit when he plans to cut ties with all sides involved.
Another plot thread is the involvement of the Russian(State-owned) PMC, the Wagner Group, who are hired by the Syrian spy to find his stolen phone and eliminate everyone who has looked at what’s inside. These dangerous mercenaries, who are very well written, track down Ameena and kill her remaining family in order to get the phone. Now, alone and lost, she goes on the run, chased by the Russian mercs, which leads to the massacre of a whole police station in Morocco who were holding her captive for pick pocketing. Afraid and knowing that she and her phone will lead to the death of anyone who helps her, Ameena escapes Morocco to France, and then in a series of trains to Switzerland, to the same town where Pike and his team are in locating the Syrian spy. This is where the story spirals into a fresh place for the series and leads the plot to the suspense fueled, emotional, and action-packed ticking clock of the climax. The concepts, plot, and characters delved in this book is a ray of hope for this genre, which is surely not going stale anytime soon.
The use of cold war era nuclear bunkers around the Swiss mountains, now converted into warehouses with the same old fashioned Swiss security and secrecy, after the same kind of secrecy has left their banking system in the post 9/11 cracks by the international community, is a new concept which is used in many intriguing ways throughout this book.
The action, plot twists, technical details, real world intrigue, Pike and his team’s tenacious smarts, Ameena’s character arc, the humor, and the seriousness put together is a brilliant cocktail which shines a good light on the genre. While most thrillers are plot focused and lack consistent character development, this book excels in both, and brings a fresh change to Pike Logan’s life. Long time fans of Brad Taylor’s books and the Pike Logan series will find the Daughter of War to be one of the better installments to the franchise, while the book also works well as an entry point for new readers of the series. In an age of mass produced and lazily written, vast commercial market for thrillers, Brad Taylor’s Daughter of War is a smart, engaging, well researched on the ground level, freshly entertaining, and emotional thrill ride.
For more long-form book reviews, check out - www.kronosananthsimha.com/book-blog/
Like most Brad Taylor books, there are a lot of plots going on simultaneously from the beginning from many different sides but all seemingly connected. The DPRK(North Koreans) have created a chemical weapon labeled after the mythically fabled WMD – Red Mercury. The weapon is just a form of Sarin Gas that becomes harmless after an hour of being dispersed into the atmosphere. That one hour in a crowded location has a deadly potential, enough to attract terror groups and all sorts of troublemakers, though the North Korean’s plans are more complex and layered with disastrously deceptive objectives.
The main protagonist of this book (while still being in the Pike Logan series) is a thirteen-year-old Syrian refugee named Ameena who’s made her way to Morocco with her younger brother and father after barely surviving and escaping the damage of the Syrian civil war. With her wits and her younger brother’s help, she spends her time pick pocketing the tourists in order to afford their food. When she accidentally overhears a man’s phone call and understands that he’s working for the Assad regime that destroyed her home and killed her mother, she goes on to steal his iPhone X. This happens soon after the Syrian intelligence officer is given the iPhone from DPRK’s agents, as it’s the key for a proxy terror attack staged with the Red Mercury.
This happens when Pike Logan and his TaskForce team (a counter-terrorism black ops unit) arrive at the Monte Carlo casino in Monaco to tail a North Korean spy whom they suspect of selling classified intel about the US to a Syrian Arab. Though the TaskForce team chase tails and don’t find anything serious, there are some fun moments of Pike’s disappointment about the reality of the Monte Carlo casino, which is very different from the charade he(and we) had experienced in the Bond movies.
Pike’s team is forced to coordinate with a CIA officer who’s only interested in advancing his career and damages the TaskForce’s operation by tipping off the Syrian, whom he thinks he’s running as his asset. This drives a wrench into the plot when the Syrian spy later tries to use the desperate CIA spook for his own profit when he plans to cut ties with all sides involved.
Another plot thread is the involvement of the Russian(State-owned) PMC, the Wagner Group, who are hired by the Syrian spy to find his stolen phone and eliminate everyone who has looked at what’s inside. These dangerous mercenaries, who are very well written, track down Ameena and kill her remaining family in order to get the phone. Now, alone and lost, she goes on the run, chased by the Russian mercs, which leads to the massacre of a whole police station in Morocco who were holding her captive for pick pocketing. Afraid and knowing that she and her phone will lead to the death of anyone who helps her, Ameena escapes Morocco to France, and then in a series of trains to Switzerland, to the same town where Pike and his team are in locating the Syrian spy. This is where the story spirals into a fresh place for the series and leads the plot to the suspense fueled, emotional, and action-packed ticking clock of the climax. The concepts, plot, and characters delved in this book is a ray of hope for this genre, which is surely not going stale anytime soon.
The use of cold war era nuclear bunkers around the Swiss mountains, now converted into warehouses with the same old fashioned Swiss security and secrecy, after the same kind of secrecy has left their banking system in the post 9/11 cracks by the international community, is a new concept which is used in many intriguing ways throughout this book.
The action, plot twists, technical details, real world intrigue, Pike and his team’s tenacious smarts, Ameena’s character arc, the humor, and the seriousness put together is a brilliant cocktail which shines a good light on the genre. While most thrillers are plot focused and lack consistent character development, this book excels in both, and brings a fresh change to Pike Logan’s life. Long time fans of Brad Taylor’s books and the Pike Logan series will find the Daughter of War to be one of the better installments to the franchise, while the book also works well as an entry point for new readers of the series. In an age of mass produced and lazily written, vast commercial market for thrillers, Brad Taylor’s Daughter of War is a smart, engaging, well researched on the ground level, freshly entertaining, and emotional thrill ride.
For more long-form book reviews, check out - www.kronosananthsimha.com/book-blog/
December 6, 2018
Daughter of War is the 13th novel in Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan series. This thriller adds a new element to the continuing adventures of the Taskforce, a clandestine US counterterrorism unit led by Pike. The novel works well as a standalone, but backstory from previous novels enhances the understanding of the primary characters and the team dynamics.
Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill are partners in Grolier Recovery Services, an archaeological recovery business, which serves as a front for the covert missions of the Taskforce. This novel begins with the team being pulled from a real archaeological dig to subvert a ploy by North Korea to sell top-secret US data to Syria. The team discovers that the data transfer they are attempting to disrupt is actually the sale of a lethal new biological weapon, mythically known as Red Mercury. The mission is now critical. My favorite character, Amena, a young Syrian refugee who survived the horrors of Aleppo, becomes an integral part of the action and is critical to the success or failure of this latest mission. Amena’s personal mantra, “if it is to be, it is up to me”, serves her well when her actions place her in the path of the bad guys. The drama traverses several locales ultimately ending in scenic Switzerland, where all the important players intersect, and the action reaches a satisfyingly climatic end.
I am a fan of Brad Taylor, and Daughter of War is another expertly written novel from this master of the action thriller. The primary characters are developed even more in this edition of the series. The riveting plot is intricate and scarily believable. The action is fast-paced and keeps the adrenaline pumping. I was enamored by the detailed rendering of the scenery. Taylor explicitly describes the background scenery and blends it seamlessly into the plot. He takes the reader around every historic corner and to breath-taking summits.
I thoroughly enjoyed this 13th edition of Pike Logan’s escapades. Daughter of War gives a complete view of the collaboration between Pike, Jennifer and the entire team. I couldn’t find any cons in this novel, so I rate it a solid 5 out of 5. If you crave action and adventure with realistic human interaction, this is the book for you. If you’re not a fan of violence, you might want to take a pass on this one.
I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill are partners in Grolier Recovery Services, an archaeological recovery business, which serves as a front for the covert missions of the Taskforce. This novel begins with the team being pulled from a real archaeological dig to subvert a ploy by North Korea to sell top-secret US data to Syria. The team discovers that the data transfer they are attempting to disrupt is actually the sale of a lethal new biological weapon, mythically known as Red Mercury. The mission is now critical. My favorite character, Amena, a young Syrian refugee who survived the horrors of Aleppo, becomes an integral part of the action and is critical to the success or failure of this latest mission. Amena’s personal mantra, “if it is to be, it is up to me”, serves her well when her actions place her in the path of the bad guys. The drama traverses several locales ultimately ending in scenic Switzerland, where all the important players intersect, and the action reaches a satisfyingly climatic end.
I am a fan of Brad Taylor, and Daughter of War is another expertly written novel from this master of the action thriller. The primary characters are developed even more in this edition of the series. The riveting plot is intricate and scarily believable. The action is fast-paced and keeps the adrenaline pumping. I was enamored by the detailed rendering of the scenery. Taylor explicitly describes the background scenery and blends it seamlessly into the plot. He takes the reader around every historic corner and to breath-taking summits.
I thoroughly enjoyed this 13th edition of Pike Logan’s escapades. Daughter of War gives a complete view of the collaboration between Pike, Jennifer and the entire team. I couldn’t find any cons in this novel, so I rate it a solid 5 out of 5. If you crave action and adventure with realistic human interaction, this is the book for you. If you’re not a fan of violence, you might want to take a pass on this one.
I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
February 9, 2019
I Loved this book! [MHO]the best Pike Logan so far. Mr. Taylor has not written a bad one yet.Great characters, solid,thrilling story. The ying & yang of Pike's humanity/ moments of inhumanity. I like the whole TEAM dynamic. Sometimes in a successful series, characters drop, lose importance, or just get ignored. Not here. Awesome.If it had one "speedbump",[again MHO] it was Pike meeting up with the Russian assassin (who was a top tier badass in his own right) Tagir, way too early..... like they say no matter how Bad you are there is always someone bigger and badder. Guess if Tagir had known that, he wouldn't have had to have learned the hard way.
The characters in this series just have an appeal.
Not to many books have thier supporting characters as interesting as the main one(s)
I'm selfish, because as much as I'd like to see Aaron and Shoshana have thier own series, it would take away from this one.But I did miss thier presence in this book. And I hope Johann makes a return at some point, even though he didn't start out on the same side, he is almost a parallel to Pike. It's great complex but solid , yet understandable characters that you can root for that makes this series one of my top "read as soon as I get my hands on it" shelf. The sign of a great read, is when you find yourself invested in the characters. This is my personal favorite Pike Logan book.
Impatiently waiting for the next one. Hopefully not for too long......
The characters in this series just have an appeal.
Not to many books have thier supporting characters as interesting as the main one(s)
I'm selfish, because as much as I'd like to see Aaron and Shoshana have thier own series, it would take away from this one.But I did miss thier presence in this book. And I hope Johann makes a return at some point, even though he didn't start out on the same side, he is almost a parallel to Pike. It's great complex but solid , yet understandable characters that you can root for that makes this series one of my top "read as soon as I get my hands on it" shelf. The sign of a great read, is when you find yourself invested in the characters. This is my personal favorite Pike Logan book.
Impatiently waiting for the next one. Hopefully not for too long......
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2021
Book Review - Pike Logan, Jenifer Cahill, and the rest of the Taskforce are joined in Europe by a 13 year old girl named Amena who is an orphan from Syria in the 13th novel in the Pike Logan series by Brad Taylor. DAUGHTER OF WAR works well as a standalone for those readers not familiar with the Pike Logan series. Amena, the daughter of war, is at least as much a hero in this novel as any of the Taskforce members. I've read just about all of Brad Taylor’s novels and listen to all the short stories in this series and I believe this is one of his best pieces of work. Pike Logan series has moved into my Top 10 Favorites. Great book by an awesome author and veteran!
February 15, 2021
I think I now understand how people get hooked into soap operas...You develop a liking & concern for the characters & Taylor has done that for me...This story is a big step up from the previous novels by fleshing in a huge void of Pike’s...Besides that, we have an action-packed Black ops thriller that has the Taskforce operators foiling some bad actors from North Korea and Syria...Great Stuff!!!
June 20, 2019
Finishing off the binge read of the Pike Logan books, until the next one is published, with 'Daughter of War'. Once again Taylor produces a polished thriller set around Europe, with the North Koreans and nerve gas, and a likeable refugee giving him his book title.
Frankly you have to admire Taylor's deft handling of character, and his manipulation of the reader has reached a point that could be described as masterful. Amena, the aforementioned refugee isn't initially easy to warm to, she's a pickpocket and an illegal immigrant in France, but the horrors which she has endured, and continues to do so, and her bravery in dealing with where she finds herself plucks expertly at the heartstrings.
As always the book is a fast, page turning, read and comes to a satisfying and just about believable (given the context of the genre) conclusion.
I'll be getting the next one when it's published.
Frankly you have to admire Taylor's deft handling of character, and his manipulation of the reader has reached a point that could be described as masterful. Amena, the aforementioned refugee isn't initially easy to warm to, she's a pickpocket and an illegal immigrant in France, but the horrors which she has endured, and continues to do so, and her bravery in dealing with where she finds herself plucks expertly at the heartstrings.
As always the book is a fast, page turning, read and comes to a satisfying and just about believable (given the context of the genre) conclusion.
I'll be getting the next one when it's published.
April 9, 2019
As a Pike Logan book it’s just okay. It’s one of those stop a WMD weapon from being deployed by a Syrian group who are backed by North Koreans. What makes this somewhat different is that a 13 year old Syrian refugee girl, Amena is key to identifying the bad guys and is also a definitely unbelievable resource to the team, She pushes one of the bad guys over a rail, stops another one, etc. One of the problems of the book is that this girl who has been living in refugee camps seems to speak a perfect teenage girl jargon and makes the whole plot even more hard to believe. Further,the
Political machinations between the Koreans and the Syrians and the Americans are incomprehensible.
Political machinations between the Koreans and the Syrians and the Americans are incomprehensible.
February 20, 2019
The Taskforce characters don’t jell for me. Their dialog is scattered and often makes no sense. You need to know their relationships with each other and outsiders to follow the conversation. For a supposedly highly-skilled group, they make a lot of mistakes and appear lucky to accomplish their tasks.
The best part of this thriller and the best character is a thirteen-year-old girl, Amena—a Syrian refugee and pickpocket in Monaco. She lifts an iPhone, which turns out to hold instructions for obtaining a deadly weapon. Her adventures make the book readable.
The best part of this thriller and the best character is a thirteen-year-old girl, Amena—a Syrian refugee and pickpocket in Monaco. She lifts an iPhone, which turns out to hold instructions for obtaining a deadly weapon. Her adventures make the book readable.
March 7, 2019
Another action packed thriller with most of the action taking place on the
French Rivera. The characters are strong and a young girl becomes one of
The major characters as she holds the key to the conspiracy. Her name is
Amena and she works well with Jennifer and Pike Logan. All the mystery
surrounds the sale of a lethal substance called Red Mercury. It is as usual
well written and is a complex story that is executed to perfection.
French Rivera. The characters are strong and a young girl becomes one of
The major characters as she holds the key to the conspiracy. Her name is
Amena and she works well with Jennifer and Pike Logan. All the mystery
surrounds the sale of a lethal substance called Red Mercury. It is as usual
well written and is a complex story that is executed to perfection.
April 20, 2019
finished this one today the 20th of april 2019 saturday evening about quarter after seven good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner have read five or six now from taylor brad and have enjoyed them all, stories easy to read quickly, this one has a nice touch with the young girl, sounds like she took over the story, afterword from taylor. and all the other library copies from taylor brad are out...doggonit...place a hold as they say there.
May 5, 2025
Stupid plot, stupid storyline, pike being pike. The constant disrespectful comments about Knuckles' relationship were High Schoolish and annoying. Amina saved the day. This book added nothing to the series. Had it not been for Amina, I could take it or leave it. And this is from someone who loves the Pike Logan series and has read every book in the series up to this point.
August 29, 2019
3/5. I totally understand what it's like to start writing a story and have what was to have been a minor character just take over and make the story so much better. Luckily for Brad Taylor, that's what happened as he put together a paramilitary thriller that, frankly, was getting off to a slow start. That all changed, as Pike Logan and his team race to intercept something called Red Mercury before the North Koreans hand it off to the Syrians. As current as today's headlines and as authentic as a former Delta Force lieutenant can make it, this is the second I've read by this author. It won't be my last.
December 5, 2020
The Pike Logan series gets better and better with every book. 13 books in and you would think it would slow down, but the writing and action are at top speed!! The introduction to Amena was perfection and I really hope she stock around. Cannot wait until the next one
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