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Luke Stone #5
Der Kandidat (Ein Luke Stone Thriller—Buch 5)
When China bankrupts the U.S. economy by calling in its debt and by shutting down the South China Sea, Americans are desperate for radical change. President Susan Hopkins, running for re-election, is floored as she watches the returns come in. Her rival, a madman senator from Alabama who ran on the promise to deport all Chinese and to nuke China’s ships out of the South China Sea, has, inconceivably, won.
President Hopkins, though, knows she cannot yield power. To do so would be to spark World War Three.
Knowing the election was stolen, President Hopkins needs 48 hours to prove it, and to stop the escalating war games with the Chinese. With no one left to turn to, she summons Luke Stone, the former head of an elite FBI para-military team. The stakes could not be higher as she commands him to save America from its greatest threat: its own President Elect.
Yet as one shocking twist follows another, it may, even for Luke Stone, be too late.
President Hopkins, though, knows she cannot yield power. To do so would be to spark World War Three.
Knowing the election was stolen, President Hopkins needs 48 hours to prove it, and to stop the escalating war games with the Chinese. With no one left to turn to, she summons Luke Stone, the former head of an elite FBI para-military team. The stakes could not be higher as she commands him to save America from its greatest threat: its own President Elect.
Yet as one shocking twist follows another, it may, even for Luke Stone, be too late.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2020
778 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Jack Mars
272 books671 followersJack Mars is author of the bestselling LUKE STONE thriller series, which include the suspense thrillers ANY MEANS NECESSARY (book #1), OATH OF OFFICE (book #2) and SITUATION ROOM (book #3).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 14, 2022
This was not based on reality...though some may believe that the story line was based on USA's 2020 election. Luke Stone is always a fun read. You would need to read the series from the start to fully understand what is going on and who the players are in the story.
April 3, 2017
A stolen election with a billionaire president elect...
This series is great, but this installment seems to be written differently and I did not enjoy as much as others. The author definitely tries to mimic the recent election in the USA, but too many outrageous claims, like the candidate running on the need to immediately declare war on China by dropping nuclear bombs on islands in the South Seas. There is some good action and well liked characters, but too much political discussion. I am hoping the next book is back to the thrills as the first four contain.
This series is great, but this installment seems to be written differently and I did not enjoy as much as others. The author definitely tries to mimic the recent election in the USA, but too many outrageous claims, like the candidate running on the need to immediately declare war on China by dropping nuclear bombs on islands in the South Seas. There is some good action and well liked characters, but too much political discussion. I am hoping the next book is back to the thrills as the first four contain.
November 30, 2017
Good story.
This series should be read in order, I didn't. Because of this like this one wasn't thrilling. Knew what happened next, they are definitely not a stand alone books. War with China and detailed battles Luke Stone and his friends goes through to stop the war.
This series should be read in order, I didn't. Because of this like this one wasn't thrilling. Knew what happened next, they are definitely not a stand alone books. War with China and detailed battles Luke Stone and his friends goes through to stop the war.
January 18, 2020
Not the best of the series, mostly because Mars lacks the ability to handle the sweeping subtleties of a political novel. When he falls back on suspense and thrills, he's in his element. That being said, it's still a good yarn. And for those people who can't handle a set of bad guys loosely inspired by Trump and Bannon, get over yourselves.
April 30, 2017
President Elect comes as the 5th instalment in the Luke Stone series by Jack Mars. This is one fast paced series, and this books doesn't slow down. That said, after reading all of Jack's books this would have to be my least favourite, hence the 4 stars compared to 5 for the remainder of his books. This one has many parallels with the current political climate in the US and Asia, albeit a few minor differences. I won't go into details that could cause spoilers for those thinking of reading this one. Do yourself a favour and read all of the books before this one. Stick with reading the series in order to get a good understanding of the characters as some old favourites re-appear in this book.
Overall, a good book, just not Jack's finest. The ending seemed very rushed, but I look forward to see what the next book brings and will be reading it as soon as it hits the eShelves.
Overall, a good book, just not Jack's finest. The ending seemed very rushed, but I look forward to see what the next book brings and will be reading it as soon as it hits the eShelves.
September 13, 2017
This book was published in March of 2017, shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in as president.
Those who read this book and are Trump haters will immediately look at the main antagonists, Gerry, The Shark, O'Brien and Jefferson Monroe as Steve Bannon and Donald Trump. The author's political leanings are very obvious. But that makes this a very entertaining book. To appreciate this story the reader really needs to check all credulity at the door. The president elect is way over the top in what he wants to accomplish to satisfy his followers.
And of course this is part of a series so there is no suspense as to how it's going to turn out. Just a fun read for a political thriller.
Those who read this book and are Trump haters will immediately look at the main antagonists, Gerry, The Shark, O'Brien and Jefferson Monroe as Steve Bannon and Donald Trump. The author's political leanings are very obvious. But that makes this a very entertaining book. To appreciate this story the reader really needs to check all credulity at the door. The president elect is way over the top in what he wants to accomplish to satisfy his followers.
And of course this is part of a series so there is no suspense as to how it's going to turn out. Just a fun read for a political thriller.
June 12, 2017
Listened on Audible - K.C Kelly is exceptional and actually listen on 1.0 as I so much enjoy his narration. Thought the book was good however not quite as good as #4 which I thought was his best! Hard to follow that one. Look forward to number 6 to be released in mid-June - love Jack Mars as an author! Keep them coming.
June 13, 2017
Hard to put down
Can't wait for next book in the series to be released. This is a great read, and helps me pass the time since foot surgery. I know my husband will enjoy these books too. We enjoy finding good authors and reading and re-reading books after some time has passed.
Can't wait for next book in the series to be released. This is a great read, and helps me pass the time since foot surgery. I know my husband will enjoy these books too. We enjoy finding good authors and reading and re-reading books after some time has passed.
May 11, 2017
Great
Excellent read. Easy to connect with these characters and want them to succeed in outrageous, improbable situations. The events that occur need you to suspend reason, but if you do it's real fun watching the characters work it out.
Excellent read. Easy to connect with these characters and want them to succeed in outrageous, improbable situations. The events that occur need you to suspend reason, but if you do it's real fun watching the characters work it out.
May 23, 2017
President Susan Hopkins has lost the election and her replacement is trying to kill anyone in his way so that he may take office early, including Susan. He is also trying to pick a nuclear fight with China. Worried, Susan calls in Luke Stone to help her fight this madman.
Luke, who has been off the grid for two years, is having difficulty coming back from the edge of oblivion where he did not care whether he lived or died, manages to pull out of his fog in time to save President Hopkins from an assassination attempt but nearly dies himself.
Once again Jack Mars keeps you on the edge of your seat. "Good to the last drop!"
Luke, who has been off the grid for two years, is having difficulty coming back from the edge of oblivion where he did not care whether he lived or died, manages to pull out of his fog in time to save President Hopkins from an assassination attempt but nearly dies himself.
Once again Jack Mars keeps you on the edge of your seat. "Good to the last drop!"
June 8, 2017
This is the longest Saturday Night Live skit I've ever experienced. This unabashed & clearly waaay over the top metaphor of the Trump/Bannon presidency is a hoot. I imagine Trump haters will love it and Trump lovers will hate it.
If you can suspend disbelief enough to enjoy any of the Luke Stone series then you should be ok with this one.
If you can suspend disbelief enough to enjoy any of the Luke Stone series then you should be ok with this one.
February 3, 2019
Quite an interesting read, which I enjoyed immensely. Luke Stone hero. I would hope this is too far to be anywhere near reality, but is was a good story. 5
September 24, 2025
“When China threatens to bankrupt the U.S. by calling in its debt, Americans are desperate for radical change. President Susan Hopkins, running for re-election, is floored as she watches the returns come in. Her rival—a madman senator from West Virginia who ran on the promise to nuke China’s islands out of the South China Sea—has, inconceivably, won.
President Hopkins, though, knows she cannot yield power. To do so would be to spark World War III. She needs to prove the election was stolen, and to stop the looming war with China. With no one left to turn to, she summons Luke Stone, the former head of an elite FBI para-military team. The stakes could not be higher as she commands him to save America from its greatest threat: its own President Elect.”
President Hopkins, though, knows she cannot yield power. To do so would be to spark World War III. She needs to prove the election was stolen, and to stop the looming war with China. With no one left to turn to, she summons Luke Stone, the former head of an elite FBI para-military team. The stakes could not be higher as she commands him to save America from its greatest threat: its own President Elect.”
October 15, 2023
Nicely plotted thriller with twists to add enjoyment. Narrator is excellent, like the main character and, even some of the protagonists(?🙃). Audio speed is best at 2-4 level (may be personal choice). Pretty clean for this author. 4-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 31, 2020
Outrageous? Improbable? Yes. A fun read with some well written characters? Yes. If you like over the top this series is for you.
September 11, 2023
This book was published on March 30, 2017. I say that because it surprises me how closely it resembles the 2020 election. The plot was interesting and there were some great plot twists. Definitely a page turner. I read the book in two days. I took away one star because the political bias of Jack Mars can be clearly seen in his writing. He didn't need to be that extreme.
October 25, 2018
Just couldn't finish this one!
First let me say, I've read the first four in this series and just loved them. This is one of my favorite genre's. I've also read The authors newest "Primary Target", LOVED THAT ONE! This one however was a different story. I've always considered my self an Independent politically and I'm also a disabled veteran, but this one sure seemed to display the authors political leanings. First and foremost I consider myself a Patriot! I am so sick of all this anti Trump garbage. Whether you like him or not, HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I'm tired of the way the left and right behave. To many have turned this country into a joke for the rest of the world on both sides. There is one way our constitution sets forward to fix it if you don't like it. Get off your ass and Vote! That's one of the things veterans like myself and so many others helped to guarantee that right.
First let me say, I've read the first four in this series and just loved them. This is one of my favorite genre's. I've also read The authors newest "Primary Target", LOVED THAT ONE! This one however was a different story. I've always considered my self an Independent politically and I'm also a disabled veteran, but this one sure seemed to display the authors political leanings. First and foremost I consider myself a Patriot! I am so sick of all this anti Trump garbage. Whether you like him or not, HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I'm tired of the way the left and right behave. To many have turned this country into a joke for the rest of the world on both sides. There is one way our constitution sets forward to fix it if you don't like it. Get off your ass and Vote! That's one of the things veterans like myself and so many others helped to guarantee that right.
October 16, 2017
President Elect
Another great book by Jack Mars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this episode with Like Stone. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse they somehow do. But Luke manages some way to pull through it all. The plot was well thought out and the characters were surprising. The action was typical Luke style. I read this book in one day it was so good. I highly recommend it. I have book 6 lined up and ready to go.
Another great book by Jack Mars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this episode with Like Stone. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse they somehow do. But Luke manages some way to pull through it all. The plot was well thought out and the characters were surprising. The action was typical Luke style. I read this book in one day it was so good. I highly recommend it. I have book 6 lined up and ready to go.
July 11, 2023
Worst of the series, painful to read. Stone makes obvious, painful mistakes over and over. Endless torture details, dumb and dumber and repeating all the US's past mistakes.
We still haven't protected ourselves from the risk of the events laid out in this tale, but those who think we should are painfully aware of it, and those who think that 'their guy' taking charge will elevate THEM, are just getting adrenaline kicks from this tale.
Here the villains are SO bad there's no moral ambiguity, no room to wonder if the 'bad guys' have a point - anywhere. This makes it tedious to slog through the first third. At which point, so many characters are killed in this its hard to keep rooting for anyone making it through the story! Still, about 2/3 of the way in it gets back to the usual fun thrills and shenanigans of a Luke Stone adventure . And the wrap-up is fun but ridiculous, right out of Disney, giving the book the facade of fiction at the end.
But that's not enough to hide the uncomfortable similarities this book has to recent reality.
We still haven't protected ourselves from the risk of the events laid out in this tale, but those who think we should are painfully aware of it, and those who think that 'their guy' taking charge will elevate THEM, are just getting adrenaline kicks from this tale.
Here the villains are SO bad there's no moral ambiguity, no room to wonder if the 'bad guys' have a point - anywhere. This makes it tedious to slog through the first third. At which point, so many characters are killed in this its hard to keep rooting for anyone making it through the story! Still, about 2/3 of the way in it gets back to the usual fun thrills and shenanigans of a Luke Stone adventure . And the wrap-up is fun but ridiculous, right out of Disney, giving the book the facade of fiction at the end.
But that's not enough to hide the uncomfortable similarities this book has to recent reality.
September 15, 2025
Luke Stone's personal life has hit an all time low. His son, Gunner doesn't want to know him, his ex-wife Becca died hated his very being and his ex inlaws now have Gunner living with him. He's spent the last two years literally hanging by a thread, hoping beyond hope that the big fella upstairs would take him out of his misery. Just when he was about to give up on the side of a mountain in the middle of a snow storm his satellite phone rings and its the President. Once again she is in trouble, having lost the recent election and suspecting strongly that foul play in the election counting was to blame. She's not giving up without a fight and needs Luke to once again help her out.
This is such a page turner, or if you were like me and listened to the audiobook, you just couldn't stop listening. The story is fast paced and somewhat similar to current events and you can't help but wonder just how much of this is fiction and how much may be drawn from true events. Of course we may never know. The narration of the audiobook is absolutely brilliant.
If you are a fan of Jack Mars' Luke Stone stories and my guess if you have made it to book five, then you definitely are (like me), this book will absolutely not disappoint. I highly recommend this book for a fast action thriller.
This is such a page turner, or if you were like me and listened to the audiobook, you just couldn't stop listening. The story is fast paced and somewhat similar to current events and you can't help but wonder just how much of this is fiction and how much may be drawn from true events. Of course we may never know. The narration of the audiobook is absolutely brilliant.
If you are a fan of Jack Mars' Luke Stone stories and my guess if you have made it to book five, then you definitely are (like me), this book will absolutely not disappoint. I highly recommend this book for a fast action thriller.
July 20, 2018
Better than Mission Impossible or 007 agents
I have read all the Luke Stone series todate. This one, President Elect was a great sequel to the other 4. It is a five star read but I gave it four only because of plausibility. I know it’s work of fiction but the authors other books were steeped in plausibility. That makes the books a lot more interesting to this reader. Nonetheless this book was excellent and an amazing sequel to the other books. Like Stone and his small team have endured so much craziness but as a former military member I have witnessed small strike teams like them suffer greatly. I want to be on their team. I love America and our values of Liberty, honor, and justice for all. Great job in writing these stories. Looking forward to the remaining two books.
I have read all the Luke Stone series todate. This one, President Elect was a great sequel to the other 4. It is a five star read but I gave it four only because of plausibility. I know it’s work of fiction but the authors other books were steeped in plausibility. That makes the books a lot more interesting to this reader. Nonetheless this book was excellent and an amazing sequel to the other books. Like Stone and his small team have endured so much craziness but as a former military member I have witnessed small strike teams like them suffer greatly. I want to be on their team. I love America and our values of Liberty, honor, and justice for all. Great job in writing these stories. Looking forward to the remaining two books.
January 3, 2021
Good series
I like the characters and love political type thrillers. I enjoy following character development, such as the ups and downs of life lived like it is in these books.
This one has things flipped in terms of who is propagating election fraud - irony or an indicator of the author’s political leanings, as shared by other reviewers? There is also the issue of how conservative politicians are portrayed (racist, war mongers, etc.) that are simply false stereotypes but played up well in today’s media, etc. If a reader can overlook these things and enjoy the ins and outs of Luke Stone and his team read on... if not, skip!
I like the characters and love political type thrillers. I enjoy following character development, such as the ups and downs of life lived like it is in these books.
This one has things flipped in terms of who is propagating election fraud - irony or an indicator of the author’s political leanings, as shared by other reviewers? There is also the issue of how conservative politicians are portrayed (racist, war mongers, etc.) that are simply false stereotypes but played up well in today’s media, etc. If a reader can overlook these things and enjoy the ins and outs of Luke Stone and his team read on... if not, skip!
March 24, 2021
sleep depriver
It's amazing how Mr. Mars's scenarios seem to slide toward realism. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to see the things that could happen. Besides being a good story, this book made me think about how dangerous this world is. This book also made me so curious about a lot of things, and made me do a lot of my own research. It's little graphic, but not inappropriate . Mr. Mars ha an excellen
t command of the English language, and has no need of vulgarity. Very good book.
It's amazing how Mr. Mars's scenarios seem to slide toward realism. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to see the things that could happen. Besides being a good story, this book made me think about how dangerous this world is. This book also made me so curious about a lot of things, and made me do a lot of my own research. It's little graphic, but not inappropriate . Mr. Mars ha an excellen
t command of the English language, and has no need of vulgarity. Very good book.
December 30, 2018
Another Luke Stone Thriller
Luke Stone has been MIA for 2 years, and has been dragged out of the wilderness to save President Susan Hopkins. In a case that seems eerily familiar, a radical republican has won the US Election in remarkable circumstances. He starts building his walls (around Chinatown) Before they can investigate for voter fraud, the country goes to hell in a hand basket, and only Luke Stone can come to the rescue.
Luke Stone has been MIA for 2 years, and has been dragged out of the wilderness to save President Susan Hopkins. In a case that seems eerily familiar, a radical republican has won the US Election in remarkable circumstances. He starts building his walls (around Chinatown) Before they can investigate for voter fraud, the country goes to hell in a hand basket, and only Luke Stone can come to the rescue.
February 26, 2023
Overall fine story line, but I could not get past Jerry the Shark killing everyone he was threatened by to rise to the top. Every time you turned the page, seemed he was killing someone else. This felt much more shallow than the past books in the series. The repetitive lines and overuse of vocabulary made it predictable and less interesting. Even so, I tend to like Luke Stone and am always interested in his next crazy death defying adventure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2024
The fifth book in the Luke Stone series keeps the action (and the drama) going full steam ahead. Although the storyline is getting just a little bit hard to believe. But it is fiction so there isn't anything wrong with that. Only two more books in this series. Just like the Agent Zero series, I am sucked in!
October 3, 2017
5 done
The series has grabbed me. Since book 1 the adventures off Luke Stone are excellent reading. Have gone from 1 book straight into the next, just to discover what will happen next. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended!!
The series has grabbed me. Since book 1 the adventures off Luke Stone are excellent reading. Have gone from 1 book straight into the next, just to discover what will happen next. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended!!
November 19, 2019
Like and his team at their best.
They keep doing it time and again. What can't this team do? I'll be happy when I finish this series. I can't get anything done until I finish reading this series. This has to be the best series I've read in a long time.
They keep doing it time and again. What can't this team do? I'll be happy when I finish this series. I can't get anything done until I finish reading this series. This has to be the best series I've read in a long time.
February 23, 2020
Fast moving adventure of Luke Stone:
This is another fast moving story of Luke Stone. His wife has died and the President needs him to find out if the election was rigged. This was a fast moving page turner.
This is another fast moving story of Luke Stone. His wife has died and the President needs him to find out if the election was rigged. This was a fast moving page turner.
December 27, 2021
Luke Stone back to save the world
It is two years after the fourth book, and the president is in danger again. Luke comes back to save her and prevent world war three... another good adventure, as the previous ones in the series, this is a good quick read
It is two years after the fourth book, and the president is in danger again. Luke comes back to save her and prevent world war three... another good adventure, as the previous ones in the series, this is a good quick read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews