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American Mercenary #1
Greatest Enemy
David Rivers is an Army Ranger—a combat veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has almost completed his final year at West Point when his world is turned upside down by a sudden discharge from military service. Angry and confused, David soon hits rock bottom.
And that's when they appear.
Three mysterious men. Men who know David's dark secret—they know that he has murdered someone in cold blood.
And they want him to do it again.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2016
9330 people are currently reading
1838 people want to read
About the author
Jason Kasper
73 books482 followersJason 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
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
April 4, 2021
David is being fancy about his suicidal ideation in this one. He goes alco-swimming, BASE-jumping, scaring off his GF with his diaries... writings, going on shooting sprees on request of random strangers willing to... uh, let him go on shooting sprees... On this honorable mission he's accompanied by Boss (who's no boss of nothing and is very particular about the destiny of his ice cream), Ophie the Maniak (can't live w/o drills) and Matz the Giant (who loves his chicken breasts).
March 27, 2019
This was a very exciting book. I didn’t like the main character, he has many flaws, but then I remembered you don’t have to like a character; he just needs to be interesting. Well, the main character David Rivers is defiantly interesting. He has issues! Rivers is a highly trained combat vet, he Graduates West Point but doesn’t get commissioned.
With no military career ahead and an obsession with suicide, he is recruited and joins an elite, illegal, merciless group of assassins.
Will he kill himself? Will his reckless lifestyle kill him? Or will someone else kill him?
The book will keep you guessing.
I really enjoyed some of the BASE jumping passages as well as the biggest battle scene towards the end of the book.
There are a few surprises in the book too.
Enjoy the ride!
With no military career ahead and an obsession with suicide, he is recruited and joins an elite, illegal, merciless group of assassins.
Will he kill himself? Will his reckless lifestyle kill him? Or will someone else kill him?
The book will keep you guessing.
I really enjoyed some of the BASE jumping passages as well as the biggest battle scene towards the end of the book.
There are a few surprises in the book too.
Enjoy the ride!
December 1, 2016
Impeccably written, engaging, cleverly paced, and unexpectedly deep. From start to finish it is a wild ride. I expected great things from this author, and he has surpassed every one of them. Can't wait for the sequel!
January 9, 2019
In a good way, Greatest Enemy was not what I was expecting, as the story took many twists and turns that I couldn’t see coming and the central themes of the book were very different to most books that define the military thriller fiction.
The main character, David Rivers, is a former U.S. Ranger. A veteran of the Afghan and Iraqi Wars turned thriller seeker and mercenary. Between scenes of brutal violence and military action, much of the story is introspective addressing the mental state of veterans once they return to civilian life and how easy it is for them to undervalue any life, their own as well as the lives of others. This makes Rivers a complex and tragic figure while setting him up as a bad-ass vigilante justice warrior for future books.
The majority of the story centres around a mercenary team taking down a shadowy organisation we never really get to know or understand their motives and capabilities (perhaps this will come out in later books). Each team member is well developed and we get to see them plan and execute some rather daring military take downs.
Research is excellent and realism is a staple of the narrative. The author Jason Kasper was a former Ranger himself and I got the distinct impression reading Greatest Enemy that much of this story is his own. That makes the book much more interesting when viewed in that light.
A great book and definitely work checking out if you are after a different kind of military fiction thriller but one that still hits all the right tropes.
The main character, David Rivers, is a former U.S. Ranger. A veteran of the Afghan and Iraqi Wars turned thriller seeker and mercenary. Between scenes of brutal violence and military action, much of the story is introspective addressing the mental state of veterans once they return to civilian life and how easy it is for them to undervalue any life, their own as well as the lives of others. This makes Rivers a complex and tragic figure while setting him up as a bad-ass vigilante justice warrior for future books.
The majority of the story centres around a mercenary team taking down a shadowy organisation we never really get to know or understand their motives and capabilities (perhaps this will come out in later books). Each team member is well developed and we get to see them plan and execute some rather daring military take downs.
Research is excellent and realism is a staple of the narrative. The author Jason Kasper was a former Ranger himself and I got the distinct impression reading Greatest Enemy that much of this story is his own. That makes the book much more interesting when viewed in that light.
A great book and definitely work checking out if you are after a different kind of military fiction thriller but one that still hits all the right tropes.
March 1, 2022
What a page turner. I picked up the omnibus of the first three novels after friends recommended Jason Kasper's other works to me, and I figured I'd start at the beginning. Kasper, a former Army Ranger and Special Forces soldier, spins one hell of a tale with the story of David Rivers, a self-destructive former Ranger who ends up getting recruited for a shadowy group engaged in shadow warfare. Rivers doesn't care much about the whos or whats. He simply wants the adrenaline rush from going back into combat.
I'm strongly reminded of S.A. Bailey's And The Rain Came Down in reading Greatest Enemy. Both stories feature broken protagonists whose angst you can feel on every page as they descend deeper and deeper into madness, all while leaving a body count in their wake. Both novels have immensely dark moments. When an author isn't afraid to get grisly with the story, you'll find me loving every second of it.
The action is on point, which is to be expected from someone of Kasper's tactical pedigree. The biggest star here, though, is the dialogue. Crisp, funny, and witty. So many pieces of dialogue had me going, "Man, I wish I'd have written that!" which is the highest praise one writer can pay another.
Highly recommended!
I'm strongly reminded of S.A. Bailey's And The Rain Came Down in reading Greatest Enemy. Both stories feature broken protagonists whose angst you can feel on every page as they descend deeper and deeper into madness, all while leaving a body count in their wake. Both novels have immensely dark moments. When an author isn't afraid to get grisly with the story, you'll find me loving every second of it.
The action is on point, which is to be expected from someone of Kasper's tactical pedigree. The biggest star here, though, is the dialogue. Crisp, funny, and witty. So many pieces of dialogue had me going, "Man, I wish I'd have written that!" which is the highest praise one writer can pay another.
Highly recommended!
May 24, 2017
The author writes a different type protagonist. While the plot has a 'special ops' team out doing their thing, the main character, Rivers, is suicidal, drinks too much and only 25. Also, he's a BASE junper which plays well into several of the special ops hits.
Conclusion of this story leaves the reader hanging for the next. Not something I appreciate in an author's work. I may or may not bother with the next one.
Conclusion of this story leaves the reader hanging for the next. Not something I appreciate in an author's work. I may or may not bother with the next one.
August 12, 2017
A suicidal ex-soldier is recruited into a hit team. Things go badly.
Some interesting stuff about the psyche of a suicidal man, but most of the rest is shallow, with no verisimilitude. Nothing seems real, and there's no rhyme or reason to much of anything.
A good first try, but needs some polish and maybe some writer's workshops.
Some interesting stuff about the psyche of a suicidal man, but most of the rest is shallow, with no verisimilitude. Nothing seems real, and there's no rhyme or reason to much of anything.
A good first try, but needs some polish and maybe some writer's workshops.
October 15, 2017
I’ve been commenting lately on the number of protagonists found in action and adventure novels who have demons to overcome as they fight bad guys. Jason Kasper, in his first book, “Jais,” has stepped it up a notch by having his hero on a suicide trip, always sticking a gun in his mouth and threatening to do himself in.
The author, in my opinion, should find a kinder way to endear his hero, David Rivers, to readers. It’s obvious this is the start of a series and I, for one, have already grown tired of Rivers’ constant grappling with his tortured psyche. Between alcohol, nicotine, and suicidal leanings the poor man lives a tortuous life. I have attained the same mindset to reading about him. Why go on?
Kasper has filled his book with unlikely scenarios, gratuitous blood and guts, confusing action, and an undecipherable storyline. He obviously knows the basics of firearms, explosives, baseline jumping, and bourbon but needs some seasoning on plotting, characterization, and writing dialogue. Keep writing, sir. I sense your enthusiasm and wish you great success.
March 24, 2017
I'm going to read the next one.
Dark, and obsessed with death, a roller coaster of violence and enigmatic characters. It could have ended up as yet another formulaic thriller, but it does it well enough to escape that fate for me. Some of the descents into the main characters damaged psyche could have been a tad less self indulgent but they are certainly part of the story. I want more detail so that I can enter live the life of an antihero more fully, Walter Mitty that I am. I think that the detail grounds the fantasy for me.
Dark, and obsessed with death, a roller coaster of violence and enigmatic characters. It could have ended up as yet another formulaic thriller, but it does it well enough to escape that fate for me. Some of the descents into the main characters damaged psyche could have been a tad less self indulgent but they are certainly part of the story. I want more detail so that I can enter live the life of an antihero more fully, Walter Mitty that I am. I think that the detail grounds the fantasy for me.
October 26, 2019
Awful dialogue and character development. Do NOT waste your time. A trial to finish and I can read ANYTHING!!! You need to care about the characters of a story and all I wanted was for this book to be OVER. Didn't care who got killed as long as it ended.
March 16, 2018
“Jais” or "Greatest Enemy" (I read the Jais titled one but the books are the same) is the story of a struggling soldier trying to escape his demons by becoming an adrenaline junkie, whose ultimate thrill comes in escaping death while simultaneously dancing with his suicidal impulses. David Rivers believes he has nothing left after the army, until his final bloody score turns into a new beginning. Que private military contractor’s being hired out to do less than legal things, shall we say? When David realizes that this may be the kind of fix he’s looking for, he jumps all over it. But things don’t go the way they were supposed to and, really, do they ever? Penned by a Special Forces Captain, this book really, really shines when the author is showcasing weaponry and combat as they are presented in both an accurate, and thrilling manner. As a first book in a series, and the first book by a (then) new author, the series shows promise, but I will say it feels a bit like a second draft. Allow me to explain.
Well, actually, first things first: some trigger warnings. Like I mentioned, the main character is dealing with some serious issues that are both combat related, and probably the result of family trauma, but that’s not discussed much in this book. As such, he’s got some serious, SERIOUS suicidal impulses. Despite multiple people telling the main character to get professional help, he doesn’t and continues to keep a loaded pistol by his bed and spends most his nights writing about his desire to kill himself, wondering if today is going to be the day. So if that’s something that’s going to bother you, you may want to skip this book as those impulses are persistent throughout the entire story and become a vital piece of who David is (I have mixed feelings about that). Also, this book does not shy away from graphic violence, torture, and strong language. I mean it’s a book with a soldier main character who spends over half the book in a tight nit group of, essentially, mercenaries, so of course there is strong language because that makes sense for the characters and of course there is graphic violence. There is only one scene of torture, but it’s also fairly graphic. Again, if that’s not your cup of tea, you may not want to read this before bed, just saying. Still, a lot of that goes without saying, but given some of the reviews I’ve seen of the work, I feel I need to state those elements early so people don’t pick up this book thinking it’s going to be like the Jason Bourne movies where you see the bright explosions, but not the blood.
Now, while suicide may be a sticky subject for a lot of people, I thought it was interesting, to a point. Part of me was hoping that hints of discussing these impulses as part of a soldiers PTSD where he’d ultimately try to “get better” for lack of a better word, would materialize. It doesn’t, at least, not in this book. Instead, David turns into a really sad character (like, actually depressed) with probably the worst luck imaginable. No larger discussion is ever brought up and instead this “flaw” if you will, is used as a way for the reader to feel sympathetic towards David, and I would have, if there had been a bit more substance to both David, and the crew he works with. Still, I enjoyed that the main character wasn’t an almost super human spy of sorts. He’s flawed, he messes up, he wants to do right by the people he cares about, those are qualities I can get behind, but I wanted to see more of David beyond his destructive tendencies so I could like him more, and genuinely empathize with him along the way.
Additionally, the first book feels a bit bare bones. The first 20% or so of the story is focused mainly on David’s destructive behavior and—again—his terrible luck. Then the next 25% is spent on David’s initiation into his new team. At about the 45-50% mark in the book, we are finally introduced to the main villains. Up to that point, David’s been doing smaller jobs without much idea as to why they are tasked with eliminating certain people and 0 clue as to the end game, though his teammates are nowhere near as clueless as he is. To be introduced to the mysterious organizations (yes, I guess there is more than one?) that late in the book… needless to say, it got confusing because there wasn’t much in the way of development. I assume these organizations are awful because they are probably smuggling drugs and weapon trafficking because, well, aren't they always? But Kasper doesn’t spend much time on them, or their shadowy overlord, which makes them feel overly generic and not all that intimidating to be honest. I still can’t really tell you why these organizations were targeted by the main character’s group, or even what these organizations were doing, or why they were nervous about some other mysterious entity. Again, as this is the first book in the series, I’m sure all of this gets addressed in subsequent books, but I would have liked the main antagonists to have more substance to them this time around as well.
Normally, when a book is missing the elements that give weight to the story, it’s a troublesome read for me. It’s hard to get through and ultimately leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. I’m happy to say that wasn’t the case for “Greatest Enemy / Jais”. Kasper is great at writing action sequences and he has a natural talent for placing them in the book at steady intervals to keep the pacing up and the book flowing. This was a great action-packed ride in that regard, and I did enjoy reading it (I mean, clearly, I finished it in a few days once I actually dove into it). Our leading man has the potential to develop into a great, endearing character, I just wish he had started that transition a bit more in this first book.
All in all, I liked the book. This is a great first book by a—then—new author in a brand new series that definitely has the legs to go far. I will say reading the book made me concerned for the author at times, but even that’s a testament to the believability the author has when writing about David’ struggles and the combat he engages in. The plot was a bit lacking, and character development was on the small side, but the action kept me engaged and the violence and language didn’t bother me, but then again, I have a pretty high tolerance for those things. Still, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone under 18 because of the mature content present throughout the entirety of the novel. Color me intrigued for the next book! But this one I’m giving 3.5 stars just because I wanted more from the main character and more substance when it came to the plot and antagonists, but overall, a good first book in an action-thriller series. Thank you to the author for providing me a copy for review!
Well, actually, first things first: some trigger warnings. Like I mentioned, the main character is dealing with some serious issues that are both combat related, and probably the result of family trauma, but that’s not discussed much in this book. As such, he’s got some serious, SERIOUS suicidal impulses. Despite multiple people telling the main character to get professional help, he doesn’t and continues to keep a loaded pistol by his bed and spends most his nights writing about his desire to kill himself, wondering if today is going to be the day. So if that’s something that’s going to bother you, you may want to skip this book as those impulses are persistent throughout the entire story and become a vital piece of who David is (I have mixed feelings about that). Also, this book does not shy away from graphic violence, torture, and strong language. I mean it’s a book with a soldier main character who spends over half the book in a tight nit group of, essentially, mercenaries, so of course there is strong language because that makes sense for the characters and of course there is graphic violence. There is only one scene of torture, but it’s also fairly graphic. Again, if that’s not your cup of tea, you may not want to read this before bed, just saying. Still, a lot of that goes without saying, but given some of the reviews I’ve seen of the work, I feel I need to state those elements early so people don’t pick up this book thinking it’s going to be like the Jason Bourne movies where you see the bright explosions, but not the blood.
Now, while suicide may be a sticky subject for a lot of people, I thought it was interesting, to a point. Part of me was hoping that hints of discussing these impulses as part of a soldiers PTSD where he’d ultimately try to “get better” for lack of a better word, would materialize. It doesn’t, at least, not in this book. Instead, David turns into a really sad character (like, actually depressed) with probably the worst luck imaginable. No larger discussion is ever brought up and instead this “flaw” if you will, is used as a way for the reader to feel sympathetic towards David, and I would have, if there had been a bit more substance to both David, and the crew he works with. Still, I enjoyed that the main character wasn’t an almost super human spy of sorts. He’s flawed, he messes up, he wants to do right by the people he cares about, those are qualities I can get behind, but I wanted to see more of David beyond his destructive tendencies so I could like him more, and genuinely empathize with him along the way.
Additionally, the first book feels a bit bare bones. The first 20% or so of the story is focused mainly on David’s destructive behavior and—again—his terrible luck. Then the next 25% is spent on David’s initiation into his new team. At about the 45-50% mark in the book, we are finally introduced to the main villains. Up to that point, David’s been doing smaller jobs without much idea as to why they are tasked with eliminating certain people and 0 clue as to the end game, though his teammates are nowhere near as clueless as he is. To be introduced to the mysterious organizations (yes, I guess there is more than one?) that late in the book… needless to say, it got confusing because there wasn’t much in the way of development. I assume these organizations are awful because they are probably smuggling drugs and weapon trafficking because, well, aren't they always? But Kasper doesn’t spend much time on them, or their shadowy overlord, which makes them feel overly generic and not all that intimidating to be honest. I still can’t really tell you why these organizations were targeted by the main character’s group, or even what these organizations were doing, or why they were nervous about some other mysterious entity. Again, as this is the first book in the series, I’m sure all of this gets addressed in subsequent books, but I would have liked the main antagonists to have more substance to them this time around as well.
Normally, when a book is missing the elements that give weight to the story, it’s a troublesome read for me. It’s hard to get through and ultimately leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. I’m happy to say that wasn’t the case for “Greatest Enemy / Jais”. Kasper is great at writing action sequences and he has a natural talent for placing them in the book at steady intervals to keep the pacing up and the book flowing. This was a great action-packed ride in that regard, and I did enjoy reading it (I mean, clearly, I finished it in a few days once I actually dove into it). Our leading man has the potential to develop into a great, endearing character, I just wish he had started that transition a bit more in this first book.
All in all, I liked the book. This is a great first book by a—then—new author in a brand new series that definitely has the legs to go far. I will say reading the book made me concerned for the author at times, but even that’s a testament to the believability the author has when writing about David’ struggles and the combat he engages in. The plot was a bit lacking, and character development was on the small side, but the action kept me engaged and the violence and language didn’t bother me, but then again, I have a pretty high tolerance for those things. Still, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone under 18 because of the mature content present throughout the entirety of the novel. Color me intrigued for the next book! But this one I’m giving 3.5 stars just because I wanted more from the main character and more substance when it came to the plot and antagonists, but overall, a good first book in an action-thriller series. Thank you to the author for providing me a copy for review!
May 17, 2022
This was not my first Jason Kasper book, but I immediately went to the first in his series because I enjoyed reading his books so much. This David Rivers introduction book was fantastic. As I was reading this book, it was like I was watching a movie. The details, the dialogue, the settings, everything made it so easy for me to picture the scenes of the book and play it out in my head as I was reading. Highly Recommend.
David Rivers is caught in the act.. literally.. as he is after a person that wont stop harassing him and his fiance. A team in the woods witnesses the entire execution and the kidnaps David as they believe he is working for another group, when in reality, he was just getting a bit of revenge. This encounter lead to an interview of sorts with this team that David is no a part of. He passes their tests and gains access to their inner workings and becomes part of the team. After another outing with the team, things go awry and David is left confused, frustrated, and wants nothing more than to find the truth!
David Rivers is caught in the act.. literally.. as he is after a person that wont stop harassing him and his fiance. A team in the woods witnesses the entire execution and the kidnaps David as they believe he is working for another group, when in reality, he was just getting a bit of revenge. This encounter lead to an interview of sorts with this team that David is no a part of. He passes their tests and gains access to their inner workings and becomes part of the team. After another outing with the team, things go awry and David is left confused, frustrated, and wants nothing more than to find the truth!
November 5, 2021
Exciting Realistic Read
Short, punchy, excitement with a heavy dose of realistic twists . Getting onto the next one as soon as I can.
Short, punchy, excitement with a heavy dose of realistic twists . Getting onto the next one as soon as I can.
June 19, 2024
Another suggestion from my dad. Military thriller. Very well written and engaging. Quick read which I appreciated, some beautiful and moving words about suicidal feelings
April 17, 2018
A gripping read by a talented young author. This book begins the saga of David Rivers, an Army Ranger who has experienced more of life by the age of twenty five than most men manage in the entirety of their three-score-and-ten. Life's ups and downs, to include surviving a nighttime parachute assault in the harrowing invasion of Iraq, have driven David down a dark path. He's already begun flirting with death via skydiving. He then begins illicitly BASE jumping while he's attending West Point to further his military career when, on the brink of graduation, he's found medically unfit to serve. Facing this latest setback - among numerous others that have already occurred - David is contemplating the Final Solution when he's suddenly thrust into a new situation that will test his mettle like nothing ever has before. He finds himself with a debt of obligation to men cut of a similar cloth, but who exist in a more gray, morally questionable world. Exploring their path will test the character of this recent West Pointer, who until recently could not "lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do." David discovers his past experiences are both a blessing and a curse - though he continues to suffer from The Darkness, the skills he's developed over the course of a decade fighting and training for war make him uniquely situated to pay off his debt to these new comrades. The new challenges they place in front of him, as well as the intense adrenaline rush he feels each time he draws closer to death, renew David's zest for life. As the stakes grow higher with each task he begins to question the motivations of the men he's working for and with. Each is driven by their own wants; each is suffering from their own demons. There are layers upon layers to this new crew, and David must rely on these very men for both physical and emotional support. As the twists and turns build to a confrontation that will stress David and the bonds holding together his team, he finds himself going through a crucible like nothing he's ever imagined. This is an extraordinary tale of loss and discovery, hope and defeat, all seen through the lens of an author who has "seen the elephant." Kasper has unquestionably "been there and done that," and the action scenes he writes are the proof. As a fellow veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq I can testify that the author has come closer to capturing the realities of combat than anyone else I've ever read. As a former Green Beret Kasper gets all the details right, from weapons nomenclature to team dynamics. There were times when I felt my own memories come roaring back as the scene I was reading literally made me experience an adrenaline rush. If you're a fan of dark, gritty action tales filled with interesting characters I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough.
March 10, 2018
Greatest Enemy by Jason Kasper is book one of the David Rivers series and an explosive way to start. It is a roller coaster ride, full of action and suspense, that will you have rushing to the end.
David Rivers is adrift in life and suffering from PTSD from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as an Army Ranger. Since his release from the military, he has become an alcoholic with suicidal tendencies and is in desperate need of an intervention. He gets one of sorts, just not in the form he truly needs. He is recruited to join a team of mercenaries because of his experience in BASE jumping. Just the thing an adrenaline junkie needs to stave off the suicide thoughts.
At only 25 he is the youngest member of the team and must prove himself. He sets out with vigor to do just that. However, there are forces, unbeknownst to him, that are working against him. Will he have the tenacity it takes to make it in this new career path?
The story reminded me a little of the Jason Bourne books. The prose was not as polished but the story was good. The main focus was the action and sometimes, as occurred here, the depth of the story and characters is a little shallow. I am hoping that future books will delve into David River’s story more so the reader can connect with him in a meaningful way. This is not to say I did not understand him and have empathy for him, because I did. I just think there is room for improvement.
I feel the story is geared toward a male audience. In addition, the language and violence in the book are not for some readers. However, the scenes of violence where not overly graphic except in just a couple of cases. I feel comfortable recommending this to readers who like a fast paced book with lots of action and drama and do not mind the subject matter and violence.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
For more of my book reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com.
David Rivers is adrift in life and suffering from PTSD from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as an Army Ranger. Since his release from the military, he has become an alcoholic with suicidal tendencies and is in desperate need of an intervention. He gets one of sorts, just not in the form he truly needs. He is recruited to join a team of mercenaries because of his experience in BASE jumping. Just the thing an adrenaline junkie needs to stave off the suicide thoughts.
At only 25 he is the youngest member of the team and must prove himself. He sets out with vigor to do just that. However, there are forces, unbeknownst to him, that are working against him. Will he have the tenacity it takes to make it in this new career path?
The story reminded me a little of the Jason Bourne books. The prose was not as polished but the story was good. The main focus was the action and sometimes, as occurred here, the depth of the story and characters is a little shallow. I am hoping that future books will delve into David River’s story more so the reader can connect with him in a meaningful way. This is not to say I did not understand him and have empathy for him, because I did. I just think there is room for improvement.
I feel the story is geared toward a male audience. In addition, the language and violence in the book are not for some readers. However, the scenes of violence where not overly graphic except in just a couple of cases. I feel comfortable recommending this to readers who like a fast paced book with lots of action and drama and do not mind the subject matter and violence.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
For more of my book reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com.
October 17, 2017
Simply Brilliant. It’s easy to see that Jason Kasper knows this subject very well, with his background in Special Forces, but what he’s done really well is putting together a highly entertaining and interesting plot, that had me glued to the pages for hours. David Rivers is a great character, and I really enjoyed his dry sense of humour and quit wit. The action scenes are fantastic, and it’s really just a great story.
David Rivers pretty much lives in his own world, and he’s not used to relying on others. Not surprising though since he grew up without his parents, and then his plans to stay in the Army didn’t pan out. Even his best friend let him down in the worst possible way. So when the chance comes up to join a team of Ex-Special Force Operators, he jumps at the chance. With his background as an Army Ranger and his skills in parachuting and base jumping, he’s the perfect fit for the team. Although he experienced war in Iraq and Afghanistan, David was about the experience a whole new level of Violence. If you enjoy Action Thrillers then this is a book that is definitely worth a read.
David Rivers pretty much lives in his own world, and he’s not used to relying on others. Not surprising though since he grew up without his parents, and then his plans to stay in the Army didn’t pan out. Even his best friend let him down in the worst possible way. So when the chance comes up to join a team of Ex-Special Force Operators, he jumps at the chance. With his background as an Army Ranger and his skills in parachuting and base jumping, he’s the perfect fit for the team. Although he experienced war in Iraq and Afghanistan, David was about the experience a whole new level of Violence. If you enjoy Action Thrillers then this is a book that is definitely worth a read.
July 18, 2020
Well, this is clearly an action and adventure thriller, but I have too many questions after finishing the book. First question, who are these guys? Who are they fighting, and why? Who is the “Boss”, who is the “Handler”? The action scenes are great. They are full of tension and suspense. But why is all this violence happening? The main character, David Rivers, is depressed, possibly suffering from PTSD and consequently he often seems on the verge of suicide. In fact, that’s his nickname in the story; Suicide. Not that he doesn’t have many good reasons to be depressed. But that doesn’t make him a likeable character in my book. He too easily kills people because he is an adrenaline junkie. He “Base Jumps” and seeks out combat situations to get those adrenaline rushes. If you like action for action’s sake, and you don’t need to understand why this combat is occurring, this book is for you. If you need reasons for all this violence, then steer clear of this book. Although, I should acknowledge that a teaser ending leaves open that the answers to these questions may be in the next book in this series. But I’ll never know if that is true or not.
May 26, 2017
Not just a story, it is an adventure
I had never heard of this author but picked up the novel because it sounded interesting. This debut novel is simply fantastic and rivals established authors. It is written by someone who has lived the special forces life.. not only that, the author has brought that life to the written page in startling detail. I felt like I was a fly on the wall throughout..
The characters all came to life - no matter how minor their part. Realistic is an understatement.
Bravo Zulu Jason
I am waiting for the sequel. I wish it was already published.
I had never heard of this author but picked up the novel because it sounded interesting. This debut novel is simply fantastic and rivals established authors. It is written by someone who has lived the special forces life.. not only that, the author has brought that life to the written page in startling detail. I felt like I was a fly on the wall throughout..
The characters all came to life - no matter how minor their part. Realistic is an understatement.
Bravo Zulu Jason
I am waiting for the sequel. I wish it was already published.
November 3, 2017
WOW! It is very rare for me to give an author's first novel a five-star rating But Jason Kasper's JAIS (David Rivers Book 1) definitely deserves the highest rating. The novel moves very fast, and it is very hard to put down. I read in two days. The author's prior personal experience in both combat and BASE jumper gives the details of fighting and jumping an incredible realistic grit. Like many of the great authors of this genre, the main character is tragically flawed, but the read really cares about his trials and tribulations. You really feel his internal struggle. Great for readers who like Tim Tigner or Matt Rogers.
June 12, 2023
Greatest Enemy by Jason Kasper is a great start of the David Rivers series and it is plural since it is more than one, please read them in the right order so you don't get confused. This book is dark, really dark. The thoughts within Rivers head and his struggle to find some meaning in life is something I selldom see in a thriller. The action is great and Kasper sure can tell a story, now I have many hours of reading ahead of me.
September 21, 2018
Worst book I have ever read
The whole suicide theme is ridiculous and immature. Impossible to suspend your disbelief. Author is scuba diving in the baby pool. I forced myself to finish the book which paralleled the supposed pain of the main character. Fortunately, I survived and will live to read another day (and different author).
The whole suicide theme is ridiculous and immature. Impossible to suspend your disbelief. Author is scuba diving in the baby pool. I forced myself to finish the book which paralleled the supposed pain of the main character. Fortunately, I survived and will live to read another day (and different author).
October 23, 2018
What an incredible waste of time. This, by far, has got to be the worst book I've read all year. Seriously, who enjoys reading this type of garbage?
Let's start with my pet peeve, first person stories. Now admittedly first person perspective does work for some things - Far North comes to mind as it was written in first person but was supposed to be the journal of the main character. But one genre that this couldn't possibly work for is an action thriller. How are you going to write exciting descriptions of the action that is occurring in the story from a first person perspective where the main character can only be in one place (and not always where ALL the action is occurring)? You can't. And I suppose if you, as an author can't you take the lazy way out and write a first person narrative.
So that leads to the action in the book. In a word dull. Why? Well we can start with the lazy first person perspective. But it's also all very cliché. There is a line in the book, "I think you've watched too many Bond movies." (that's probably paraphrased). Well that pretty much adequately describes the action in this book. Actually I think the action in a Bond movie is more entertaining than this was.
My next pet peeve - language. Ok, I get your characters aren't the jewels of the earth. And I'll give you some leeway in these cases (see the book Ice Station) but I don't need to read such filth. I can go to the mall on any Friday night when the teenagers are there to hear it. I thought the book Dove Season was the filthiest book I've read this year but this one certainly wanted to give Dove Season a run for it's money. It's a toss up between the two stories. Again, lazy writing if you can't come up with a better way to express yourself (I always assume the author is the main character in a first person story) than the constant use of guttural language.
Next, the characters. I mean let's just screw the whole character development thing that I would normally "grade" a book on. This story doesn't even have any likable characters. Oh maybe Karma was likable - but the author saw fit to kill her (that may be a spoiler). The main character is a murdering, suicidal, adrenaline junkie with a substance abuse problem. Yeah, he's real endearing to the reader. His cohorts are all murderers for hire with their own set of mental hang ups. In short nothing to like here. I like heroes for main characters - not damaged criminals (see Shane Schofield ).
And finally, the reader spends the entire "suspenseful" part of the story with nothing revealed about what the hell the "war" is all about. It is never revealed who David is fighting for or against. I suspect that little twist is put in there to get the reader to keep buying books in the series. Well I can honestly say that it isn't going to work with this reader. This book was a wretched attempt by, from all appearances, a literary lazy author. Why would I waste my time with another book in this series?
Let's start with my pet peeve, first person stories. Now admittedly first person perspective does work for some things - Far North comes to mind as it was written in first person but was supposed to be the journal of the main character. But one genre that this couldn't possibly work for is an action thriller. How are you going to write exciting descriptions of the action that is occurring in the story from a first person perspective where the main character can only be in one place (and not always where ALL the action is occurring)? You can't. And I suppose if you, as an author can't you take the lazy way out and write a first person narrative.
So that leads to the action in the book. In a word dull. Why? Well we can start with the lazy first person perspective. But it's also all very cliché. There is a line in the book, "I think you've watched too many Bond movies." (that's probably paraphrased). Well that pretty much adequately describes the action in this book. Actually I think the action in a Bond movie is more entertaining than this was.
My next pet peeve - language. Ok, I get your characters aren't the jewels of the earth. And I'll give you some leeway in these cases (see the book Ice Station) but I don't need to read such filth. I can go to the mall on any Friday night when the teenagers are there to hear it. I thought the book Dove Season was the filthiest book I've read this year but this one certainly wanted to give Dove Season a run for it's money. It's a toss up between the two stories. Again, lazy writing if you can't come up with a better way to express yourself (I always assume the author is the main character in a first person story) than the constant use of guttural language.
Next, the characters. I mean let's just screw the whole character development thing that I would normally "grade" a book on. This story doesn't even have any likable characters. Oh maybe Karma was likable - but the author saw fit to kill her (that may be a spoiler). The main character is a murdering, suicidal, adrenaline junkie with a substance abuse problem. Yeah, he's real endearing to the reader. His cohorts are all murderers for hire with their own set of mental hang ups. In short nothing to like here. I like heroes for main characters - not damaged criminals (see Shane Schofield ).
And finally, the reader spends the entire "suspenseful" part of the story with nothing revealed about what the hell the "war" is all about. It is never revealed who David is fighting for or against. I suspect that little twist is put in there to get the reader to keep buying books in the series. Well I can honestly say that it isn't going to work with this reader. This book was a wretched attempt by, from all appearances, a literary lazy author. Why would I waste my time with another book in this series?
July 5, 2022
I read the author's excellent Spider Heist series and thoroughly enjoyed myself, so I figured I'd check out some of his other catalogue. I have to be honest - Greatest Enemy was a huge letdown for me. Don't get me wrong, I think Jason Kasper is a very talented writer and his books have a level of authenticity in terms of weapons and tactics that I admire. The problem here is that I despised main character David Rivers and his cohorts.
To elaborate on that (minor spoilers to follow) the book opens with Rivers brutally murdering a man in the victim's own home. Sure the guy that was killed (an ex of River's current girlfriend) was a moron and deserved to get his ass kicked, but killing him for no real reason apart from some harassing phone calls seems way over the top. Rivers is then blackmailed by a group of mercenaries who witnessed this crime into helping them murder someone else. Before too long he's one of the team, killing people left and right in between thinking and writing about killing himself and going on drug and alcohol binges. Sound depressing? It absolutely is, and I really struggled to get through until the end.
Having a criminal or villain as your main character can work, but there has to be something that makes me want them to succeed - here there simply isn't. The author tries to make Rivers sympathetic by having him medically discharged from the army, having his fiancée cheat on him with his best friend, etc. but I just can't support his murderous rampages throughout the book. It's never revealed why the targets of Rivers' new buddies are killed, and they have no qualms about murdering any security personnel or witnesses to their jobs - not to mention they freely engage in torture without a second thought. I hated just about every character in this book, including Rivers.
This book was just too dark and depressing for me. Rivers' constant thoughts of suicide were draining to read and there's nothing redeemable about his character - he's a murderer plain and simple. Editorial reviews compare him to figures like Bourne and Reacher, but to me they're worlds apart. Those guys are killers sure, but they usually have a damn good reason for doing so, and try and avoid unnecessary casualties, which makes them easy to root for. Rivers is badly missing that quality.
I would recommend trying the author's Spider Heist series for some much better reading. I won't be continuing with this series.
To elaborate on that (minor spoilers to follow) the book opens with Rivers brutally murdering a man in the victim's own home. Sure the guy that was killed (an ex of River's current girlfriend) was a moron and deserved to get his ass kicked, but killing him for no real reason apart from some harassing phone calls seems way over the top. Rivers is then blackmailed by a group of mercenaries who witnessed this crime into helping them murder someone else. Before too long he's one of the team, killing people left and right in between thinking and writing about killing himself and going on drug and alcohol binges. Sound depressing? It absolutely is, and I really struggled to get through until the end.
Having a criminal or villain as your main character can work, but there has to be something that makes me want them to succeed - here there simply isn't. The author tries to make Rivers sympathetic by having him medically discharged from the army, having his fiancée cheat on him with his best friend, etc. but I just can't support his murderous rampages throughout the book. It's never revealed why the targets of Rivers' new buddies are killed, and they have no qualms about murdering any security personnel or witnesses to their jobs - not to mention they freely engage in torture without a second thought. I hated just about every character in this book, including Rivers.
This book was just too dark and depressing for me. Rivers' constant thoughts of suicide were draining to read and there's nothing redeemable about his character - he's a murderer plain and simple. Editorial reviews compare him to figures like Bourne and Reacher, but to me they're worlds apart. Those guys are killers sure, but they usually have a damn good reason for doing so, and try and avoid unnecessary casualties, which makes them easy to root for. Rivers is badly missing that quality.
I would recommend trying the author's Spider Heist series for some much better reading. I won't be continuing with this series.
July 10, 2024
I recently finished reading "Greatest Enemy" by Jason Kasper, and unfortunately, it was a pretty average read. The protagonist, David Rivers, is an Army Ranger and combat veteran who is abruptly discharged from military service while nearing graduation at West Point. However, his character development falls flat, and his motivations are unconvincing.
The plot takes a predictable turn when David kills his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, supposedly to protect her from harassment. This act of violence leads to his recruitment by a secret organization that employs him as an assassin. What follows is a familiar narrative with too many unanswered questions.
My main issue with this book is that it raises numerous questions about the organization, its motives, and David's role without providing any meaningful answers. The author seems to have adopted a frustrating approach of withholding information to entice readers into continuing with the series. Unfortunately, this strategy didn't work for me.
I prefer books that provide some level of closure or resolution, even if they're part of a larger series. "Greatest Enemy" fails to deliver on this front, leaving me with more questions than satisfaction. As a result, I've decided to pass on the rest of the series.
If you're a fan of military thrillers with plenty of action but don't mind a lack of depth and unanswered questions, you might enjoy this book. However, if you prefer more character development, coherent plotting, and resolution, you might want to look elsewhere.
The plot takes a predictable turn when David kills his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, supposedly to protect her from harassment. This act of violence leads to his recruitment by a secret organization that employs him as an assassin. What follows is a familiar narrative with too many unanswered questions.
My main issue with this book is that it raises numerous questions about the organization, its motives, and David's role without providing any meaningful answers. The author seems to have adopted a frustrating approach of withholding information to entice readers into continuing with the series. Unfortunately, this strategy didn't work for me.
I prefer books that provide some level of closure or resolution, even if they're part of a larger series. "Greatest Enemy" fails to deliver on this front, leaving me with more questions than satisfaction. As a result, I've decided to pass on the rest of the series.
If you're a fan of military thrillers with plenty of action but don't mind a lack of depth and unanswered questions, you might enjoy this book. However, if you prefer more character development, coherent plotting, and resolution, you might want to look elsewhere.
February 2, 2020
“Greatest Enemy” the first in the David Rivers saga opens as the twenty-five -year- old ex-Army Ranger, depressed and contemplating suicide having broken up with a fiancée; accepting a discharge after completing his final year at West Point; and killing a man, is recruited into a group of mercenaries.
In a darkly violent and bleak plot filled with gritty language Jason Kasper takes the reader on a journey as former Ranger who’s depressed, lost and angry discovers new purpose and an adrenaline rush after joining a mercenary team. Short in length and action-packed intensity and suspense begin to escalate when the murder he commits is witnessed by three men and he’s initiated into a group of soldiers for hire. Although the action scenes are realistic and tense with Rivers’ love of “BASE jumping” and his escape from tricky situations, there is little background information especially about why the victims are being targeted as well as very little character development.
“Greatest Enemy” is a different approach to the life of a former Ranger who appears to have PTSD, and would be a compelling and captivating series if the stories were expanded. I rate it a 3.8.
In a darkly violent and bleak plot filled with gritty language Jason Kasper takes the reader on a journey as former Ranger who’s depressed, lost and angry discovers new purpose and an adrenaline rush after joining a mercenary team. Short in length and action-packed intensity and suspense begin to escalate when the murder he commits is witnessed by three men and he’s initiated into a group of soldiers for hire. Although the action scenes are realistic and tense with Rivers’ love of “BASE jumping” and his escape from tricky situations, there is little background information especially about why the victims are being targeted as well as very little character development.
“Greatest Enemy” is a different approach to the life of a former Ranger who appears to have PTSD, and would be a compelling and captivating series if the stories were expanded. I rate it a 3.8.
June 1, 2018
David Rivers is a vet, West Point grad who can't continue due to a heart problem and a very troubled person. He seems to have death wish, a drinking problem and tempts fate by BASE jumping. When he kills a man who has been stalking his girl friend he finds himself co-opted into a small group that is working for a shadowy person who has them going after selected people for reasons that David is never told. David is the new man in the group and slow to be accepted except for his talents at BASE jumping which is put to use in the first hit. Its hard to describe this book, there are explanations not given, David is a seriously dysfunctional individual and we never are given the reason behind the hits which result in high casualty counts. Not particularly recommended.
December 17, 2023
I loved the Sky Thieves and thought I would try another series by Jason Kasper. I have enjoyed other authors writing this sort of story, but was surprised how much I really did not enjoy this book. From the opening chapter, I didn't like the character the series is named after. But I stuck with it. When I reached multiple pages describing torture, I started skipping paragraphs as I don't want that level of detail. By the end, we'd also dealt with very uncomfortable suicidal situations.
There is an interesting story here, but the choice of focus was too much for me and I won't be reading another book in this series. If you are comfortable exploring torture and suicide in your fiction entertainment, you might have a different experience than I did.
There is an interesting story here, but the choice of focus was too much for me and I won't be reading another book in this series. If you are comfortable exploring torture and suicide in your fiction entertainment, you might have a different experience than I did.
February 4, 2019
Jason Kasper is by far one of the most exciting authors I’ve discovered on Amazon UnLimited! The depth of his characters, a plot that keeps you breathlessly engaged and wondering if we really have black ops operators like this carrying out missions makes for the 5 star rating. And also the dark, morbid humor during combat is absolutely hilarious, making me think Jason has first hand experience. Love his books. I read an Amazon Review written by a guy that said he didn’t like the main character, David Rivers but said he’s entertaining so that’s all that matters. Well I like David Rivers just fine.
November 20, 2020
A shift from mainstream action thrillers, Greatest Enemy has a complex, damaged, unheroic but uniquely interesting protagonist in David Rivers. While the book doesn't exactly fit into any proper genre, it has the elements of military, mercenary, organized crime, vigilante, conspiracy, action, and psychological thrillers. Told in a complete first-person POV, but executed brilliantly, the look into the mind and life of the protagonist David Rivers is dark, grim, suicidal, and damaged in many unlikable ways, but every scene stays interesting to keep reading for the intrigue, mystery, tension, and twists. In a way, many parts of this book felt on the lines of a Chuck Palahniuk with the grim tones and psychologically disturbing themes. Greatest Enemy works well to psychologically ruin many things including skydiving, base-jumping, combat, extreme sports, and other fun things commonly found in the action/adventure thriller genre, and that's all within the first half of the story. But this is a smart and compelling story with an original feel. Though the main conspiracy and the real villain of the series aren't directly present on the pages of this book, the concept is built well to continue reading the entire series for the complete plot. All the characters are fascinating while unlikable for the most part, but grow complex in a way that they become sympathetic to the readers near the end, but it all erupts with a tragic and shocking plot twist at the end which sets up the next book of the series. This is a smart story devoid of any 'good' side with the characters, and avoids any form of nation vs nation conflict in the plot, but can be gut-wrenching and emotionally serious at times.
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