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Pike Logan #14
Hunter Killer
Pike Logan tracks highly-trained Russian assassins to Brazil in this blistering, action-packed thriller from New York Times bestselling author and former Special Forces Officer Brad Taylor.
Pike Logan and the Taskforce were once the apex predators, an unrivaled hunting machine that decimated those out to harm the United States, but they may have met their match. While Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill prepare to join their team on a counter-terrorist mission in the triple frontier—the lawless tri-border region where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet—they are targeted in Charleston, South Carolina. A vicious explosion kills a friend, and the perpetrators have set it up to look like an accident. While the authorities believe this was not foul play, Pike knows the attack was meant for him.
When he loses contact with the team in South America, Pike is convinced he and the Taskforce are under assault. His men are the closest thing to family that Pike has, which means he will do anything, even ignore direct orders to stand down, to find them. Pike and Jennifer head to Brazil to investigate their disappearance and run headlong into a crew of Russian assassins. Within days they are entangled in a byzantine scheme involving Brazilian politics and a cut-throat battle for control of offshore oil fields.
Forged in combat, the Russians are the equal of anything the Taskforce has encountered before, but they make a mistake in attacking Pike’s team, because Pike has a couple of elite Israeli assassins of his own. And Pike will stop at nothing to protect his family.
Pike Logan and the Taskforce were once the apex predators, an unrivaled hunting machine that decimated those out to harm the United States, but they may have met their match. While Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill prepare to join their team on a counter-terrorist mission in the triple frontier—the lawless tri-border region where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet—they are targeted in Charleston, South Carolina. A vicious explosion kills a friend, and the perpetrators have set it up to look like an accident. While the authorities believe this was not foul play, Pike knows the attack was meant for him.
When he loses contact with the team in South America, Pike is convinced he and the Taskforce are under assault. His men are the closest thing to family that Pike has, which means he will do anything, even ignore direct orders to stand down, to find them. Pike and Jennifer head to Brazil to investigate their disappearance and run headlong into a crew of Russian assassins. Within days they are entangled in a byzantine scheme involving Brazilian politics and a cut-throat battle for control of offshore oil fields.
Forged in combat, the Russians are the equal of anything the Taskforce has encountered before, but they make a mistake in attacking Pike’s team, because Pike has a couple of elite Israeli assassins of his own. And Pike will stop at nothing to protect his family.
474 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2020
1871 people are currently reading
4930 people want to read
About the author
Brad Taylor
48 books2,537 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
February 16, 2020
Interesting thriller with Pike and his team tracked by killers until the bad guys get theirs. 7 of 10 stars
February 15, 2020
Another great thriller in the Pike Logan series! This book not only features tough female operatives like Jennifer (who is sometimes conflicted and operates like Pike's conscience) and Shoshana but also interesting newer characters and victims-who-aren't like Willow, Amena, and Kylie.
The setting--Russians trying to take over a Brazilian oil field via a series of executions--is credible and a refreshing change of pace.
Highly recommended!
The setting--Russians trying to take over a Brazilian oil field via a series of executions--is credible and a refreshing change of pace.
Highly recommended!
October 9, 2019
HUNTER KILLER is a thrill-a-minute non-stop action thriller concerning a special ops team. This is the best Pike Logan novel I've read so far. The Russians are up to their usual dirty tricks again. This time their target is in Brazil. The story begins in Charleston, SC when someone is murdered. I highly recommend this novel; you will love this!
August 12, 2022
Major change within Taskforce in book #14. There's also a big step in character development.
Hunter Killer is full of action right from the start and Pike found himself being a target right at home in Charleston as the 'family' enjoys downtime. The storyline lightly mirrors current headlines with Russia trying to manipulate Brazil's election as well as placing who they can influence on board of Petrobras, an energy-oil company in Brazil.
To kill or not to kill, that is the question. If you read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about. IMO... was too often, Taylor overdone it. The action was as good as always!
Hunter Killer is full of action right from the start and Pike found himself being a target right at home in Charleston as the 'family' enjoys downtime. The storyline lightly mirrors current headlines with Russia trying to manipulate Brazil's election as well as placing who they can influence on board of Petrobras, an energy-oil company in Brazil.
To kill or not to kill, that is the question. If you read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about. IMO... was too often, Taylor overdone it. The action was as good as always!
December 25, 2019
I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of HUNTER KILLER at a writing conference. I'm a huge fan of Brad's Pike Logan series, and this is his best book yet. Many authors start to slow down after 14 novels, but not Brad. The pacing in this book is relentless, and the tension will tie your stomach into knots. I couldn't put it down. If you love the Pike Logan series, you'll love this book. If you're new to Brad's novels, this book will make you a fan.
September 18, 2020
Russian agents are going to try to interfere in Brazil's elections, and garner some oil rights for their country, when they notice a couple of Task Force agents. The Russians decide to kill everybody in the task force, while at the same time assassinating other people opposed to them. Of course, they fail to kill Pike Logan, who comes right back at them. We are supposed to believe a 13 year old kid with no training can easily outsmart Russian Spetsnaz, but Ameena's pages are kept to a minimum.
Pretty decent.
Pretty decent.
May 13, 2020
This is a story of love, family and values. Oh, and action quite a lot of action. Thanks to Edelweiss, Netgalley, Aria and William Morrow for letting me read this one. This is one of the better books in the series about Pike Logan and his merry band of marauders. I strongly recommend any one that hasn't tried it to do so.
November 28, 2020
Pike and Jennifer are back. So are their group of friends who are as close as family. They are suddenly faced with the Taskforce unexpectedly standing down. However, Knuckles and Brett are currently in Brazil and found themselves in the middle of a ferry hostage situation. Pike of course will do anything to help save them, with or without the covert blessings of the US government. Add to this the group of Russian mercenaries they faced before wanting to expose them and kill them, and only Pike's loyal but deadly circle of friends can stop the Russians.
This is still an enjoyable book for those who have followed the series. But if one is jumping into this new, one might not understand the dynamics of the relationships. For example, between Pike/Jennifer/Amena and Aaron/Shoshana.
Pike is more introspective in this one too. Sure, he's still a killer and ready to take out bad guys. But, as he said, Jennifer must have rubbed off on him somewhat, as he ponders on his choices more now.
Overall, it's still nice to see these familiar characters come together again to save their own and in the process, save the world.
This is still an enjoyable book for those who have followed the series. But if one is jumping into this new, one might not understand the dynamics of the relationships. For example, between Pike/Jennifer/Amena and Aaron/Shoshana.
Pike is more introspective in this one too. Sure, he's still a killer and ready to take out bad guys. But, as he said, Jennifer must have rubbed off on him somewhat, as he ponders on his choices more now.
Overall, it's still nice to see these familiar characters come together again to save their own and in the process, save the world.
December 19, 2020
You would think after so many books in a series that the author would slow down or lose a step. That is not the case for Brad Taylor. Each book gets better and more action packed. Taor has gotten so good that as you are reading you can picture it as a movie in your head. That is genius to be able to write like that.
August 28, 2020
The long awaited release of HUNTER KILLER by Brad Taylor has exploded on the best seller list just a short two weeks out and is everything Taylor’s fans anticipated. It’s a fast paced action adventure that unites all Pike Logan’s fellow espionage cohorts in a search for the Russian killers and kidnappers of key members of the Task Force Team.
In a targeted attack, Pike loses his dearest friend and mentor in a bomb explosion meant for him. Warned that the Oversight Council is shutting down Project Prometheus, Pike defies orders to stand down and reaches out to those that had his back on other missions with all signs pointing to Brazil.
Like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces keep falling into place- an overheard conversation in Myanmar brings intelligence that Russian Wagner mercenaries seek vengeance and a halt to American interference in their interests.Other intell filters in indicating other members of his Task Force are missing in Brazil.
Ex-Mossad agents Shoshona and Aaron learn of the attacks and join Pike and Jennifer(Koko) on the search. A mission of tracking down Hezbollah financiers in the Argentina/Brazil triangle turns to finding his missing teammates in Brazil - and the Russians.
Taylor examines the grittier, visceral emotions that explode when loved ones are endangered or killed. He goes after the Russians with Jennifer, Shoshona and Aaron following his lead. Covert assistance is also provided from other stand-down task force members. All have the same objective- find Kurt’s killers and find the missing Knuckles and Brett. The former mission has been replaced by a more pressing one.
Like all ex- military authors, Taylor has an acute understanding of human nature and an uncanny sense of what people think and how they react. He explores black rage, its triggers and offers insight into the darker aspects of his characters personalities - the side individuals don’t like to acknowledge they have. The author has developed the more cerebral aspects of Pike Logan by conveying more of the decision making process and the emotional input into Pike’s actions and rationale giving a more intimate look into his characters.
The story conveys nicely scripted fight scenes and all the hardware that thriller fans have come to love. He intertwines his characters into the ever-changing plot like a finely woven tapestry in which the story plays out. Everything shifts to Brazil where Knuckles has inadvertently stumbled into a nest of Russian operators whose mission links Charleston and Brazil in a singular entity. The Russians don’t realize THEY are the hunted now.
The plot moves between DC, Charleston’s Fort Moultrie, And Brazil, Salvador, Manaus, and Rio deJaneiro’s Sugar Loaf Mtn. As the story progresses, it brings more kidnappings, mayhem and death- Like a corkscrew tightening to an explosive finish. There is success along with unfortunate losses. And I have to say, I didn’t see that ending coming.
Taylor has gotten creative in his instruments of death. Move over Matt Betley, you have competition. This is why you don’t go swimming in Amazonian rivers.
HUNTER KILLER is the best novel Brad Taylor has ever produced, offering a more intimate look into the personalities of his leading characters. He has a talent for blending and weaving multi-level subplots into the storyline with finesse and finishes with a story like the Tapestry of Bayeux. You gotta love a guy who will make a commitment.
This is a “Hell yeah” 5* masterpiece!
In a targeted attack, Pike loses his dearest friend and mentor in a bomb explosion meant for him. Warned that the Oversight Council is shutting down Project Prometheus, Pike defies orders to stand down and reaches out to those that had his back on other missions with all signs pointing to Brazil.
Like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces keep falling into place- an overheard conversation in Myanmar brings intelligence that Russian Wagner mercenaries seek vengeance and a halt to American interference in their interests.Other intell filters in indicating other members of his Task Force are missing in Brazil.
Ex-Mossad agents Shoshona and Aaron learn of the attacks and join Pike and Jennifer(Koko) on the search. A mission of tracking down Hezbollah financiers in the Argentina/Brazil triangle turns to finding his missing teammates in Brazil - and the Russians.
Taylor examines the grittier, visceral emotions that explode when loved ones are endangered or killed. He goes after the Russians with Jennifer, Shoshona and Aaron following his lead. Covert assistance is also provided from other stand-down task force members. All have the same objective- find Kurt’s killers and find the missing Knuckles and Brett. The former mission has been replaced by a more pressing one.
Like all ex- military authors, Taylor has an acute understanding of human nature and an uncanny sense of what people think and how they react. He explores black rage, its triggers and offers insight into the darker aspects of his characters personalities - the side individuals don’t like to acknowledge they have. The author has developed the more cerebral aspects of Pike Logan by conveying more of the decision making process and the emotional input into Pike’s actions and rationale giving a more intimate look into his characters.
The story conveys nicely scripted fight scenes and all the hardware that thriller fans have come to love. He intertwines his characters into the ever-changing plot like a finely woven tapestry in which the story plays out. Everything shifts to Brazil where Knuckles has inadvertently stumbled into a nest of Russian operators whose mission links Charleston and Brazil in a singular entity. The Russians don’t realize THEY are the hunted now.
The plot moves between DC, Charleston’s Fort Moultrie, And Brazil, Salvador, Manaus, and Rio deJaneiro’s Sugar Loaf Mtn. As the story progresses, it brings more kidnappings, mayhem and death- Like a corkscrew tightening to an explosive finish. There is success along with unfortunate losses. And I have to say, I didn’t see that ending coming.
Taylor has gotten creative in his instruments of death. Move over Matt Betley, you have competition. This is why you don’t go swimming in Amazonian rivers.
HUNTER KILLER is the best novel Brad Taylor has ever produced, offering a more intimate look into the personalities of his leading characters. He has a talent for blending and weaving multi-level subplots into the storyline with finesse and finishes with a story like the Tapestry of Bayeux. You gotta love a guy who will make a commitment.
This is a “Hell yeah” 5* masterpiece!
February 16, 2021
Amazing book . Grueling, action packed and once again worth the money! Makes you only look forward to the next book by Taylor!
August 16, 2020
Hunter Killer is Brad Taylor’s fourteenth book in his Pike Logan series. Even though this is book fourteen in the series, Mr. Taylor made it easy to follow as a standalone.
Hunter Killer is another expertly written novel from this master of the action thriller. Taylor has once again done his research and deftly blends reality and fiction. The historical and technological details are expertly rendered. The scenery is exquisitely detailed and seamlessly blended into the riveting plot. Taylor takes the reader around every historic corner and to breath-taking summits. Pike Logan is as intriguing as ever and Jennifer and the rest of the team are the ultimate supporting cast. This is a thriller from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this fourteenth edition of Pike Logan’s escapades. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to all readers who enjoy intense action and an overall exciting thriller.
My thanks to Aria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Hunter Killer is another expertly written novel from this master of the action thriller. Taylor has once again done his research and deftly blends reality and fiction. The historical and technological details are expertly rendered. The scenery is exquisitely detailed and seamlessly blended into the riveting plot. Taylor takes the reader around every historic corner and to breath-taking summits. Pike Logan is as intriguing as ever and Jennifer and the rest of the team are the ultimate supporting cast. This is a thriller from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this fourteenth edition of Pike Logan’s escapades. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to all readers who enjoy intense action and an overall exciting thriller.
My thanks to Aria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
December 23, 2019
I won an Advance Reader’s edition in a Goodreads giveaway. This review reflects my true opinion.
I had read the first five books in the Pike Logan series and had enjoyed them all. This one left me wanting.
The connection between Brazil and Russia is intriguing and could have formed the basis of a gripping tale, but the book tried to be too much of too many things. Besides the main storyline, you’ve got the family story in Charleston involving Amena that seems to get dropped after the rescue, and then you’ve got the hand-wringing involving Pike and the members of his team concerning who they kill and why. Even the main storyline contained a “jump the shark” moment with the killing of the mines and minerals minister with the Chinese investors by piranhas. Smart people get paddled out to the middle of a piranha-infested lake in an inflatable boat, really?
The action scenes are very good, which, fortunately, keeps the story clipping along at a decent pace. I just wish some of the extra ‘scenes’ would have been either edited out or developed further. Having them all in results in a mish-mash that left me feeling this was a middle-of-the-road effort, not much more.
I had read the first five books in the Pike Logan series and had enjoyed them all. This one left me wanting.
The connection between Brazil and Russia is intriguing and could have formed the basis of a gripping tale, but the book tried to be too much of too many things. Besides the main storyline, you’ve got the family story in Charleston involving Amena that seems to get dropped after the rescue, and then you’ve got the hand-wringing involving Pike and the members of his team concerning who they kill and why. Even the main storyline contained a “jump the shark” moment with the killing of the mines and minerals minister with the Chinese investors by piranhas. Smart people get paddled out to the middle of a piranha-infested lake in an inflatable boat, really?
The action scenes are very good, which, fortunately, keeps the story clipping along at a decent pace. I just wish some of the extra ‘scenes’ would have been either edited out or developed further. Having them all in results in a mish-mash that left me feeling this was a middle-of-the-road effort, not much more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2020
Brad Taylor, by this point in his Pike Logan series could be just phoning it in. He isn't, I should hasten to add, but he's got the formula for undercover military thriller down so pat, whilst avoiding predictability that the next book in his series becomes an automatic read piece of pleasant escapism for me.
Here Logan and his team take on a very similar, but opposing, organisation out of Russia. This is made more complicated because events in the last book, and another early in this one, leave the taskforce with limited political support and Logan is once again forced to work alone. (Nice that the reset button isn't hit every time out.)
In all honesty the idea that an extra-legal assassination squad could exist in the real world is horrifying, but for the purposes of fiction the guys in white hats provide excellent entertainment. As before where Taylor really scores is his characters, who are well drawn and believable, including the adversaries, who are not the same cardboard cut out book to book.
Excellent stuff.
Here Logan and his team take on a very similar, but opposing, organisation out of Russia. This is made more complicated because events in the last book, and another early in this one, leave the taskforce with limited political support and Logan is once again forced to work alone. (Nice that the reset button isn't hit every time out.)
In all honesty the idea that an extra-legal assassination squad could exist in the real world is horrifying, but for the purposes of fiction the guys in white hats provide excellent entertainment. As before where Taylor really scores is his characters, who are well drawn and believable, including the adversaries, who are not the same cardboard cut out book to book.
Excellent stuff.
January 9, 2020
Absolutely epic! We lost one amazing character, but it gave you one hell of a setup. The team is separated and one stand down, yet the manage to accomplish the impossible and all while being hunted down themselves. I can’t wait to see where the next book goes!
May 19, 2020
Fourteen installments and Taylor still hasn’t lost his touch for plotting an epic Bourne-level action thriller. While the writing is still clunky in parts, I’m still satisfied this is one of the more engaging series out there.
From the jump, this has shades of the best seasons of 24, with a major character getting killed to drive up the revenge factor in the story. I mean—I’ve seen Pike off the rails before but this was different. This felt like he was completely justified in his quest for revenge and it kind of me made me tense to see if it would being back the Pike or book #1.
All in all, a pretty tense and taut affair this book provides and I look forward to where the team goes from here.
From the jump, this has shades of the best seasons of 24, with a major character getting killed to drive up the revenge factor in the story. I mean—I’ve seen Pike off the rails before but this was different. This felt like he was completely justified in his quest for revenge and it kind of me made me tense to see if it would being back the Pike or book #1.
All in all, a pretty tense and taut affair this book provides and I look forward to where the team goes from here.
June 25, 2021
Pike Logan, ex-Seal, badass extraordinaire, is on a mission to kill the bad guys (in this case Russians) who have dared to target members of his special-ops team. Then, these villains step across the line by having the audacity to go after Pike's "family". When this happens, Pike goes off the reservation, i.e., acting without government authorization. His inner beast is unleashed and he sees nothing but blood. Throughout the book (nearly every time Pike kills a bad guy), Pike is cautioned by his fellow-badass teammate / girlfriend to not cross the moral Rubicon by killing solely in the name of revenge. The angel whispers in one ear and the devil whispers in the other. Usually the devil wins.
Largely a story of good guys chasing bad guys and visa versa, I found the plot to be rather lacking.
Largely a story of good guys chasing bad guys and visa versa, I found the plot to be rather lacking.
November 8, 2020
A series that has reached number 14. This is similar to Vince Flynn’s “Mitch Rapp” series, or how it was written under Flynn, not the current author Kyle Mills. Like Mitch Rapp, Pike Logan is a Tier One killer/predator, heading up “The Taskforce”, an off the books group taking down the enemies of the US.
So, in this, Logan finds his team and friends under attack and, against orders, decides to go on the offensive against a Russian team that is the Taskforce’s equivalent. The action stretches from the US to Brazil and is pacy and entertaining.
At its best it is reminiscent of Vince Flynn’s work, but it doesn’t always flow. There is a bit too much Introspection about killing. Logan holding back from going on full psycho and colleague Jennifer constantly challenging whether a kill is “righteous” or murder. This is book 14 for Goodness sake and these are themes that should have been banked many books ago and moved on.
But a solid special forces thriller despite a few flaws.
So, in this, Logan finds his team and friends under attack and, against orders, decides to go on the offensive against a Russian team that is the Taskforce’s equivalent. The action stretches from the US to Brazil and is pacy and entertaining.
At its best it is reminiscent of Vince Flynn’s work, but it doesn’t always flow. There is a bit too much Introspection about killing. Logan holding back from going on full psycho and colleague Jennifer constantly challenging whether a kill is “righteous” or murder. This is book 14 for Goodness sake and these are themes that should have been banked many books ago and moved on.
But a solid special forces thriller despite a few flaws.
September 21, 2020
Sometimes you need a little shoot him up action. Pike Logan and his crew are now the hunted. When one of his faithful friends but more like family is killed in his place, it becomes a family thing not a mission thing. Questions become why is he being targeted? What are the implications? His crew is a handful men and women that he has deep ties to and they have seen the dark side of Pike Logan. With this new unsanctioned mission, his better half Jennifer tries to keep the balance he needs not to go to the dark side. Does he kill to kill or is he is justified in his killing?
The mission is hazy but the threat is real. The hunt starts in home base and puts his team in Brazil. Is there research for this thriller? In fact, there is which makes it believable and a turning page grab. With political implications and the threat of Pike's family, there is a little bit of everything. Pike is one of those complex characters that unfold with each new assignment. He is black and white and his struggle is with the gray. I think that is what make him so compelling and enjoyable to read.
A special thank you to Aria Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
The mission is hazy but the threat is real. The hunt starts in home base and puts his team in Brazil. Is there research for this thriller? In fact, there is which makes it believable and a turning page grab. With political implications and the threat of Pike's family, there is a little bit of everything. Pike is one of those complex characters that unfold with each new assignment. He is black and white and his struggle is with the gray. I think that is what make him so compelling and enjoyable to read.
A special thank you to Aria Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
November 6, 2019
I received a free copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads giveaways.
I am a fan of thrillers involving "secret ops" which is why I gave Brad Taylor's Pike Logan series a second try. I am happy to report I felt that Hunter Killer has changed my view of the Pike Logan series allowing me to give the book a four star rating, from a previous three star rating. I was pleased that the author has cut down on his wordiness and Shoshana, the character I could not stand, has matured to a tolerable level. Basically this book involves revenge killings by the secret-ops team leader, Pike Logan, after his mentor, Kurt, is murdered by Russian assassins. Much of the revenge adventure takes place in Brazil with a second hostage rescue story line thrown into the mix. I would recommend this book to those interested in a military/secret-ops thriller with detailed fight scenes.
I am a fan of thrillers involving "secret ops" which is why I gave Brad Taylor's Pike Logan series a second try. I am happy to report I felt that Hunter Killer has changed my view of the Pike Logan series allowing me to give the book a four star rating, from a previous three star rating. I was pleased that the author has cut down on his wordiness and Shoshana, the character I could not stand, has matured to a tolerable level. Basically this book involves revenge killings by the secret-ops team leader, Pike Logan, after his mentor, Kurt, is murdered by Russian assassins. Much of the revenge adventure takes place in Brazil with a second hostage rescue story line thrown into the mix. I would recommend this book to those interested in a military/secret-ops thriller with detailed fight scenes.
January 20, 2023
Brad Taylor's Hunter Killer sees a series of events lead to the near exposure of the Taskforce, a day long term readers of the series knew would be coming. A recent and relevant enemy rears its ugly head once more, and Pike Logan finds himself grappling with his dark passenger once more.
I can't really get too into detail without spoilers, but suffice to say that this book was a thrill a minute. I read it in a little under eight hours. I could not put it down and I had to see what happened next.
I'm really glad I'm finally catching up on Taylor's works, and just in time for the release of his next work.
I can't really get too into detail without spoilers, but suffice to say that this book was a thrill a minute. I read it in a little under eight hours. I could not put it down and I had to see what happened next.
I'm really glad I'm finally catching up on Taylor's works, and just in time for the release of his next work.
January 22, 2020
This was amazing! Pike and Jennifer are battling all kinds of demons in this one. There is a ton of internal dialogue and drama within the GRS team while seeing the fighting capacity of everyone around them. I really believe that Brad nailed this one because of his relentless research and experience this felt so real. He’s used real world problems, locations, and his ties to Charleston make it authentic since I’ve visited a bunch of the places mentioned. He’s a New York Times bestselling author for a reason and this is one I highly recommend!
October 31, 2020
Thriller set in BRAZIL and SOUTH CAROLINA
Hunter Killer is the 13th book in Brad Taylor’s Taskforce series. It is, I am a little embarrassed to report, the first in the series I have read. It is very good – a real page-turning thriller. I will try and read more.
The Taskforce carries out undercover, deniable, missions for the US government around the world. Their life is very violent. The leader of the Taskforce is Pike, an immensely loyal and much loved individual. His team would die for him (and some come pretty close to doing so…). He lives in Charleston, South Carolina with his girlfriend, and a young lady refugee they rescued from Syria in an earlier book. His boss and friend is blown up by a car bomb outside his house that was meant for him. He discovers it was a Russian team (much like the Taskforce, but on the other side) who carried out the killing. The same team that he and his Taskforce colleagues are engaged with in Brazil as the 2018 election approaches – and efforts are being made to eliminate key executives in Petrobras as well as the popular anti-government, anti-corruption candidate. A ‘back off’ message had been sent to Pike. In Brazil, it is a game of cat and mouse between the US and Russia teams. One will almost certainly be wiped out… Pike is determined it will not be his. Oh, and did I say that the Taskforce was officially suspended after the Charleston car bombing amid fear its existence might be revealed? Brazil is very much a freelance mission by Pike to avenge the killing of his friend – with, it has to be said, some very senior individual US government backing.
The characters in both teams are somewhat larger than life, but it works well. The story comes to a bloody and very exciting conclusion. I was gripped right to the end.
In TripFiction location terms, Hunter Killer is also an excellent read. We move between Rio and Salvador on the North East coast (where much of the action happens) and Manaus on the edge of the Amazon rain forest (and, incidentally, one of the places in the world most impacted by Covid). Each very different place is well described. Salvador, often known as the ‘first capital of Brazil’ was the seat of the Portuguese colonial administration in the 16th century, Rio was the capital from 1763 until Brasilia took over in 1960 – and is still the most famous city in Brazil, Manaus resides in faded glory in North West of the country. It made its money from the rubber trade built on the back of slave trafficking. Brad Taylor spent a lot of time in Brazil researching the book. It paid off. The feel is very authentic.
A definitely recommended read.
Hunter Killer is the 13th book in Brad Taylor’s Taskforce series. It is, I am a little embarrassed to report, the first in the series I have read. It is very good – a real page-turning thriller. I will try and read more.
The Taskforce carries out undercover, deniable, missions for the US government around the world. Their life is very violent. The leader of the Taskforce is Pike, an immensely loyal and much loved individual. His team would die for him (and some come pretty close to doing so…). He lives in Charleston, South Carolina with his girlfriend, and a young lady refugee they rescued from Syria in an earlier book. His boss and friend is blown up by a car bomb outside his house that was meant for him. He discovers it was a Russian team (much like the Taskforce, but on the other side) who carried out the killing. The same team that he and his Taskforce colleagues are engaged with in Brazil as the 2018 election approaches – and efforts are being made to eliminate key executives in Petrobras as well as the popular anti-government, anti-corruption candidate. A ‘back off’ message had been sent to Pike. In Brazil, it is a game of cat and mouse between the US and Russia teams. One will almost certainly be wiped out… Pike is determined it will not be his. Oh, and did I say that the Taskforce was officially suspended after the Charleston car bombing amid fear its existence might be revealed? Brazil is very much a freelance mission by Pike to avenge the killing of his friend – with, it has to be said, some very senior individual US government backing.
The characters in both teams are somewhat larger than life, but it works well. The story comes to a bloody and very exciting conclusion. I was gripped right to the end.
In TripFiction location terms, Hunter Killer is also an excellent read. We move between Rio and Salvador on the North East coast (where much of the action happens) and Manaus on the edge of the Amazon rain forest (and, incidentally, one of the places in the world most impacted by Covid). Each very different place is well described. Salvador, often known as the ‘first capital of Brazil’ was the seat of the Portuguese colonial administration in the 16th century, Rio was the capital from 1763 until Brasilia took over in 1960 – and is still the most famous city in Brazil, Manaus resides in faded glory in North West of the country. It made its money from the rubber trade built on the back of slave trafficking. Brad Taylor spent a lot of time in Brazil researching the book. It paid off. The feel is very authentic.
A definitely recommended read.
October 2, 2020
Although Hunter Killer is the fourteenth book in the author’s Pike Logan series, it’s the first to be published in the UK. Readers like me who are new to Brad Taylor’s books may be apprehensive about embarking so late on such a well-established series, however I’m pleased to say Hunter Killer works perfectly well as a standalone. In fact, you may find yourself wanting to go back and read the earlier books once you’ve finished it.
The Taskforce are the US Government’s “secret weapon”, a group established to operate outside the law. Recruited from various agencies, they are a highly trained band of so-called “apex predators” used to living on the edge. Their cover is a company that travels the world facilitating archaeological work but their real job is, as Pike puts it, finding bad guys and planting them in the ground.
There are brief references to events in earlier books some of which help to shed light on the Pike Logan of today. He’s a satisfyingly complex figure who has experienced trauma in the past resulting in a constant struggle to control his anger and violent impulses; to avoid letting “the beast run free”, as he puts it. Jennifer Cahill, whom Pike describes as his “partner in crime”, is also his partner in life and, as much as he will let her be, his moral compass. She’s seen only too clearly what the work involved in being a part of Taskforce can do to people and she doesn’t want it to happen to Pike. The other members of the Taskforce team make a great supporting cast, each with their own area of expertise and interesting back stories. They’re a team, but more than that, they’re a family. When one of them is in danger, beware the wrath of the Taskforce.
The opening chapter plunges the reader into the heart of the action and the pace never really lets up from that point on. The author cleverly introduces contemporary issues into the storyline – from the plight of the Rohingya people, to Russian backed terrorist groups, cyber-warfare and election interference. There is an impressive range of technology on display as well, including encrypted communication channels and scarily intrusive surveillance equipment. Oh, and the bad guys are really bad.
In Hunter Killer, the author combines fact with fiction to create a compelling, fast-moving thriller. If it’s non-stop action and an adrenaline-fuelled ride you’re after, then Hunter Killer is the book for you.
The Taskforce are the US Government’s “secret weapon”, a group established to operate outside the law. Recruited from various agencies, they are a highly trained band of so-called “apex predators” used to living on the edge. Their cover is a company that travels the world facilitating archaeological work but their real job is, as Pike puts it, finding bad guys and planting them in the ground.
There are brief references to events in earlier books some of which help to shed light on the Pike Logan of today. He’s a satisfyingly complex figure who has experienced trauma in the past resulting in a constant struggle to control his anger and violent impulses; to avoid letting “the beast run free”, as he puts it. Jennifer Cahill, whom Pike describes as his “partner in crime”, is also his partner in life and, as much as he will let her be, his moral compass. She’s seen only too clearly what the work involved in being a part of Taskforce can do to people and she doesn’t want it to happen to Pike. The other members of the Taskforce team make a great supporting cast, each with their own area of expertise and interesting back stories. They’re a team, but more than that, they’re a family. When one of them is in danger, beware the wrath of the Taskforce.
The opening chapter plunges the reader into the heart of the action and the pace never really lets up from that point on. The author cleverly introduces contemporary issues into the storyline – from the plight of the Rohingya people, to Russian backed terrorist groups, cyber-warfare and election interference. There is an impressive range of technology on display as well, including encrypted communication channels and scarily intrusive surveillance equipment. Oh, and the bad guys are really bad.
In Hunter Killer, the author combines fact with fiction to create a compelling, fast-moving thriller. If it’s non-stop action and an adrenaline-fuelled ride you’re after, then Hunter Killer is the book for you.
March 28, 2021
Brad Taylor’s books never cease to amaze me and last year’s book in his franchise was one of the best thrillers I read early this year. Hunter Killer is an emotional, smart, fun, and thrilling turning point in the Pike Logan series and impacts the characters heavily. Though the plot is exciting, the real story in this book is about the characters on a personal level. This book is a mix of an action packed revenge thriller, adventure story with a deadly crew of main characters who are like a family, a geo-political and economics related shadow coup story with targeted assassinations and mercenaries, a techno thriller loaded with real world intrigue and fun geographical detail, and good humor along with doses of darkness.
Pike Logan has been through a lot of gradual character development through the books of this series, but this thriller brings back the ghosts of the previous book on a vendetta against him. A miscalculation from the villains ends up killing Pike’s superior officer, a major character in the series and Pike’s mentor / father figure, right outside Pike’s doorstep in an explosion that was targeted at Pike. Now, with all his friends and allies connected to the secretive black ops unit known as the Taskforce under attack, Pike’s out for blood without knowing the bigger conspiracy he’s stepping into.
The story has Pike Logan and his partner in crime Jennifer Cahill almost domesticated as a family, while trying to get legal citizenship papers for Ameena who they’ve fatefully adopted through the events of the previous book in the series. When the plot explodes into their doorstep, Pike’s paranoid mind goes back to a dark place, fearing that he’d lose his family again. At the same time, two other members of the Taskforce are caught in a hostage situation on a ferry in Brazil. These characters, accidentally caught in the wrong place at the wrong time stay in cover to not expose the existence of their unit, when the hostage situation is actually a cover for a targeted assassination of a corporate power-player in the petroleum industry.
Incidentally, the team of Russian mercenaries orchestrating the situation indirectly in Brazil, are connected to the Russian covert team still in Charlston to finish off their revenge op on Pike Logan. Now, without a boss and with his Taskforce disbanded, Pike calls in favours from the fan favorite Isreali assassins of the series – Aaron and Shoshana. The duo play along with Pike, in his game to eliminate the assassins lurking in his hometown before teaming up with Pike and Jen to resolve the situation with their friends stuck in Brazil.
The actual plot involves Russian meddling with the elections in Brazil, the petroleum industry in Brazil and its involvement with Russia, social media and marketing industry in the US with its connections to Russia and its involvement in lobbying and political influence. Yet, both the antagonists and the protagonists care about something else; their mutual obsession with taking revenge on the other.
In terms of the techno intrigue, Hunter Killer stays very realistic, detailed, and scarily smart. The techno awe shines in scenes like where the characters remotely hack into an Alexa device and use it as a listening bug, or in a time centric operation near the end where an explosive micro drone, the size of a large fly, is directed towards a mercenary to blow his head off in order to save many lives.
The villains, who are the Russian state owned private military company – The Wagner Group – is a trending real group used in action thrillers these days as an exciting antagonistic entity, but Brad Taylor’s writing again excels in portraying kill squads with a believable sense of realism by humanizing them and exploring the logistics and management issues with covert operations. Some of the major Wagner killers in this story are a deadly adversary who make Pike and his team work for it within the maze of disinformation and chaos.
Pike himself isn’t a rampaging action hero like other generic ex-Delta protagonists in the genre. He and his gang use a lot of tricks, deceptions, smart tradecraft, and cunning tactics to outsmart and outfight their adversaries. Pike’s dangerous, but he’s also humanized with his flaws, fears, and emotions, along with his smart operator mind which keeps the action as realistic as possible. Veep, the millennial in the Taskforce and also the fictional President’s son( not a Jack Ryan Jr. ripoff) gets his own action scenes against Wagner mercenaries where he’s teamed up with his boss, an aging former CIA operator, and the thirteen year old Ameena who tries to outsmart the mercs and helps Veep take them out. Just like the previous book in this series, Ameena might be the most fun, smart, and dangerous character in the Pike Logan franchise which is filled with assassins, terrorists, and mercenaries.
The highly weaponized tactical raids and assaults, the detailed and smart spycraft and tradecraft, the jokes and character dynamics, the dark psychological elements, the light but believable real worlds geo-politics and economics, kill squads and covert operations, political tension and extortions, the descriptive and cinematic real world locations, and emotionally charged thrilling narrative makes Hunter Killer a must read for the fans of this genre who want a fun, unique, and thought-provoking smart thrill-ride.
For more long-form book reviews, check out - www.kronosananthsimha.com/book-blog/
Pike Logan has been through a lot of gradual character development through the books of this series, but this thriller brings back the ghosts of the previous book on a vendetta against him. A miscalculation from the villains ends up killing Pike’s superior officer, a major character in the series and Pike’s mentor / father figure, right outside Pike’s doorstep in an explosion that was targeted at Pike. Now, with all his friends and allies connected to the secretive black ops unit known as the Taskforce under attack, Pike’s out for blood without knowing the bigger conspiracy he’s stepping into.
The story has Pike Logan and his partner in crime Jennifer Cahill almost domesticated as a family, while trying to get legal citizenship papers for Ameena who they’ve fatefully adopted through the events of the previous book in the series. When the plot explodes into their doorstep, Pike’s paranoid mind goes back to a dark place, fearing that he’d lose his family again. At the same time, two other members of the Taskforce are caught in a hostage situation on a ferry in Brazil. These characters, accidentally caught in the wrong place at the wrong time stay in cover to not expose the existence of their unit, when the hostage situation is actually a cover for a targeted assassination of a corporate power-player in the petroleum industry.
Incidentally, the team of Russian mercenaries orchestrating the situation indirectly in Brazil, are connected to the Russian covert team still in Charlston to finish off their revenge op on Pike Logan. Now, without a boss and with his Taskforce disbanded, Pike calls in favours from the fan favorite Isreali assassins of the series – Aaron and Shoshana. The duo play along with Pike, in his game to eliminate the assassins lurking in his hometown before teaming up with Pike and Jen to resolve the situation with their friends stuck in Brazil.
The actual plot involves Russian meddling with the elections in Brazil, the petroleum industry in Brazil and its involvement with Russia, social media and marketing industry in the US with its connections to Russia and its involvement in lobbying and political influence. Yet, both the antagonists and the protagonists care about something else; their mutual obsession with taking revenge on the other.
In terms of the techno intrigue, Hunter Killer stays very realistic, detailed, and scarily smart. The techno awe shines in scenes like where the characters remotely hack into an Alexa device and use it as a listening bug, or in a time centric operation near the end where an explosive micro drone, the size of a large fly, is directed towards a mercenary to blow his head off in order to save many lives.
The villains, who are the Russian state owned private military company – The Wagner Group – is a trending real group used in action thrillers these days as an exciting antagonistic entity, but Brad Taylor’s writing again excels in portraying kill squads with a believable sense of realism by humanizing them and exploring the logistics and management issues with covert operations. Some of the major Wagner killers in this story are a deadly adversary who make Pike and his team work for it within the maze of disinformation and chaos.
Pike himself isn’t a rampaging action hero like other generic ex-Delta protagonists in the genre. He and his gang use a lot of tricks, deceptions, smart tradecraft, and cunning tactics to outsmart and outfight their adversaries. Pike’s dangerous, but he’s also humanized with his flaws, fears, and emotions, along with his smart operator mind which keeps the action as realistic as possible. Veep, the millennial in the Taskforce and also the fictional President’s son( not a Jack Ryan Jr. ripoff) gets his own action scenes against Wagner mercenaries where he’s teamed up with his boss, an aging former CIA operator, and the thirteen year old Ameena who tries to outsmart the mercs and helps Veep take them out. Just like the previous book in this series, Ameena might be the most fun, smart, and dangerous character in the Pike Logan franchise which is filled with assassins, terrorists, and mercenaries.
The highly weaponized tactical raids and assaults, the detailed and smart spycraft and tradecraft, the jokes and character dynamics, the dark psychological elements, the light but believable real worlds geo-politics and economics, kill squads and covert operations, political tension and extortions, the descriptive and cinematic real world locations, and emotionally charged thrilling narrative makes Hunter Killer a must read for the fans of this genre who want a fun, unique, and thought-provoking smart thrill-ride.
For more long-form book reviews, check out - www.kronosananthsimha.com/book-blog/
January 28, 2020
The 14th in the Pike Logan Taskforce series...a lot of focus on character development after an attempt on Pike ends in the death of a dear friend...As usual, Logan and his gang of loyalists chafe under the bureaucratic restrictions of Washington DC and punch out on their own...This time to prevent Russian election interference in Brazil...The usual good stuff!!!
June 15, 2020
Another good Pike Logan adventure story. Fast moving, lots of action, good guy wins in the end.
May 25, 2020
My Rating: 3 Russians
An okay book with lot about Brazilian culture and history. Cities of Santos, Manaus, and Rio were interesting. Author played it safe and used Russians as the bad guys. Maybe this would have been relevant or believable some time ago, but now it just seems cliché. The numerous times I have been to Brazil, I had not seen a single Russian person.
Decent narration of the audio book.
An okay book with lot about Brazilian culture and history. Cities of Santos, Manaus, and Rio were interesting. Author played it safe and used Russians as the bad guys. Maybe this would have been relevant or believable some time ago, but now it just seems cliché. The numerous times I have been to Brazil, I had not seen a single Russian person.
Decent narration of the audio book.
January 22, 2020
I gave this a three star because it was perhaps too real. Taylor has Special Forces experience and it shows. The dialogue between colleagues was hard to follow sometimes because of this. Nonetheless, I will read more of his. Maybe I just need more exposure. I really like his dealing with "the beast". That's the deep pit the operator falls in and becomes a killer rather than a hunter. This, in my experience, is unique.
October 31, 2023
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. HUNTER KILLER has a lot of action, which readers have come to expect and enjoy. Action aside, there are problematic issues that preclude an enjoyable or even satisfying read.
First, there are many references to exploits found in prior books in this series... and they are referenced without explanation. Without knowledge of this background, the reader is left confusingly in the dark. While previous story arcs can be mentioned, it happens far too frequently here. This is NOT A STAND ALONE NOVEL.
Another problem is choppy transitions. The reader is immersed in one story arc, without knowledge of the setting - no “set up” whatsoever. Then, the reader is jerked to another story arc, in another country, with other characters... done without preamble. It is a tactic, unless done well, that leaves a reader confused to the who, where, when... what???? In this book, the lack of smooth transitioning is frustrating at best.
Thirdly, but perhaps of greatest significance, is the lack of character development. There is an attempt to delve into the characterization of Pike and Jennifer, the two main protagonists, but this reader feels they are still flat, one dimensional characters. Bemoaning the characters “falling into the abyss” reference Is WORN DOWN (and the reader worn out) by its excessIve overuse! Referencing ‘the abyss’ fails to illicit new depth for the characters, which no doubt was the intent. The author “tells” but does not “show”.
As I reflect why I keep trying books in this series, I think it is because I connected with Pike and Jennifer in the beginning installments of this series. However, subsequent books have not been as satisfying nor is Pike the appealing character that I once thought. I need to stick with the “other Brad”.
First, there are many references to exploits found in prior books in this series... and they are referenced without explanation. Without knowledge of this background, the reader is left confusingly in the dark. While previous story arcs can be mentioned, it happens far too frequently here. This is NOT A STAND ALONE NOVEL.
Another problem is choppy transitions. The reader is immersed in one story arc, without knowledge of the setting - no “set up” whatsoever. Then, the reader is jerked to another story arc, in another country, with other characters... done without preamble. It is a tactic, unless done well, that leaves a reader confused to the who, where, when... what???? In this book, the lack of smooth transitioning is frustrating at best.
Thirdly, but perhaps of greatest significance, is the lack of character development. There is an attempt to delve into the characterization of Pike and Jennifer, the two main protagonists, but this reader feels they are still flat, one dimensional characters. Bemoaning the characters “falling into the abyss” reference Is WORN DOWN (and the reader worn out) by its excessIve overuse! Referencing ‘the abyss’ fails to illicit new depth for the characters, which no doubt was the intent. The author “tells” but does not “show”.
As I reflect why I keep trying books in this series, I think it is because I connected with Pike and Jennifer in the beginning installments of this series. However, subsequent books have not been as satisfying nor is Pike the appealing character that I once thought. I need to stick with the “other Brad”.
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