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The Karl Gruben Spy Thriller Series #1
Operation: Palmetto
The stakes are a career on the line and nuclear secrets up for grabs... Karl Gruben, a junior Mossad agent, is thrust into a last-minute clandestine operation, his first assignment as a team kidnap a runaway Iranian nuclear scientist. Dr. Vahan Nafisi witnessed the brutal murder of colleagues, barely escaping with his life—and secrets to nuclear supremacy—to America. Gruben must secret a freshly formed team of hard-edged agents into the U.S. but his own inexperience, bad intel, and technical difficulties plunge them into a dangerous labyrinth of disasters. As he pursues the wily Dr. Nafisi, Gruben collides with a web of other international espionage agencies all bent on nabbing—or killing—the scientist. Can the Mossad capture Nafisi in time? If the Iranian thugs hell-bent on returning the doctor to their labs get to him first, nuclear secrets will thrust the world into imminent peril. Karl Gruben must pull his team together, zero in on their quarry, and keep the whole thing a secret from American authorities in a race against time to save his career, the lives of his team, and protect humanity. Here's what readers are saying ★★★★★ “... A terrific and compelling debut thriller. " ★★★★★ “... Brilliant and, without a doubt, well worth five stars. " ★★★★★ “... Edge of the seat stuff. And I can't wait to read the next part. " Book 2, Watchtower, coming September 2021.
145 pages, Paperback
Published January 29, 2021
7 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
R.T. Breach
10 books4 followersAuthor R.T. Breach began his career in the United States Navy as an Electronics Technician in San Diego, CA. That was just after the end of the Soviet Union and the Cold War. No, he wasn't a SEAL or Special Forces. He is a voracious reader with an active imagination, who was lucky enough to travel around the world a few times at a young age.
With the end of his six-year enlistment, Breach moved from California to Georgia, where he dove into the copy machine industry. This occupation naturally brought him into the IT world. After decades of story ruminations and nothing actually typed, Breach finally began the author's journey. A year later, Karl Gruben and Operation Palmetto were born.
Today, Breach is happily married and still living in Dallas, GA. The kids have left the nest. Now it's just them and the dogs. And a Ball Python named Quetzalcoatl.
Thank you for taking the time to read about the author. Breach is most grateful for his loyal fans and loves to correspond with readers like you. You are welcome to contact him through his website rtbreach.com.
With the end of his six-year enlistment, Breach moved from California to Georgia, where he dove into the copy machine industry. This occupation naturally brought him into the IT world. After decades of story ruminations and nothing actually typed, Breach finally began the author's journey. A year later, Karl Gruben and Operation Palmetto were born.
Today, Breach is happily married and still living in Dallas, GA. The kids have left the nest. Now it's just them and the dogs. And a Ball Python named Quetzalcoatl.
Thank you for taking the time to read about the author. Breach is most grateful for his loyal fans and loves to correspond with readers like you. You are welcome to contact him through his website rtbreach.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 3, 2021
Mossad agent Karl Gruben, based in Germany, is tasked with capturing a missing Iranian scientist who has fled to the US. Despite being young and relatively inexperienced, Karl is selected to lead the team already embedded in Charleston, South Carolina. He travels there and they begin their mission.
This is a captivating debut novel. There is a high degree of technology used by the team but the author doesn't allow the reader to get bogged down in technospeak. It is clear and concise and... those cats! OMG!
The pacing is spot on. The author allows the reader to get settled in and get to know the team and their plans as the suspense slowly builds. Just who are these other guys that are following the target?
The ending is dramatic. I'm not going to say what happens, read it for yourself, but it is edge of the seat stuff. And I can't wait to read the next part.
Brilliant and, without a doubt, well worth five stars.
This is a captivating debut novel. There is a high degree of technology used by the team but the author doesn't allow the reader to get bogged down in technospeak. It is clear and concise and... those cats! OMG!
The pacing is spot on. The author allows the reader to get settled in and get to know the team and their plans as the suspense slowly builds. Just who are these other guys that are following the target?
The ending is dramatic. I'm not going to say what happens, read it for yourself, but it is edge of the seat stuff. And I can't wait to read the next part.
Brilliant and, without a doubt, well worth five stars.
March 1, 2022
Well written. Keeps you guessing about what will happen next. I really enjoyed and couldn’t wait to read the next one.
March 12, 2023
Mediocre story about a dysfunctional Mossad team.
Loved Henry…without him I would be DNF
Loved Henry…without him I would be DNF
May 9, 2021
The chase is on for one man on a mission to prove his worth and the stakes are high…
The chase is on after an Iranian scientist escapes to the USA and from the clutches of Israeli rivals in what is a lightly political, espionage-heavy tale about the Mossad agent dealt the mission to track this target down.
The story spends a lot of time in the head of main character Karl Gruben who has his own doubts and conflicts as he embarks on a journey and joins a group of other agents who are undercover; some are experienced where others like Karl aren’t. We see the trials and tribulations of this group as they track down their target using a wealth of tech which they test to sometimes not so great results. Some of the gadgetry used was interesting and original while others were little on the fun/humorous side; a robotic cat comes to mind here.
Every so often I did find the writing style to tell as opposed to show and after what was a fast paced introduction much of the action didn’t really unfold until much later – saying that the final quarter of the story definitely made up for that. Karl’s inner thoughts are expressed throughout and carries the story. He’s a man on a mission to prove his worth and fight for a cause. Will he succeed in his mission and will it be worthwhile in the end? These personal stakes did seem to outweigh much of the political themes putting you in the head and in the moments of this chase story. For those who enjoy an espionage tale with a few twists this is definitely the one for you.
The chase is on after an Iranian scientist escapes to the USA and from the clutches of Israeli rivals in what is a lightly political, espionage-heavy tale about the Mossad agent dealt the mission to track this target down.
The story spends a lot of time in the head of main character Karl Gruben who has his own doubts and conflicts as he embarks on a journey and joins a group of other agents who are undercover; some are experienced where others like Karl aren’t. We see the trials and tribulations of this group as they track down their target using a wealth of tech which they test to sometimes not so great results. Some of the gadgetry used was interesting and original while others were little on the fun/humorous side; a robotic cat comes to mind here.
Every so often I did find the writing style to tell as opposed to show and after what was a fast paced introduction much of the action didn’t really unfold until much later – saying that the final quarter of the story definitely made up for that. Karl’s inner thoughts are expressed throughout and carries the story. He’s a man on a mission to prove his worth and fight for a cause. Will he succeed in his mission and will it be worthwhile in the end? These personal stakes did seem to outweigh much of the political themes putting you in the head and in the moments of this chase story. For those who enjoy an espionage tale with a few twists this is definitely the one for you.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews