What do you think?
Rate this book
Caine: Rapid Fire #3
Sandfire
Before he was betrayed, Caine was still an assassin... In this explosive mission from his past, can he prevent war from consuming the Middle East?
Thomas Caine is back in action...
As the CIA's deadliest operative, Caine is tasked with eliminating America's most dangerous enemies. But Caine is a professional. His missions of death have rarely been personal. Until now.
A fellow operative is killed on an icy New Zealand mountain. A shipment of vital medicine disappears from a UN cargo container. And a CIA cargo plane is shot down in the vast Empty Quarter desert. These seemingly unrelated events are all linked to a shadowy operation, known only as SANDFIRE... and if exposed, the fallout could compromise the U.S.-Saudi alliance, and engulf the Arabian Peninsula in war.
Caine travels to Yemen to locate the missing plane, and track down his friend's killers. But his investigation reveals other secrets lost in the wreckage. Secrets powerful men will go to any lengths to keep buried in the endless sands...
Get ready for another Rapid Fire adventure! Read Sandfire, and plunge into an explosive mission from Caine's past today.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2018
716 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Warren
19 books119 followersAndrew Warren was born in New Jersey, but currently resides in the warmer climate of Southern California. He studied film, English and psychology at the University of Miami, and has over a decade of experience in the television and motion picture industry, where he has worked as a post-production supervisor, story producer and writer.
His passion for writing and traveling led Andrew to Japan. As soon as he set eyes on the country he fell in love with it, and felt compelled to use it as the setting for a series of novels. It took a few years, but Tokyo Black was the result of that trip.
Andrew’s writing skills have seen him write for Youtube Red's "Fight of the Living Dead," MangoTV's "Sons of Earth", and Discovery's "True Nightmares".
His love of the Far East extends to all varieties of Asian cuisine, and he scours Southern California looking for the best ramen, dumplings and beef noodle soup. All in the name or research, of course!
His fascination for the spy thriller genre was born from a love of James Bond films. Growing up, he knew that he was never going to be a muscle-bound giant, like Schwarzenegger or Stallone. Instead, he opted for charm and sophistication, with a smattering of brains and super-cool spy gadgets.
When he’s not working or writing classic spy thrillers, Andrew likes to relax at home with his pet dachshund, Ares, and his cat, Mina. He is currently working on the next Thomas Caine thriller, which will be set in East Africa.
Andrew loves to hear from his readers. Feel free to contact him here:
www.andrewwarrenbooks.com
facebook @andrewarrenbooks
andrew@andrewarrenbooks.com
His passion for writing and traveling led Andrew to Japan. As soon as he set eyes on the country he fell in love with it, and felt compelled to use it as the setting for a series of novels. It took a few years, but Tokyo Black was the result of that trip.
Andrew’s writing skills have seen him write for Youtube Red's "Fight of the Living Dead," MangoTV's "Sons of Earth", and Discovery's "True Nightmares".
His love of the Far East extends to all varieties of Asian cuisine, and he scours Southern California looking for the best ramen, dumplings and beef noodle soup. All in the name or research, of course!
His fascination for the spy thriller genre was born from a love of James Bond films. Growing up, he knew that he was never going to be a muscle-bound giant, like Schwarzenegger or Stallone. Instead, he opted for charm and sophistication, with a smattering of brains and super-cool spy gadgets.
When he’s not working or writing classic spy thrillers, Andrew likes to relax at home with his pet dachshund, Ares, and his cat, Mina. He is currently working on the next Thomas Caine thriller, which will be set in East Africa.
Andrew loves to hear from his readers. Feel free to contact him here:
www.andrewwarrenbooks.com
facebook @andrewarrenbooks
andrew@andrewarrenbooks.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 20, 2020
Excellent, with great desert scenes and sandstorms.
This series really takes you all over the world, and it feels like you are there.
In the first two books, Caine is out of the CIA and no longer an assassin. This whole book is a flashback to Caine being a CIA operative. It starts in the snow mountains and some tremendous skiing and he tries to stay alive. Then he gets a suicide assignment (he doesn't know it a suicide assignment) to Yemen and the Saudi Desert. Great action scenes.
I am reading Book 4 now, Book 2 is the best, but read them all, they are very good.
If you like action-Strongly Recommend the series.
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU. As of this writing 93% 5 and 4-star reviews on Amazon with 300+ reviews)
This series really takes you all over the world, and it feels like you are there.
In the first two books, Caine is out of the CIA and no longer an assassin. This whole book is a flashback to Caine being a CIA operative. It starts in the snow mountains and some tremendous skiing and he tries to stay alive. Then he gets a suicide assignment (he doesn't know it a suicide assignment) to Yemen and the Saudi Desert. Great action scenes.
I am reading Book 4 now, Book 2 is the best, but read them all, they are very good.
If you like action-Strongly Recommend the series.
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU. As of this writing 93% 5 and 4-star reviews on Amazon with 300+ reviews)
May 20, 2018
First of all, a thank you to Warren and Bailey for offering me this ARC, two great great authors. This is my voluntary review.
This is by far the best I’ve read of the Rapid Fire series. The combined effort of the authors is a remarkable offspring. The background of Caine as a CIA operative is fascinating and captivating from the beginning, the betrayal, the harsh surroundings, the struggle to survive, the hunt through the cold of Siberia to the burning heat of Africa are increasingly well defined in the turmoil of emotions within Caine. Churning, hardcore and gripping, not to mention the fast paced action that made me sit on edge and nervous!
This is by far the best I’ve read of the Rapid Fire series. The combined effort of the authors is a remarkable offspring. The background of Caine as a CIA operative is fascinating and captivating from the beginning, the betrayal, the harsh surroundings, the struggle to survive, the hunt through the cold of Siberia to the burning heat of Africa are increasingly well defined in the turmoil of emotions within Caine. Churning, hardcore and gripping, not to mention the fast paced action that made me sit on edge and nervous!
May 1, 2018
This is a very exciting story of before Tom Caine is betrayed and still working for the CIA. A CIA plane is shot down over the Empty Quarter Desert, vaccines are missing in a UN cargo container and Caine receives a call for help from his friend Emily, who is being designnated as MLOA from the CIA-all different problems that are entwined in a CIA operation, called Sandfire, that could be the end of US and Arab alliances if it is found out...
Caine is sent to try to find the plane, first locating Emily then seeing her murdered. Never one to just let things go,Caine makes it his work to find those who murdered his friend. When in the desert looking for the plane, he meets a UN worker and a Bedouin mother whose kids have been taken and husband killed. As the case fits together we see each problem actually stemming from one event- Sandfire!
A suspenseful, intriguing ride with a good hearted man who is a special operator for the CIA, the characters are filled out so that you know each personally to love or hate, with twists and turns that keep you staying with Caine until the very end!
A marvelous adventure that is fun to read, as the good attempts to be rid of the bad, something we all strive for in life!
I received an ARC of this book from the author, Andrew Warren, who I thank and the reason I can give you my honest thoughts of this great story in my review!!
Caine is sent to try to find the plane, first locating Emily then seeing her murdered. Never one to just let things go,Caine makes it his work to find those who murdered his friend. When in the desert looking for the plane, he meets a UN worker and a Bedouin mother whose kids have been taken and husband killed. As the case fits together we see each problem actually stemming from one event- Sandfire!
A suspenseful, intriguing ride with a good hearted man who is a special operator for the CIA, the characters are filled out so that you know each personally to love or hate, with twists and turns that keep you staying with Caine until the very end!
A marvelous adventure that is fun to read, as the good attempts to be rid of the bad, something we all strive for in life!
I received an ARC of this book from the author, Andrew Warren, who I thank and the reason I can give you my honest thoughts of this great story in my review!!
April 6, 2024
My first read from this author/authors and this character, but the strong writing helped me quickly understand the character, personality of Thomas Caine, and a great strong character.
In this explosive mission from Caine's past, can he prevent war from consuming the Middle East?
Thomas Caine is back in action...
As the CIA's deadliest operative, Caine is tasked with eliminating America's most dangerous enemies. But Caine is a professional. His missions of death have rarely been personal. Until now.
A fellow operative is killed on an icy New Zealand mountain. A shipment of vital medicine disappears from a UN cargo container. And a CIA cargo plane is shot down in the vast Empty Quarter desert. These seemingly unrelated events are all linked to a shadowy operation, known only as SANDFIRE... and if exposed, the fallout could compromise the U.S.-Saudi alliance, and engulf the Arabian Peninsula in war.
Caine travels to Yemen to locate the missing plane, and track down his friend's killers. But his investigation reveals other secrets lost in the wreckage. Secrets powerful men will go to any lengths to keep buried in the endless sands...
Get ready for another Rapid Fire adventure! Read Sandfire, and plunge into an explosive mission from Caine, with strong main characters, well paced quick read.
Four stars
In this explosive mission from Caine's past, can he prevent war from consuming the Middle East?
Thomas Caine is back in action...
As the CIA's deadliest operative, Caine is tasked with eliminating America's most dangerous enemies. But Caine is a professional. His missions of death have rarely been personal. Until now.
A fellow operative is killed on an icy New Zealand mountain. A shipment of vital medicine disappears from a UN cargo container. And a CIA cargo plane is shot down in the vast Empty Quarter desert. These seemingly unrelated events are all linked to a shadowy operation, known only as SANDFIRE... and if exposed, the fallout could compromise the U.S.-Saudi alliance, and engulf the Arabian Peninsula in war.
Caine travels to Yemen to locate the missing plane, and track down his friend's killers. But his investigation reveals other secrets lost in the wreckage. Secrets powerful men will go to any lengths to keep buried in the endless sands...
Get ready for another Rapid Fire adventure! Read Sandfire, and plunge into an explosive mission from Caine, with strong main characters, well paced quick read.
Four stars
May 22, 2018
A fun prequel to the Caine: Rapid Fire series sees Caine hunting around the Empty Quarter for a plane full of medical supplies skimmed from the CIA. Of course, there's ample opposition and a great deal of danger.
A great read.
A great read.
May 15, 2018
Sandfire is a fast, fun and an inciteful read into the darker world of spycraft. The deadly games played by the intelligence community to protect their ugly secrets take a toll on both the puppets and the puppeteers. This is a novella-sized fictional book that makes the line between reality and imagination blurred.
From a Ski chase on New-Zealand's mountains to surviving the barren sands of the Empty Quater desert of Yemen, all the locations are scarily vivid in the prose. The food, narration, characterization, challenges, morales all resemble the style of classic spy fiction of the 20th century and yet, there is never a dull moment.
The book is a prequel to the Thomas Caine series and follows a fateful operation he took up for the CIA that ruined his life in the long run. Caine follows the trail of Operation Sandfire by searching for a missing plane that was shot down over the Saudi desert. The plane just happens to contain arms, vaccines and a memory stick with enough data to ruin US-Saudi relations.
This leads to a Catch 22 situation for the good characters and puts them through hell and back. A scarred Saudi military intelligence officer, a terror leader and a corrupt but highly deceptive CIA officer are involved in a conspiracy that pushes Caine beyond his limits.
It was a good thing that the romance did not go beyond the necessary limits and never caused any stereotypes. The relationships in the book are just as complicated as what is expected of people who work in the shadows.
Caine is no superhero like other books in this genre. He has his laundry list of flaws that shape him into a unique character. Scorpions and large spiders, both highly venomous, season the story. The plot shifts from the perspectives of multiple characters from all sides of the spectrum and stay fresh.
These Caine: Rapid Fire novellas have the potential to be expanded into full-length novels that could give greater depth, details, and clarity to the plot. The only significant problem was that I had figured out who the real villain was way before it was revealed. Forgetting that, I still enjoyed this book for the sheer fun factor and the easy learning experience into different places and their cultures.
This book's writers - Andrew Warren and Aiden L. Bailey are both great fans of the late Ian Fleming and have evolved the original 007 writer's narrative style to suit the current day and age.
Spy novels are slowly evolving beyond thrillers that mostly contain political propaganda and ideology. Warren and Bailey keep the politics to a minimum and focus on the plot and this style could be the future of the genre.
From a Ski chase on New-Zealand's mountains to surviving the barren sands of the Empty Quater desert of Yemen, all the locations are scarily vivid in the prose. The food, narration, characterization, challenges, morales all resemble the style of classic spy fiction of the 20th century and yet, there is never a dull moment.
The book is a prequel to the Thomas Caine series and follows a fateful operation he took up for the CIA that ruined his life in the long run. Caine follows the trail of Operation Sandfire by searching for a missing plane that was shot down over the Saudi desert. The plane just happens to contain arms, vaccines and a memory stick with enough data to ruin US-Saudi relations.
This leads to a Catch 22 situation for the good characters and puts them through hell and back. A scarred Saudi military intelligence officer, a terror leader and a corrupt but highly deceptive CIA officer are involved in a conspiracy that pushes Caine beyond his limits.
It was a good thing that the romance did not go beyond the necessary limits and never caused any stereotypes. The relationships in the book are just as complicated as what is expected of people who work in the shadows.
Caine is no superhero like other books in this genre. He has his laundry list of flaws that shape him into a unique character. Scorpions and large spiders, both highly venomous, season the story. The plot shifts from the perspectives of multiple characters from all sides of the spectrum and stay fresh.
These Caine: Rapid Fire novellas have the potential to be expanded into full-length novels that could give greater depth, details, and clarity to the plot. The only significant problem was that I had figured out who the real villain was way before it was revealed. Forgetting that, I still enjoyed this book for the sheer fun factor and the easy learning experience into different places and their cultures.
This book's writers - Andrew Warren and Aiden L. Bailey are both great fans of the late Ian Fleming and have evolved the original 007 writer's narrative style to suit the current day and age.
Spy novels are slowly evolving beyond thrillers that mostly contain political propaganda and ideology. Warren and Bailey keep the politics to a minimum and focus on the plot and this style could be the future of the genre.
May 14, 2018
A quick, action-packed read that never fails to thrill!
Andrew Warren and Aiden L. Bailey team up to deliver a tale of death and betrayal with great characters and a unique setting.
Caine must uncover the truth behind a downed CIA plane, which might start a war. Only problem is the plane was shot down in the largest desert on earth. To top it all off, a ruthless Saudi intelligence officer and a traitor within Caine’s own organization will do everything to ensure that their secret will stay buried along those who try to uncover it.
This novella is an adrenaline-fueled tour-de-force from beginning to end and I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Andrew Warren and Aiden L. Bailey team up to deliver a tale of death and betrayal with great characters and a unique setting.
Caine must uncover the truth behind a downed CIA plane, which might start a war. Only problem is the plane was shot down in the largest desert on earth. To top it all off, a ruthless Saudi intelligence officer and a traitor within Caine’s own organization will do everything to ensure that their secret will stay buried along those who try to uncover it.
This novella is an adrenaline-fueled tour-de-force from beginning to end and I can’t recommend it highly enough!
May 3, 2018
Wow, what a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed the Intensity of the story, and the fact that it never lets up. There are several good characters in the book, but Thomas Caine is definitely a standout. This is one of those books that I sat down to read a few chapters, and I was still sitting there hours later. It’s an entertaining read, and well worth the time.
Thomas Caine didn’t know what to expect when Emily Argyle asked him to come to New Zealand but fighting to stay alive wasn’t one of them. Mind you, he should have suspected it as Emily was on the CIA’s capture or kill list. Since Emily was one of Tom’s handlers that he trusted, he was intrigued to find out why she was on the run. Emily was part of a CIA operation called Sandfire, which flew arms and tech out of Djibouti and Dubai for field crew operating in and around Yemen. However, it sounded like there was something else on the plane, and unfortunately that plane had now crashed in the desert. Tom is tasked with locating the plane and taking control of it’s cargo. Unfortunately, he’s not the only one interested in the plane and its contents, as Saudi Intelligence is pretty keen to get to it first. With Al Qaeda, Al Shabaab and Houthis in the area, it’s not going to be an easy task. I would certainly recommend this book. It’s easily worth the 5/5 Star Rating.
I received an advance copy for an honest review
Thomas Caine didn’t know what to expect when Emily Argyle asked him to come to New Zealand but fighting to stay alive wasn’t one of them. Mind you, he should have suspected it as Emily was on the CIA’s capture or kill list. Since Emily was one of Tom’s handlers that he trusted, he was intrigued to find out why she was on the run. Emily was part of a CIA operation called Sandfire, which flew arms and tech out of Djibouti and Dubai for field crew operating in and around Yemen. However, it sounded like there was something else on the plane, and unfortunately that plane had now crashed in the desert. Tom is tasked with locating the plane and taking control of it’s cargo. Unfortunately, he’s not the only one interested in the plane and its contents, as Saudi Intelligence is pretty keen to get to it first. With Al Qaeda, Al Shabaab and Houthis in the area, it’s not going to be an easy task. I would certainly recommend this book. It’s easily worth the 5/5 Star Rating.
I received an advance copy for an honest review
June 24, 2018
WHO'S THE LUCKY SPY?
“Rulling Yemen is hard. I always say it’s like dancing on the heads of snakes.” – Ali Saleh.
“In Marib, every man and his dog carries a Kalashnikov.” – Yemenese Proverb.
““The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is a tragedy. We have been the largest donor of humanitarian assistance in the world, by far, to Yemen.” - Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
Throughout history, it is clear that some nations are luckier than others. Some countries have peace, prosperity and lack natural resources that can give them huge sums of money. Other nations have bountiful natural resources but corrupt, brutal governments and suffer violent wars. And then, there’s Yemen, quite possibly the most unlucky country on earth today. Situated in a geopolitically strategic location at the botom end of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has been riven by banditry, wars, foreign invasion and most recently, terrorists setting up shop. It has no significant natural resources, the land is dusty and barren with limited agriculture and it lacks a central government that can eliminate the variety of non – state actors who have set up shop in its badlands. As such, one of the original translations of Yemen’s name “happy Arabia” has a dark, bitterly ironic quality to it.
Since 2011’s Arab Spring, Yemen has also been the stage for a regional shadow war. The combatants are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the home of Sunni Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the bastion of Shia Islam. Iran has given support to the powerful Houthi Political movement in Yemen which has ravaged the traditional Yemense establishment that Saudi Arabia has used to maintain its influence over Yemense affairs. This has caused Riyadh to begin sweating bullets as the last time a foreign power made inroads into Yemen (Egypt), chemical weapons and mustard gas was used to target innocent Saudi civilians in the southern Arabian provinces.
History has repeated itself with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps using missiles based in Yemen to attack deep into the Kingdom. In response, Saudi Arabia has resorted to using its high tech Eurofighter Typhoons and American Lockheed Martin F16s to launch a blundering campaign of air strikes that have given it nothing but international condemnation and a lack of headway against the peril of Tehran’s assymetric warfare. It is on this backdrop that up and coming spy novelist Andrew Warren has set his next work.
Mr Warren is the creator of the indie published Thomas Caine series. On the surface, the Caine books are a drop in the wave of fast paced, indie published fiction that has sweapt e – readers around the world. But it is so much more than that. The books blend the exotic tropes of Ian Fleming and the blood stained cinematic fun of Quentin Tarantino with a hard, almost neo noir edge that captures the chaos of the 21st centuries’ second decade. These books are far more deliciously enlivening than your usual Post 9/11 thriller, while at the same time, being grounded with an impressively strategic use of research, and exploring some surprising themes that aren’t explored at all by others in the genre. The saga focuses on Thomas Caine. He is a Paramilitary Officer of the CIA Special Activities Division, the real Mitch Rapps of the world who are called in to get blood on their hands in the most dangerous places on earth. Whether it be gathering intelligence on China’s tank proving ground in the Xinjiang Province, or shooting an Iranian IRGC soldier through the back of the head in the Iraqi desert, men like Thomas Caine are the tip of the spear, who get less notice than DEVGRU or Delta Force. Sandfire is a colaboration novel with Australian thriller writer Aiden L Bailey. In Sandfire, we meet Caine in the past. On assignment tracking a Company employee gone rogue, he uncovers a plot by that individual’s colleagues to give a regional player in the Middle East the power to destabalize the region. An ordinary spy would be out of luck. But men like Caine who brave everything from sand and fire constantly make their own. Now to the review, What happens when state sponsored terrorism hasn’t been authorized by the states involved?
We begin our journey in 2011 on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s the Southern Alps overlooking the most beautiful Tourist Trap on earth, Queenstown. Our man Caine is hunting for Emily Argyle, an officer with the Company’s Directorate of Support. Having displayed distinguished service on the job, she suddenly fled her posting in Yemen for colder pastures and part of Saana Station’s operational funds. Caine corners Argyle on a hut nestled on top of a mountain, and finds the reason she fled was due to a money making venture on the side involving a Company plane that crashed in the middle of the infamous Empty Quarter desert. Before Caine can get further details from her, a hit squard drop on top of them from a helicopter and begin hunting Argyle down the mountain. Caine skis in pursuit, taking out the assassins, but losing Argyle to an avalanche.
Thousands of miles away in Yemen a business transaction commences. A woman, Safiya Naaji, who has a husband in extremis, and a family to feed, attempts to broker a small arms deal with Al Qaeda for her loved ones survival. Before she can even set up a meeting however, a Saudi special forces team storms into her camp, kidnaps her children and executes her husband. And after fleeing New Zealand, Caine meets with up and coming Operations Officer Rebecca Freeling who gives him new orders. To fly to Yemen and investigate what was on the crashed plane worth killing for. From Saana, to Marib and then an journey across the largest desert on earth, an assassin at the height of his powers steps into the eye of a regional storm. Finding help with unexpected allies and trying to survive unknown enemies in the most dangerous nation of the Middle East would leave most covert operatives with their work cut out for them. But for Caine, a Paramilitary specialist at the height of his powers, it’s just another war to win.
In terms of plot, Sandfire is a solid, straightforward story that features an interesting blend of Post 9/11 conspiracy with light historical fiction. Set at the start of the Arab Spring roller coaster that ultimately ended up as a full circle revolution for most of the countries involved, its plot focuses on the calm before the geopolitical storm that’s about to hit a nation which has had more turmoil in a year, than your average nation has in a decade. Sandfire is also a tale of survival with a trained profesional going up against the most inhospitable desert on earth with limited support from Langley. The human spirit triumphing over such challenging terrain is one of the highlights of Sandfire’s story, and very well executed. As a colaboration novel, I’m rather impressed with the work Bailey and Warren have done prose – wise. Only after five readings was I able to detect to a slight degree who had written what passage, and even then, Bailey’s parts of the book stayed true and within sync of the characters and story, and did not feel unnatural in any way. As for Warren, he expertly inserts some easter eggs from the earlier full length Caine novels in a way that is not overbearing and also keeps up the excellent fast paced, cinematic writing of the previous novellas.
Action and setting? Very, spectacular. From the opening pursuit on skis down the most beautiful mountain in the Asia Pacific, to gun battles, ambushes and traps in a Saana on edge, to a hard trek across the barren, sandy sea of the Rub' al Khali, and a climax in an Al Quaeda training camp hidden in the mountains of Al Abr, Warren and Bailey have been far more adventurous and imaginative with selecting the backdrops for the action in their novella than most authors of full length novels are. They expertly, bring to life a country, that while having taken some very hard knocks in its time, was struggling to maintain an illusion of stability that started to crumble with the cyclone of change sweeping through the Arab world. My personal favorite action scene in the story would be the wild night in Yemen, where Caine gets to show what he was capable of during his initial career with the CIA. With nothing but a vanila AK47, a SIG – Sauer P226 and a knife, he slickly makes short work of multiple militants and gunment who try to storm the hotel building he’s in, as he makes his way across Saana to safety.
Research? Expertly done. Whether it be the location details like the real life Indian resturant Caine finds himself meeting the CIA Saana Station Chief, to the unique environmental characteristics of the Empty Quarter, like its acoustic rock cliffs, Warren and Bailey both know how to deploy the real world detail into the narrative so it doesn’t jump the shark. Things such as the state sponsored terrorism support activities of Saudi Arabia and the dynamics behind the Saudi – Iranian war are portrayed with solid authenticity and other details like the capabilities of the kit and equipment used by Caine and the people he’s going up against is portayed accurately as well. Even though it’s shorter than a full length novel, Sand and Fire is no throwaway story that still characterizes a portion of the indie fiction content on Amazon, but one which has had a lot of care and detail going into its narrative
Characters? A short novella means that there are fewer chances for character’s to shine, so today, I’ll be focusing on one character. Our hero, Thomas Caine. For first time readers, this is probably a good place to start, but in this part of the review, I’ll be talking to readers like me who have read all the Caine books. So, Caine was first introduced at a time when his career in the CIA had crashed and burned after his master at the National Clandestine Service had left him to die on a mission. Morose, cynical and no longer enthralled with the spy game, he was like a Post 9/11 Rick Blaine, who had fled to a backwater to make some money and hide from the world. Over the course of three full length novels, he as a person, is ressurected, getting back what he had lost, his formidable sharp combat abilities, his job and even a new purpose. In Sandfire, a story set before the fall, I was expecting a gung ho, arrogant shooter, blindly faithful to flag and country. Instead, what I got subverted my expectations in a welcome way. The Caine we meet in this story is a very well adjusted profesional. He’s not drunk with the power of the job, nor has he become the burned out has – been we meet in The Devil’s Due and Tokyo Black. Instead, he’s a very competent pro, driven to complete his mission, but also willing to do the right thing when he feels he can afford to. We also get some very welcome backstory involving the real reasons why Caine joined the Company, as imperfect and as unfairly maligned as it is. And the authors perfectly did that particular chapter well and fleshed out Caine’s character and the man he was once before with aplomb.
Constructive criticism? One thing. The denouncement. I thought it was somewhat whacky and convoluted. Furthermore, I’m not sure that it’s not impossible for a bullet to maintain sufficient lethal velocity when fired into a shallow body of water. Apart from that, I enjoyed Sandfire considerably.
Overall, Sandfire is a solidly written, fast paced conspiracy/historical fiction novella that is full of surprises. With a plot bigger but more laser focused than most of the current short indie offerings on amazon, a smorgasboard of surprising, masterful blood splattered action scenes from cold mountains and hot sands, and a perfectly synced narrative where two writers have written their parts to perfection, it’s the sort of novella one should aspire to. In an unlucky country like Yemen, a person has to make their own luck, and after reading this, you should check out the rest of the Caine series and see Caine doing just that from the highest point in Tokyo, to the largest swamplands in East Africa and get up to speed. This is only part of the beginning, and you will want to be there for the end, which, for Caine who after this story, finds himself facing a world war in the shadows, will still be coming.
“Rulling Yemen is hard. I always say it’s like dancing on the heads of snakes.” – Ali Saleh.
“In Marib, every man and his dog carries a Kalashnikov.” – Yemenese Proverb.
““The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is a tragedy. We have been the largest donor of humanitarian assistance in the world, by far, to Yemen.” - Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
Throughout history, it is clear that some nations are luckier than others. Some countries have peace, prosperity and lack natural resources that can give them huge sums of money. Other nations have bountiful natural resources but corrupt, brutal governments and suffer violent wars. And then, there’s Yemen, quite possibly the most unlucky country on earth today. Situated in a geopolitically strategic location at the botom end of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has been riven by banditry, wars, foreign invasion and most recently, terrorists setting up shop. It has no significant natural resources, the land is dusty and barren with limited agriculture and it lacks a central government that can eliminate the variety of non – state actors who have set up shop in its badlands. As such, one of the original translations of Yemen’s name “happy Arabia” has a dark, bitterly ironic quality to it.
Since 2011’s Arab Spring, Yemen has also been the stage for a regional shadow war. The combatants are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the home of Sunni Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the bastion of Shia Islam. Iran has given support to the powerful Houthi Political movement in Yemen which has ravaged the traditional Yemense establishment that Saudi Arabia has used to maintain its influence over Yemense affairs. This has caused Riyadh to begin sweating bullets as the last time a foreign power made inroads into Yemen (Egypt), chemical weapons and mustard gas was used to target innocent Saudi civilians in the southern Arabian provinces.
History has repeated itself with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps using missiles based in Yemen to attack deep into the Kingdom. In response, Saudi Arabia has resorted to using its high tech Eurofighter Typhoons and American Lockheed Martin F16s to launch a blundering campaign of air strikes that have given it nothing but international condemnation and a lack of headway against the peril of Tehran’s assymetric warfare. It is on this backdrop that up and coming spy novelist Andrew Warren has set his next work.
Mr Warren is the creator of the indie published Thomas Caine series. On the surface, the Caine books are a drop in the wave of fast paced, indie published fiction that has sweapt e – readers around the world. But it is so much more than that. The books blend the exotic tropes of Ian Fleming and the blood stained cinematic fun of Quentin Tarantino with a hard, almost neo noir edge that captures the chaos of the 21st centuries’ second decade. These books are far more deliciously enlivening than your usual Post 9/11 thriller, while at the same time, being grounded with an impressively strategic use of research, and exploring some surprising themes that aren’t explored at all by others in the genre. The saga focuses on Thomas Caine. He is a Paramilitary Officer of the CIA Special Activities Division, the real Mitch Rapps of the world who are called in to get blood on their hands in the most dangerous places on earth. Whether it be gathering intelligence on China’s tank proving ground in the Xinjiang Province, or shooting an Iranian IRGC soldier through the back of the head in the Iraqi desert, men like Thomas Caine are the tip of the spear, who get less notice than DEVGRU or Delta Force. Sandfire is a colaboration novel with Australian thriller writer Aiden L Bailey. In Sandfire, we meet Caine in the past. On assignment tracking a Company employee gone rogue, he uncovers a plot by that individual’s colleagues to give a regional player in the Middle East the power to destabalize the region. An ordinary spy would be out of luck. But men like Caine who brave everything from sand and fire constantly make their own. Now to the review, What happens when state sponsored terrorism hasn’t been authorized by the states involved?
We begin our journey in 2011 on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s the Southern Alps overlooking the most beautiful Tourist Trap on earth, Queenstown. Our man Caine is hunting for Emily Argyle, an officer with the Company’s Directorate of Support. Having displayed distinguished service on the job, she suddenly fled her posting in Yemen for colder pastures and part of Saana Station’s operational funds. Caine corners Argyle on a hut nestled on top of a mountain, and finds the reason she fled was due to a money making venture on the side involving a Company plane that crashed in the middle of the infamous Empty Quarter desert. Before Caine can get further details from her, a hit squard drop on top of them from a helicopter and begin hunting Argyle down the mountain. Caine skis in pursuit, taking out the assassins, but losing Argyle to an avalanche.
Thousands of miles away in Yemen a business transaction commences. A woman, Safiya Naaji, who has a husband in extremis, and a family to feed, attempts to broker a small arms deal with Al Qaeda for her loved ones survival. Before she can even set up a meeting however, a Saudi special forces team storms into her camp, kidnaps her children and executes her husband. And after fleeing New Zealand, Caine meets with up and coming Operations Officer Rebecca Freeling who gives him new orders. To fly to Yemen and investigate what was on the crashed plane worth killing for. From Saana, to Marib and then an journey across the largest desert on earth, an assassin at the height of his powers steps into the eye of a regional storm. Finding help with unexpected allies and trying to survive unknown enemies in the most dangerous nation of the Middle East would leave most covert operatives with their work cut out for them. But for Caine, a Paramilitary specialist at the height of his powers, it’s just another war to win.
In terms of plot, Sandfire is a solid, straightforward story that features an interesting blend of Post 9/11 conspiracy with light historical fiction. Set at the start of the Arab Spring roller coaster that ultimately ended up as a full circle revolution for most of the countries involved, its plot focuses on the calm before the geopolitical storm that’s about to hit a nation which has had more turmoil in a year, than your average nation has in a decade. Sandfire is also a tale of survival with a trained profesional going up against the most inhospitable desert on earth with limited support from Langley. The human spirit triumphing over such challenging terrain is one of the highlights of Sandfire’s story, and very well executed. As a colaboration novel, I’m rather impressed with the work Bailey and Warren have done prose – wise. Only after five readings was I able to detect to a slight degree who had written what passage, and even then, Bailey’s parts of the book stayed true and within sync of the characters and story, and did not feel unnatural in any way. As for Warren, he expertly inserts some easter eggs from the earlier full length Caine novels in a way that is not overbearing and also keeps up the excellent fast paced, cinematic writing of the previous novellas.
Action and setting? Very, spectacular. From the opening pursuit on skis down the most beautiful mountain in the Asia Pacific, to gun battles, ambushes and traps in a Saana on edge, to a hard trek across the barren, sandy sea of the Rub' al Khali, and a climax in an Al Quaeda training camp hidden in the mountains of Al Abr, Warren and Bailey have been far more adventurous and imaginative with selecting the backdrops for the action in their novella than most authors of full length novels are. They expertly, bring to life a country, that while having taken some very hard knocks in its time, was struggling to maintain an illusion of stability that started to crumble with the cyclone of change sweeping through the Arab world. My personal favorite action scene in the story would be the wild night in Yemen, where Caine gets to show what he was capable of during his initial career with the CIA. With nothing but a vanila AK47, a SIG – Sauer P226 and a knife, he slickly makes short work of multiple militants and gunment who try to storm the hotel building he’s in, as he makes his way across Saana to safety.
Research? Expertly done. Whether it be the location details like the real life Indian resturant Caine finds himself meeting the CIA Saana Station Chief, to the unique environmental characteristics of the Empty Quarter, like its acoustic rock cliffs, Warren and Bailey both know how to deploy the real world detail into the narrative so it doesn’t jump the shark. Things such as the state sponsored terrorism support activities of Saudi Arabia and the dynamics behind the Saudi – Iranian war are portrayed with solid authenticity and other details like the capabilities of the kit and equipment used by Caine and the people he’s going up against is portayed accurately as well. Even though it’s shorter than a full length novel, Sand and Fire is no throwaway story that still characterizes a portion of the indie fiction content on Amazon, but one which has had a lot of care and detail going into its narrative
Characters? A short novella means that there are fewer chances for character’s to shine, so today, I’ll be focusing on one character. Our hero, Thomas Caine. For first time readers, this is probably a good place to start, but in this part of the review, I’ll be talking to readers like me who have read all the Caine books. So, Caine was first introduced at a time when his career in the CIA had crashed and burned after his master at the National Clandestine Service had left him to die on a mission. Morose, cynical and no longer enthralled with the spy game, he was like a Post 9/11 Rick Blaine, who had fled to a backwater to make some money and hide from the world. Over the course of three full length novels, he as a person, is ressurected, getting back what he had lost, his formidable sharp combat abilities, his job and even a new purpose. In Sandfire, a story set before the fall, I was expecting a gung ho, arrogant shooter, blindly faithful to flag and country. Instead, what I got subverted my expectations in a welcome way. The Caine we meet in this story is a very well adjusted profesional. He’s not drunk with the power of the job, nor has he become the burned out has – been we meet in The Devil’s Due and Tokyo Black. Instead, he’s a very competent pro, driven to complete his mission, but also willing to do the right thing when he feels he can afford to. We also get some very welcome backstory involving the real reasons why Caine joined the Company, as imperfect and as unfairly maligned as it is. And the authors perfectly did that particular chapter well and fleshed out Caine’s character and the man he was once before with aplomb.
Constructive criticism? One thing. The denouncement. I thought it was somewhat whacky and convoluted. Furthermore, I’m not sure that it’s not impossible for a bullet to maintain sufficient lethal velocity when fired into a shallow body of water. Apart from that, I enjoyed Sandfire considerably.
Overall, Sandfire is a solidly written, fast paced conspiracy/historical fiction novella that is full of surprises. With a plot bigger but more laser focused than most of the current short indie offerings on amazon, a smorgasboard of surprising, masterful blood splattered action scenes from cold mountains and hot sands, and a perfectly synced narrative where two writers have written their parts to perfection, it’s the sort of novella one should aspire to. In an unlucky country like Yemen, a person has to make their own luck, and after reading this, you should check out the rest of the Caine series and see Caine doing just that from the highest point in Tokyo, to the largest swamplands in East Africa and get up to speed. This is only part of the beginning, and you will want to be there for the end, which, for Caine who after this story, finds himself facing a world war in the shadows, will still be coming.
May 16, 2018
Wow what another fantastic book. Caine was an assassin before he was betrayed, now he’s the deadliest CIA agent. Impossible to put down. Received a free copy and reviewed because I enjoyed the book. Don’t miss out once it’s released.
May 17, 2018
A gripping, action-packed adventure that will grab you and hold you captive till the end.
May 19, 2018
This was an excellent novella. A very exciting collaboration between Andrew Warren and Aiden L. Bailey. It was full of action and passion right from the very beginning. Thomas Caine certainly knows how to take care of himself and others and keep his promises to make things right. Even though this was a novella it read like a full length novel. It was a terrific read and I recommend it highly to anyone interested in military thrillers, thrillers, overseas adventures or just a darn good book.
I received an ARC for an unbiased, honest, review.
I received an ARC for an unbiased, honest, review.
May 19, 2018
very well written. I enjoyed the ongoing story line, which kept me interested to the conclusion. I recommend this book.
May 18, 2018
Good Story well told
Good strong characters
Good Pace
Good Action
Good Book
Good Read
Good strong characters
Good Pace
Good Action
Good Book
Good Read
December 11, 2018
Another winner from Andrew Warren and Aiden Bailey. Sandfire became one of my favorite Thomas Caine stories from the first chapter itself which had the lethal operative Thomas Caine expertly take out the bad guys while skiing in the Southern Alps. The whole brilliantly executed action sequence gives off a lot of Bond vibes, but made better with the presence of Thomas Caine.
The plot stretches from the Alps to the arid climate of Yemen with beautifully described scenery of the desert and sand storms with a gripping time ticking fast paced plot that keeps the readers gasping for air. Mr.Warren's and Mr. Bailey's collective expertise pays off extremely well in Sandfire with strong emotional components in the midst of the realistic action packed narrative. Thomas Caine is definitely the right protagonist to root for with a strong moral compass and formidable skills that truly thrilled me as I read through it at a feverish pace. Thomas Caine never disappoints!!
The plot stretches from the Alps to the arid climate of Yemen with beautifully described scenery of the desert and sand storms with a gripping time ticking fast paced plot that keeps the readers gasping for air. Mr.Warren's and Mr. Bailey's collective expertise pays off extremely well in Sandfire with strong emotional components in the midst of the realistic action packed narrative. Thomas Caine is definitely the right protagonist to root for with a strong moral compass and formidable skills that truly thrilled me as I read through it at a feverish pace. Thomas Caine never disappoints!!
June 8, 2018
This is a quick read but completely full of action. Thomas Caine is a new kind of CIA agent who uses his own moral compass and his emotional attachments to guide his action as he deals with fellow agents and enemies when he often can't tell which is which. Good characterizations of both good and bad folks as the stories progresses. Descriptions of the actions are somewhat muted, making for an easy read without too much gore. Definitely worth reading.
November 10, 2022
Action thrillers should achieve either of the two things - a complex plot or a plenty of high octane action sequences. This one lacks both. The plot was loose, there was hardly any tension. Secondly, the action were like formality. I doubt I'll return for subsequent books in the series.
May 20, 2018
Another great read in the series. The main character is a man of action and the story fits him.
June 17, 2019
WHO'S THE LUCKY SPY?
“Rulling Yemen is hard. I always say it’s like dancing on the heads of snakes.” – Ali Saleh.
“In Marib, every man and his dog carries a Kalashnikov.” – Yemenese Proverb.
““The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is a tragedy. We have been the largest donor of humanitarian assistance in the world, by far, to Yemen.” - Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
Throughout history, it is clear that some nations are luckier than others. Some countries have peace, prosperity and lack natural resources that can give them huge sums of money. Other nations have bountiful natural resources but corrupt, brutal governments and suffer violent wars. And then, there’s Yemen, quite possibly the most unlucky country on earth today. Situated in a geopolitically strategic location at the botom end of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has been riven by banditry, wars, foreign invasion and most recently, terrorists setting up shop. It has no significant natural resources, the land is dusty and barren with limited agriculture and it lacks a central government that can eliminate the variety of non – state actors who have set up shop in its badlands. As such, one of the original translations of Yemen’s name “happy Arabia” has a dark, bitterly ironic quality to it.
Since 2011’s Arab Spring, Yemen has also been the stage for a regional shadow war. The combatants are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the home of Sunni Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the bastion of Shia Islam. Iran has given support to the powerful Houthi Political movement in Yemen which has ravaged the traditional Yemense establishment that Saudi Arabia has used to maintain its influence over Yemense affairs. This has caused Riyadh to begin sweating bullets as the last time a foreign power made inroads into Yemen (Egypt), chemical weapons and mustard gas was used to target innocent Saudi civilians in the southern Arabian provinces.
History has repeated itself with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps using missiles based in Yemen to attack deep into the Kingdom. In response, Saudi Arabia has resorted to using its high tech Eurofighter Typhoons and American Lockheed Martin F16s to launch a blundering campaign of air strikes that have given it nothing but international condemnation and a lack of headway against the peril of Tehran’s assymetric warfare. It is on this backdrop that up and coming spy novelist Andrew Warren has set his next work.
Mr Warren is the creator of the indie published Thomas Caine series. On the surface, the Caine books are a drop in the wave of fast paced, indie published fiction that has sweapt e – readers around the world. But it is so much more than that. The books blend the exotic tropes of Ian Fleming and the blood stained cinematic fun of Quentin Tarantino with a hard, almost neo noir edge that captures the chaos of the 21st centuries’ second decade. These books are far more deliciously enlivening than your usual Post 9/11 thriller, while at the same time, being grounded with an impressively strategic use of research, and exploring some surprising themes that aren’t explored at all by others in the genre. The saga focuses on Thomas Caine. He is a Paramilitary Officer of the CIA Special Activities Division, the real Mitch Rapps of the world who are called in to get blood on their hands in the most dangerous places on earth. Whether it be gathering intelligence on China’s tank proving ground in the Xinjiang Province, or shooting an Iranian IRGC soldier through the back of the head in the Iraqi desert, men like Thomas Caine are the tip of the spear, who get less notice than DEVGRU or Delta Force. Sandfire is a colaboration novel with Australian thriller writer Aiden L Bailey. In Sandfire, we meet Caine in the past. On assignment tracking a Company employee gone rogue, he uncovers a plot by that individual’s colleagues to give a regional player in the Middle East the power to destabalize the region. An ordinary spy would be out of luck. But men like Caine who brave everything from sand and fire constantly make their own. Now to the review, What happens when state sponsored terrorism hasn’t been authorized by the states involved?
We begin our journey in 2011 on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s the Southern Alps overlooking the most beautiful Tourist Trap on earth, Queenstown. Our man Caine is hunting for Emily Argyle, an officer with the Company’s Directorate of Support. Having displayed distinguished service on the job, she suddenly fled her posting in Yemen for colder pastures and part of Saana Station’s operational funds. Caine corners Argyle on a hut nestled on top of a mountain, and finds the reason she fled was due to a money making venture on the side involving a Company plane that crashed in the middle of the infamous Empty Quarter desert. Before Caine can get further details from her, a hit squard drop on top of them from a helicopter and begin hunting Argyle down the mountain. Caine skis in pursuit, taking out the assassins, but losing Argyle to an avalanche.
Thousands of miles away in Yemen a business transaction commences. A woman, Safiya Naaji, who has a husband in extremis, and a family to feed, attempts to broker a small arms deal with Al Qaeda for her loved ones survival. Before she can even set up a meeting however, a Saudi special forces team storms into her camp, kidnaps her children and executes her husband. And after fleeing New Zealand, Caine meets with up and coming Operations Officer Rebecca Freeling who gives him new orders. To fly to Yemen and investigate what was on the crashed plane worth killing for. From Saana, to Marib and then an journey across the largest desert on earth, an assassin at the height of his powers steps into the eye of a regional storm. Finding help with unexpected allies and trying to survive unknown enemies in the most dangerous nation of the Middle East would leave most covert operatives with their work cut out for them. But for Caine, a Paramilitary specialist at the height of his powers, it’s just another war to win.
In terms of plot, Sandfire is a solid, straightforward story that features an interesting blend of Post 9/11 conspiracy with light historical fiction. Set at the start of the Arab Spring roller coaster that ultimately ended up as a full circle revolution for most of the countries involved, its plot focuses on the calm before the geopolitical storm that’s about to hit a nation which has had more turmoil in a year, than your average nation has in a decade. Sandfire is also a tale of survival with a trained profesional going up against the most inhospitable desert on earth with limited support from Langley. The human spirit triumphing over such challenging terrain is one of the highlights of Sandfire’s story, and very well executed. As a colaboration novel, I’m rather impressed with the work Bailey and Warren have done prose – wise. Only after five readings was I able to detect to a slight degree who had written what passage, and even then, Bailey’s parts of the book stayed true and within sync of the characters and story, and did not feel unnatural in any way. As for Warren, he expertly inserts some easter eggs from the earlier full length Caine novels in a way that is not overbearing and also keeps up the excellent fast paced, cinematic writing of the previous novellas.
Action and setting? Very, spectacular. From the opening pursuit on skis down the most beautiful mountain in the Asia Pacific, to gun battles, ambushes and traps in a Saana on edge, to a hard trek across the barren, sandy sea of the Rub' al Khali, and a climax in an Al Quaeda training camp hidden in the mountains of Al Abr, Warren and Bailey have been far more adventurous and imaginative with selecting the backdrops for the action in their novella than most authors of full length novels are. They expertly, bring to life a country, that while having taken some very hard knocks in its time, was struggling to maintain an illusion of stability that started to crumble with the cyclone of change sweeping through the Arab world. My personal favorite action scene in the story would be the wild night in Yemen, where Caine gets to show what he was capable of during his initial career with the CIA. With nothing but a vanila AK47, a SIG – Sauer P226 and a knife, he slickly makes short work of multiple militants and gunment who try to storm the hotel building he’s in, as he makes his way across Saana to safety.
Research? Expertly done. Whether it be the location details like the real life Indian resturant Caine finds himself meeting the CIA Saana Station Chief, to the unique environmental characteristics of the Empty Quarter, like its acoustic rock cliffs, Warren and Bailey both know how to deploy the real world detail into the narrative so it doesn’t jump the shark. Things such as the state sponsored terrorism support activities of Saudi Arabia and the dynamics behind the Saudi – Iranian war are portrayed with solid authenticity and other details like the capabilities of the kit and equipment used by Caine and the people he’s going up against is portayed accurately as well. Even though it’s shorter than a full length novel, Sand and Fire is no throwaway story that still characterizes a portion of the indie fiction content on Amazon, but one which has had a lot of care and detail going into its narrative
Characters? A short novella means that there are fewer chances for character’s to shine, so today, I’ll be focusing on one character. Our hero, Thomas Caine. For first time readers, this is probably a good place to start, but in this part of the review, I’ll be talking to readers like me who have read all the Caine books. So, Caine was first introduced at a time when his career in the CIA had crashed and burned after his master at the National Clandestine Service had left him to die on a mission. Morose, cynical and no longer enthralled with the spy game, he was like a Post 9/11 Rick Blaine, who had fled to a backwater to make some money and hide from the world. Over the course of three full length novels, he as a person, is ressurected, getting back what he had lost, his formidable sharp combat abilities, his job and even a new purpose. In Sandfire, a story set before the fall, I was expecting a gung ho, arrogant shooter, blindly faithful to flag and country. Instead, what I got subverted my expectations in a welcome way. The Caine we meet in this story is a very well adjusted profesional. He’s not drunk with the power of the job, nor has he become the burned out has – been we meet in The Devil’s Due and Tokyo Black. Instead, he’s a very competent pro, driven to complete his mission, but also willing to do the right thing when he feels he can afford to. We also get some very welcome backstory involving the real reasons why Caine joined the Company, as imperfect and as unfairly maligned as it is. And the authors perfectly did that particular chapter well and fleshed out Caine’s character and the man he was once before with aplomb.
Constructive criticism? One thing. The denouncement. I thought it was somewhat whacky and convoluted. Furthermore, I’m not sure that it’s not impossible for a bullet to maintain sufficient lethal velocity when fired into a shallow body of water. Apart from that, I enjoyed Sandfire considerably.
Overall, Sandfire is a solidly written, fast paced conspiracy/historical fiction novella that is full of surprises. With a plot bigger but more laser focused than most of the current short indie offerings on amazon, a smorgasboard of surprising, masterful blood splattered action scenes from cold mountains and hot sands, and a perfectly synced narrative where two writers have written their parts to perfection, it’s the sort of novella one should aspire to. In an unlucky country like Yemen, a person has to make their own luck, and after reading this, you should check out the rest of the Caine series and see Caine doing just that from the highest point in Tokyo, to the largest swamplands in East Africa and get up to speed. This is only part of the beginning, and you will want to be there for the end, which, for Caine who after this story, finds himself facing a world war in the shadows, will still be coming.
“Rulling Yemen is hard. I always say it’s like dancing on the heads of snakes.” – Ali Saleh.
“In Marib, every man and his dog carries a Kalashnikov.” – Yemenese Proverb.
““The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is a tragedy. We have been the largest donor of humanitarian assistance in the world, by far, to Yemen.” - Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
Throughout history, it is clear that some nations are luckier than others. Some countries have peace, prosperity and lack natural resources that can give them huge sums of money. Other nations have bountiful natural resources but corrupt, brutal governments and suffer violent wars. And then, there’s Yemen, quite possibly the most unlucky country on earth today. Situated in a geopolitically strategic location at the botom end of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has been riven by banditry, wars, foreign invasion and most recently, terrorists setting up shop. It has no significant natural resources, the land is dusty and barren with limited agriculture and it lacks a central government that can eliminate the variety of non – state actors who have set up shop in its badlands. As such, one of the original translations of Yemen’s name “happy Arabia” has a dark, bitterly ironic quality to it.
Since 2011’s Arab Spring, Yemen has also been the stage for a regional shadow war. The combatants are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the home of Sunni Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the bastion of Shia Islam. Iran has given support to the powerful Houthi Political movement in Yemen which has ravaged the traditional Yemense establishment that Saudi Arabia has used to maintain its influence over Yemense affairs. This has caused Riyadh to begin sweating bullets as the last time a foreign power made inroads into Yemen (Egypt), chemical weapons and mustard gas was used to target innocent Saudi civilians in the southern Arabian provinces.
History has repeated itself with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps using missiles based in Yemen to attack deep into the Kingdom. In response, Saudi Arabia has resorted to using its high tech Eurofighter Typhoons and American Lockheed Martin F16s to launch a blundering campaign of air strikes that have given it nothing but international condemnation and a lack of headway against the peril of Tehran’s assymetric warfare. It is on this backdrop that up and coming spy novelist Andrew Warren has set his next work.
Mr Warren is the creator of the indie published Thomas Caine series. On the surface, the Caine books are a drop in the wave of fast paced, indie published fiction that has sweapt e – readers around the world. But it is so much more than that. The books blend the exotic tropes of Ian Fleming and the blood stained cinematic fun of Quentin Tarantino with a hard, almost neo noir edge that captures the chaos of the 21st centuries’ second decade. These books are far more deliciously enlivening than your usual Post 9/11 thriller, while at the same time, being grounded with an impressively strategic use of research, and exploring some surprising themes that aren’t explored at all by others in the genre. The saga focuses on Thomas Caine. He is a Paramilitary Officer of the CIA Special Activities Division, the real Mitch Rapps of the world who are called in to get blood on their hands in the most dangerous places on earth. Whether it be gathering intelligence on China’s tank proving ground in the Xinjiang Province, or shooting an Iranian IRGC soldier through the back of the head in the Iraqi desert, men like Thomas Caine are the tip of the spear, who get less notice than DEVGRU or Delta Force. Sandfire is a colaboration novel with Australian thriller writer Aiden L Bailey. In Sandfire, we meet Caine in the past. On assignment tracking a Company employee gone rogue, he uncovers a plot by that individual’s colleagues to give a regional player in the Middle East the power to destabalize the region. An ordinary spy would be out of luck. But men like Caine who brave everything from sand and fire constantly make their own. Now to the review, What happens when state sponsored terrorism hasn’t been authorized by the states involved?
We begin our journey in 2011 on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s the Southern Alps overlooking the most beautiful Tourist Trap on earth, Queenstown. Our man Caine is hunting for Emily Argyle, an officer with the Company’s Directorate of Support. Having displayed distinguished service on the job, she suddenly fled her posting in Yemen for colder pastures and part of Saana Station’s operational funds. Caine corners Argyle on a hut nestled on top of a mountain, and finds the reason she fled was due to a money making venture on the side involving a Company plane that crashed in the middle of the infamous Empty Quarter desert. Before Caine can get further details from her, a hit squard drop on top of them from a helicopter and begin hunting Argyle down the mountain. Caine skis in pursuit, taking out the assassins, but losing Argyle to an avalanche.
Thousands of miles away in Yemen a business transaction commences. A woman, Safiya Naaji, who has a husband in extremis, and a family to feed, attempts to broker a small arms deal with Al Qaeda for her loved ones survival. Before she can even set up a meeting however, a Saudi special forces team storms into her camp, kidnaps her children and executes her husband. And after fleeing New Zealand, Caine meets with up and coming Operations Officer Rebecca Freeling who gives him new orders. To fly to Yemen and investigate what was on the crashed plane worth killing for. From Saana, to Marib and then an journey across the largest desert on earth, an assassin at the height of his powers steps into the eye of a regional storm. Finding help with unexpected allies and trying to survive unknown enemies in the most dangerous nation of the Middle East would leave most covert operatives with their work cut out for them. But for Caine, a Paramilitary specialist at the height of his powers, it’s just another war to win.
In terms of plot, Sandfire is a solid, straightforward story that features an interesting blend of Post 9/11 conspiracy with light historical fiction. Set at the start of the Arab Spring roller coaster that ultimately ended up as a full circle revolution for most of the countries involved, its plot focuses on the calm before the geopolitical storm that’s about to hit a nation which has had more turmoil in a year, than your average nation has in a decade. Sandfire is also a tale of survival with a trained profesional going up against the most inhospitable desert on earth with limited support from Langley. The human spirit triumphing over such challenging terrain is one of the highlights of Sandfire’s story, and very well executed. As a colaboration novel, I’m rather impressed with the work Bailey and Warren have done prose – wise. Only after five readings was I able to detect to a slight degree who had written what passage, and even then, Bailey’s parts of the book stayed true and within sync of the characters and story, and did not feel unnatural in any way. As for Warren, he expertly inserts some easter eggs from the earlier full length Caine novels in a way that is not overbearing and also keeps up the excellent fast paced, cinematic writing of the previous novellas.
Action and setting? Very, spectacular. From the opening pursuit on skis down the most beautiful mountain in the Asia Pacific, to gun battles, ambushes and traps in a Saana on edge, to a hard trek across the barren, sandy sea of the Rub' al Khali, and a climax in an Al Quaeda training camp hidden in the mountains of Al Abr, Warren and Bailey have been far more adventurous and imaginative with selecting the backdrops for the action in their novella than most authors of full length novels are. They expertly, bring to life a country, that while having taken some very hard knocks in its time, was struggling to maintain an illusion of stability that started to crumble with the cyclone of change sweeping through the Arab world. My personal favorite action scene in the story would be the wild night in Yemen, where Caine gets to show what he was capable of during his initial career with the CIA. With nothing but a vanila AK47, a SIG – Sauer P226 and a knife, he slickly makes short work of multiple militants and gunment who try to storm the hotel building he’s in, as he makes his way across Saana to safety.
Research? Expertly done. Whether it be the location details like the real life Indian resturant Caine finds himself meeting the CIA Saana Station Chief, to the unique environmental characteristics of the Empty Quarter, like its acoustic rock cliffs, Warren and Bailey both know how to deploy the real world detail into the narrative so it doesn’t jump the shark. Things such as the state sponsored terrorism support activities of Saudi Arabia and the dynamics behind the Saudi – Iranian war are portrayed with solid authenticity and other details like the capabilities of the kit and equipment used by Caine and the people he’s going up against is portayed accurately as well. Even though it’s shorter than a full length novel, Sand and Fire is no throwaway story that still characterizes a portion of the indie fiction content on Amazon, but one which has had a lot of care and detail going into its narrative
Characters? A short novella means that there are fewer chances for character’s to shine, so today, I’ll be focusing on one character. Our hero, Thomas Caine. For first time readers, this is probably a good place to start, but in this part of the review, I’ll be talking to readers like me who have read all the Caine books. So, Caine was first introduced at a time when his career in the CIA had crashed and burned after his master at the National Clandestine Service had left him to die on a mission. Morose, cynical and no longer enthralled with the spy game, he was like a Post 9/11 Rick Blaine, who had fled to a backwater to make some money and hide from the world. Over the course of three full length novels, he as a person, is ressurected, getting back what he had lost, his formidable sharp combat abilities, his job and even a new purpose. In Sandfire, a story set before the fall, I was expecting a gung ho, arrogant shooter, blindly faithful to flag and country. Instead, what I got subverted my expectations in a welcome way. The Caine we meet in this story is a very well adjusted profesional. He’s not drunk with the power of the job, nor has he become the burned out has – been we meet in The Devil’s Due and Tokyo Black. Instead, he’s a very competent pro, driven to complete his mission, but also willing to do the right thing when he feels he can afford to. We also get some very welcome backstory involving the real reasons why Caine joined the Company, as imperfect and as unfairly maligned as it is. And the authors perfectly did that particular chapter well and fleshed out Caine’s character and the man he was once before with aplomb.
Constructive criticism? One thing. The denouncement. I thought it was somewhat whacky and convoluted. Furthermore, I’m not sure that it’s not impossible for a bullet to maintain sufficient lethal velocity when fired into a shallow body of water. Apart from that, I enjoyed Sandfire considerably.
Overall, Sandfire is a solidly written, fast paced conspiracy/historical fiction novella that is full of surprises. With a plot bigger but more laser focused than most of the current short indie offerings on amazon, a smorgasboard of surprising, masterful blood splattered action scenes from cold mountains and hot sands, and a perfectly synced narrative where two writers have written their parts to perfection, it’s the sort of novella one should aspire to. In an unlucky country like Yemen, a person has to make their own luck, and after reading this, you should check out the rest of the Caine series and see Caine doing just that from the highest point in Tokyo, to the largest swamplands in East Africa and get up to speed. This is only part of the beginning, and you will want to be there for the end, which, for Caine who after this story, finds himself facing a world war in the shadows, will still be coming.
May 26, 2018
Sandfire by Andrew Warren and Aiden L. Bailey is pure adrenaline. From a snowy mountain in New Zealand to a vast and deadly desert in Yemen. It grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go to the very last page.
Thomas Caine is a relatable hero and a total badass.
I hope Hollywood is paying attention because this book reads like a movie.
Thomas Caine is a relatable hero and a total badass.
I hope Hollywood is paying attention because this book reads like a movie.
May 21, 2018
I really enjoyed the first two Thomas Caine books. They were good. Very good. Sandfire far exceeded my expectations, it was brilliant! The story line is believable and it draws you in till it seems hat you’re right there amongst tha action. I could feel bullets whizzing past me! The way it is written fills your imagination with images of the locations it describes and the dialogue enhances this great read! Highly recommended!
May 25, 2018
Sandford. Andrew Warren
An unscrupulous CIA station chief. Money is his motivator. Innocent lives mean nothing to him. Thomas Caine a civilian CIA operator is on a mission to recover a disc from a downed aircraft. He is a pawn in a ruthless game, but the traitor underestimated Caine. He's a survivor. An action packed magnificent read!
An unscrupulous CIA station chief. Money is his motivator. Innocent lives mean nothing to him. Thomas Caine a civilian CIA operator is on a mission to recover a disc from a downed aircraft. He is a pawn in a ruthless game, but the traitor underestimated Caine. He's a survivor. An action packed magnificent read!
March 13, 2021
Another Caine winner
Skipped book 2 and went for "Sandfire" and glad I did. Everything I wanted, more insight into Caine, plenty of action and some nice plot twists. If I had any issues it would be with the confusion between Delta and the Marines gear (doubt Delta use MARSOC equip.) and using Al Qaeda and Taliban interchangeably. Minor quibbles I know. Recommended.
Skipped book 2 and went for "Sandfire" and glad I did. Everything I wanted, more insight into Caine, plenty of action and some nice plot twists. If I had any issues it would be with the confusion between Delta and the Marines gear (doubt Delta use MARSOC equip.) and using Al Qaeda and Taliban interchangeably. Minor quibbles I know. Recommended.
February 13, 2022
Spies, Lies & Loot.
Aid, a contentious business, given with such good intentions & too many times, subverted by those given the task of ensuring it reaches those in dire need. This is such a story, but nothing is at face value. Filled with action and skulduggery, it makes for a very entertaining read.
Aid, a contentious business, given with such good intentions & too many times, subverted by those given the task of ensuring it reaches those in dire need. This is such a story, but nothing is at face value. Filled with action and skulduggery, it makes for a very entertaining read.
December 13, 2024
This is the first time that I have read a Caine thriller and I cannot say that I was overly impressed with this particular story. It came across to me almost like Caine was a one man army almost like a modern day John Rambo type and it was just too far fetched for my liking. I don’t think that I will be reading any more books in this particular series.
May 21, 2018
Always excited when a new Thomas Caine adventure is released and this one explodes. I notice the author teamed up with another author. Even better! Brings new feeling to the story. I am definitely going to read Mr. Bailey's books now. Great idea guys!
May 25, 2018
Such awesome thrillers!
These books are such awesome thrillers, that they need to be made into movies! Action-packed, fast-paced, yet the characters are well created and have complex emotional ties. Don't miss these books!
These books are such awesome thrillers, that they need to be made into movies! Action-packed, fast-paced, yet the characters are well created and have complex emotional ties. Don't miss these books!
August 16, 2018
Wow another keep reader o. Edge of seat and the story about Thomas Caine he continuous in his special skills to fight save and risk his life for freedom and justice. This author is terrific and I am going to continue following this talented author.
March 4, 2024
much line many others in the market
Enjoyed reading this book but the character needs something else that will make him outstanding….im sure as i read the series I will enjoy…good start but with improved story lines maybe.
Enjoyed reading this book but the character needs something else that will make him outstanding….im sure as i read the series I will enjoy…good start but with improved story lines maybe.
May 23, 2018
Love the thomas canine books
Love the character....love the fact that details are not overblown..typically surprised at the big p!pleasantly so, at the outcomes...keep 'em coming!
Love the character....love the fact that details are not overblown..typically surprised at the big p!pleasantly so, at the outcomes...keep 'em coming!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews