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Special Agent Tom Dupree #2
State of Attack
State of Attack sees the return of Special Agent Tom Dupree in another turbocharged political thriller from Gary Haynes.
Tom Dupree must embark on his most dangerous mission yet: a desperate search to track down the Sword of Allah, a jihadist otherwise known simply as Ibrahim.
But the closer Dupree delves into the knot of terror, betrayal and conspiracy surrounding the Sword of Allah, the fewer people he can trust – and the more deadly the race becomes.
Special Agent Tom Dupree is back!
Tom Dupree must embark on his most dangerous mission yet: a desperate search to track down the Sword of Allah, a jihadist otherwise known simply as Ibrahim.
But the closer Dupree delves into the knot of terror, betrayal and conspiracy surrounding the Sword of Allah, the fewer people he can trust – and the more deadly the race becomes.
Special Agent Tom Dupree is back!
440 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2015
2 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Gary Haynes
3 books321 followersBestselling thriller novelist. Member of the International Thriller Writers Organization, the Crime Writers Association and the Society of Authors.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 5, 2015
Gary Haynes is a very talented author. He has a way of bringing the story to life and pulling you deeper into the pages. I haven't had a chance to read State Of Honor yet, but I plan on reading it soon. I could tell this is an excellent mystery thriller series by reading State Of Attack. Gary Haynes has been to law school and is now a lawyer that helps him write a more enjoyable mystery thriller. This book is well-written, and the plot is very stable. It has a good flow from start to finish. I will be reading book one of this series then read it to the end. I also will be reading other books by the author. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is into the genre. State Of Attack is a book that any avid reader could thoroughly enjoy.
February 9, 2015
`A mackerel sky is a harbinger of a storm'
British author Gary Haynes digs further into mystery thriller writing with his second novel in the Tom Dupree novel series, STATE OF ATTACK - his Volume 1 STATE OF HONOR met with enthusiastic acclaim. Gary studied law at University of Warwick in Coventry, England and completed his postgraduate training at the College of Law. His emphasis as a lawyer is on commercial dispute resolution, but even more pertinent to his input for the novel is his commentary on Middle East politics. He has created his new action hero in Tom Dupree who he has shaped so well that he may become another Jack Ryan, James Bond, Indiana Jones trope. As Haynes describes his new action hero, ` He is a man who lives by a code of honour. His calling is to save human life by putting his own life in jeopardy. Join him as he battles to save the day. 6'2", 182 lbs., dark brown eyes, dark hair, Favourite handgun: SIG Sauer P229, Martial Art: Muay Thai (Thai boxing), Marital status: Single. He wears his Bureau of Diplomatic Security badge with pride.' Remember the description well - the counterterrorism/political/spy thriller series promises to have a continuing long life.
Haynes opens his book with a telling introduction set in Western Syria where we meet Basilios Nassar defending his town in a conflict between Muslims and Christians; `Syrian Christians had lived in relative peace with their Muslim countrymen for decades. But everyone knew the men they faced were different. Basilios's people called them Salafists, heavily-armed Sunni fanatics from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan; many other countries, too. There was even talk of red-bearded Chechens....He guessed the Salafists were Jabhat al-Nusra Front rebels, or terrorists from the Islamic State group, formerly known as ISIS, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which referred to a desired caliphate from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean to southern Turkey. The latter had joined forces with al-Qaeda, although after their rampant brutality, even that organization had disowned them.'
And so Gary sets the stage in a very contemporary, media focused way for his Tom Dupree to enter.
And enter he does after a pre-set in Georgetown: as the author's brief synopsis outlines, `Tom Dupree must embark on his most dangerous mission yet: a desperate search to track down the Sword of Allah, a jihadist otherwise known simply as Ibrahim. But the closer Dupree delves into the knot of terror, betrayal and conspiracy surrounding the Sword of Allah, the fewer people he can trust - and the more deadly the race becomes.'
Using a setting that mirrors today's headlines, Gary Haynes revs up the energy level from the first page and involves the reader in a manner like the best of Tom Clancy's novels. But Hayes has his own style and the success of this book lies primarily in the manner he has constructed his Special Agent Tom Dupree - a man who is fearless yet has a vulnerable side few see, a hero that takes all aspects of a situation into his head before simply making muscle noise. With Dupree author Hayes has sculpted a fine hero and it is doubtless he will continue with more adventures for him. Welcome to a solid and proved action writer! Bet we see this as a film soon...
British author Gary Haynes digs further into mystery thriller writing with his second novel in the Tom Dupree novel series, STATE OF ATTACK - his Volume 1 STATE OF HONOR met with enthusiastic acclaim. Gary studied law at University of Warwick in Coventry, England and completed his postgraduate training at the College of Law. His emphasis as a lawyer is on commercial dispute resolution, but even more pertinent to his input for the novel is his commentary on Middle East politics. He has created his new action hero in Tom Dupree who he has shaped so well that he may become another Jack Ryan, James Bond, Indiana Jones trope. As Haynes describes his new action hero, ` He is a man who lives by a code of honour. His calling is to save human life by putting his own life in jeopardy. Join him as he battles to save the day. 6'2", 182 lbs., dark brown eyes, dark hair, Favourite handgun: SIG Sauer P229, Martial Art: Muay Thai (Thai boxing), Marital status: Single. He wears his Bureau of Diplomatic Security badge with pride.' Remember the description well - the counterterrorism/political/spy thriller series promises to have a continuing long life.
Haynes opens his book with a telling introduction set in Western Syria where we meet Basilios Nassar defending his town in a conflict between Muslims and Christians; `Syrian Christians had lived in relative peace with their Muslim countrymen for decades. But everyone knew the men they faced were different. Basilios's people called them Salafists, heavily-armed Sunni fanatics from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan; many other countries, too. There was even talk of red-bearded Chechens....He guessed the Salafists were Jabhat al-Nusra Front rebels, or terrorists from the Islamic State group, formerly known as ISIS, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which referred to a desired caliphate from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean to southern Turkey. The latter had joined forces with al-Qaeda, although after their rampant brutality, even that organization had disowned them.'
And so Gary sets the stage in a very contemporary, media focused way for his Tom Dupree to enter.
And enter he does after a pre-set in Georgetown: as the author's brief synopsis outlines, `Tom Dupree must embark on his most dangerous mission yet: a desperate search to track down the Sword of Allah, a jihadist otherwise known simply as Ibrahim. But the closer Dupree delves into the knot of terror, betrayal and conspiracy surrounding the Sword of Allah, the fewer people he can trust - and the more deadly the race becomes.'
Using a setting that mirrors today's headlines, Gary Haynes revs up the energy level from the first page and involves the reader in a manner like the best of Tom Clancy's novels. But Hayes has his own style and the success of this book lies primarily in the manner he has constructed his Special Agent Tom Dupree - a man who is fearless yet has a vulnerable side few see, a hero that takes all aspects of a situation into his head before simply making muscle noise. With Dupree author Hayes has sculpted a fine hero and it is doubtless he will continue with more adventures for him. Welcome to a solid and proved action writer! Bet we see this as a film soon...
February 24, 2015
The author set such a high standard with his first Tom Dupree novel, State of Honor, that my biggest concern was, would he be able to live up to the high expectations he himself set with this sequel? Keep in mind that a follow up novel is not necessarily the easiest thing to write. Yeah, sure, the central character is known to you, and the world building is but an extension of that in the first novel. But you have to walk that fine line of “same but different.” If it’s too much like the first novel you get accused of being “derivative.” And failing to shock and surprise the reader with the latest installment is never a good thing. Long story short, I put this book down thinking, “It’s even better than the first book.”
As I gave the last novel five stars, that means I have to give this one five and a half, but sadly the system doesn’t let me do that.
What are some of the things that set this book apart? For one, the beginning starts off with even more explosive force than its predecessor. Haynes approach is to start fast and hard and never let up, reminiscent of one of General Schwarzkopf’s blitzes across Iraq. I also thought the intercutting between Tom Dupree’s story thread and the one unfolding in Iraq was particularly effective and lent itself to the forward moment of the story. The surprise twist of how the two story threads connected on a whole other level was particularly pleasurable.
The author’s sense of authority over the political and religious complexity of Turkey and all things Middle Eastern is once again on display. You could read Foreign Affairs journal on a regular basis and come away with less of a sense of being steeped in the region, and feeling less knowledgeable. It’s impossible to put this book down and not believe the author actually lived in that part of the world in the capacity of an operative and maintains his CIA contacts to this day.
The author layers on details in such a way that it not only adds credibility but does so without slowing the pace of the story. I.e. “He cracked his skull with the AK’s metal butt.” How many writers would bother to check that the AK has a metal butt? They would just neglect to include this detail and no one would be any the wiser. But small details slipped in seamlessly like this, time and again, and… the author takes on a Hemingway-style journalistic integrity and severity.
I’ve read history books that were a tenth as informative and a hundredth as entertaining; I honestly don’t know how he does it. But rereading him in hopes the magic’ll rub off has become my favorite pastime.
Tom Dupree’s character and those of the few people he keeps close to him are further developed in this installment. I found myself falling in love with him as a character all the more; how can you not like a guy who cultivates bonsai and drinks Jack and coke to relax?
Chapters are kept short and cliffhangers potent, which adds to the forward momentum of this well-paced political action thriller.
As I gave the last novel five stars, that means I have to give this one five and a half, but sadly the system doesn’t let me do that.
What are some of the things that set this book apart? For one, the beginning starts off with even more explosive force than its predecessor. Haynes approach is to start fast and hard and never let up, reminiscent of one of General Schwarzkopf’s blitzes across Iraq. I also thought the intercutting between Tom Dupree’s story thread and the one unfolding in Iraq was particularly effective and lent itself to the forward moment of the story. The surprise twist of how the two story threads connected on a whole other level was particularly pleasurable.
The author’s sense of authority over the political and religious complexity of Turkey and all things Middle Eastern is once again on display. You could read Foreign Affairs journal on a regular basis and come away with less of a sense of being steeped in the region, and feeling less knowledgeable. It’s impossible to put this book down and not believe the author actually lived in that part of the world in the capacity of an operative and maintains his CIA contacts to this day.
The author layers on details in such a way that it not only adds credibility but does so without slowing the pace of the story. I.e. “He cracked his skull with the AK’s metal butt.” How many writers would bother to check that the AK has a metal butt? They would just neglect to include this detail and no one would be any the wiser. But small details slipped in seamlessly like this, time and again, and… the author takes on a Hemingway-style journalistic integrity and severity.
I’ve read history books that were a tenth as informative and a hundredth as entertaining; I honestly don’t know how he does it. But rereading him in hopes the magic’ll rub off has become my favorite pastime.
Tom Dupree’s character and those of the few people he keeps close to him are further developed in this installment. I found myself falling in love with him as a character all the more; how can you not like a guy who cultivates bonsai and drinks Jack and coke to relax?
Chapters are kept short and cliffhangers potent, which adds to the forward momentum of this well-paced political action thriller.
March 30, 2015
This is simply a brilliant, fast moving, well researched political thriller following terrorists and those battling to defeat them. The story initially follows two main characters, Tom Dupree and Ibrahim - ‘The Sword of Allah’ - initially half a world apart but due to have significant impacts on each other’s lives. Many of the events described could easily be headlines in current news programmes about events in the Middle East, making the book more riveting and the events, however horrendous or traumatic, even more believable. Whilst the stories of the two men initially seem parallel, never to meet, they are destined to be adversaries in this multi-layered thriller that has short but punchy chapters which have their own cliff hangers to keep the reader enthralled and eager to read more. Definitely an author I’ll be looking out for in future bringing to life the political and religious turmoil currently present in Turkey and the Middle East. This is a book you’ll return to re-read, one to keep!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2015
Gary Haynes has the uncanny ability to take the reader right into the story as one of the characters. He has his thumb on the pulse of the Middle East situation.
State of Attack finds Tom Dupree searching for the terrorist, Ibrahim or The Sword of Allah. This mission becomes extremely personal due to Ibrahim attack on Tom' father, a U.S. General. Now deprived of the opportunity to reconcile with his father, Tom gives his all to bring down Ibrhim before he can launch his attack on US soil. An attack that will be deadly but not military.
The tension builds for the opening pages of the story and never lets up. Gary Haynes has done a wonderful job of presenting the volatile, turbulent political and religious situation in the Middle East. An area where loyalties may not be as they seem. Betrayal can occur for many reasons . Fear rules the lives of those who live there.
Tom Dupree may be the new kid on the block in espionage novels...... but he will give the rest a run for their money. Eagerly awaiting an new Dupree adventure.
State of Attack finds Tom Dupree searching for the terrorist, Ibrahim or The Sword of Allah. This mission becomes extremely personal due to Ibrahim attack on Tom' father, a U.S. General. Now deprived of the opportunity to reconcile with his father, Tom gives his all to bring down Ibrhim before he can launch his attack on US soil. An attack that will be deadly but not military.
The tension builds for the opening pages of the story and never lets up. Gary Haynes has done a wonderful job of presenting the volatile, turbulent political and religious situation in the Middle East. An area where loyalties may not be as they seem. Betrayal can occur for many reasons . Fear rules the lives of those who live there.
Tom Dupree may be the new kid on the block in espionage novels...... but he will give the rest a run for their money. Eagerly awaiting an new Dupree adventure.
March 4, 2015
This was a nicely detailed, character driven novel. At times I felt like I was reading a Ludlum book, although Tom Dupree seems more human than Jason Bourne. That's what I really enjoyed about the book, the realism of the characters and dialogue. The action moves along crisply and each chapter helps to build momentum. I found the ending satisfying and true to the personalities of the characters.
December 25, 2019
Heavy duty action
Lots of clandestine moves, a threat or two or three, and great characters! History interspersed with the storyline sometimes gets in the way, but it's a good story!!
Lots of clandestine moves, a threat or two or three, and great characters! History interspersed with the storyline sometimes gets in the way, but it's a good story!!
May 14, 2020
The overall premise of the story was very appealing but I found it a bit too busy with the characters that I almost felt a little lost as to who was who. It was very detailed when it came to the countries and descriptions of ammunition- I just don’t think it’s my type of genre.
July 10, 2024
Boring
February 22, 2015
This is a fast-moving thriller in which Tom Dupree must stop Ibrahim, "The sword of Allah", who wants to be the supreme terrorist. The book is technically set in four continents, but it is largely set in the region Turkey, Lebanon and Gaza, and it paints an unattractive picture of the seedier sides of society in these places. Haynes follows in the footsteps of Tom Clancy. He has done considerable research on his topic, and it shows through. The descriptions of Gaza seem very realistic; whether Gaza really is like that I do not know, but the writing sounds authoritative. On the downside, he follows Clancy in that at times he seems to have been influenced by a weapons catalogue. Notwithstanding that, the seeming realism of the action, and the way the action kept coming persuaded me that this had to be a five star thriller.
However, about halfway through I began to change my mind. The book has a severe structural flaw in that to generate tension, Haynes used a certain type of situation. (I don't want to spoil this by detailing it.) The problem for me was, he used it again, and again, until finally, when something happened, I could not help but think, "Not again!" As it happened, this was a variation, but the damage was done. The second flaw was the ending. About 85% of the way through the book, it becomes apparent that Ibrahim has found a way to do serious damage to the United States. The problem is genuinely original, so what happens next? Here we run into problems. What should be the material for genuine thrills and suspense, Haynes seems to lose his way, and I found the ending to be disjointed and for me, disappointing. Notwithstanding these flaws, this is an exciting read, and Haynes is an author to watch.
However, about halfway through I began to change my mind. The book has a severe structural flaw in that to generate tension, Haynes used a certain type of situation. (I don't want to spoil this by detailing it.) The problem for me was, he used it again, and again, until finally, when something happened, I could not help but think, "Not again!" As it happened, this was a variation, but the damage was done. The second flaw was the ending. About 85% of the way through the book, it becomes apparent that Ibrahim has found a way to do serious damage to the United States. The problem is genuinely original, so what happens next? Here we run into problems. What should be the material for genuine thrills and suspense, Haynes seems to lose his way, and I found the ending to be disjointed and for me, disappointing. Notwithstanding these flaws, this is an exciting read, and Haynes is an author to watch.
March 10, 2015
I have never been fortunate enough to read the first novel in the Tom Dupree series, but I definitely want to after reading book 2, in fact it's next on my to-read list! State of attack takes us to the middle-east into a religious conflict in Syria that resonates given the rise of ISIS and the Islamist threat we face. The geopolitical, counter-terrorism theme and nerve-jangling spy-thriller action make this feel like Bond for the 21st century, but it is very much its own franchise. Hero, Tom Dupree, is ready made for the big screen: a tough, honourable, and courageous powerhouse with martial arts and gun skills who is both impressive and relateable. The settings and details suggest this work has been meticulously researched: it is never less than 100% believable, and the tension will have sweat dripping down your forehead. The writing quality is immaculate - I am a big fan of the late Tom Clancy but to be honest, Haynes is more of a natural writer. I really believe this book has the potential to go onto be a best-seller and I hope it does. It's one of the best entries into the genre that I've encountered. Absolutely outstanding.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews