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Ben Porter #1
False Assurances
An Amazon, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal BestsellerDiscover the series that has been optioned for a feature film by Spyglass Media GroupBest-selling author James Patterson applauds False Assurances and Threat Bias as “a thoroughly riveting two-novel debut introducing a compelling new hero.”In Book One of The Ben Porter On the morning of July 12, 2017, the FBI Boston field office receives what appears to be a hoax a man rescued from the waters off Massachusetts has claimed that his sailboat was hijacked and used to smuggle weapons and terrorists into the United States. With local agents tasked to prepare for an evening Presidential visit to downtown Boston, and with procedures requiring a response to any threat, no matter how unreliable it may seem, FBI administrative staffer Ben Porter is dispatched to investigate the call. Can Ben, untrained in field work and relying only on his wits and intuition, uncover the deadly plot … in time to stop it?Ryan Steck, THE REAL BOOK “Fast, masterfully-plotted, and rich with vibrant details—everything you want in a thriller . . . and I'll take all the Ben Porter I can get!”Wall Street Journal, #1 fiction e-book, week ending May 16, 2020Amazon, #6 combined print/e-book, week ending May 17, 2020USA Today, #12 Best-selling books list on May 21, 2020 (fiction, all genres)
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2020
816 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Rosow
9 books59 followersWhen not writing, Christopher Rosow works in the design and construction space. And, when not working or writing, or enjoying time with his amazing family, he's probably found out on the water somewhere, sailing. He lives in Connecticut with his family, his dogs, and way too many boats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
June 5, 2020
Ben Porter is an administrative drone with the FBI -- NOT an agent. Which defines his life. He doesn't carry a gun. He doesn't have a government ride. He's a little overweight, gets treated like a mushroom, and he doesn't walk with squared shoulders. Until one weekend... He's thrown into the role of super-stud to look into a suspicious but hoaxy claim by a sailboat owner rescued off Massachusetts who says his vessel was hijacked by terrorists and loaded with possibly dangerous cargo onto it. Ben is the only one available in the Boston FBI office because everyone else is tied up with a Presidential visit. So, right from the start he has the problem of taking the case seriously and being taken seriously when he does. By the sheer force of Ben's analysis in peeling away each layer of the onion, the case gets more and more serious.
This is just outstanding. You won't find a better thriller than this one (including Clancy's works). As evidence of how well done this is, I saw no errors of any kind (typo, editing, misnomer, etc.) except one (using "risk adverse" instead of averse), which makes me think the author did that deliberately to catch and focus the reader's eye. In these times, when editorial effort seems to have disappeared, that alone is a towering achievement.
This is just outstanding. You won't find a better thriller than this one (including Clancy's works). As evidence of how well done this is, I saw no errors of any kind (typo, editing, misnomer, etc.) except one (using "risk adverse" instead of averse), which makes me think the author did that deliberately to catch and focus the reader's eye. In these times, when editorial effort seems to have disappeared, that alone is a towering achievement.
March 21, 2022
Fabulous entertaining and a great thriller. Ben Porter is a cool guy. A non Special Agent FBI guy hidden in the trenches and pulled into action. His insight is rationale, not a fairy tale version. The story is compelling. Well, well written with amazingly fast action. I loved so many scenes but to describe them would be a spoiler. I’ve begun reading his second book, Threat Bias and can’t wait to get into it. Rosow says these are his first books, but that seems impossible. I’ve read all the Alex Cross, Ted Bell books, love Mitch Rapp and all of this genre, and this ranks up there with the best. If you read it, you will absolutely agree!
And I’ve read the subsequent two, Threat Bias and Subversive Addiction. Two great Ben Porter stories. Rosow has this character down pat and I understand Spy Glass has an option on False Assurances. Just saw on Amazon a book four is coming out on April 15th, Vital Deception. I’ve already pre ordered and am counting down the days for it to appear!!!!
And I’ve read the subsequent two, Threat Bias and Subversive Addiction. Two great Ben Porter stories. Rosow has this character down pat and I understand Spy Glass has an option on False Assurances. Just saw on Amazon a book four is coming out on April 15th, Vital Deception. I’ve already pre ordered and am counting down the days for it to appear!!!!
May 24, 2020
Read this after hearing Rush say he couldn't put it down. I agree! Great read & I love Ben Porter -- an average Joe with superior instincts!
May 17, 2020
The story is written with humor and very serious happenings. Ben Porter works for the FBI but is not an agent with a gun and a badge. POTUS is coming to Boston and all agents are out helping the Secret Service when a call comes in about a man being rescued who jumped off his boat after it was hijacked. Ben goes up to see the man and soon he is the only one who believes Miles when he tells him what happened.
It is the story of terrorists finding an easy way to get into the country without using any ports of entry. Hijack a boat at sea, head to a US port and then unload your bombs in vehicles waiting and proceed from there. They thought Miles was dead and they didn't worry about anyone knowing what they were up to and were they were going. A story hard to put down once you begin.
It is the story of terrorists finding an easy way to get into the country without using any ports of entry. Hijack a boat at sea, head to a US port and then unload your bombs in vehicles waiting and proceed from there. They thought Miles was dead and they didn't worry about anyone knowing what they were up to and were they were going. A story hard to put down once you begin.
September 8, 2020
An outstanding book with memorable characters, many twists and turns and plenty of action. It basically begins with the capture by terrorists of a sailboat racing in a two day night & day event along the east coast of New England to Canada. While under control of the terrorists, the sailboat’s owner escapes and lives to tell an amazing tale about the highjacking, which ultimately involves the FBI and introduces a new lead character Ben Porter who’s part of the organization’s administrative staff. The story unfolds from there and leads to an exciting and unpredictable conclusion.
The author has followed up the original book with a sequel, “Threat Bias”, which I’m about to start.
The author has followed up the original book with a sequel, “Threat Bias”, which I’m about to start.
May 30, 2020
Great story!
Nice to have an "everyman" type protagonist . Some of the lines were laugh- out loud funny, which is unusual in this genre, but much appreciated. Heard a review on talk radio and had to find it on kindle. I recommend it!
Nice to have an "everyman" type protagonist . Some of the lines were laugh- out loud funny, which is unusual in this genre, but much appreciated. Heard a review on talk radio and had to find it on kindle. I recommend it!
May 31, 2020
Extraordinary story teller
I am on Christopher’s second book after I stayed up till 1:30 finishing his first book False Assurances. I liked the fact that the hero wasn’t the perfect tall dark and handsome FBI agent. He was a bit overweight but extremely smart and when given facts about the case, he could make sense of them. Also, You will need a dictionary and/or a thesaurus next to you while reading his manuscript. His use of the English language to describe a character’s feelings or thought processes is quite unique.
I sailed for several years in the 70s and his description of sailing up the New England coastline to Canada brought back good memories.
Keep writing Christopher
I am on Christopher’s second book after I stayed up till 1:30 finishing his first book False Assurances. I liked the fact that the hero wasn’t the perfect tall dark and handsome FBI agent. He was a bit overweight but extremely smart and when given facts about the case, he could make sense of them. Also, You will need a dictionary and/or a thesaurus next to you while reading his manuscript. His use of the English language to describe a character’s feelings or thought processes is quite unique.
I sailed for several years in the 70s and his description of sailing up the New England coastline to Canada brought back good memories.
Keep writing Christopher
December 2, 2020
A entertaining and fast-paced page turner or a story of Ben Porter launching his FBI career. An interesting story about a credible threat and engaging characters. I especially appreciated the short chapters which were great for reading during small windows of reading opportunity.
May 19, 2020
A great beach read. Engaging from start to finish and hard to put down. A genuinely likable main character. Reminded me of a mix between 24 and a Jack Ryan story.
May 19, 2020
Fast paced page Turner.
July 26, 2020
Light summer read. I enjoyed it, lots of action and likable characters.
July 10, 2020
Like a good beach read this novel fleshes out two dimensional (really for this type of yarn that’s just enough) main characters and drives a plot that keeps you turning pages. While you have suspicions about who or why the action propels you forward. I enjoyed the sailing explanations having been on a j class racing yacht (for pleasure only) maybe 3 times. It lent authenticity but it’s also fun in the course of a novel to be schooled on something unfamiliar in appetizer sized bites. Also enjoyable was the thought process in unraveling a fictional mystery, your thinking paralleling the characters’. The plausibility of “leaky” maritime borders seemed all too real, I won’t look at a dock in quite the same way. The writing, with rare lapses (some of the self-deprecating humor of the protagonist), suited this kind of novel. It’s a detective thriller, not high literature, and well written for its genre. I had to read it through, couldn’t stop, the pace kept me engaged and slightly on edge rooting for Ben. Perfect summer read.
April 24, 2021
I downloaded this from Amazon and just started reading 2 days ago. The hero of the story, Ben Porter, is an information tech specialist for the FBI in Boston. He is not an agent, but due to a shortage of agents on presidential visit duty he is sent to interview a man who was found floating in the ocean several miles from Cape Anne. The man tells an improbable story of having his sailboat hijacked by 5 men (carrying a possibly dangerous cargo) in the middle of the night off the Coast of Nova Scotia. But Ben does believe him. The sailboat is found sans the hijackers and cargo a day later in Gloucester harbor. The men and their cargo disappear into the very early morning. Who are they, where did they go and what was in the 2 large boxes they were hauling?
Aside from a few grammar, spelling errors, this was an good read. Its chapters alternate from first person narrative to second person. It is a first effort by this author and I believe is self published. Mr. Rosow has a follow on second book which begins where this story ends. I intend to read it.
Aside from a few grammar, spelling errors, this was an good read. Its chapters alternate from first person narrative to second person. It is a first effort by this author and I believe is self published. Mr. Rosow has a follow on second book which begins where this story ends. I intend to read it.
July 12, 2020
Never heard of Christopher Rosow before until a friend recommended False Assurances. Because I grew up in the Boston area, he thought I'd especially like it. Maybe that was part of the reason I found this book so good. Most books I read these days start off well and the ending is usually good, but in between I get the feeling the author is trying to fill up another 300 pages. Not this book .... From start to finish, every paragraph is fun to read and necessary for the plot. Ben Porter is a great "hero", and his role as an FBI "asset" was fun to observe. His promotion to Special Agent which is sure to follow into the second book will be interesting. I have already started on his second book, written at the same time as the first - unusual for a first time writer. I will look forward to his third book when Rosow gets around to writing it.
October 13, 2020
3.5*. On the whole I liked this book : the switching from the. Narrator to First person narration with Ben Porter, an unlikely FBI person who begins by describing his boss Macallister as being a bubbling idiot but as the book progresses they grow in respect for one and another. I appreciated, too, the difficulties in order to unravel intricate and well thought out plans of the terrorists by the FBI and that all possible technology is used by the Bureau. What was difficult for me was all the boat lingo that I do not know. I had to look up what a trawler was!🙄. Too there were a lot of acronyms that I learned. Had to write them down. I have also book 2 so I will have these on hand. I was a little disappointed in the ending which proved what I was expecting as Roscow incorporates a clue. Made me lose a little faith in mankind !
June 10, 2021
According to James Patterson – and he’s written enough thrillers – “A thoroughly riveting two-novel debut introducing a compelling new hero.” In 2017, the FBI Boston field office receives what appears to be a hoax call: a man rescued from the waters off Massachusetts has claimed that his sailboat was hijacked and used to smuggle weapons and terrorists into the United States. With local agents tasked to prepare for an evening Presidential visit to downtown Boston, and with procedures requiring a response to any threat – no matter how unreliable it may seem – FBI administrative staffer Ben Porter (think pocket-protector) is tasked to investigate the call. Thankfully, Ben has a keen wit and great sense of humor, turning this potential high-stakes drama into a good, lightweight summer read. I just ordered Book Two.
July 31, 2020
This is really not my normal genre but I was intrigued by the synopsis I read. The first 10% was slow to get through but quickly got to a page turner.”Agent” Ben Porter is the main character and the wit and humor that he is given makes this story so enjoyable. Not your typical FBI worker. The story is so well written keeping the tension on going. I only have one criticism. Toward the end of the book there is something that happens that I felt was not necessary to the story. Anyone who loves dogs will feel Sadness that it had to be included. I would still recommend the book and just excuse the author for being insensitive to certain readers. The author has written a sequel to this book and I will download it and hopefully enjoy another story with Ben Porter in it.
January 19, 2026
Very creative story and very well written. I enjoyed it and it’s really an interesting and original premise and definitely worth a read.
I am becoming a bit of a broken record on a number of my reviews, but I definitely thought it was 75 pages too long, and would have benefited from a bit more brevity and focus. I also thought the protagonist’s character was at times uncomfortably effeminate, and his self deprecating internal dialogue was at its worst completely off putting and silly. It’s as if the writer began writing a dangerous and violent nerve-wracking serious novel, and then switched to a light comedy with a goofball main character, and then switched back and forth throughout the book.
Still, a solid story and fun read.
I am becoming a bit of a broken record on a number of my reviews, but I definitely thought it was 75 pages too long, and would have benefited from a bit more brevity and focus. I also thought the protagonist’s character was at times uncomfortably effeminate, and his self deprecating internal dialogue was at its worst completely off putting and silly. It’s as if the writer began writing a dangerous and violent nerve-wracking serious novel, and then switched to a light comedy with a goofball main character, and then switched back and forth throughout the book.
Still, a solid story and fun read.
October 25, 2020
Incredibly Creative and Extremely Well-Written
Christopher Rosow tells a compelling story with lots of logic balanced by humor. He demonstrates a good grasp of tactical knowledge (sailing skills, law enforcement acumen and even vehicle driving ability) along with an arms-length world view, primarily within the realm of criminality.
I enjoyed it so much that on page 52 I paused my reading to send a text to an old friend with whom I shared both sailing adventures as well as quasi-law enforcement experience to highly recommend that he stop whatever he was doing, go buy this book and begin reading it immediately.
Christopher Rosow tells a compelling story with lots of logic balanced by humor. He demonstrates a good grasp of tactical knowledge (sailing skills, law enforcement acumen and even vehicle driving ability) along with an arms-length world view, primarily within the realm of criminality.
I enjoyed it so much that on page 52 I paused my reading to send a text to an old friend with whom I shared both sailing adventures as well as quasi-law enforcement experience to highly recommend that he stop whatever he was doing, go buy this book and begin reading it immediately.
August 14, 2020
Read his second book first. So familiar with characters.
This thriller introduces all of the characters. Ben Porter
who is an Information Specialist who gets sent out to check
on a crime by his boss Macallister who thinks it’s a hoax.
So off Ben goes, not being a special AGENT. He documents
everything and makes sure his boss signs off that he is off
to find out what’s up. From then on Ben becomes center stage
to a Sea hijacking and Murder. Great story. Well written. Keeping writing
Christopher Rosow. You definitely have a series on your future.
This thriller introduces all of the characters. Ben Porter
who is an Information Specialist who gets sent out to check
on a crime by his boss Macallister who thinks it’s a hoax.
So off Ben goes, not being a special AGENT. He documents
everything and makes sure his boss signs off that he is off
to find out what’s up. From then on Ben becomes center stage
to a Sea hijacking and Murder. Great story. Well written. Keeping writing
Christopher Rosow. You definitely have a series on your future.
August 29, 2020
Glad I Already Bought Book 2
Wow, this is a great, action-packed book. I like the unlikely non-agent hero. I like the way that the book could almost end...but then there's more. One not a book critic, I just either like a book or I do not. This two-book series was recommended by a radio talk show host who described it something like "a fictional story that could really happen" and gave this series a strong recommendation. I add my personal recommendation (I don't give many 5 star ratings) and I am glad I have already purchased the second book!
Wow, this is a great, action-packed book. I like the unlikely non-agent hero. I like the way that the book could almost end...but then there's more. One not a book critic, I just either like a book or I do not. This two-book series was recommended by a radio talk show host who described it something like "a fictional story that could really happen" and gave this series a strong recommendation. I add my personal recommendation (I don't give many 5 star ratings) and I am glad I have already purchased the second book!
June 4, 2020
Christopher Rosow has written a very entertaining novel. I gave it five stars because it kept my interest and because just maybe something like this could happen. This book is written in multiple characters. Which gives you a idea of what is going on in the minds of the good guys and the bad guys. I find that very entertaining. I like descriptive writing and maybe little more drawn out book because it lets your mind picture the surroundings. I look forward to reading Christopher Rosow next book and I hope many more.
June 9, 2020
One great read
I couldn't put it down . The way the story was told from the perspective of the various characters was wonderful. The chain of events resulting from a great witness and a series of solid brainstorming and more than a little luck were riveting. I can't wait to read book 2.
I couldn't put it down . The way the story was told from the perspective of the various characters was wonderful. The chain of events resulting from a great witness and a series of solid brainstorming and more than a little luck were riveting. I can't wait to read book 2.
June 18, 2020
Great fun!
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the second in the series. There are no loose ends and it is obvious Mr. Rosow had a good time crafting the story. I have grown tired of Patterson and his ghost writers. This is far superior to any of James Patterson's recent efforts.
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the second in the series. There are no loose ends and it is obvious Mr. Rosow had a good time crafting the story. I have grown tired of Patterson and his ghost writers. This is far superior to any of James Patterson's recent efforts.
July 16, 2020
Riveting Story
I loved reading this book for the following reasons: a very riveting plot that kept my whole attention throughout the entire story, it's a very well written book (a breath of fresh air!!), it's a new type of FBI fiction books which I loved. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I can't wait to read book 2!
I loved reading this book for the following reasons: a very riveting plot that kept my whole attention throughout the entire story, it's a very well written book (a breath of fresh air!!), it's a new type of FBI fiction books which I loved. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I can't wait to read book 2!
July 24, 2020
Fast, fun read along the lines of Dan Brown. Quick and short chapters. Always making you want to continue reading. Fun little romp.
Not 5 stars because as usual authors think cell phones and non-cleared citizens are allowed in a SCIF.
For the 2020 book expenses, this $2.99 Kindle buy brings the total up to $366.86.
Not 5 stars because as usual authors think cell phones and non-cleared citizens are allowed in a SCIF.
For the 2020 book expenses, this $2.99 Kindle buy brings the total up to $366.86.
October 26, 2020
This book was a good distraction (from all the seriousness of life) for a fun and exciting read. Rosow's style of writing in the first person was done exceptionally well and the story flowed. This was a great mystery with twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I'm looking forward to Ben's next adventure!
February 27, 2021
Well written and loved the characters. Ben Porter is refreshing as a regular guy working for the FBI. Enjoyed the plot twists and pace of the story. I’m a sailor so really liked that aspect of the story, though it is scary if terrorists can actually enter the US that easily! Looking forward to reading the second book.
March 2, 2023
It’s just SO good! Filled with action, characters, a highly likable every-man style protagonist, and really excellent humor.
I’m normally not a fan of the combination first-and-third person narration. But it works so well here. You absolutely want to see through the MC’s eyes. Just a perfect sort-of-hero.
Read it, you’ll thank me later!
I’m normally not a fan of the combination first-and-third person narration. But it works so well here. You absolutely want to see through the MC’s eyes. Just a perfect sort-of-hero.
Read it, you’ll thank me later!
August 10, 2023
Good page turner with fun characters. I listened to it and laughed aloud many times at main character, Porter’s, take on life. His personality was very enjoyable. The story passed the miles quickly as we drove. Since we listened to the story, I did get sick of the f-word. Not necessary and shows lazy writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews