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American Mercenary #4

Vengeance Calling

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A condemned hero. An unlikely ally. And the plot to assassinate a criminal mastermind…

David Rivers’ luck has finally run out.

He’s been condemned to certain death as a deep cover agent.

But his new mission reveals an unlikely ally with one shared goal: the death of the David’s greatest enemy.

A brilliant assassination plot is already underway. And the final element is trapped amid the firestorm of a civil war in Myanmar.

To kill his opponent and free his only surviving teammate, David will have to survive impossible odds—odds that he’s determined to beat, no matter the cost.

As a perilous journey unfolds, David learns that appearances aren’t as they seem, and no loyalties are absolute.

He finds himself forced to choose between two great evils—with his only friend’s life hanging in the balance.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2018

3264 people are currently reading
206 people want to read

About the author

Jason Kasper

73 books481 followers
Jason Kasper is a USA Today bestselling thriller author. He served in the US Army, beginning as a Ranger private and ending as a Green Beret captain. Jason is a West Point graduate and a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and was an avid ultramarathon runner, skydiver, and BASE jumper, all of which inspire his fiction.

Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at @KasperAuthor.

Join his mailing list for bonus content and book updates: https://bit.ly/440lHom

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5 stars
987 (47%)
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786 (37%)
3 stars
242 (11%)
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44 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣.
2,526 reviews19.2k followers
May 15, 2021
David's being his wining self in this one. Like, he gets both saved and ass-kicked all the time.

At the end of the novel he's like 'Oh, I can't kill this guy, poor me... Can you believe that, I can't kill this guy no matter how many times I try?'... (Ok that's not precisely what he said, in the book it was tons more rriddicculous... but that's the gist of it.) Yes, David, I can readily believe that. *eyeroll*
Profile Image for Abibliofob.
1,589 reviews104 followers
June 15, 2023
Vengeance Calling by Jason Kasper is yet another story where David Rivers gets held captive, it is getting a little repetetive. I still like this series and think it adds something new to the thriller genre. How many ways can you deceive people? The characters are great and so is the writing I think I'll read one more and then it's time for a break.
Profile Image for Robert Enzenauer.
510 reviews10 followers
November 27, 2018
Wow! I feel like a slacker. Already over 120 reviews posted. But this is Jason Kasper’s best book yet, and it took me a while to digest my feelings and impressions before sitting down to write this review. Agree with other readers who note that there is less action and more contemplation in Book Four. The author’s SOF training, both as a ranger and a special forces officer, if evident in the descriptions of combat and operation planning. And what starts out as a simple revenge plot gets way more complicated. The author has expanded from a couple singularly evil adversaries, to an entirely malevolent Organization for David Rivers to battle. The author has created a very interesting character – Jason Rivers – who is fighting some incredibly evil adversaries, while simultaneously battling his own demons, from childhood trauma, to his expulsion from West Point, and combat duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. Jason Kasper should be read by any health care provider working at the VA dealing with military veterans with PTSD. During his isolation, David reports that he “periodically bumped by depression like driftwood floating at sea,” admitting that he “didn’t suffer from depression – we simple coexisted.” David muses: “Like many who have experienced combat, I harbored an inherent discomfort around large crowds. In war the civilian populace represents a sea of possible enemy informants and hidden fighters.” I disagree strongly with another reviewer who describes David Rivers as a psychopath, which by definition suggests amoral and antisocial. David Rivers is definitely not amoral. Because when David is killing an enemy “now corrupted by darkness so vile that the only redemption was death” he ponders the very profound pastor’s blessing “If not here, then when all the great warriors of eternity are gathered around the fire of heaven.” And I have known warriors like David Rivers. He describes himself as “a liar, a killer, a suicidal alcoholic.” Yet, in dealing with unimaginable evil he opines “loss of innocent people isn’t worth my friend’s freedom or his life, least of all mine.” And the word pictures that Jason Kasper creates:: “low-slung structures, brown and drab and dull…. “mud-covered streets, rickety gates, and construction additions made of sheet metal and plywood… The few colored buildings in town appeared awkwardly painted and out of place.” Summing it up, “Of course I was approaching a shithole”, continuing “like the other placed I’d been, from Afghanistan to Iraq, Somalia to Brazil.” David Rivers is surely a classic tragic hero, a virtuous character in a drama who is destined to suffer greatly. Get back to work soldier, and write the next saga of David Rivers.
Profile Image for Steven Jr..
Author 13 books91 followers
March 14, 2022
Former Green Beret officer Jason Kasper's American Mercenary series is absolutely riveting, and the intrigue and suspense continues in the fourth book of the series, Vengeance Calling.

In the wake of the third book, Dark Redemption, David Rivers's plan to kill the enigmatic Handler has failed. Rivers is certain he is condemned to death, but the Handler has other plans. His Organization is full of people who want him dead, and he wants Rivers on the outside to sniff out traitors who aim to ascend to the throne.

Things escalate in this book, particularly with regards to , who we met in the first novel. We see Rivers travel to Myanmar in search of a secret weapon that will aid in the traitor's attempts to assassinate the Handler. At first, Rivers's interests align with the traitor, but he rapidly finds out that the enemy of his enemy does not necessarily make for a good friend or bedfellow.

Kasper is a master of dialogue, crisp action, and plotting to keep the reader engaged and hooked for the duration, as well as setting up for subsequent novels. I read this book in about the span of two days and I couldn't put it down.

Highly recommended action-adventure reading!
3,198 reviews26 followers
September 16, 2018
JK has penned the fourth novel of the David Rivers books about special operation by private contractors. The money is good but betrayal is a high priority. This mission takes place in Central Southeast Asia and DR and his partner are scheduled for annihilation. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
Profile Image for Juan &#x1f1f5;&#x1f1f7;.
90 reviews5 followers
November 8, 2018
David Rivers is at it again, making bad decisions follow by worst decisions and somehow finding a way out of all of it alive. The fourth installment in the series is a thrilling ride that once again has David Rivers going across the globe on his quest for revenge. Looking forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for Stephen Wells.
60 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2019
The only issue with this book, and the entire series for that matter, is that it is an intensely quick read. Non-stop, twist-and-turn action keeps the pace fast. Glad I found this series and glad I haven’t finished it yet.
26 reviews
November 7, 2018
True to Character

Rivers is a difficult character to analyze. Action to be sure, moral compass spinning wildly. A good read. The journey continues.
.
8 reviews
November 9, 2018
Add book number four to the amazing saga that is the David Rivers series. Loved it and read in one sitting. I just hate having to wait on the next one.
213 reviews3 followers
November 21, 2018
Great story

Another great book! Story moves at a very good pace, main character is still fresh and likeable . Can't wait for the next book!!!
Profile Image for Don.
191 reviews7 followers
November 26, 2018
The best of the series by far! Kasper is at his best with twist after twist in a fast-paced, adrenalin rushed paramilitary tale.
26 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2018
As usual, a thrill ride to the end. ......although the unanswered questions left for the next edition can be frustrating. Can't wait to read the next chapter!
Profile Image for Andrea Payne.
709 reviews5 followers
April 5, 2024
Whiplash?!

Vengeance Calling is Book 4 of the American Mercenary series. It should absolutely be read in order.

The David Rivers Thrillers are full of action, eerily real combat scenes and cases of whiplash! I swear to goodness, I keep being completely shocked by the storyline. It's great!

I would recommend this book to any adult due to mature content. I'm so glad books 5 & 6 are already available!
587 reviews2 followers
September 11, 2019
Book #4 is better than #1-3, but still not great ...

David Rivers was certainly less torn about suicide in Book #4, and there was a lot of action ... not entirely believable circumstances, but adequately written. Still — there’s something about this series that just doesn’t sit right ...
I wills ay with certainty that the ending of Book #4 steals from the Reader, because it deliberately ends in a cliff-hanger, that can only be addressed by reading Book #5. That just ain’t fair!
18 reviews
June 4, 2019
I HATE Cliffhangers

Book 4 should have ended with chapter 2 of Book 5. That would have been fair. Plenty of promised action to come, lots of loose ends, but to break right after the start of a critical conversation that lays own the premise of the next book?

To Jason: That's poor authorship... It implies that you didn't think people will buy the next book (i.e. You're not good enough). You're wrong. You don't need gimmicks. Don't let people talk you into them.
Profile Image for Caroline Paquin.
477 reviews19 followers
October 15, 2020
Wall to wall action

Gosh, that book is nearly impossible to put down once it’s started! Seriously packed wall to wall with action and quite full of surprises, leaving us anticipating the next book. Thankfully, I’m reading the series once it’s complete, or else I would’ve been dying of anticipation for the release!

That’s how good this one was, and how much the ending’s hook would’ve left me hanging.
Profile Image for Mags Shaw.
131 reviews
November 30, 2025
This has been a tough series. The twists are definitely more like Hairpin turns on a mountain road, but do at least straighten out as the read progresses. The tail end of this book was unexpected, but somewhat got me back on track. I’m still working to see where members fit into the team concept, but have faith it will come together. Thinking I should have read American Mercenary before Shadow Strike VR,Mags.
232 reviews
July 24, 2023
The adventure continues

Different scope, more imaginative plots and subplots to the last period. And you're left hanging so to know what one character's advice is means reading the next installment. The cat loses another life! How many are left and how much patching will the main character need? Got to read the new book!
3 reviews
January 1, 2019
Excellent book

Each book of the series gets better and better. The series continues to follow a well-scripted path that is known only to the author. Plenty of action and suspense to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
172 reviews3 followers
October 7, 2020
Another Great Book in the Series !!!!

The fourth book in the series and David is battered and bruised but survived, again. He follows his Father's advice to hurt no innocents and stops a plot against The Handler that he was involved in.
5 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2018
Exciting read.

Exciting read. Easy page turning, airport style short story. Lots of action. I couldn't ever believe in character. Decent book. Will finish series.
Profile Image for Kenn Goslin.
800 reviews7 followers
March 2, 2019
David goes half a world away...and only continues to fight!!!

So the only question left for David Rivers is where am I going to die. Myanmar is hardly a tourist destination!!!
Profile Image for Patricia Locati.
221 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2019
WOW! This is the first series in years where I seriously believe that each book gets better than previous book!
999 reviews23 followers
December 21, 2019
Interesting read but easy to put aside and resume later. Concept is different but not too engaging and seems to take too long.
Profile Image for taffykathiegmail.com.
574 reviews
February 14, 2020
Life is Worth Living

Decisions need to be made that will alter your life. Humanity is Worth fighting to improve! What will be the outcome of you follow through without thinking.
Profile Image for Sarah.
130 reviews5 followers
February 24, 2020
Great Read!

I love David Rivers. This series is full of adventure, suspense and action-packed. I look forward to reading other adventures with DR!!
Profile Image for Randall Lovejoy.
149 reviews4 followers
May 23, 2020
The fourth fine novel

Since reading the first three novels in this David Rivers series, I’ve become addicted. Very fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommended.
3 reviews
Read
November 16, 2020
Again Kasper has shown himself as a master of 'twists and turns' always leading to the unexpected.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

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