What do you think?
Rate this book
In 1941 a secret German mission came to a bloody end in Egypt’s Western Desert. A doomsday weapon was lost under its shifting sands, buried, but never destroyed.
A brazen attempt to assassinate a British archaeologist in Cairo sends former Military Intelligence Officer Roan Mercer and his team of private security contractors on a mission to track down the would-be killers.
It soon becomes clear to Mercer that the attack is no random crime, but merely one part of a much more nefarious plot involving an old diary, a fanatical warlord, and a plot to launch the world into an all-consuming war. And behind it all, a shadowy organisation whose only interest is securing wealth and power at all costs.
Desert is the first Roan Mercer adventure.
A brazen attempt to assassinate a British archaeologist in Cairo sends former Military Intelligence Officer Roan Mercer and his team of private security contractors on a mission to track down the would-be killers.
It soon becomes clear to Mercer that the attack is no random crime, but merely one part of a much more nefarious plot involving an old diary, a fanatical warlord, and a plot to launch the world into an all-consuming war. And behind it all, a shadowy organisation whose only interest is securing wealth and power at all costs.
Desert is the first Roan Mercer adventure.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2018
About the author
Jack Dolan
6 books3 followersJack Dolan is an author’s pseudonym.
Due to the author’s previous and current employment he is not able to publish fiction under his own name. The author has previous military experience as well as a deep fascination with historical mysteries and well-written thrillers. His interests including writing and reading (naturally) as well as travelling. He has so far visited five continents and is hoping to cross off the other two in the next few years.
Due to the author’s previous and current employment he is not able to publish fiction under his own name. The author has previous military experience as well as a deep fascination with historical mysteries and well-written thrillers. His interests including writing and reading (naturally) as well as travelling. He has so far visited five continents and is hoping to cross off the other two in the next few years.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 20, 2018
Desert (A Roan Mercer Adventure Book 1) ★★★★★ from K.D. McNiven on December 18, 2018
A riveting action/adventure/thriller
I just finished reading Desert, A Roan Mercer Adventure by Jack Dolan. This is an exciting action adventure book that has tremendous research that interweaves the past with the present and brings it to a satisfying conclusion. His characters were well fleshed out and easy to connect with. I especially liked Dr. Jordan Bailey, a woman archaeologist who was strong and had grit. I also liked the main character, Roan Mercer, a military man who worked alongside his partner Anthony Frazetta and established their own company called Gladius, Inc. - Dolan's military expertise was more than a little impressive.
This book has it all- Adventure, action, and enough twists and turns to make your head spin. Dolan has spun a wonderful story filled with intrigue and suspense. I am looking forward to reading his next Roan Mercer Adventure book, Jade Seal. I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed. Five stars to Jack Dolan's, Desert.
A riveting action/adventure/thriller
I just finished reading Desert, A Roan Mercer Adventure by Jack Dolan. This is an exciting action adventure book that has tremendous research that interweaves the past with the present and brings it to a satisfying conclusion. His characters were well fleshed out and easy to connect with. I especially liked Dr. Jordan Bailey, a woman archaeologist who was strong and had grit. I also liked the main character, Roan Mercer, a military man who worked alongside his partner Anthony Frazetta and established their own company called Gladius, Inc. - Dolan's military expertise was more than a little impressive.
This book has it all- Adventure, action, and enough twists and turns to make your head spin. Dolan has spun a wonderful story filled with intrigue and suspense. I am looking forward to reading his next Roan Mercer Adventure book, Jade Seal. I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed. Five stars to Jack Dolan's, Desert.
September 7, 2018
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. The story is engaging and draws readers in from the very start; it's a mix of Indiana Jones and any of the popular ex-military members / covert teams who are directed by the US government. It's good against evil in the Middle East and a race to eliminate a terrorist threat of starting WWIII. As in many Clive Cussler books, the author begins this story in earlier times with some background as to what everybody is after in modern times...what were Persian soldiers doing in Egypt 500 yrs before Christ, and what was so special about a missing German military group and a British ambulance from WWII? Both are integral parts of this tale.
There are three strong female characters in the story, the archeologist, a team soldier, and an IT wizard supporting the team, however, character development for any of the characters is lacking and all seem shallow. I also found quite a few typos and sentences with extra or missing words; the author responded that the book is currently undergoing an edit to correct those issues.
Overall, the story held my attention until the very end with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. If you enjoy books by authors C.G. Cooper and L.T. Ryan, then you'll enjoy this one.
There are three strong female characters in the story, the archeologist, a team soldier, and an IT wizard supporting the team, however, character development for any of the characters is lacking and all seem shallow. I also found quite a few typos and sentences with extra or missing words; the author responded that the book is currently undergoing an edit to correct those issues.
Overall, the story held my attention until the very end with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. If you enjoy books by authors C.G. Cooper and L.T. Ryan, then you'll enjoy this one.
August 31, 2018
"A Fast, Action Packed Adventure Novel"
During the German mission in Egypt's Western Desert in 1941, a doomsday weapon has been lost under the shifting desert sands. Now, years later, Military Intelligence Officer Roan Mercer is sent to Cairo to investigate the attempted assassination of a British archaeologist. He soon learns the attack is not random but it involves an old diary, a warlord, and a plot to launch another world war. For the first book written by this author, I have to say I was quickly drawn into the plot and intrigue; I could not put it down. You'll like it, too! Highly recommend.
During the German mission in Egypt's Western Desert in 1941, a doomsday weapon has been lost under the shifting desert sands. Now, years later, Military Intelligence Officer Roan Mercer is sent to Cairo to investigate the attempted assassination of a British archaeologist. He soon learns the attack is not random but it involves an old diary, a warlord, and a plot to launch another world war. For the first book written by this author, I have to say I was quickly drawn into the plot and intrigue; I could not put it down. You'll like it, too! Highly recommend.
September 14, 2018
Desert
Excellent adventure read.
Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt fans will rejoice with this story.
Very compelling story of the adventures of Roan Mercer and his merry crew as they head off across the global hot spots in pursuit of the next assignment. History, politics, adventure and intrigue all in included.
Excellent adventure read.
Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt fans will rejoice with this story.
Very compelling story of the adventures of Roan Mercer and his merry crew as they head off across the global hot spots in pursuit of the next assignment. History, politics, adventure and intrigue all in included.
September 3, 2018
Danger in the Desert
An excellent adventure novel filled with suspense and a number of unexpected twists and turns. Oran and his team were presented as a tight and integrated group of exceptionally talented "security" experts. Looking forward to Jack Dolan's next book.
An excellent adventure novel filled with suspense and a number of unexpected twists and turns. Oran and his team were presented as a tight and integrated group of exceptionally talented "security" experts. Looking forward to Jack Dolan's next book.
September 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this well written adventure. A classic rollicking tale of mixed motives and fierce loyalties. Great descriptions of place and people and believable action scenes. An easy read. I look forward to the next one.
October 12, 2019
A secret German mission during World War Two. A terrible weapon, lost beneath the desert sands.
When British archaeologist Jordan narrowly misses being shot while investigating a secret diary, ex-Military Intelligence Officer Roan Mercer and his team set out to track down the assassin. But the team soon learn there’s more to this job than an old wartime diary and a few Persian helmets.
Take a helping of Dan Brown, remove the boring stuff and the stupid concepts and add a ton of fast and furious action, loads of guns and a swift-moving plot, and you’ve got an idea of what a Jack Dolan thriller is like. This is the first book in the Roan Mercer Adventures and if this one is anything to go by, we’re in for a great ride. Mercer is a well-drawn proper action hero without any of the implausible idiosyncrasies that some thriller writers can’t resist. The story moves through several exotic (and not-so-exotic) locations, piling on the threats to the hero’s mission and leaving plenty for us to get excited about.
On the face of it, this is a great plot with great characters. The only problem is the book is crammed with typos. Bearing in mind that the author requested a review from me, I pointed this out to him, but so far he has not responded, which might indicate he doesn’t care. Oh well.
When British archaeologist Jordan narrowly misses being shot while investigating a secret diary, ex-Military Intelligence Officer Roan Mercer and his team set out to track down the assassin. But the team soon learn there’s more to this job than an old wartime diary and a few Persian helmets.
Take a helping of Dan Brown, remove the boring stuff and the stupid concepts and add a ton of fast and furious action, loads of guns and a swift-moving plot, and you’ve got an idea of what a Jack Dolan thriller is like. This is the first book in the Roan Mercer Adventures and if this one is anything to go by, we’re in for a great ride. Mercer is a well-drawn proper action hero without any of the implausible idiosyncrasies that some thriller writers can’t resist. The story moves through several exotic (and not-so-exotic) locations, piling on the threats to the hero’s mission and leaving plenty for us to get excited about.
On the face of it, this is a great plot with great characters. The only problem is the book is crammed with typos. Bearing in mind that the author requested a review from me, I pointed this out to him, but so far he has not responded, which might indicate he doesn’t care. Oh well.
January 11, 2019
With one eye on saving the hostage locked in Egypt’s Western Desert and the other eye focused on apparent gun dealers that have a run in with the alleged terrorists, Roan Mercer and his band of assassins for hire, soon find themselves caught up in an archeological dig with dire consequences.
A British archeologist is leading a dig to find the ancient Persian warlord Memnon, whose army was swallowed by a haboob centuries ago; instead, what’s discovered are the remnants of an old English ambulance dating back to World War II—and all in the middle of the gunfight Mercer is caught up in.
When it is discovered that the bodies found with the ambulance were of German descent, and research into the lost vehicle shows the cargo was mustard gas, which is now missing, it is left up to Mercer and his soldiers to discover the target that the terrorists are ready to attack and to thwart it before thousands of innocent lives are snuffed out.
In an exciting rampage on a mission that could be compared with one that Kurt Austin from Clive Cussler’s NUMA Files would be proud to undertake, Dolan’s first novel is a great stand and deliver thriller that leaves no stone, or dune, unturned. Mercer’s next adventure will be one to tag along on.
A British archeologist is leading a dig to find the ancient Persian warlord Memnon, whose army was swallowed by a haboob centuries ago; instead, what’s discovered are the remnants of an old English ambulance dating back to World War II—and all in the middle of the gunfight Mercer is caught up in.
When it is discovered that the bodies found with the ambulance were of German descent, and research into the lost vehicle shows the cargo was mustard gas, which is now missing, it is left up to Mercer and his soldiers to discover the target that the terrorists are ready to attack and to thwart it before thousands of innocent lives are snuffed out.
In an exciting rampage on a mission that could be compared with one that Kurt Austin from Clive Cussler’s NUMA Files would be proud to undertake, Dolan’s first novel is a great stand and deliver thriller that leaves no stone, or dune, unturned. Mercer’s next adventure will be one to tag along on.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews