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Nick Foley #2
Hong Kong Black
Former Navy SEAL Nick Foley reluctantly agrees to help investigate when American CIA operative Peter Yu goes missing in China. But when Yu’s mutilated body washes up on a beach near Hong Kong, along with dozens of other victims, the case takes a macabre turn. Suddenly, Nick finds himself embroiled in another bio-terrorism investigation being conducted by China's elite Snow Leopard counter-terrorism unit and the Chinese CDC, this time involving illegally-harvested organs for an unknown and nefarious end.
But Nick’s investigation does not go unnoticed, and soon he finds a target on his back. After thwarting an attempt on his life, he is forced to go off the grid and enlist the help of beautiful CDC microbiologist Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen to help unmask his would be killer. On the run and looking for answers, their budding romance is tested at every turn.
With each step closer they take to unmasking the truth, Nick and Dash find themselves drawn deeper into a global conspiracy that began over two thousand years ago with the First Emperor of China and now threatens to upset the world order as they know it in Hong Kong Black, the heart-pounding sequel to Alex Ryan's Beijing Red.
But Nick’s investigation does not go unnoticed, and soon he finds a target on his back. After thwarting an attempt on his life, he is forced to go off the grid and enlist the help of beautiful CDC microbiologist Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen to help unmask his would be killer. On the run and looking for answers, their budding romance is tested at every turn.
With each step closer they take to unmasking the truth, Nick and Dash find themselves drawn deeper into a global conspiracy that began over two thousand years ago with the First Emperor of China and now threatens to upset the world order as they know it in Hong Kong Black, the heart-pounding sequel to Alex Ryan's Beijing Red.
395 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 8, 2017
A fast moving exciting entry in the Nick Foley series.
It opens with an interesting historical vignette, like in a Clive Cussler novel...
Nick and Dash are about to go on their first date when both are called into action. Dash to investigate a large number of corpses that are washing up on a beach, while Nick is to ask into the disappearance of a CIA agent. Both cases collide in a large and terrible conspiracy, that nearly costs them everything.
Never stops moving with some real twists along the way. Highly recommended.
It opens with an interesting historical vignette, like in a Clive Cussler novel...
Nick and Dash are about to go on their first date when both are called into action. Dash to investigate a large number of corpses that are washing up on a beach, while Nick is to ask into the disappearance of a CIA agent. Both cases collide in a large and terrible conspiracy, that nearly costs them everything.
Never stops moving with some real twists along the way. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2021
This is the second book in the Nick Foley series by Alex Ryan. While you could listen to this all on its own – characters and relationships are introduced in Beijing Red that would be better experienced first. (at the time of this review, both are available in Audible Plus catalog)
Nick finds himself teaming up with both the CIA and the Snow Leopards despite trying desperately to avoid both. Dash is brought into an investigation pointing to the horrific practice of harvesting organs from unwilling donors. I enjoyed the pacing including interspersing of medical, military, and political elements. The story kept me guessing and engaged.
There is definitely a budding romance between Dash and Nick, concurrent missions keep them apart for most of the story. This is best enjoyed when in the mood for a romantic suspense/thriller where the romance is closed door and a smaller part of the overall themes of the story.
While this is a complete and enjoyable story – the ending does leave some questions unanswered and definitely teases a continuation. Unfortunately, at this time, it doesn’t appear there are any plans to add to Nick Foley’s adventures. Maybe someday…
Narration:
MacLeod Andrews narration is again perfect for this story. I enjoyed his ability to shift seamlessly between accents and characters. He also does a fantastic job with the variety of emotions – specifically a few scenes that were absolutely heart wrenching.
Nick finds himself teaming up with both the CIA and the Snow Leopards despite trying desperately to avoid both. Dash is brought into an investigation pointing to the horrific practice of harvesting organs from unwilling donors. I enjoyed the pacing including interspersing of medical, military, and political elements. The story kept me guessing and engaged.
There is definitely a budding romance between Dash and Nick, concurrent missions keep them apart for most of the story. This is best enjoyed when in the mood for a romantic suspense/thriller where the romance is closed door and a smaller part of the overall themes of the story.
While this is a complete and enjoyable story – the ending does leave some questions unanswered and definitely teases a continuation. Unfortunately, at this time, it doesn’t appear there are any plans to add to Nick Foley’s adventures. Maybe someday…
Narration:
MacLeod Andrews narration is again perfect for this story. I enjoyed his ability to shift seamlessly between accents and characters. He also does a fantastic job with the variety of emotions – specifically a few scenes that were absolutely heart wrenching.
June 25, 2022
Long story short, I was looking for a good spy story set in present day-ish Hong Kong…but sadly, this wasn't it. Not only is it only moderately set in HK (with more of the action taking place in Xian and elsewhere), but it was barely what one could call a spy story - really more a thriller, although with minimal thrills.
So yeah, just couldn't get all the way through, although I did try. But 2/3s in, it had degenerated from an initial "iffy" down to plain "dumb" and predictable. The bad guy is a sadistic psycho Dr. No wannabe; the hero is an indestructible dunce; the heroine is a gorgeous but otherwise helpless/useless doctor; and the action is largely implausible bang-bang shootouts in downtown Hong Kong and China.
I know there's a market for such tales - maybe fans of Clive Cussler, Brad Thor, or some of those other guys I haven't read - but just couldn't take this seriously enough to continue.
So yeah, just couldn't get all the way through, although I did try. But 2/3s in, it had degenerated from an initial "iffy" down to plain "dumb" and predictable. The bad guy is a sadistic psycho Dr. No wannabe; the hero is an indestructible dunce; the heroine is a gorgeous but otherwise helpless/useless doctor; and the action is largely implausible bang-bang shootouts in downtown Hong Kong and China.
I know there's a market for such tales - maybe fans of Clive Cussler, Brad Thor, or some of those other guys I haven't read - but just couldn't take this seriously enough to continue.
August 10, 2017
With underlying themes reminiscent of The Hurt Locker and David Handler's Berger & Mitry series, this second entry in the Nick Foley series works on every level. It's a compulsively readable tale of international intrigue. The action sequences are immersive experiences, and the weaving of ancient lore with modern medical science and sociopolitical friction between nations, agencies, and individuals resonates as 100% authentic (to this reader who has never served in the military since my time as a Blue Bird--Brownies organization knock-off--doesn't count even though my very disciplined troop leader probably did serve).
In addition to all of that reading goodness, this writing partnership of Alex Ryan portrays each featured member of this cast of characters with complexity regardless of the character's nationality or ethnicity. They've avoided the very common practice (when narrated from an U.S. Anglo man's POV) of portraying most/all of the non-Anglo, non-Western Civ people as being less progressive than the Anglo, Western people. One subtlety that supports this point is the way that various Chinese characters whose first language clearly is not English are assigned distinctively different non-standard speech patterns when speaking English. That's so refreshing.
Overall, HKB offers readers a military/international spy thriller with details about breakthroughs in medical research and just enough romantic elements to satisfy fiction lovers who have a variety of interests. A.R. does an impressive job of showing that beneath the superficial labels of country, ethnicity, and gender, humans and their civilizations are remarkably similar even across millennia. Bureaucracies, power hierarchies, and untreated mental illness impact everyone's lives.
Beijing Red has already been added to my TBR while waiting for the third installment.
In addition to all of that reading goodness, this writing partnership of Alex Ryan portrays each featured member of this cast of characters with complexity regardless of the character's nationality or ethnicity. They've avoided the very common practice (when narrated from an U.S. Anglo man's POV) of portraying most/all of the non-Anglo, non-Western Civ people as being less progressive than the Anglo, Western people. One subtlety that supports this point is the way that various Chinese characters whose first language clearly is not English are assigned distinctively different non-standard speech patterns when speaking English. That's so refreshing.
Overall, HKB offers readers a military/international spy thriller with details about breakthroughs in medical research and just enough romantic elements to satisfy fiction lovers who have a variety of interests. A.R. does an impressive job of showing that beneath the superficial labels of country, ethnicity, and gender, humans and their civilizations are remarkably similar even across millennia. Bureaucracies, power hierarchies, and untreated mental illness impact everyone's lives.
Beijing Red has already been added to my TBR while waiting for the third installment.
March 13, 2021
I have enjoyed both Nick Foley novels. I would definitely like to see a 3rd book.
March 6, 2021
Immortality is what they are all searching for in this action pack mystery. WORKING for an International company seems like the dream job but Nick seems to always find himself one step ahead of the local police and in the sights of criminal master minds bent on world domination or in this case searching for that ever evading goal of Immortality.
July 6, 2017
Fast-paced action thriller with a touch of history, science, and romance. It's a sequel, but one needn't have read the first Nick Foley thriller, Beijing Red, to enjoy it. Nick Foley has retired from special ops and Navy and now works for a non-profit that provides clean water in Asia. He's called back into action by a CIA friend when an operative goes missing--and turns up dead, mutilated, with other corpses on the beach. There's danger around every corner as he investigates, aided by Chinese microbiologist "Dash," his love interest. It's no surprise that body parts are being harvested for transplant but there's something even darker afoot. Page-turning pace, characters typical of high octane adventures (think Cussler's Dirk Pitt et al); labyrinthine plot; interesting historical details at the first set up the story; conversational style and descriptive prose; gritty tone. For fans of Cussler, Thor, Clancy, Ludlum.
August 19, 2022
Book Review – Hong Kong Black - Alex Ryan
"Hong Kong Black" is an exciting book by “Alex Ryan” a pseudonym for the best-selling coauthor team of Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Both are U.S. Navy veterans - Andrews served aboard a nuclear submarine and Wilson was a combat surgeon supporting Navy SEALs. They are also the coauthors behind the well-known military thriller series, Tier One. Hong Kong Black is another well-written and fleshed out espionage action thriller full of honor, humor, passion, suspense, intrigue and plenty of action and twists and turns. The book is the second novel in the Nick Foley series. As an action thriller ‘junkie’, I love the theme of the ex-Army Ranger, ex-Navy SEAL and ex-CIA Black Ops Operator as ‘door kickers’ saving the world. I especially love the bitchy, crabby CIA chief who causes main character Nick Foley so much trouble. I wonder if Nick Foley is related to the Spy Master Supreme, Mary Pat Foley from all the Tom Clancy novels. I also enjoyed the Chinese Special Forces character, Zhang, and the epidemiologist doctor, Dash, who is really smart and tough. And as usual, I despised the bad guy because he was just, oh, so bad. And I guess I enjoyed the world conspiracies storyline because I just keep reading them! Reminds me a lot of the old James Bond movies where the evildoers are always trying to take over the world. This is a good read. The depth of character development is really good and the villains are a bit cliché but that’s okay because there is enough details and depth in the story around the lead characters, additional scenes and action that the reader can feel it. The pacing was also really good. I’m always amazed by how Andrews & Wilson do such a fine job of tag-teaming on writing such wonderful stories. Hong Kong Black is well worth a read!
"Hong Kong Black" is an exciting book by “Alex Ryan” a pseudonym for the best-selling coauthor team of Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Both are U.S. Navy veterans - Andrews served aboard a nuclear submarine and Wilson was a combat surgeon supporting Navy SEALs. They are also the coauthors behind the well-known military thriller series, Tier One. Hong Kong Black is another well-written and fleshed out espionage action thriller full of honor, humor, passion, suspense, intrigue and plenty of action and twists and turns. The book is the second novel in the Nick Foley series. As an action thriller ‘junkie’, I love the theme of the ex-Army Ranger, ex-Navy SEAL and ex-CIA Black Ops Operator as ‘door kickers’ saving the world. I especially love the bitchy, crabby CIA chief who causes main character Nick Foley so much trouble. I wonder if Nick Foley is related to the Spy Master Supreme, Mary Pat Foley from all the Tom Clancy novels. I also enjoyed the Chinese Special Forces character, Zhang, and the epidemiologist doctor, Dash, who is really smart and tough. And as usual, I despised the bad guy because he was just, oh, so bad. And I guess I enjoyed the world conspiracies storyline because I just keep reading them! Reminds me a lot of the old James Bond movies where the evildoers are always trying to take over the world. This is a good read. The depth of character development is really good and the villains are a bit cliché but that’s okay because there is enough details and depth in the story around the lead characters, additional scenes and action that the reader can feel it. The pacing was also really good. I’m always amazed by how Andrews & Wilson do such a fine job of tag-teaming on writing such wonderful stories. Hong Kong Black is well worth a read!
September 20, 2018
Not my favorite genre and the blood and gore in this one confirmed why I couldn't sleep last night after finishing it. But if it floats your boat to read about the technical ins and outs of military campaigns carried out by CIA people and others in international waters and nations, this may be the book for you.
In this tale, we follow former navy SEAL Nick Foley, now working for an NGO in China and his special friend and microbiologist Dash Chen, both of whom are sucked into trying to take down a cabal intent on a series of really nasty actions that result in hundreds of stolen organs, mutilated bodies, numerous chase scenes and blood take downs before they can get together.
In this tale, we follow former navy SEAL Nick Foley, now working for an NGO in China and his special friend and microbiologist Dash Chen, both of whom are sucked into trying to take down a cabal intent on a series of really nasty actions that result in hundreds of stolen organs, mutilated bodies, numerous chase scenes and blood take downs before they can get together.
May 31, 2017
This is an excellent read. A fast paced spy thriller with a few twists and turns that keep you reading well into the night. I have not read the first book in the series, Beijing Red, but I feel like there is enough back story here so that you can get a sense of what Nick is all about. This book has excellent character development and lots of action. I would recommend this to fans of thrillers and espionage. I received this as a free ARC from Crooked Lane Books on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2024
The second novel in the dynamic duo's Nick Foley series takes place not long after the first. Foley is still working for an NGO when he is asked by CIA agent Lankford to look into a missing asset, not to get involved, but just check the the circumstances of his disappearance.
But of course it turns out to be more than that when assassins try to take him out upon his leaving the apartment building.
An exciting thriller dealing with organ harvesting on a huge scale with the perpetrators more than willing to kill anyone who gets on their trail.
But of course it turns out to be more than that when assassins try to take him out upon his leaving the apartment building.
An exciting thriller dealing with organ harvesting on a huge scale with the perpetrators more than willing to kill anyone who gets on their trail.
May 26, 2017
Fast paced, well written thriller that occasionally swerves into the implausible but that's ok. Nick is just the guy to investigate this vast conspiracy - with Dash of course. Their relationship is one of the better things about this novel. I had not read the first book but that was fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is very plot driven, making it good for travel. Try this one if you like the two-of-us against a giant bad thing to save the world genre.
June 20, 2017
Splendid thriller
December 28, 2020
Really enjoyed it
Great book. I enjoyed the twists and turns and it had me guessing in a lot of places. Really good plot
Great book. I enjoyed the twists and turns and it had me guessing in a lot of places. Really good plot
October 22, 2020
Former Navy SEAL Nick Foley reluctantly agrees to help investigate when American CIA operative Peter Yu goes missing in China. But when Yu’s mutilated body washes up on a beach near Hong Kong, along with dozens of other victims, the case takes a macabre turn. Suddenly, Nick finds himself embroiled in another bio-terrorism investigation being conducted by China's elite Snow Leopard counter-terrorism unit and the Chinese CDC, this time involving illegally-harvested organs for an unknown and nefarious end.
But Nick’s investigation does not go unnoticed, and soon he finds a target on his back. After thwarting an attempt on his life, he is forced to go off the grid and enlist the help of beautiful CDC microbiologist Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen to help unmask his would be killer. On the run and looking for answers, their budding romance is tested at every turn.
With each step closer they take to unmasking the truth, Nick and Dash find themselves drawn deeper into a global conspiracy that began over two thousand years ago with the First Emperor of China and now threatens to upset the world order as they know it in Hong Kong Black, the heart-pounding sequel to Alex Ryan's Beijing Red
I will admit I am a fan of this and look forward to seeing more of Nick and hopefully Dash in the future. The while story line was captivating and held your attention.
But Nick’s investigation does not go unnoticed, and soon he finds a target on his back. After thwarting an attempt on his life, he is forced to go off the grid and enlist the help of beautiful CDC microbiologist Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen to help unmask his would be killer. On the run and looking for answers, their budding romance is tested at every turn.
With each step closer they take to unmasking the truth, Nick and Dash find themselves drawn deeper into a global conspiracy that began over two thousand years ago with the First Emperor of China and now threatens to upset the world order as they know it in Hong Kong Black, the heart-pounding sequel to Alex Ryan's Beijing Red
I will admit I am a fan of this and look forward to seeing more of Nick and hopefully Dash in the future. The while story line was captivating and held your attention.
October 31, 2020
Awesome
I was really excited to read this sequel. Spending a good time of my own life in East Asia, I found the history and mystery intriguing. Kudos to Alex Ryan and this fine work. I hope these aren’t the last of this series Mr. Andrews and Mr. Wilson. I love tough guy novels and turned my spouse into an avid fan as well. Please keep it up!
I was really excited to read this sequel. Spending a good time of my own life in East Asia, I found the history and mystery intriguing. Kudos to Alex Ryan and this fine work. I hope these aren’t the last of this series Mr. Andrews and Mr. Wilson. I love tough guy novels and turned my spouse into an avid fan as well. Please keep it up!
February 3, 2022
This is the second book in the Nick Foley series, an ex seal ( really always a seal) being roped in once again to help save the world.
Like the the first book Beijing Red, Hong Kong Black it is full of intrigue, mystery, and action. Sprinkled with humor and deep knowledge of navy, army tactics, as well as medical knowledge, much like a Tom Clancy novel.
With the same characters as the first plus a few extra come together to save the day. Nick, a CDC scientist, a CIA Spook, a Snow Leopard anti-terrorist commander, a female government agent, and even a Mafia criminal boss, showing is good side.
In my opinion Hong Kong Black is my favorite, it has a slight edge, with the dark enemy undertones.
Please let there be a third book in this series!
Like the the first book Beijing Red, Hong Kong Black it is full of intrigue, mystery, and action. Sprinkled with humor and deep knowledge of navy, army tactics, as well as medical knowledge, much like a Tom Clancy novel.
With the same characters as the first plus a few extra come together to save the day. Nick, a CDC scientist, a CIA Spook, a Snow Leopard anti-terrorist commander, a female government agent, and even a Mafia criminal boss, showing is good side.
In my opinion Hong Kong Black is my favorite, it has a slight edge, with the dark enemy undertones.
Please let there be a third book in this series!
March 4, 2017
A good spy thriller. I have not read the first book in the series but was able to follow along. Reading the first book would give you a little more background but this book did give enough info about the past it's not truly necessary. I liked the characters.
July 10, 2024
Almost extraordinarily gruesome at times, and I could've done without the "secret cabal controlling the world" theme; but Nick is a likable hero, the romance is surprisingly sweet & genuine, good camaraderie with the side dudes, and I was absolutely INCENSED to learn there are no more books in the series. Sir, you can't just LEAVE IT THERE!!!!!!
October 6, 2017
“Hong Kong Black” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Alex Ryan. This is Mr. Ryan’s second novel and the second in his “Nick Foley” thrillers.
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 and Mature Language. The story is set in today’s China. The primary character is former US Navy SEAL Nick Foley.
Foley has tried to leave behind his Special Operations experiences and now works for a non-profit working to bring clean drinking water to rural Chinese. He has already been drawn into one operation where he helped to save China from a bio-terrorist attack. Now he is being drawn in again.
A Chinese working undercover for the CIA has disappeared and Foley is asked to look into it. What should have been a simple task draws him and those closest to him into another life-and-death situation and a conspiracy of global proportions.
As Foley is investigating this disappearance, his beautiful and close friend Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen of the CDC is involved in identifying what is behind a series of mutilated bodies that are washing ashore. Before long their investigations merge into a more serious problem than either would have conceived possible.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent with this 362 page spy thriller. Event hough this is the second in the series, it read well on its own. I liked the characters and the plot. It is a bit of a different take, US operatives working closely with Chinese operatives to save the day. The cover art is OK, but doesn’t relate much to the story. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
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 and Mature Language. The story is set in today’s China. The primary character is former US Navy SEAL Nick Foley.
Foley has tried to leave behind his Special Operations experiences and now works for a non-profit working to bring clean drinking water to rural Chinese. He has already been drawn into one operation where he helped to save China from a bio-terrorist attack. Now he is being drawn in again.
A Chinese working undercover for the CIA has disappeared and Foley is asked to look into it. What should have been a simple task draws him and those closest to him into another life-and-death situation and a conspiracy of global proportions.
As Foley is investigating this disappearance, his beautiful and close friend Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen of the CDC is involved in identifying what is behind a series of mutilated bodies that are washing ashore. Before long their investigations merge into a more serious problem than either would have conceived possible.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent with this 362 page spy thriller. Event hough this is the second in the series, it read well on its own. I liked the characters and the plot. It is a bit of a different take, US operatives working closely with Chinese operatives to save the day. The cover art is OK, but doesn’t relate much to the story. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
January 28, 2018
A clever, fast-paced thriller set in Hong Kong and Beijing, this story picks up where Red Beijing left off, with the same main characters and similar landmarks and historical tidbits. It's very interesting for the window it offers on contemporary Chinese society and its internal political workings. The plot is well-paced, if straightforward; some of the interesting tidbits are basically repeated from Red Beijing, but this redundancy in no way detracts from the crispness of the writing. A good read!
September 13, 2018
A wonderful story and follow-up to the first Nick Foley novel Beijing Red. In Hong Kong Black Nick sort of returns to his former life as a Navy Seal; that is, this novel does not have him involved with his charity position but rather with the investigation of the deaths of a large number of individuals. Working with both the CIA and China's counterrorism agency, Nick faces death at every turn as he also continues his "budding romance" with Dr. Chen, the Chinese CDC microbiologist.
With strong characters and hair-raising situations, Hong Kong Black is a 1st-rate thriller. Both Nick, CIA agent Lankford, and Commander Zhang exude testosterone both in actions and words! An exciting, fun read with the possibility of a follow-up. I hope so!
With strong characters and hair-raising situations, Hong Kong Black is a 1st-rate thriller. Both Nick, CIA agent Lankford, and Commander Zhang exude testosterone both in actions and words! An exciting, fun read with the possibility of a follow-up. I hope so!
September 12, 2021
I enjoyed the first book in this series so I was excited about the sequel. All the things that made the first so enjoyable are to be found in Hong Kong Black. The main character, Nick Foley, is wonderfully written. The authors have avoided all the pitfalls that are usually found in this genre. The supporting characters are also well drawn--they exist beyond serving as props for Foley, they have lives and thoughts of their own. This would be worth it on its own, but the story is terrific, too. I found the glimpses into modern day espionage (perpetrators and preventers) to be fascinating. This was a quick, enjoyable read and a series that I plan to follow.
December 27, 2019
This thriller hit all the right notes!
This was a potent mix of a historical, medical, military, and political thriller. All of these aspects were weaved together to freak me out! I love the dynamic of Nick and Dash. They make a killer team to sleuth out what new threat is facing the world, and it’s fun to see how their budding relationship will fair with everything they are facing. We are left with one heck of a cliffhanger, and I hope we can have more adventures with Nick and Dash soon!
This was a potent mix of a historical, medical, military, and political thriller. All of these aspects were weaved together to freak me out! I love the dynamic of Nick and Dash. They make a killer team to sleuth out what new threat is facing the world, and it’s fun to see how their budding relationship will fair with everything they are facing. We are left with one heck of a cliffhanger, and I hope we can have more adventures with Nick and Dash soon!
January 2, 2018
This is the first time I have read this author and it wasn't bad. Some decent action and the story itself moved along at pretty good clip.
September 30, 2021
Volume Two, the sequel to “Beijing Red” brings our cast of characters together again. Commander Jong of the elite Snow Leopard counter-terrorism unit has been called to Hong Kong to investigate corpses washing up onshore. Not one or two from a boating accident, but over thirty, and the condition of the bodies was horrific; they were mangled, dismembered, and missing numerous parts. Jong sent for Dr. Dazhong "Dash" Chen, CDC microbiologist to do a thorough examination of the bodies to determine what had killed them. Based on her autopsy results Dash did have a working theory. Meanwhile, Jong had the Coast Guard search the area with sonar looking for more bodies, wrecks, or anything unusual. What did show up was a shipping container drifting below the surface. Jong went to investigate. All the signs were leading to a disturbing conclusion. Back in Beijing, Nick was doing a favor for Langford, the CIA operator who helped in taking down Chin in the previous novel. To say things didn’t go well is an understatement. Nick’s cover is blown, finding himself on a hit list. Now he’s on the run with nowhere to go. Dash appears to be quite the woman; intelligent, inner strength, independent, confident, and compassionate although she restrains herself. The agonizingly, slowly growing relationship between Dash and Nick drives me nuts. Both of them holding back, afraid to take the next step. I kept hoping throughout the story that one of them would break down. Dash got in a bit of trouble, the race to get to her and the following firefight was exhilarating. It was the best action and thrills of the tale, also tying up some loose ends of the plotline. I think “Hong Kong Black” delivered a better story than “Beijing Red”. Of course, we knew the characters better, the relationships and camaraderie between them grew as well. I liked the characters and thought the writing was impressive. MacLeod Andrews did a great job as well.
August 6, 2023
I enjoyed this book and I'm glad I found another book by Andrews & Wilson while I wait for Sons of Valor 3. Although I did not like it as much as much as book 1, it was entertaining. For me it was a little too gruesome in some places, especially in the description of the five pains and the killing of some victims. I also thought it started slower than the first book although it did pick up halfway through the book.
I liked that there were two climaxes in the book. When I got through the first climax, I realized there were still a lot of pages left in the book and the author was setting up another confrontation. The last one also left an opening for a sequel which I definitely hope happens. I like both the characters of Nick Foley and Commander Zhang and would love to see future books that bring those two back together to work with CIA's Lankford.
As always, a superb reading by MacLeod Andrews.
I liked that there were two climaxes in the book. When I got through the first climax, I realized there were still a lot of pages left in the book and the author was setting up another confrontation. The last one also left an opening for a sequel which I definitely hope happens. I like both the characters of Nick Foley and Commander Zhang and would love to see future books that bring those two back together to work with CIA's Lankford.
As always, a superb reading by MacLeod Andrews.
April 2, 2024
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4.5 stars for this book! Hong Kong Black is the second book in the Nick Foley series by Alex Ryan. This was an excellent book to listen to and MacLeod Andrews is a great narrator and portrays the accents very well and transitions between them flawlessly.
Nick finds himself teaming up with the CIA as well as China’s Snow Leopards although he is trying to resist doing that. Nick is asked by the CIA officer to go to Hong Kong to investigate a missing intelligence officer. Dash is brought into an investigation that is pointing to illegal organ harvesting. This book has the perfect balance of military, medical, and political elements that keeps you intrigued.
Nick and Dash’s relationship continues to develop over the course of this story which also adds a complex layer to the story. This also motivates both of them to act in certain ways that they probably wouldn’t have acted if there was no chemistry between them.
My one quarrel with this book is that there at times seems to be a bit of an unrealistic working relationship between two countries that absolutely don’t trust each other in the ‘real world’. China seems a bit too lax in letting an American - especially a former Navy Seal - help them solve a problem.
The ending of this book has left some unanswered questions which leaves it open to a third book in the series, but at this time, it doesn’t look like there is a third book in the works.
4.5 stars for this book! Hong Kong Black is the second book in the Nick Foley series by Alex Ryan. This was an excellent book to listen to and MacLeod Andrews is a great narrator and portrays the accents very well and transitions between them flawlessly.
Nick finds himself teaming up with the CIA as well as China’s Snow Leopards although he is trying to resist doing that. Nick is asked by the CIA officer to go to Hong Kong to investigate a missing intelligence officer. Dash is brought into an investigation that is pointing to illegal organ harvesting. This book has the perfect balance of military, medical, and political elements that keeps you intrigued.
Nick and Dash’s relationship continues to develop over the course of this story which also adds a complex layer to the story. This also motivates both of them to act in certain ways that they probably wouldn’t have acted if there was no chemistry between them.
My one quarrel with this book is that there at times seems to be a bit of an unrealistic working relationship between two countries that absolutely don’t trust each other in the ‘real world’. China seems a bit too lax in letting an American - especially a former Navy Seal - help them solve a problem.
The ending of this book has left some unanswered questions which leaves it open to a third book in the series, but at this time, it doesn’t look like there is a third book in the works.
May 30, 2017
I enjoyed the first book in this series so I was excited about the sequel. All the things that made the first so enjoyable are to be found in Hong Kong Black. The main character, Nick Foley, is wonderfully written. The authors have avoided all the pitfalls that are usually found in this genre (I.e. Macho, hairtrigger tempers, etc). The supporting characters are also well drawn--they exist beyond serving as props for Foley, they have lives and thoughts of their own. This would be worth it on its own, but the story is terrific, too. I love the China and Hong Kong setting, and I found the glimpses into modern day espionage (perpetrators and preventers) to be fascinating. This was a quick, enjoyable read and a series that I plan to follow.
October 2, 2021
So far, the Nick Foley series has been enjoyable and interesting. The only problem, I don't know if there are any more after this. It will be interesting how Nick and Dash survive. It is also interesting, how at the end of the book, Nick talks about going "home" to Beijing. This was interesting, as it showed how enemies could cooperate. Like I said, it was enjoyable -- even with all the blood, guts, and gore.
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