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Noah Wolf #15

Caged Animal

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Noah is sent out with a CIA agent to bring in information vital to National Security, but something goes wrong. Noah is wounded and captured, and the man they get back is nothing like the Camelot they knew.

Allison finds herself forced to decide whether Noah can be salvaged at all, while Sarah and his team are left in the dark. Can they save him, or is this the very end of the line for Team Camelot... and for Noah Wolf?

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2019

2298 people are currently reading
193 people want to read

About the author

David Archer

192 books505 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

David Archer was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a fiction author and novelist, writing in the mysteries and thrillers genre. His approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, all of which are primed to get your heart pumping.

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5 stars
1,216 (56%)
4 stars
599 (27%)
3 stars
239 (11%)
2 stars
70 (3%)
1 star
33 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Kelsie Maxwell.
430 reviews85 followers
August 10, 2019
In Caged Animal, book fifteen of David Archer’s Noah Wolf series, Noah is sent on a rare solo mission. Noah Wolf still isn’t himself. He seemed to be losing his edge in World Order, book fourteen in the series, and things haven’t improved for him yet. I’ve read all the previous books in the series so I’m a fan of both David Archer and Noah Wolf and expect the best from them.

Noah, codename Camelot, works well with his team and is surprised when he is assigned to work as personal security for CIA agent Derek Simpson. Noah and Simpson have history, which makes the assignment even more unusual.

Once again, Archer has deviated from the rapid action plot utilized in most of the books in this series. Perhaps this is a strategic move that will only enhance the action when it returns. I did appreciate that the reader is given the opportunity to gain a little more insight into what makes Noah a lone wolf. The editing issue has improved somewhat, and the writing is still strong, just different than what I, as a fan of the series, have come to expect. Caged Animal is still a good read and I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I still highly recommend this book and the entire series to fans of action thrillers. Book sixteen, Deep Alliance, is currently available and I’ll be reading and reviewing it soon.
Profile Image for Dave Schweiger.
1 review
April 13, 2019
Usually I’m very happy with his series and although they’re an easy read they’re entertaining and the characters are likable. This one was almost as if someone else had written it. The personality of the characters, aside from Noah whom the plot was focused on, were different. There were nicknames and endearments not present in any of the other books and their personalities were different from the rest of the series. Not much to the plot in this one. A little disappointing.
Profile Image for Rick.
50 reviews
May 21, 2019
This series is usually a fun read in that they are quick to read, well paced action novels with a little Bondsian gadgetry mixed in for flavor. The characters are well developed, and except for the fact that the author seems to like to add "core" characters to Team Camelot (started off with 4, and now we are up to 6 so that everyone is a couple - HR at Neverland must be having fits) like he did to the Sam Pritchard series of books, the stories work well.

*** Yes, there are SPOILERS ahead - BEWARE ***

This book breaks the mold from the books in the series. Instead of the team being sent on an assignment, only Noah is sent alone with another CIA agent at the request of the CIA. During the assignment, something went FUBAR and Noah is injured and briefly captured. After he is rescued, it becomes apparent that Noah's emotions (which have been suppressed since he was a child due to a traumatic experience) have been turned back on, jeopardizing his ability to be E&E's number 1 assassin. I thought this was an interesting twist that the author pulled, because it kept me interested to see how this was going to turn out. Taking your main character's primary characteristic and stripping it from him is the sort of plot twist that really can lead to memorable novels. How does Noah cope having to deal with emotions? How does Team Camelot cope with a changed team leader's style of command? There were several possibilities here that I think the author could have explored that could have even extended into several books. Alas, it was not to be. He ended up being "cured" at the last second, just in time to save the director from the malicious CIA agent who was manipulating Noah all along. Somehow one traumatic image can turn on and off emotions like a light switch. Hmmmm. Not buying that so easily.

I knocked the stars down from 4 to 3 just because I felt the author took the easy way out of the resolving the plot. In other ways, I also felt the ending was rushed again, which considering it was so short to begin with I felt was unnecessary. Technically the writing was well done, even though I felt the director's decisions and attitude was slightly out of character from previous books, and the story was interesting up until the ending. There were a few other plot quibbles I had with the story, but those were the main points.
147 reviews3 followers
April 16, 2019
I have read every Noah Wolf book and am a big fan of David Archer’s writing, storylines and characters. This book was very different. I didn’t like the personalities Noah & Allison took on in this book, it didn’t fit with their “normal” personas. I didn’t really buy into the why. The ending didn’t seem complete and felt it could’ve ended differently (where was Marco?). The action was missing. I understand some deviation is good this just missed the mark with me. With all that said, I didn’t put the book down and read it pretty quickly because I needed to know what was going to happen. I will continue to read this series and more of the authors work.
2 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2019
I have read most of David Archer books and the Noah Wolf series is my favorite. I usually like the stories very much.
This book is different. After a fast start, maybe too fast because a lot of the things that happen are not described, the book slows to a stall.
Most of the story revolves around Noah Wolf’s crisis. It is more of psychological drama than the usual David Archer book. Not only that, but I found it very repetitive, way too repetitive
I kept hoping that the story will start up again but this does not happen.
I hope this is an exception in the series or else I am done with it.
Profile Image for Tara Long.
40 reviews1 follower
July 6, 2019
Good plot, riddled with errors

As always, I love the storyline of the Noah Wolf series. The main negative I have to report is that the ebook is riddled with spelling or grammar errors. Hire me as your editor, I'll make sure you don't mispell a main character's name (it has happened in this series). I want the books to hit the shelves quickly, but I wish someone would look over the books with a more precise eye. It really interrupts the reader and makes me wonder about the publishing team.

Despite the errors, I am looking forward to the next book.
21 reviews
September 11, 2020
Endings rushed & disappointing

I read all 15 Noah Wolf books. When I began reading the series I did not realize they were intended for young kids, it's cool, kids need books to read too ; ).
I've enjoyed some of the books, but all of them are rushed at the end.!!
Archer builds up the suspense then it feels and reads like he got bored writing the story. Instead of putting it down to finish writing later, the entire plot of the book is wrapped it up in 2-3 pages, with little description or explanation. The last few pages are like simple matter of facts. It gives me nothing to get a sense of standing within the story and bringing life to the characters.
There is use of some wild imagination happening throughout the series of books.
I find myself lol when the team goes 'shopping ' at R&D with Wally. The toys they have for Team Camelot are definitely thought up from a vivid imagination.
These stories would make for a good adult series if--- here's my opinion only:
spice up the plot, make the dialogue amongst the team more mature and believable (I'm pretty certain there's eye rolling happening, even for young teen readers. The conversations among Team Camelot feel scripted, flat and robotic-like)Lastly
Lastly, no matter the audience, the outcome of the book needs A LOT more detail and attention. There doesnt need to be heavy romance, blood & gore, vulgar language, excessive violence..you get my point, but there needs to be more description!

*****SPOILER ALERT. STOP READING IF YOU DON'T WISH TO KNOW ABOUT THE ENDING******

The beginning of The Ending:
Page-
147 a thought of killing someone
148 guy kills someone
149-150 Noah resolves his mental issues
153-155 trying to find Allison
157 (the last 3 sentences on the page) - Noah saves Allison, 2 people die.
The Epilogue is only 1 1/2 pages - person recovered from a gunshot wound, attended a funeral, 'cleaned up' Derek's mess and once again, Noah is the unstoppable super hero, a pregnancy was revealed and they were given leave time for an extended vacation to return to Team Camelot 's home in England...with the Dragon Lady (the boss) going with them......
ALL of the previous paragraph was written in 1 1/2 pages.
I feel the author missed his mark on! This could've been a really good book for all ages, but the ending needed a lot more explanation, description and enthusiasm. I want to read more than, 'she was shot, had surgery, recovered, went to a funeral, spent days making phone calls to cover for E&E and Noah, had the CIA Director fired, another director hired, on a plane back to Neverland, someone announces, 'I'm pregnant', and you all deserve a nice long extended vacation but I'm coming with you.....The End
Give us a little more!! The endings of these books are disappointing!!
522 reviews3 followers
November 18, 2020
Regression

The ever logical Noah Wolf is sent on a mission to gather intelligence from a German operative.
Unfortunately he is seconded to a rogue CIA agent, who kills for pleasure whether required by circumstances or not.
The German agent turns out to be working with the Russians, instead of one termination, Derek the CIA misfit orders Noah outside the house to check for others having rounded up the man's extended family inside the house.
Noah hears multiple gunshots from inside the house. When he enters all are dead - men, women & children, Derek is looking satisfied with himself. Noah is appalled by what he sees, the noise has attracted the attention of nearby Russians and they have to flee on foot. Derek is shot, Noah continues without him and is taken down and thrown into a garbage pit.
Rescue comes, but Noah's stoicism has been replaced by an emotional man crying and repeating 'It wasnt me'.
What wasn't him? Why is he so distressed? Why is he so obedient to the CIA killer, who has survived and made his own way to the hospital?
Where is the real Noah? Is this change permanent?
An enthralling tale, with true evil at its heart. The twists are good, the mind games superb.
An excellent read.
29 reviews
May 19, 2019
I've read a lot of Archer's stuff now. Most is enjoyable, the Sam Pritchard stories, these E&E Noah Wolf/Camelot books. Not this one. It's like he completely phoned it in on Caged Animal.
It's pretty rare for me to even write a review, rarer still to be completely negative, but I just can't help it here. The only reason I even finished the book was hoping against hope that I'd missed something good, that it would improve. Nope. From the gitgo- the premise that a JAG lawyer (not even a line officer) - would become a CIA killer/operative - is completely stupid. It doesn't get better.
I hope Archer isn't writing now just because some contract demands it, but this is what it seems like.

You (readers AND Archer) can do better than this.
Profile Image for William J Zaremba.
235 reviews3 followers
July 13, 2021
Caged like an animal

Noah Wolf finds himself pretty contained in a US government hospital after being severely wounded in the head and elsewhere. He has survived and he remembers the mission with a Rogue CIA agent but he does not feel or act like the Noah we all love. Something from the past has come to the forefront of his brain. He now acts like normal people instead if a trained assassin. If he stays like this he has no purpose for the deadly S&S assassin group and might find himself being a target. This is a great book with an exciting ending. I cannot wait for the next one.
160 reviews
May 3, 2019
The first dud Archer has written

First I’m addicted to Noah and have read every book plus every Prichard book. This book was confused with the story being told many times by different people. Lots of pages that said nothing. The plot was dismal and the telling worse. I barely made it to the obvious end. I usually read his n
Books in 1-2 days. This was an effort and I almost stopped a few times but wanted to read to the end so I could make an honest review. Sorry David. You need to get the mojo back!
229 reviews4 followers
August 23, 2020
Thoroughly Enjoyed 97%

A very well conceived, different storyline that was extremely interesting and fulfillingly enjoyable until the Ending! (Spoiler Alert) What an amazingly illconceived, abrupt, non-senseical conclusion to a great story! The ending (both Noah's psychological and physical recovery and the climax) was written like Archer was being charged for every word exceeding a specific amount and being punished. Terrible ending to an otherwise great book!
1,821 reviews13 followers
April 21, 2019
Noah Wolf is teamed up with a rogue agent, Derek Simpson. A mission that went wrong. Derek not only killed their target, but the target's family with two young children. Noah sees a teddy bear that takes him back to his traumatic childhood that seems to give him emotions. For an assassin, emotions are deadly. Noah and Derek flee only to be fired upon. Noah gets captured by the enemy. A fast paced and thrilling conclusion.
4 reviews
April 25, 2019
Disappointed

I have read and enjoyed the other books in the series, but this was a very slow paced, non-action novel with Noah in a whiny regressed state, recalling the exact same memories (liberal author cut-n-paste) over, and over, and over, and over. So aggravating to read the exact same dialog every few pages. Almost gave up on the book, then decided to just jump towards the end and get 'er done. Not the action, page turning, plots typical of Noah Wolf novels.
93 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2019
I usually enjoy this series

But this one left me a bit meh. I usually give a writer a huge amount of leeway with things, but there were just too many things with this one that were unbelieveable. And there were many editing errors and the use of the wrong name for the characters. The ending was rushed; you read the whole story then the wrap up was done in just a couple of pages. It almost felt like the writer hit his word count and then just decided to wrap it up.
413 reviews6 followers
January 26, 2021
Very short story , which takes Noah back to his childhood. Noah witnessed his father kill his mother, than kill himself, splashing blood all over Noah and his teddy bear. On his latest mission something similar happened causing Noah to have a nervous breakdown. He's captured and rescued by a Navy Seal but is so traumatized that he doesn't know who can trust. The Dragon Lady ( Allison Peterson) tries to help Noah and puts her own life in danger.
Profile Image for Michael.
376 reviews6 followers
April 10, 2019
A Disturbing Tale

Once again, David Archer takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of tension and emotion. The story has an unusual beginning and proceeds to show Noah become someone unlike himself. The twists and turns are fast paced and pulls the reader in several directions. The ending is poignant with a sad overtone. Read it in one sitting and I'm ready for the next book.
80 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2019
Another Great Book in the Noah Wolf Series

This book is a far cry from the usual Noah Wolf story line. Noah is on loan to the CIA to assist in an assignment when everything goes off the rails. Noah is caught and seriously injured. This is one book you'll have a hard time putting down. I highly recommend it to you.
832 reviews4 followers
May 3, 2019
Okay

I am a big fan of Noah Wolf. He has always pushed the boundaries of imagination . This time the story dragged and the ending broke that boundary of plausibility. Still a fan and still here and waiting for the next book. I wish the rating system was10 stars. 3 is too low and four is too high. I would give it a 7.
9 reviews
June 9, 2019
Inconsistent and poor editing

First off, I've read of the books in this series. There have always been editing errors, however in this book Noah worried about escape and survival or Sarah will have to raise their child alone. Then when Allison asks Sarah if Noah knows about her pregnancy, she says no, she hadn't told him. Later in the book Derek is called Eric.
Profile Image for Thomas Murray.
71 reviews
July 6, 2019
Different But A Nice Distraction

I was expecting a disaster from the initial reviews, but i read it in a half day total hours. I guess it was a lot more ing than i thought it was going to be. It's like taking Superman's cape away and focusing on Clark Kent and his boss, but it was still engrossing i thought with a great bad guy.
Profile Image for Dchamp.
312 reviews
July 13, 2020
Wow, it's almost like this book was written by another person.
The flip/flopping with between different times is irritating, which hasn't happened in other books. Unfortunately, I think it was very poorly written, and I wasn't a fan of the ending.

Good book... but that's about all I can say about it, and that actually makes me sad.
Profile Image for Andy Lim.
7 reviews
August 27, 2020
This series started really well with lots of action and was fast paced and always exciting. It slowed down with the characters getting involved and in bed with one another and in this book, it slowed to a crawl with Noah Wolf getting all emotional. Sure hope it picks up from here as this is really rock bottom as a thriller.
347 reviews
March 16, 2021
Because this book is so well written, it is my least favorite of the series. The protagonist is so well written I took an immediate dislike to him. He reminds me of many of our current politicians who have sold their souls to a false god. So manipulative, out for themselves only, power is what it is all about, not serving or helping others. Makes me want to gag. No integrity or moral compass. This character, as do the politicians, treat others as if they are just pieces on a chess board, available for their machinations and no other purpose. But the real question is - how did this protagonist so mess with Noah Wolf's mind? Although you know what happens, what is it that has made Noah so compliant to what this guy wants and so willing to go along with what he knows is wrong? You will just have to read to find out.
1,477 reviews25 followers
May 20, 2022
Caged Animal. David Archer

In my opinion, this is the best book in this series. But, I enjoyed all of them immensely! Noah , against his desire to do so is on a mission with an operative he doesn't like, putting it midley. The operative is nothing more then a murderous killer who enjoys only that. Non stop action and intrigue from the first to last page. Enjoyed immensely!!
50 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2023
Horrible. I love this series but this one? The characters are completely flat and out of balance. It is like someone else wrote it. The series has been trending a little off but I only finished this book out of loyalty. Allison was like a different personality completely. I kept waiting for a script flip. But nope. It was for real. What a disappointment.
Profile Image for LooseBoots .
881 reviews6 followers
April 8, 2019
I always enjoy the Noah Wolfe stories. This was a very tense and exciting book and slightly different. Without giving too much away this was mainly focusing on Noah.

Once again I read this into the early hours .

Brilliant storyline and masterfully written.
2 reviews
April 16, 2019
Enough

I have read all the books and been happy with them. The last two are terrible, don’t flow and the plots and story lines are confused. I will not read any more in this series. Very disappointed.
Profile Image for Stephen Ashley.
487 reviews5 followers
April 16, 2019
Another Delightfully Done Novel!

I always enjoy reading about Josh's adventures. Now he is a father! I wish our seal commander had lived! My mind awaits his healing and next assignment.
Profile Image for Karen  Clagett.
188 reviews2 followers
April 23, 2019
Another Great Noah Wolf

Simpson was a real piece of nasty work. A very different story from the usual Noah Wolf adventures. So disappointed that Commander Larsen gave the ultimate sacrifice to save Allison. Very sad for that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews

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