What do you think?
Rate this book
Pike Logan #2
All Necessary Force
The electrifying Pike Logan series continues as the Taskforce—a top secret team that exists outside the bounds of U.S. law and is charged with finding and destroying asymmetric threats—races to stop a terrorist hit...
A shadowy trail leads the Taskforce to Egypt—where an attack leaves one member dead and another barely alive. Veteran warrior Pike Logan and his young partner, Jennifer Cahill, are forced to helm the increasingly convoluted and dangerous mission: a mission that tests both Jennifer's ability to justify her actions, and Pike's tenuous ability to stay in control.
Sifting their way through the opposing plots of two terrorist organizations will turn out to be the least of their problems when a weapon of unthinkable power touches American soil—the only country in which Taskforce members are forbidden to operate, and the only country that Pike Logan may be unable to save...
A shadowy trail leads the Taskforce to Egypt—where an attack leaves one member dead and another barely alive. Veteran warrior Pike Logan and his young partner, Jennifer Cahill, are forced to helm the increasingly convoluted and dangerous mission: a mission that tests both Jennifer's ability to justify her actions, and Pike's tenuous ability to stay in control.
Sifting their way through the opposing plots of two terrorist organizations will turn out to be the least of their problems when a weapon of unthinkable power touches American soil—the only country in which Taskforce members are forbidden to operate, and the only country that Pike Logan may be unable to save...
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Brad Taylor
48 books2,657 followersBrad Taylor served for more than twenty-one years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2010 as a Special Forces Lieutenant colonel. During that time he held numerous infantry and special operations positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operations Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
January 25, 2021
3.5 ⭐
When I first started reading Pike Logan series, I found the format strange; generally in third person except first person for Pike. Before I hated it, but now I look forward to reading Pike's point of view. Pace was inconsistent, dragging at parts but I enjoy the action.
Pike's globetrotting started even in early books?! Cambodia, Indonesia, Egypt, Czech Republic, and Hungary. 🤪 Did I miss any country?
In All Necessary Force a camera and film from 1970 resurfaced in present day. The items belong to Kurt Hale's (Taskforce commander) father who was MIA during a recon mission in Cambodia. Kurt had Pike retrieved the items while in Asia, but a high DC official wanted them gone. Meanwhile, America is under attack from within through coordinating attacks by foreign entities and homegrown US domestic terrorists converted while in prison.
In these political/spy thrillers we always get different foreign villains, but what remains consistent is there are always Americans in suit and tie who are greedy and evil.😈
When I first started reading Pike Logan series, I found the format strange; generally in third person except first person for Pike. Before I hated it, but now I look forward to reading Pike's point of view. Pace was inconsistent, dragging at parts but I enjoy the action.
Pike's globetrotting started even in early books?! Cambodia, Indonesia, Egypt, Czech Republic, and Hungary. 🤪 Did I miss any country?
In All Necessary Force a camera and film from 1970 resurfaced in present day. The items belong to Kurt Hale's (Taskforce commander) father who was MIA during a recon mission in Cambodia. Kurt had Pike retrieved the items while in Asia, but a high DC official wanted them gone. Meanwhile, America is under attack from within through coordinating attacks by foreign entities and homegrown US domestic terrorists converted while in prison.
In these political/spy thrillers we always get different foreign villains, but what remains consistent is there are always Americans in suit and tie who are greedy and evil.😈
Read
March 20, 2024This series just keeps getting better. Pike is not on the Task Force anymore but is closely associated with them. Jennifer and he has their own business. The relationship he has with Jennifer can only be described with one word …. Different …
The Oversight council that controls the Task Force is made up of supporters but an equal number of the opposite which gives it balance, and at times, much frustration.
This is another action packed novel that never has a slow moment. In this addition they are trying to stop terrorists, both foreign and at home. The question is can they stop them, and if so, how much damage can they withstand.
The dialog is smooth, the pace is great, the suspense is unbearable and the ending …. Well, I will leave it to you to read. Enjoy another good read my fellow GR readers.
The Oversight council that controls the Task Force is made up of supporters but an equal number of the opposite which gives it balance, and at times, much frustration.
This is another action packed novel that never has a slow moment. In this addition they are trying to stop terrorists, both foreign and at home. The question is can they stop them, and if so, how much damage can they withstand.
The dialog is smooth, the pace is great, the suspense is unbearable and the ending …. Well, I will leave it to you to read. Enjoy another good read my fellow GR readers.
December 26, 2011
Brad Taylor is a man who has walked the walk, and it shows in spades. All Necessary Force takes us on a roller coaster of a thriller, following Pike Logan and his partner and lover, Jennifer Cahill, as they chase a terrorist across the globe to prevent a major attack. Weapons, lingo, tactics--you name it, it's spot-on.
What's more, Taylor takes the time to develop the characters, to breathe life into them. Logan AND Jennifer are dynamic characters, expertly written. Seeing their evolution throughout the prose was just as satisfying as watching their manhunt.
Also, Taylor covers the morality of the Prometheus Taskforce, asking where their actions blur the line between combating evil and personifying evil. This is tied into the evolution of Pike and Jennifer, but also manifests itself in the form of White House internal politics.
All in all, All Necessary Force is a damn fine thriller, in some ways better than its predecessor, One Rough Man. Readers should clear their schedules when they pick this book up--they will find it near impossible to put down.
What's more, Taylor takes the time to develop the characters, to breathe life into them. Logan AND Jennifer are dynamic characters, expertly written. Seeing their evolution throughout the prose was just as satisfying as watching their manhunt.
Also, Taylor covers the morality of the Prometheus Taskforce, asking where their actions blur the line between combating evil and personifying evil. This is tied into the evolution of Pike and Jennifer, but also manifests itself in the form of White House internal politics.
All in all, All Necessary Force is a damn fine thriller, in some ways better than its predecessor, One Rough Man. Readers should clear their schedules when they pick this book up--they will find it near impossible to put down.
May 4, 2013
All Necessary Force is the second book in the critically acclaimed Pike Logan saga. The author, former Delta Force operator Brad Taylor really hits his stride in this book, raising the stakes and creating a surprising, sometimes jaw dropping military thriller. At the start, we’re in 1970’s Cambodia with a group of MACVSOG operatives who are spying on a North Vietnamese base. Noticing what seems to be a Russian military adviser, the team leader, the father of one of the Taskforce’s leaders, Kurt Hale takes a photo. Unfortunately, the North Vietnamese notice the team, and their exfiltration, despite the best efforts of the team leader is tragically unsuccessful.
Flash forward to 2012, we meet up with Jenifer Cahill who’s in a car chase as she flees to a remote bar. We learn that after the events of One Rough Man, Pike was able to convince her to try and join the Taskforce and began to train her in-between the books in order to give her a fighting chance to survive in the male dominated organisation. Despite the best efforts of the Taskforce’s finest to derail her application the hard way, Jenifer outwits them in an unconventional manner and succeeds.
Meanwhile in Sudan, a CIA S.A.D officer commits an act of sabotage on a Chinese oil refinery. This sets off alarm bells in Beijing and a MSS Officer decides to steal the device which turned the refinery into a pile of ashes. In Washington, a powerful politician and a Chinese agent tasked with industrial espionage is in the perfect position to steal the device. Elsewhere, a group of Islamist terrorists who are planning a asymmetric terrorist attack learn about the industrial espionage about to happen and make preparations to intercept the device for themselves.
All these threads converge together in a stunning web of technology, unexpected explosions and one very important question. Should you follow the law or use all necessary force to save those around you? This theme is one of the cornerstones of the story and is explored through the extreme measures Pike and Jenifer are forced to take in order to do the right thing, inevitably clashing with their superiors who fret about exposure of their off the books organisation.
As I said in the previous review, Taylor has blown the roof off in quality and it shows. Plot wise, All Necessary Force is in a different league from the previous book, with a bigger scope and a devastatingly realistic threat. From a gunfight in Egypt with Chinese assassins to a stakeout on human traffickers in Eastern Europe to the final race against time hunt across Eastern America for the terrorists, All Necessary Force will grab you by the scruff of your neck and drag you on a breath-taking journey to the end. The action is once again realistic, a standout being the Taskforce’s attempted takedown of one of the terrorists as he tries to buy semtex, ending with one very big bang. The technology and tradecraft also get a lot more time to shine, showing off the true capabilities of the Taskforce and the creativity of their Islamist adversaries. From the incredible surveillance technology and firepower at the Taskforce’s disposal to the explosive force penetrators used by the terrorists to turn off America, literally, Brad Taylor channels the late Vince Flynn in showing us the kind of equipment and technology modern counter terrorists use, but with a fictional twist. He also makes a serious attempt to show that killing, even for a good cause and even if the target had it coming, is not something to be taken lightly, or to enjoy.
Once again, the characters shine, something that’s becoming a defining feature of the Pike Logan series. Pike himself is no exception. Now back with the Taskforce, he’s forced to relearn how to lead a team after being the proverbial lone wolf in the last novel. We’re also properly introduced to the members of the Taskforce, a standout being Decoy, a loveable womanising Navy SEAL with a heart of gold. The villains are also excellent, some of them being the most dangerous and creative Islamist terrorists depicted in fiction. If guys like them existed in the ranks of Al Qaeda, there would be many sleepless nights for all of us. But it’s not Pike, the villains or even the Taskforce that are the main focus of the book, instead, the story belongs to Jenifer, and how she develops from the hysterical college student from One Rough Man, to a killer who can garrotte a man and not break down into a blubbering mess afterwards. However, Taylor, in another masterful piece of character development portrays Jenifer’s journey to becoming a badass realistically, showing that despite not liking it, learns to accept it as a necessary part of her new job. Interestingly, there’s a sub theme in the novel that’s open to interpretation. Is there a place for women in a Special Forces unit? This is explored through Jenifer’s struggle to win respect in the Taskforce, the majority of the members extremely sceptical of her at the start of the story.
Now for the critiquing, and there’s only one problem I found. In my edition, there was a glaring mislabelling of the Heckler and Koch UMP as an assault rifle. But that’s the only problem I found while reading this fantastic story.
Overall, All Necessary Force is a superb military thriller but a whole lot more than killing and covert ops. It tries to show that Islamists terrorists, contrary to the cliché they’ve become, are extremely creative and still quite lethal, even with Osama Bin Laden becoming shark food, and explores how far someone with the power to do anything to stop terrorist threats can go before they cross the moral line and turn into a monster. With its continuously superb research, a mesmerising plot and constantly surprising character development, All Necessary Force is a bloody brilliant military thriller and one you shouldn’t miss. In the next review, I’ll be talking about Enemy Of Mine, in which Taylor delivers some horrifying, yet brilliant surprises you won’t see coming.
Flash forward to 2012, we meet up with Jenifer Cahill who’s in a car chase as she flees to a remote bar. We learn that after the events of One Rough Man, Pike was able to convince her to try and join the Taskforce and began to train her in-between the books in order to give her a fighting chance to survive in the male dominated organisation. Despite the best efforts of the Taskforce’s finest to derail her application the hard way, Jenifer outwits them in an unconventional manner and succeeds.
Meanwhile in Sudan, a CIA S.A.D officer commits an act of sabotage on a Chinese oil refinery. This sets off alarm bells in Beijing and a MSS Officer decides to steal the device which turned the refinery into a pile of ashes. In Washington, a powerful politician and a Chinese agent tasked with industrial espionage is in the perfect position to steal the device. Elsewhere, a group of Islamist terrorists who are planning a asymmetric terrorist attack learn about the industrial espionage about to happen and make preparations to intercept the device for themselves.
All these threads converge together in a stunning web of technology, unexpected explosions and one very important question. Should you follow the law or use all necessary force to save those around you? This theme is one of the cornerstones of the story and is explored through the extreme measures Pike and Jenifer are forced to take in order to do the right thing, inevitably clashing with their superiors who fret about exposure of their off the books organisation.
As I said in the previous review, Taylor has blown the roof off in quality and it shows. Plot wise, All Necessary Force is in a different league from the previous book, with a bigger scope and a devastatingly realistic threat. From a gunfight in Egypt with Chinese assassins to a stakeout on human traffickers in Eastern Europe to the final race against time hunt across Eastern America for the terrorists, All Necessary Force will grab you by the scruff of your neck and drag you on a breath-taking journey to the end. The action is once again realistic, a standout being the Taskforce’s attempted takedown of one of the terrorists as he tries to buy semtex, ending with one very big bang. The technology and tradecraft also get a lot more time to shine, showing off the true capabilities of the Taskforce and the creativity of their Islamist adversaries. From the incredible surveillance technology and firepower at the Taskforce’s disposal to the explosive force penetrators used by the terrorists to turn off America, literally, Brad Taylor channels the late Vince Flynn in showing us the kind of equipment and technology modern counter terrorists use, but with a fictional twist. He also makes a serious attempt to show that killing, even for a good cause and even if the target had it coming, is not something to be taken lightly, or to enjoy.
Once again, the characters shine, something that’s becoming a defining feature of the Pike Logan series. Pike himself is no exception. Now back with the Taskforce, he’s forced to relearn how to lead a team after being the proverbial lone wolf in the last novel. We’re also properly introduced to the members of the Taskforce, a standout being Decoy, a loveable womanising Navy SEAL with a heart of gold. The villains are also excellent, some of them being the most dangerous and creative Islamist terrorists depicted in fiction. If guys like them existed in the ranks of Al Qaeda, there would be many sleepless nights for all of us. But it’s not Pike, the villains or even the Taskforce that are the main focus of the book, instead, the story belongs to Jenifer, and how she develops from the hysterical college student from One Rough Man, to a killer who can garrotte a man and not break down into a blubbering mess afterwards. However, Taylor, in another masterful piece of character development portrays Jenifer’s journey to becoming a badass realistically, showing that despite not liking it, learns to accept it as a necessary part of her new job. Interestingly, there’s a sub theme in the novel that’s open to interpretation. Is there a place for women in a Special Forces unit? This is explored through Jenifer’s struggle to win respect in the Taskforce, the majority of the members extremely sceptical of her at the start of the story.
Now for the critiquing, and there’s only one problem I found. In my edition, there was a glaring mislabelling of the Heckler and Koch UMP as an assault rifle. But that’s the only problem I found while reading this fantastic story.
Overall, All Necessary Force is a superb military thriller but a whole lot more than killing and covert ops. It tries to show that Islamists terrorists, contrary to the cliché they’ve become, are extremely creative and still quite lethal, even with Osama Bin Laden becoming shark food, and explores how far someone with the power to do anything to stop terrorist threats can go before they cross the moral line and turn into a monster. With its continuously superb research, a mesmerising plot and constantly surprising character development, All Necessary Force is a bloody brilliant military thriller and one you shouldn’t miss. In the next review, I’ll be talking about Enemy Of Mine, in which Taylor delivers some horrifying, yet brilliant surprises you won’t see coming.
May 13, 2025
Team is Spun Up
From Cairo to Prague and back to the USA again, Jennifer Cahill and Pike Logan get their first undercover mission from their new “company”. Jennifer is still unsure of Pike’s tendency to toward violence, but she’s along for the ride wherever it takes them.
Chatter says that there is a big attack happening soon and the task force along with Pike and Jennifer may be the only thing standing between America and destruction.
This was another great book and I am grateful to my Goodreads friend who turned me onto this excellent series. Five star, easy day.
From Cairo to Prague and back to the USA again, Jennifer Cahill and Pike Logan get their first undercover mission from their new “company”. Jennifer is still unsure of Pike’s tendency to toward violence, but she’s along for the ride wherever it takes them.
Chatter says that there is a big attack happening soon and the task force along with Pike and Jennifer may be the only thing standing between America and destruction.
This was another great book and I am grateful to my Goodreads friend who turned me onto this excellent series. Five star, easy day.
December 18, 2022
Not bad. Not awesome. 3 Stars
July 10, 2017
Fantastic! High adrenaline!
April 1, 2026
This book was a solid follow up to the debut novel and both the story and the authors writing style have improved. A good overall 2nd book
January 18, 2017
So far the book is a thrill. I found some of the task force -political problems similar to those that I have witnessed. The situations and ability to think as a group while suffering setbacks have added some interesting twists and I am anxiously looking forward to see how the trail becomes clear to the TF.
Everything was going so good with this book, I was so excited and following the path of the events...and then they did something that everyone would know that wouldn't happen....why go to that extreme...I won't say what to ruin it for those willing to enjoy the ride and over-look this one event. It was a fun book and brought me to another reality.
I recommend reading the book, a of fun to read. Had a hard time putting it down. I marked it with a 3 out of 5 because of a few of these "really?" situations...but aside from that...have fun
Everything was going so good with this book, I was so excited and following the path of the events...and then they did something that everyone would know that wouldn't happen....why go to that extreme...I won't say what to ruin it for those willing to enjoy the ride and over-look this one event. It was a fun book and brought me to another reality.
I recommend reading the book, a of fun to read. Had a hard time putting it down. I marked it with a 3 out of 5 because of a few of these "really?" situations...but aside from that...have fun
February 16, 2014
Although this book occasionally loses itself in the hypertechnical--something to which I fall prey to in writing also--the action is nonstop. Yet the characters are introspective about what they do, why, and the nature of good, evil and what lies between.
I appreciate Jennifer--a kickass partner who holds her own. Fully-drawn female characters in thrillers are a welcome change.
I appreciate Jennifer--a kickass partner who holds her own. Fully-drawn female characters in thrillers are a welcome change.
March 7, 2021
Total garbage. Don't waste your money or your time. Some authors who specialize in this genre are reasonably good, but this guy is awful. The story is pretty hard to follow and the author is clearly obsessed with weapons as he goes on at length about them whenever they are mentioned. I got about half way through and then threw it in the trash, where it belongs.
January 22, 2023
Another Winner
Read Chandler strikes again. It was a fantastic suspense novel. I really enjoyed how this was a really fast paced His story.
Strong characters in a roll tide country international for mood for a great read.
I have the
Read Chandler strikes again. It was a fantastic suspense novel. I really enjoyed how this was a really fast paced His story.
Strong characters in a roll tide country international for mood for a great read.
I have the
December 6, 2015
I read “One Rough Man” and found it a little generic but I was informed that this is a series that gets better and better so I gave this one a chance to see if that was true. I do have to say that this was a much better book and I can see now what the fuss is all about. Pike Logan and his protégé Jennifer are occasional free-lancers supporting a taskforce that does the US “wet work” abroad, taking the fight to the bad guys wherever they may be. Brought into a team they come to realise that something bad is heading the way of the US and the checks and measures by way of oversight might actually be hindering things. So we do have an action novel, but we also have characters that question and are impacted by what they do. Jennifer has become a sort of moral compass for Pike but is also more than capable of getting stuck in and doing what needs to be done. Given we have seen lots of male alpha characters in these kinds of thrillers, it was a nice touch to have Jennifer in there and I hope she sticks around for the rest of the series.
February 14, 2019
Pike still has rough edges to his characterization where the rest of the supporting players remain consistent. But the writing definitely has improved considerably. Now even the more emotional scenes have a flair to them that only the action scenes from book one had. The central premise was well-imagined and had enough setbacks and fortunate breaks to make it feel true-to-life. Hell, even the political squabbling has an eerie sense of realism to it. Clearly this is going to be a series to be reckoned with from here on out. I love it already.
July 14, 2020
All Necessary force is Book 2 of ex Delta Force commander Brad Taylor's Pike Logan series. This novel is a great espionage thriller dealing with fighting terrorists in Asia, the Middle East and the US. One Rough Man, Book 1, showed real promise and All Necessary Force delivers on the promise of Brad Taylor being a great espionage action thriller author. Love the main character Pike Logan...
September 27, 2014
In the midst of decent plots, I wonder why so many must die. The list of casualties even includes good people who don't deserved to be maimed or taken out. My suggestion would be to save the bullets and knifings for the bad guys. 6 of 10 stars
July 28, 2021
I never have a lot to say on these action thriller books unless they are really standout. However, I just wanted to write some thoughts for my own reference as I read through this series. I read One Rough Man last year which I thought was fairly mediocre for this genre while still being enjoyable. Also it was clearly a debut from a first time author. I think All Necessary Force is better across the board in terms of the writing and characterization especially. Pike Logan is a little different and definitely more fallible than other Mitch Rapp style heroes in the genre that are almost superhuman. The tension here is pretty high as well which you like from a thriller, but the stakes of the threat don't seem as high as the author wants us to believe it is. I'm pretty confident the series improves, and I've been missing this genre so I'll probably keep working through what the library has.
March 24, 2012
This was my first book by Brad Taylor. I should have read "One Rough Man" first but I just happened to meet him at a book signing which is why I purchased "All Necessary Force" and I am so glad I did.
Brad Taylor has a background in Spec Warfare and you can clearly see it in his writing. This guy has real world experience, but he was able to take that and make a fantastic fiction that seemed all too real.
Pike is main character and he is THE MAN. He is the elite of the elite but its the fact that he is a risk taker that gets the job done every time. He scares the shit out of everyone who has to op with him but they all see him as a legend and would follow him to Hell and back.
Jennifer is the perfect woman in the eyes of any guy who lives life on the edge and want's a girl who can hang with him. She is intelligent, strong, independant but caring and grounded, oh and sexy as hell.
The way the operations are described kept me on the edge of my seat and angry at the same time. I found myself screaming on the inside, "Get those bastards already!"
You never knew if or when a character was going to bite it and it made you sick to your stomach when one of them did.
I give this five stars all day long and would recommend this and any other book by Taylor to anyone who loves this type of read.
Brad Taylor has a background in Spec Warfare and you can clearly see it in his writing. This guy has real world experience, but he was able to take that and make a fantastic fiction that seemed all too real.
Pike is main character and he is THE MAN. He is the elite of the elite but its the fact that he is a risk taker that gets the job done every time. He scares the shit out of everyone who has to op with him but they all see him as a legend and would follow him to Hell and back.
Jennifer is the perfect woman in the eyes of any guy who lives life on the edge and want's a girl who can hang with him. She is intelligent, strong, independant but caring and grounded, oh and sexy as hell.
The way the operations are described kept me on the edge of my seat and angry at the same time. I found myself screaming on the inside, "Get those bastards already!"
You never knew if or when a character was going to bite it and it made you sick to your stomach when one of them did.
I give this five stars all day long and would recommend this and any other book by Taylor to anyone who loves this type of read.
September 3, 2012
Excellent!!! I really enjoyed the first Pike Logan book "One Rough Man", but this one was even better. I think the fact that Brad Taylor is ex-military gives more realism to the story and the action. I love Pike Logan as a character. He's a bit of an a-hole at times, but that is just a part of who he is. It helps him to get the job done. Jennifer was a bit annoying at first in that she wanted to be part of the team but then got cagey when things got tough. I can see that she's getting past it and knows that Pike is just doing what needs to be done, and I think she makes a good counter-balance to the roughness of the rest of the team. As Pike puts it in one part of the book, she is their moral compass.
An excellent read and I can't wait for the next one.
Originally read 9 September 2012; listened to via Audible 29 November 2015 - great narration and just as good(if not better) the second time around!
An excellent read and I can't wait for the next one.
Originally read 9 September 2012; listened to via Audible 29 November 2015 - great narration and just as good(if not better) the second time around!
March 29, 2018
Second entry in the Pike Logan series. Starts off very well. I didn't love the ending. But what I do like is the action and the dialogue and the two main characters. Looking forward to more in the series.
January 10, 2019
Even though I have not read all of Brad Taylor’s book in sequence, there are still amazing stories to read. The cliffhangers he leaves makes me wanting more each time. This was book number 7 so far. Never a disappointment.
August 31, 2012
I'll buy and read all of the Pike Logan books as they come out.
February 28, 2014
A continuation of "One Rough Man" featuring Pike Logan. If you like thrillers,you owe yourself to reading this series!
April 3, 2014
Just how many times can an author misuse the word myriad?
December 30, 2019
I almost gave it a three but gave it a rating of 4. It did go way out there especially with his partner but it ended up being good. It is still not like a Mitch Rapp but it’s getting better.
January 27, 2025
If the author was honest, they would have listed the title as, "I'm Not a Fascist, but I'm Just Saying...". But we'll get to that. This book is shockingly bad- both in ideas and execution. I got this copy from a coworker who told me, "you were in the Army and you like to read; this book will be perfect for you!". It was not perfect for me, and I only recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to write using negative examples.
First, the style. Having read a few hundred books in the past few years, I'm learning how to discern authors who love to read from those who love movies. This author is clearly the latter. His chapters are around 2-5 pages each, which means this book has more than 70 chapters. To me this is indicative of an author who cannot distinguish the difference between a chapter and a scene. His writing certainly is in the style of an action movie- more's the pity. It's focused primarily on action and excitement, though his ability to convey them is severely impeded by his desire to get to the action. He is profoundly bad at creating suspense, as well as encouraging a personal connection with the reader that invests them with his characters. This is especially true of his supporting characters, like Knuckles. I never really got a description of who he is and why I should care about him. Ditto for the vast majority of the cast. In the end I could certainly understand what their goals were, but personality was lacking. That seems to me because most of the characters were tropes- all copies upon copies of the same old type of character that sprang out of Tom Clancy novels. So many people tried to make their own version of a Clancy novel that they never stopped to notice how inbred their characters were becoming. We have the grizzled protagonist with the deep personal wound, the shallow love-object who overlooks the protagonist's deep flaws and potential for relational abuse, the congressman who sold out his country, the Middle-Eastern terrorist, the vague and noncommittal Chinese bureaucrat who exists to move a subplot forward, and the morally-grounded president who makes the heroic hard choice even though separated by bickering and self-interested cabinet members. These are so exhausting to hear about because they have been in every patriotic movie since 2006. Brad Taylor adds nothing interesting to these already uninteresting characters.
Additionally, Taylor has adopted a style of switching between third-person omniscient and first-person omniscient. Not only is it jarring to suddenly switch from one viewpoint to the other, but it also imposes all the weaknesses of each while neutralizing any advantage of either. Because the third-person chapters are omniscient, the first-person chapters can be instantly evaluated to tell if the protagonist is right or wrong, effectively eliminating the possibility of suspense or tension. Additionally, the author's mania for explaining every single detail of both deed and thought is not only boring but also ensures that humor cannot really arise. It's like an unpopular high school student on Adderall trying to tell a joke to the popular kids- it never works because the delivery falls flat. Finally, the protagonists are artificial in the sense that they don't really make any missteps. They kind of do, but the narrative simply moves them forward as if it was the right decision, and indeed frequently justifies their mistakes in the end. This gives the characters an air of one who is in on a secret, and walks through confusion as if they had all the cheat codes enabled in their little world. In the end, the author is little more than a puppet master working his little wooden creations on the same monochromatic setting.
Having said all that, I believe that Taylor's book would have had a place on shelves as another innocuous Tom Clancy knockoff if it were not for his ideological leanings- which are downright fascistic. Taylor claims to love his country- and that seems true enough. But for democracy itself- for the messy and sometimes agonizing conviction that government of, by, and for the people is necessary for human flourishing- the author seems to only have contempt. He acknowledges the illegality of special forces operating within the bounds of their own country, extrajudicial killings of American citizens, torture and threatening of other American citizens, and breaking laws, agreements, and treaties of host countries- and then commits his characters to it without a second thought. The author even seems to recognize the justification of these laws- which invariably lead to an authoritarian police state. But instead of upholding the sanctity of these laws, for better or worse, the author simply shrugs them off as, "Oh well, we are special and superior to ordinary men so it's okay", or, "Oh well, the terrorists made me do it." It is absolutely shameful to hear that any veteran so readily thumbs his nose at the very spirit of America- which was founded on the notion that nobody is above the law, and all who serve are accountable to the law- not a president. If anyone got through 25 years of military service without understanding that, then they have missed the point of their service, and it all was for nothing. Furthermore, any book based off the idea that laws bow to 'great men' is dangerous to, and incompatible with, everything that makes America great and worthy.
The author raises the question if the protagonist and their team are any different than the terrorists that they fight, and to me the answer is obvious: they are different in that they are far inferior to the antagonists. At least an enemy makes no pretense of obeying the laws of the land; indeed, their opposition is aimed at destroying those laws and ideals that make up the American way of life. They certainly are wrong in their aims, but they have integrity. The protagonist, however, only makes a passing claim to love America, for to love is to subjugate oneself even at great cost. In the end, what the protagonist fights for is themselves. That's it. And what makes this reader most nauseous is the notion that the author excuses and even praises their overt hypocrisy. And that is the greatest sin of this book- delusion. Any reader would do well to use All Necessary Force to keep this book away from themselves.
First, the style. Having read a few hundred books in the past few years, I'm learning how to discern authors who love to read from those who love movies. This author is clearly the latter. His chapters are around 2-5 pages each, which means this book has more than 70 chapters. To me this is indicative of an author who cannot distinguish the difference between a chapter and a scene. His writing certainly is in the style of an action movie- more's the pity. It's focused primarily on action and excitement, though his ability to convey them is severely impeded by his desire to get to the action. He is profoundly bad at creating suspense, as well as encouraging a personal connection with the reader that invests them with his characters. This is especially true of his supporting characters, like Knuckles. I never really got a description of who he is and why I should care about him. Ditto for the vast majority of the cast. In the end I could certainly understand what their goals were, but personality was lacking. That seems to me because most of the characters were tropes- all copies upon copies of the same old type of character that sprang out of Tom Clancy novels. So many people tried to make their own version of a Clancy novel that they never stopped to notice how inbred their characters were becoming. We have the grizzled protagonist with the deep personal wound, the shallow love-object who overlooks the protagonist's deep flaws and potential for relational abuse, the congressman who sold out his country, the Middle-Eastern terrorist, the vague and noncommittal Chinese bureaucrat who exists to move a subplot forward, and the morally-grounded president who makes the heroic hard choice even though separated by bickering and self-interested cabinet members. These are so exhausting to hear about because they have been in every patriotic movie since 2006. Brad Taylor adds nothing interesting to these already uninteresting characters.
Additionally, Taylor has adopted a style of switching between third-person omniscient and first-person omniscient. Not only is it jarring to suddenly switch from one viewpoint to the other, but it also imposes all the weaknesses of each while neutralizing any advantage of either. Because the third-person chapters are omniscient, the first-person chapters can be instantly evaluated to tell if the protagonist is right or wrong, effectively eliminating the possibility of suspense or tension. Additionally, the author's mania for explaining every single detail of both deed and thought is not only boring but also ensures that humor cannot really arise. It's like an unpopular high school student on Adderall trying to tell a joke to the popular kids- it never works because the delivery falls flat. Finally, the protagonists are artificial in the sense that they don't really make any missteps. They kind of do, but the narrative simply moves them forward as if it was the right decision, and indeed frequently justifies their mistakes in the end. This gives the characters an air of one who is in on a secret, and walks through confusion as if they had all the cheat codes enabled in their little world. In the end, the author is little more than a puppet master working his little wooden creations on the same monochromatic setting.
Having said all that, I believe that Taylor's book would have had a place on shelves as another innocuous Tom Clancy knockoff if it were not for his ideological leanings- which are downright fascistic. Taylor claims to love his country- and that seems true enough. But for democracy itself- for the messy and sometimes agonizing conviction that government of, by, and for the people is necessary for human flourishing- the author seems to only have contempt. He acknowledges the illegality of special forces operating within the bounds of their own country, extrajudicial killings of American citizens, torture and threatening of other American citizens, and breaking laws, agreements, and treaties of host countries- and then commits his characters to it without a second thought. The author even seems to recognize the justification of these laws- which invariably lead to an authoritarian police state. But instead of upholding the sanctity of these laws, for better or worse, the author simply shrugs them off as, "Oh well, we are special and superior to ordinary men so it's okay", or, "Oh well, the terrorists made me do it." It is absolutely shameful to hear that any veteran so readily thumbs his nose at the very spirit of America- which was founded on the notion that nobody is above the law, and all who serve are accountable to the law- not a president. If anyone got through 25 years of military service without understanding that, then they have missed the point of their service, and it all was for nothing. Furthermore, any book based off the idea that laws bow to 'great men' is dangerous to, and incompatible with, everything that makes America great and worthy.
The author raises the question if the protagonist and their team are any different than the terrorists that they fight, and to me the answer is obvious: they are different in that they are far inferior to the antagonists. At least an enemy makes no pretense of obeying the laws of the land; indeed, their opposition is aimed at destroying those laws and ideals that make up the American way of life. They certainly are wrong in their aims, but they have integrity. The protagonist, however, only makes a passing claim to love America, for to love is to subjugate oneself even at great cost. In the end, what the protagonist fights for is themselves. That's it. And what makes this reader most nauseous is the notion that the author excuses and even praises their overt hypocrisy. And that is the greatest sin of this book- delusion. Any reader would do well to use All Necessary Force to keep this book away from themselves.
August 24, 2025
All Necessary Force is an action-packed thriller that grips readers from the very first page. Author Brad Taylor's real-world experience as a former Delta Force commander shines through, lending an incredible authenticity to the story's high-stakes action. The characters are compelling and well-developed, with the prologue featuring MACV-SOG being a particularly standout moment. The evolving dynamic between protagonists Pike Logan and Jennifer is a highlight, as they navigate their complex relationship while finding their place within the Taskforce. With its relentless pace and expertly crafted narrative, this book is a definite 10/10 for any fan of the genre.
March 13, 2019
Honestly, the first book in this series was hugely enjoyable. This is better. Taylor's expertise in the area shines through, the set up of his 'heroic' organisation is just about plausible, and there is non-stop action, but where he really scores is in his ability to give his characters three dimensions. Admittedly the bad guys tend to be a bit simplistic, but this isn't Shakespeare, and what he does, he does incredibly well.
Particularly welcome is the presence of Jennifer, the romantic interest/partner, who can hold her own with the rest of the team, and the progression of her acceptance by the big men of the Taskforce is well done.
An excellent entertaining read, if you like your escapism with a patina of realism and with a side order of brutal violence.
Particularly welcome is the presence of Jennifer, the romantic interest/partner, who can hold her own with the rest of the team, and the progression of her acceptance by the big men of the Taskforce is well done.
An excellent entertaining read, if you like your escapism with a patina of realism and with a side order of brutal violence.
June 26, 2023
3.5⭐️. I agree with another reviewer, switching back and forth from 3rd person to 1st person story telling is a hard way to read a book. For me the story itself was a bit confusing and hard to follow. Too much time was spent on weapon details and not enough on keeping the suspense and character relationships going. I found the first Pike book more of an enjoyable read. I plan to read the other books in the series and hope the series improves as others have said
July 3, 2018
3.5 stars, raising to 4
I got lost in the middle of the book, where the author spills one technical-weaponry term after another for pages on end.
The story was interesting: what if Americans in jail are converted to Islam by a clergyman sent to do just that? Then these men get out and have jobs where they can be hidden in sight until they are directed to do terrorist deeds?
How does a highly-secret group, commissioned only to operate abroad, deal with this threat when activated?
This book follows Book 1 in the series. I did not read 1.5, but I could still follow the characters who reappear. I will probably read Book 3 before I decide whether to commit to this series. 655 pages in the large-print edition.
I got lost in the middle of the book, where the author spills one technical-weaponry term after another for pages on end.
The story was interesting: what if Americans in jail are converted to Islam by a clergyman sent to do just that? Then these men get out and have jobs where they can be hidden in sight until they are directed to do terrorist deeds?
How does a highly-secret group, commissioned only to operate abroad, deal with this threat when activated?
This book follows Book 1 in the series. I did not read 1.5, but I could still follow the characters who reappear. I will probably read Book 3 before I decide whether to commit to this series. 655 pages in the large-print edition.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews