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Dan Morgan #7

War of Shadows

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WAR OF SHADOWS

Dan Morgan is a wanted man. Unknown assailants have targeted him—and his family. His home destroyed. His wife Jenny, presumed dead. His fellow Zeta operatives are missing in action, except his daughter Alex. Someone has declared war on Zeta, and the Morgans may be the only agents left alive.

Pursued cross-country, Dan is driven by two things—protecting Alex and getting revenge against those responsible for killing Jenny. But he is unaware of who he’s truly up against. He suspects Zeta was infiltrated by double agents. Intelligence operatives from around the world are hunting him. And an adversary from Dan’s past is determined to destablize the world by any means necessary . . .

Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2019

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Leo J. Maloney

34 books294 followers

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5 stars
74 (37%)
4 stars
52 (26%)
3 stars
41 (20%)
2 stars
18 (9%)
1 star
13 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Matt.
5,365 reviews13.2k followers
March 29, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Leo J. Maloney, Kensington Books, and Lyrical Underground for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I have been a fan of Leo J. Maloney since he began the Dan Morgan series years ago. The stories are a mix of military-type thrills and international espionage rolled into one. That being said, sometimes things take an odd turn and the story falls flat, as it did this time for me. Dan Morgan is on his way to his Massachusetts home when he sees it explode before his eyes. As a husband and father, panic sets in, with the potential that his wife and daughter are inside. However, his Zeta Group mind kicks into high gear and he knows that he must find the perpetrator immediately, as this could be the first in a series of attacks. While neighbours scramble to make sense of the Morgans home, Dan slinks away and follows an unrecognised vehicle, following it towards the local Zeta Group HQ, which subsequently explodes as well. Who is targeting Morgan and how will he be able to stop this before he, too, is killed? As Morgan begins to assume the worst, he cannot let the likely death of his wife derail him. Fighting for answers, Morgan soon discovers that his daughter—and fellow Zeta Group agent—Alex, is alive and well, having been warned out of the house by her mother’s voice. Dan tries to make sense of this, presuming Alex is having a break with reality, but there is little time to contemplate this. As the Morgans realise that someone is trying to dismantle Zeta Group, they scramble to safety, only to be taken across the world on a mission to get to the core of the situation. Garnering much information in Taiwan, Dan Morgan discovers that there is an anti-Zeta Group seeking to replace them, with a potential mole inside his own organisation. This group is dead-set against leaving anyone or anything to chance, hoping to exterminate Morgan and his team in short order. Vowing not only to seek revenge for those who would see Zeta Group destroyed, but also to bring Jenny’s killers to justice, Dan Morgan will do all he can to ensure retribution is both final and bloody. A decent addition to the series, though things got a little too tech-heavy for me in this piece. It’s a toss-up if series fans will applaud or speed through this latest novel.

As I said above, I have been with Maloney throughout this entire journey. Most of the stories are well-crafted and quick to impress, though there is the odd one that seems to focus on a mission that does not pull me in. Dan Morgan remains an interesting character, who has only recently admitted his actual Zeta Group position to his wife and allowed Alex to join the crew. His loves his family more than anything, even the country he vows to defend, but there is something that pushes him to continually forge ahead and risk his life. With little to lose, Dan seeks retribution, though a paced and calculated one in this case. Series fans have come to know Alex Morgan a little better throughout this series. From the young girl, Alex has matured into a powerful force in Zeta Group, using her skills to offset what some might say is a lack of raw strength. Her presence is felt throughout the book, allowing the reader to witness her ongoing character development. Like her father, Alex has all the grit and determination that one could expect in a strong protagonist. There are many other characters, both regulars and one-offs, who serve to help push the story forward. While Maloney has chosen well, the presence of these individuals does not always clarify the tale, but rather adds confusion during my reader experience. With an interesting story that seeks to weed out a traitor, the excessive travel and numerous sets of characters did little for me. However, I can see how some would enjoy this and to those people, I say, ‘you have just what you want’. Not a bad read, but not one of my favourites in the series.

Kudos, Mr. Maloney, for keeping the Dan Morgan series alive. I see a teaser chapters included, so there is surely more to come sooner than later.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Profile Image for Cathy Geha.
4,526 reviews127 followers
April 30, 2019
War of Shadows by Leo J. Maloney
The Dan Morgan Thriller Series #8

After reading the author’s biography and some of the reviews by authors I enjoy reading I was looking forward to reading his book. I knew I was coming in on the series late but had enjoyed a previous novella length story and really liked it so...in I jumped.

The beginning opened with a bang – literally! Dan’s home explodes in front of his eyes and he is left wondering if his wife and daughter are okay. Seeing the presumed bad guy he pursues and sees another big explosion. Following Zeta protocol he ends up in his first ambush and is saved by his sniper daughter. The middle of the book includes car chases, more ambushes, numerous fight sequences, a trip half way around the world, mysteries to unravel, multiple groups after him and at the end there is the question of what Zeta will do next...as well as finding out whether or not his wife survived.

What I liked:
* fight sequences seemed realistic – for the most part
* the main character’s thinking process
* the knowledgeable discussion of weaponry
* the camaraderie
* the interaction between Dan and his daughter

What I didn’t lie:
* the sci-fi feel of the weapons and armor
* the comic book feel – though it might make a good illustrated novel
* the unvelievability factor – just couldn’t see a lot of this happening in real life

Did I enjoy the book? Sort of
Would I read more by this author? Maybe

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Lyrical-Underground for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars
Profile Image for Abibliofob.
1,733 reviews112 followers
March 9, 2019
I have always liked Leo J. Maloneys creation of the Zeta team and his main character Dan Morgan but this was a little bit to much science fiction for me. The story was great and I really enjoyed getting more background on Mr. Smith. However I still recommend this series to those that like rivetting thrillers and who think my taste in books is okay. I also have to thank #Netgalley and #Kensingtonbooks for letting me read #WarOfShadows the latest in the #DanMorgan Series
Profile Image for Maureen.
132 reviews20 followers
May 9, 2019
Not a fan

I'm so not into this book. Such a twist from last novels. If this is indicative of where the series is headed, I'm done.
Profile Image for Steven Dawson.
45 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2019
As a big time fan of the ‘Spy Thriller’ genre, I find myself anxiously awaiting new releases every year from a few specific authors...guys like Greaney, Thor, Taylor, Coes, etc.; but possibly more so than any, I count down the days until the newest Leo J. Maloney novel comes out.

When I first stumbled upon the Dan Morgan series way back in 2011, I was instantly hooked, and quickly identified Cobra as one of my most favorite bad-ass Protagonists in the genre. Moreover, after the last book “Threat Level Alpha”, (which btw I Highly Suggest!) I found myself waiting for “War of Shadows” more so than possibly any other installment in the series thus far.

And I think the reason that I’m such a huge Maloney fan is because, unlike a lot of the other powerhouse authors in the genre, Maloney expertly changes up the plots/directions of each book, with all sorts of different conflicts/focuses, rather than writing the standard/uniform story that’s too often centered solely around the main character, his supporting staff and his battle with a specific foe.

His character development is second to none, making you truly appreciate each & every character, and he somehow finds a way to expand each book to focus/further develop all of the other supporting characters rather than focusing solely on the main protagonist...in this case, Maloney expertly shines a light on the entire Zeta Org as a whole, and helps you appreciate each members strengths/personal abilities.

My usual complaint with these books is that I always wish that they were longer...Not the case with this installment. It was the perfect length to fully engage the reader throughout, and build the story to an ultimate and amazing climax.

With this story in particular though, the couple things that really struck me and kept me on the edge of my seat was the shear number of plot twists and turns, as well as the introduction to more futuristic and cutting edge equipment/weaponry...I can’t really expand without risk of spoilers, but suffice it to say, some of the combat and the new & unique tools of war that are used in this book are so freaking incredibly fascinating, and mind blowing to the point where I truly wonder if they’re real, because otherwise I cannot begin to fathom how someone could come up/think up these things on their own. First time in the series where we see something as truly futuristic as possible, yet not for a second does any of it seem outlandish or ridiculous/fake. Just another glimpse into the brilliant mind of Mr. Maloney.

Anyways, I absolutely believe that “War of Shadows” is hands down the BEST book in the series, and I’ll adamantly recommend this book to anyone and everyone I know that’s a reader. If you’re teetering on whether or not to pull the trigger- Do It, you will not be disappointed.

With regards to the story itself, just when you thought you could predict what was coming next, or where the story was leading, Maloney throws in some brilliant red herrings, some jaw dropping twists, and maybe more so than ever before- lots of Edge-of-your-seat Action!! Car Chases, Hand to Hand Combat, High Speed Shootouts, Knife Play even, etc.. it has it all, and then some.

I finished this book in record time, maybe 4 days, not because it was an easy read/short, but because I simply could not put it down. Every time I’d approach the end of a chapter and plan on putting it down as a good stopping point, Maloney would hit you with some sort of mind blowing new development, or explosive and unforeseen conflict, that literally MAKES you have to start the next chapter.

At risk of cutting my review short and being too much of a fanboy, I’ll stop here, and finish with- Well Done Mr. Maloney! Your greatest work yet. Didn’t even hesitate in hitting 5 Stars for this one! Can’t wait for what’s in store next!
Profile Image for John Purvis.
1,397 reviews27 followers
January 10, 2020
(See all of my Book Reviews) - "War of Shadows" eBook was published in 2019 and was written by Leo J. Maloney (http://leojmaloney.com). Mr. Maloney has published more than ten novels. This is the 7th of his “Dan Morgan Thriller” series.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the contemporary US. The primary character is Special Ops veteran and Zeta agent Dan Morgan.

Morgan is approaching his home when it suddenly explodes. He fears that his wife might have been caught in the blast. That begins a cross country journey evading agents that are out to kill him. Unsure of whether there are any other Zeta agents surviving the wide ranging attacks he struggles to survive with his daughter, the only other surviving Zeta agent he is aware of. Making his survival even tougher are the advanced weapons that are being used against him and his daughter. He only sees survival and vengeance on those who took his wife.

I enjoyed the 6.5 hours I spent reading this 269-page thriller. This is a very action packed novel. Morgan and his daughter seem to slip from one life threatening situation to another. Is some respects it reminds be of the ˜James Bond’ movies with Roger More. This is the third Maloney novel I have read and I have found all of them enjoyable. While this novel would be better if you had read the previous books in the series, it is a good stand alone read. I like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
Profile Image for Joanne Hurley.
515 reviews10 followers
March 14, 2019
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read "War of Shadows" by Leo J. Maloney in return for a fair and honest review.

I have read all of the other entries in the Dan Morgan/Zeta series, and thoroughly enjoyed them all. In War of Shadows, Dan Morgan (Cougar) is returning home in the vintage Mustang that his crew got him, when his house explodes! Stunned and shocked, and fearing the loss of his wife and daughter, he heads for Zeta headquarters, which has also been attached and decimated.

Thus begins an explosive and rip-roaring adventure in which Morgan is being pursued by a foe they call the Anti-Zeta, or Alpha, in the persona of an enemy from a previous 'case' and a host of faceless, nameless nemeses. There are monumental chase scenes, firefights, high-tech weapons....

Will Cougar be reunited with his daughter Alex? What happened to Jenny, his wife... and what became of the rest of Zeta? All will be revealed as the adventure progresses.

Highly recommended for fans of spy-versus-spy adventure - but I would also recommend reading the previous books in the series for (a lot of) context.
276 reviews1 follower
November 17, 2022
Completely departs from the feel of Maloney’s earlier books. This entry in the series was hard to finish. It reads like a sci-fi novel, not an action thriller. Perhaps if this (sci-fi) was a genre that I liked or if the rest of the series had been like this book I would have liked it more. But alas, I really disliked the weird and futuristic tech used in this novel. If the later entries in the series are like this one, I’ll pass.

Plot summary: Everyone in Zeta’s home is blown up. Alex and Dan don’t know if Jenny survived or not. They go on a mission to find other Zeta people and eventually do. “Alpha” is the organization that is out to get them. They eventually find Alpha in Taiwan, trying to use a bomb to detonate in Taiwan to make it look like a natural disaster. They fail. New characters: Lulu, a Taiwanese woman. Also, Paul Kirby dies at the end of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ric Ulloa.
206 reviews5 followers
May 26, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised as I thought this issue of the Dan Morgan saga might falter, considering what was left for Leo J. Maloney to work with after the last issue. However, I was wrong and the insuing story is really pretty good. Mr. Maloney managed to incorporate almost all the "good" and "bad" characters from the historical perspective, yet worked out an action story that managed to keep me engaged throughout. I especially enjoyed the ending as it wasn't just "baam" and we're done (as so many of the action novels seem to be, especially lately?). Overall I really believe the 5 stars were earned, not by namesake only. Great read!!
186 reviews4 followers
January 19, 2021
Another winner 🏆🏆

Again the author has produced a cracking storyline about Dan Morgan and the Zeta team.
He has the ability to write a book which keeps the reader engrossed and wanting more,in this instance he has produced a cracking storyline with plenty twists and turns to keep your attention all the way to the end of the storyline.
This is a master of his craft who produces books with excellent characters that the reader can understand.👏👏👏
875 reviews3 followers
January 16, 2023
More action than action man

So much action, it was too much
There was little thought process to the story, just one action scene leading to the next.
The action is well thought out and the new gadgets/gizmos all play a apart
The lack of any meaningful investigative process just seemed to mean that unless it was obvious it wasn't going to happen, meaning no surprises, no twists, little suspense
1,413 reviews48 followers
March 1, 2019
If you like books that start fast and get even faster, look no further. Dan Morgan is not the man you want to upset. And messing with his family is the surest way to upset him. Mixing love for family, revenge, technology, and non-stop action is a Maloney trademark, and fans of his series will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Ricki.
1,607 reviews16 followers
May 25, 2019
Just a little background at the beginning of each book would be good so I can remember the last one
Profile Image for Roni Thornton.
9 reviews
October 20, 2019
Another great book, but!

The storyline kept you going. But what is the purpose of the Font sizes switching continuously? Made for a very distracting read.
Profile Image for Todd.
2,445 reviews8 followers
May 2, 2020
Plenty of action, but a bit over the top
Profile Image for James Holden.
459 reviews3 followers
June 18, 2020
Much different than his usual. Different weapons. Different transportation...and the usual plus a different cast of players.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews