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Shadows #2
Chasing Shadows
No support. No weapons. No prior intelligence. A deadly mission where no one is expected to survive! Inspired by a real event. After their previous experience with British Intelligence, the CACS kidnap recovery team swore they would never do another job for MI6. Now they are requested by the MI6 Chief to rescue someone else. Again, the assignment is not as it appears. A man will die within a week, unless CACS take on the task. As details emerge, it is clear this is a suicide mission. To succeed, they will need an alliance with the devil himself. Book Two of the Shadows series. To fully enjoy this continuation of 'Leaving Shadows', read 'Facets' beforehand.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2020
3 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Eric J. Gates
28 books153 followersAward-winning author Eric J. Gates has had a curious life filled with the stuff of thriller novels. Writing Operating Systems for Supercomputers, cracking cryptographic codes under extreme pressure using only paper and pen and teaching cyberwarfare to spies are just a few of the moments he’s willing to recall. He is an ex-International Consultant who has travelled extensively worldwide, speaks several languages, and has had articles and papers published in six different countries, as well as radio and TV spots. His specialty, Information Technology Security, has brought him into contact with the Military and Intelligence communities on numerous occasions. He is also an expert martial artist, holding 14 black belt degrees in distinct disciplines. He has taught his skills to Police and Military personnel, as well as to the public.
He now writes thriller novels, drawing on his experiences with the confidential and secret worlds that surround us.
He now writes thriller novels, drawing on his experiences with the confidential and secret worlds that surround us.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 8, 2020
‘Chasing Shadows’ is the second book in Eric J. Gates’ ‘Shadows’ series, although it can be read as a stand-alone. There are also links to his short story collection ‘Facets’ for those who are intrigued by the characters.
I have read a number of Gates’ thrillers (including the entire ‘Cull series), and he is one of my go-to authors whenever I’m looking for a good action tale to take my mind off the sometime-humdrum world.
How’s this for an opening?
“It watched from unwavering, hooded, reptilian eyes. Its massive body, at least four meters long, remained immobile as he stepped off the edge. Less than fifteen meters away, open jawed, soaking up the sun, watching, waiting. A foul footfall and he would roll down to within striking distance. These beasts could move rapidly over short distances. Faster, much faster, than a human. With the clamping of those teeth around a limb, it would be all over.”
(All his books I’ve read so far are like that, I might add. Start with a bang, and keep it coming!)
‘Chasing Shadows’ contains the author’s hallmark unflagging narrative – some action books tend to flag in the middle, but Gates’ never do. He’s just getting his second wind by then.
In this book, as usual, he weaves together various storylines (some exotic). The CACS kidnap recovery team find themselves again working with MI6, with whom they have an unfortunate history, and this time their job looks more like a suicide mission than anything else.
Politics, mining, favours, ex-Special Forces hard men, a lawless Central African nation, the ever-present threat of betrayal and annihilation, and a kidnapped geologist who may or may not be what he seems, are just some of the ingredients of this pacey novel.
Cop this:
“In this day and age … you can’t trust anyone. Everyone is not what they seem to be. Take yourself, for instance. I see an educated man in a frustrating role, allowing his fear to stop him from taking actions that could make his life better. Am I right?”
“It makes no difference now. Once Colonel Dembo hears about this, I’m dead, so is my family.”
And …
“In the corner. A table with tea, coffee, biscuits and the remains of a half-eaten meal. An unattended kettle boiled furiously. Steam bellowing against armored, one-way glass windows. A body slumped on the floor. A small trickle of blood. Silence.”
And …
“The soldier was almost certainly armed with the Israeli Galil ACE 31 assault rifle they had seen everywhere in the past couple of days. At a fire-rate of 650 rounds a minute, the soldier could empty the thirty bullets in his magazine in the blink of an eye, and have time to reload. Yes, someone was going to die. And probably more than one.”
Are you sold yet?
Highly recommended for lovers of a good adventure/action story.
Oh, and one final point: don’t eat the bushmeat.
I have read a number of Gates’ thrillers (including the entire ‘Cull series), and he is one of my go-to authors whenever I’m looking for a good action tale to take my mind off the sometime-humdrum world.
How’s this for an opening?
“It watched from unwavering, hooded, reptilian eyes. Its massive body, at least four meters long, remained immobile as he stepped off the edge. Less than fifteen meters away, open jawed, soaking up the sun, watching, waiting. A foul footfall and he would roll down to within striking distance. These beasts could move rapidly over short distances. Faster, much faster, than a human. With the clamping of those teeth around a limb, it would be all over.”
(All his books I’ve read so far are like that, I might add. Start with a bang, and keep it coming!)
‘Chasing Shadows’ contains the author’s hallmark unflagging narrative – some action books tend to flag in the middle, but Gates’ never do. He’s just getting his second wind by then.
In this book, as usual, he weaves together various storylines (some exotic). The CACS kidnap recovery team find themselves again working with MI6, with whom they have an unfortunate history, and this time their job looks more like a suicide mission than anything else.
Politics, mining, favours, ex-Special Forces hard men, a lawless Central African nation, the ever-present threat of betrayal and annihilation, and a kidnapped geologist who may or may not be what he seems, are just some of the ingredients of this pacey novel.
Cop this:
“In this day and age … you can’t trust anyone. Everyone is not what they seem to be. Take yourself, for instance. I see an educated man in a frustrating role, allowing his fear to stop him from taking actions that could make his life better. Am I right?”
“It makes no difference now. Once Colonel Dembo hears about this, I’m dead, so is my family.”
And …
“In the corner. A table with tea, coffee, biscuits and the remains of a half-eaten meal. An unattended kettle boiled furiously. Steam bellowing against armored, one-way glass windows. A body slumped on the floor. A small trickle of blood. Silence.”
And …
“The soldier was almost certainly armed with the Israeli Galil ACE 31 assault rifle they had seen everywhere in the past couple of days. At a fire-rate of 650 rounds a minute, the soldier could empty the thirty bullets in his magazine in the blink of an eye, and have time to reload. Yes, someone was going to die. And probably more than one.”
Are you sold yet?
Highly recommended for lovers of a good adventure/action story.
Oh, and one final point: don’t eat the bushmeat.
June 23, 2021
This novel, ‘Chasing Shadows’, the second novel in Mr. Gates “Shadows” series is a superb and so very gripping, read.
In book #1, ‘Leaving Shadows’ the head of MI6 is kidnapped, and the mission of rescue is placed on CACS recovery team. Though successful they are left somewhat disillusioned with the British Secret Intelligence Service, vowing not to work with them again. Nevertheless, in ‘Chasing Shadows’ they are once again employed in their service, this time pitted in a suicidal mission to rescue a geologist being held in one of those steamy, shit-holes we used to call ‘emerging nations’. The result is, once again, a truly high-octane thriller.
I have read several of Eric J. Gates novels, and they all start with a bang. Tight as a drum skin, with no preamble, there is action from the let go. He comes fast off the blocks and wastes little time in pulling the reader in. I like that. It’s almost as if the reader were involved, an important participant in the events.
He also links his stories with old characters re-appearing. It was nice to meet Simba, the Lion Man, once again.
‘Chasing Shadows’ can be enjoyed in itself. But I would recommend reading ‘Leaving Shadows’ first for a fuller experience. Even better if you also read the short stories found in ‘Facets’. If you enjoy thrillers that are fast and furious, full of conflict and drama, and well written to boot, ‘Chasing Shadows’ is right up your street. Highly recommended. I look forward to more in this series.
In book #1, ‘Leaving Shadows’ the head of MI6 is kidnapped, and the mission of rescue is placed on CACS recovery team. Though successful they are left somewhat disillusioned with the British Secret Intelligence Service, vowing not to work with them again. Nevertheless, in ‘Chasing Shadows’ they are once again employed in their service, this time pitted in a suicidal mission to rescue a geologist being held in one of those steamy, shit-holes we used to call ‘emerging nations’. The result is, once again, a truly high-octane thriller.
I have read several of Eric J. Gates novels, and they all start with a bang. Tight as a drum skin, with no preamble, there is action from the let go. He comes fast off the blocks and wastes little time in pulling the reader in. I like that. It’s almost as if the reader were involved, an important participant in the events.
He also links his stories with old characters re-appearing. It was nice to meet Simba, the Lion Man, once again.
‘Chasing Shadows’ can be enjoyed in itself. But I would recommend reading ‘Leaving Shadows’ first for a fuller experience. Even better if you also read the short stories found in ‘Facets’. If you enjoy thrillers that are fast and furious, full of conflict and drama, and well written to boot, ‘Chasing Shadows’ is right up your street. Highly recommended. I look forward to more in this series.
June 2, 2020
Eric Gates writes hi-tech, adrenaline-fuelled thrillers that are steeped in a knowledge of the world he writes about. In this book, his team of hostage-rescue experts are asked to extract a Canadian geologist from incarceration in an impoverished African country. They go about the task with their usual professionalism - and disdain of MI6, whom they distrust despite the agency being their client. The exploit requires courage, technical knowhow, experience and brains, which thankfully the team has in abundance.
What's intriguing about the way Gates structures the book is the never-relenting pressure ... you're desperate to find out What Happens Next because the plot is so inventive and surprising, full of detail and setbacks and creative ways of dealing with problems. The team is nicely distinguished one from the other, from the cool American woman, Sena, to the more light-hearted, joke-cracking Bill. You want them to get out of it all alive - or at least still functioning!
So buy the book and set aside a day or so to get through it. You won't be disappointed.
What's intriguing about the way Gates structures the book is the never-relenting pressure ... you're desperate to find out What Happens Next because the plot is so inventive and surprising, full of detail and setbacks and creative ways of dealing with problems. The team is nicely distinguished one from the other, from the cool American woman, Sena, to the more light-hearted, joke-cracking Bill. You want them to get out of it all alive - or at least still functioning!
So buy the book and set aside a day or so to get through it. You won't be disappointed.
June 18, 2020
Cooped up with the rest of the world due to the pandemic, I needed a book that extended my virtual horizon, and wisked me to far off places. This thrilling adventure about the CACS kidnap recovery team's latest suicide mission took me to London, obscure Africa, and then Gibraltar.
Like incessant waves pounding the rock of Gibraltar, the action was relentless, vivid and authentic; so much so, I couldn't put the book down. As for the plot, it broke new ground for me; in no way is it formulaic which makes this thrilling book the ideal source material for a scintillating television series.
Like incessant waves pounding the rock of Gibraltar, the action was relentless, vivid and authentic; so much so, I couldn't put the book down. As for the plot, it broke new ground for me; in no way is it formulaic which makes this thrilling book the ideal source material for a scintillating television series.
June 1, 2022
There is a big difference between rescuing a kidnap victim and breaking someone out of prison, isn’t there??? This story is more than interesting. You never know who to trust!!! But I did enjoy the trip and recommend the book.
February 17, 2023
Chasing Shadows by Eric Gates
This one kept be glued to the story while making dinner hence, barely edible dinner.
Definitely worth it though! Good job Mr. Gates!!
This one kept be glued to the story while making dinner hence, barely edible dinner.
Definitely worth it though! Good job Mr. Gates!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews