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CANZUK at War #0.5
Caribbean Payback
A UN peacekeeping mission has gone terribly wrong. Peacekeepers are dead, a soldier is held hostage, and a country looks for answers. Special forces operators and intelligence officers are given the task of settling the score in a country where corruption and chaos are a way of life.
The best of Canada’s military and intelligence services converge in a race against time and hidden agendas to save one of their own and repair a country’s honor.
Military action, espionage and political intrigue drive this standalone novella, which sets the stage for the CANZUK at War series and its first full-length book, Take Whiteman.
Fans of classic military thriller authors such as Clancy and Bond or modern-day authors such as Rosone/Watson and Greaney will get a charge out of the fast-paced world and characters that come alive in Caribbean Payback.
The best of Canada’s military and intelligence services converge in a race against time and hidden agendas to save one of their own and repair a country’s honor.
Military action, espionage and political intrigue drive this standalone novella, which sets the stage for the CANZUK at War series and its first full-length book, Take Whiteman.
Fans of classic military thriller authors such as Clancy and Bond or modern-day authors such as Rosone/Watson and Greaney will get a charge out of the fast-paced world and characters that come alive in Caribbean Payback.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2022
96 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Flannagan
6 books18 followersR.A. Flannagan is Ryan’s pen name. He is the author of the CANZUK At War series, which includes the novel Take Whiteman (2022) and the novella Caribbean Payback (2022).
Ryan’s varied career and life experiences have only recently allowed him to take up writing. Despite the delay, he’s enjoying the work immensely and intends to write more novels, with at least two more planned for the CANZUK At War series.
Ryan’s writing skills have been honed over twenty-plus years as an administrator with several public service outfits. Way back in the day, and not to overstate its importance, Ryan did put three years into Canada’s army reserves. The experience was enough to tell him the military life was not for him.
Nevertheless, with his keen interest in politics, defence-related issues and with his always firing imagination, Ryan writes military action stories for Canadians who have a hankering for what Canada could be.
Not a Canuck? Well no worries, because the stories Ryan writes are international in scope and are filled with gritty military action, shadowy espionage and political intrigue that will appeal to fans far and wide.
On the personal front, Ryan lives in outside Ottawa in farm country with his wife and daughter.
Ryan’s varied career and life experiences have only recently allowed him to take up writing. Despite the delay, he’s enjoying the work immensely and intends to write more novels, with at least two more planned for the CANZUK At War series.
Ryan’s writing skills have been honed over twenty-plus years as an administrator with several public service outfits. Way back in the day, and not to overstate its importance, Ryan did put three years into Canada’s army reserves. The experience was enough to tell him the military life was not for him.
Nevertheless, with his keen interest in politics, defence-related issues and with his always firing imagination, Ryan writes military action stories for Canadians who have a hankering for what Canada could be.
Not a Canuck? Well no worries, because the stories Ryan writes are international in scope and are filled with gritty military action, shadowy espionage and political intrigue that will appeal to fans far and wide.
On the personal front, Ryan lives in outside Ottawa in farm country with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 18, 2024
A quick read
An interesting novella containing military action against rebels.of Haiti. This is my first book by this author and the way this plot is written, I will be giving a try to further books in the series.
An interesting novella containing military action against rebels.of Haiti. This is my first book by this author and the way this plot is written, I will be giving a try to further books in the series.
August 7, 2023
As a previously experienced Canadian soldier, I was interested in a story that was advertised as featuring the Canadian military in a ‘what-if?’ near-future scenario.
Caribbean Payback opens with a really good set piece hook. I could see, hear and smell Haiti. I was thrilled to see Canadianisms in the text. That’s a typically Canadian quirk. It has been said that when we see minor references to our country that we can’t help but smile and feel thankful just to be noticed. Well, this novella doesn’t just give Canada a passing mention. Canada is centre stage in this story and that is a delicious treat.
Is it believable? That depends. It’s not about whether this all could actually happen in real life, it’s about whether it is really happening in your mind as you read it. A good writer can make you suspend any disbelief you might have while you’re involved in the unfolding story.
In this story, I was committed. I believed in the mission to rescue a Canadian prisoner in the same way that I believed that Tom Cruise was flying an F-18 down a canyon trench to bomb a facility in a volcano caldera in the movie Maverick while I was watching it.
That’s enjoyment. And that makes it worth the read.
Anyone with inside information is hard to please when it comes to movies, TV and books of fiction. Military people pick out mistakes in war movies. Cops pick out errors in cop dramas. Doctors pick out inaccuracies in medical shows. I admit that I am hard to please. I picked out little mistakes that threatened to break that all-important suspension, some were irritating, but all were minor. The writing was good enough to pull me back in again. I know I’m hard to please...and this story pleased me.
I look forward to the next in the series, which I already have in my queue.
Caribbean Payback opens with a really good set piece hook. I could see, hear and smell Haiti. I was thrilled to see Canadianisms in the text. That’s a typically Canadian quirk. It has been said that when we see minor references to our country that we can’t help but smile and feel thankful just to be noticed. Well, this novella doesn’t just give Canada a passing mention. Canada is centre stage in this story and that is a delicious treat.
Is it believable? That depends. It’s not about whether this all could actually happen in real life, it’s about whether it is really happening in your mind as you read it. A good writer can make you suspend any disbelief you might have while you’re involved in the unfolding story.
In this story, I was committed. I believed in the mission to rescue a Canadian prisoner in the same way that I believed that Tom Cruise was flying an F-18 down a canyon trench to bomb a facility in a volcano caldera in the movie Maverick while I was watching it.
That’s enjoyment. And that makes it worth the read.
Anyone with inside information is hard to please when it comes to movies, TV and books of fiction. Military people pick out mistakes in war movies. Cops pick out errors in cop dramas. Doctors pick out inaccuracies in medical shows. I admit that I am hard to please. I picked out little mistakes that threatened to break that all-important suspension, some were irritating, but all were minor. The writing was good enough to pull me back in again. I know I’m hard to please...and this story pleased me.
I look forward to the next in the series, which I already have in my queue.
August 27, 2023
Ok, just as James Bond is patriotism-porn for the British watching the end of their Empire, this is patriotism-porn for Canadians that would like to see a more “enthusiastic” foreign and military policy by Canada.
I’m not going to take a position on the correctness of the position. As a Canadian, I get the emotional appeal of the position but I also recognize that the real world is not as simple as a novel.
Now putting aside the geopolitics and psychology of the book, it was a fun entertaining read and I will read the next one.
I’m not going to take a position on the correctness of the position. As a Canadian, I get the emotional appeal of the position but I also recognize that the real world is not as simple as a novel.
Now putting aside the geopolitics and psychology of the book, it was a fun entertaining read and I will read the next one.
December 13, 2023
Really enjoyed it!
It was really nice to read a thriller from a Canadian point of view where we aren't the polite apologetic followers of the Americans! Canadian special forces are some of the best in the world and in this book they take no sh*t!
While it was short it shows dune excellent promise from a new writer, and I am looking forward to reading the other two books of his that I have purchased.
It was really nice to read a thriller from a Canadian point of view where we aren't the polite apologetic followers of the Americans! Canadian special forces are some of the best in the world and in this book they take no sh*t!
While it was short it shows dune excellent promise from a new writer, and I am looking forward to reading the other two books of his that I have purchased.
July 5, 2023
A novella that should have been a book. Great start to a series.
It's great to see characters that are realistic and note worthy.
Canada be bold, be brave, and have friends i other countries that stand with you!
It's great to see characters that are realistic and note worthy.
Canada be bold, be brave, and have friends i other countries that stand with you!
October 6, 2023
Good read for a short novella
Well written story. Good character and story development. Will definitely be looking for more from this author.
Described as being written in Clancy like style, this is certainly true.
Well written story. Good character and story development. Will definitely be looking for more from this author.
Described as being written in Clancy like style, this is certainly true.
October 25, 2023
A great read
The story moves at a fast but coherent pace. Good characters and action. As a Canadian it speaks of a future we need to prepare for, and that future would do us proud. Brain candy of the highest order.
The story moves at a fast but coherent pace. Good characters and action. As a Canadian it speaks of a future we need to prepare for, and that future would do us proud. Brain candy of the highest order.
October 28, 2023
Excellent
R.A. Flanagan is a very good author. I’ve enjoyed his books and hope there are many more to come. He keeps your interest, keeps it faced paced keeps you guessing and isn’t afraid to kill off who you get attached to. Keep writing novels and I’ll keep reading them.
R.A. Flanagan is a very good author. I’ve enjoyed his books and hope there are many more to come. He keeps your interest, keeps it faced paced keeps you guessing and isn’t afraid to kill off who you get attached to. Keep writing novels and I’ll keep reading them.
April 29, 2022
.
.
Too badly written to read.
I hated this from the very first few sentences.
I thought it was awful, horrible, disgusting, terrible, BAD, etc., writing.
.
Too badly written to read.
I hated this from the very first few sentences.
I thought it was awful, horrible, disgusting, terrible, BAD, etc., writing.
March 17, 2023
A great story
A refreshing take on an action story told from a Canadian perspective. Being next door to Uncle Sam can be daunting. Nice writing and good characters.
A refreshing take on an action story told from a Canadian perspective. Being next door to Uncle Sam can be daunting. Nice writing and good characters.
September 12, 2023
Great read
After reading this book I Will be most definitely reading other books by this author. Will look forward to seeing the new realises.
After reading this book I Will be most definitely reading other books by this author. Will look forward to seeing the new realises.
November 15, 2023
CANZUK
Full of action, good premise - hopefully more will arise about the international politics, including the US internal conflict. Looking forward to the follow-on 👍
Full of action, good premise - hopefully more will arise about the international politics, including the US internal conflict. Looking forward to the follow-on 👍
April 2, 2024
Good first book
It was a decent ride to be honest a nice easy read, it had the politics, the action and the potential to tell further stories in that world
It was a decent ride to be honest a nice easy read, it had the politics, the action and the potential to tell further stories in that world
September 3, 2024
Caribbean payback.
Was kept riveted through the book, which I was unable to put down. Looking forward to next installment. Great read.
Was kept riveted through the book, which I was unable to put down. Looking forward to next installment. Great read.
January 12, 2025
This is a very tactical story. Mostly military operations. Needs more human development.
February 1, 2025
a good yarn
May 16, 2025
Enjoyable
Its a fast fun read. Good action scenes and enjoyable characters. Reasonably priced for a novella. I'm excited to read the next
Its a fast fun read. Good action scenes and enjoyable characters. Reasonably priced for a novella. I'm excited to read the next
February 28, 2022
A tremendous new talents, first masterpiece. A must read thriller you can't afford to miss!
For a first book and a novella at that, I generally don't bother reading them unless, I hear or see really good reviews. However I decided to take a look at "Caribbean Payback" and was hooked after the first few pages! If you like military fiction or action and adventure, or espionage thrillers then this book has it all. A Canadian United Nations military unit is working in Haiti, about to set up a regular medical clinic, when the troops come under attack from a heavily armed group. The U.N. General in charge won't dispatch help, so by the time the Canadian forces get there Six soldiers have been executed, and a female Officer kidnapped.
The Canadian Prime minister is furious, and she wants these criminals dealt with, and the kidnapped female Captain back alive. So she gives the order to get it done, by what ever means.
The book is fast paced, and is expertly woven together using the treads of Military action, Canadian intelligence services operatives and operations, with highly charged political scenes. The characters are totally believable and exceedingly well crafted. The military action is fast, deadly, and extremely realistic and technically brilliant. I could not out the book down until I finished it, and was extremely disappointed that it was only a novella, as I really really wanted more!.
As first books go this one is probably one of the best I have ever read, and cannot wait until the first full length novel is released!
For a first book and a novella at that, I generally don't bother reading them unless, I hear or see really good reviews. However I decided to take a look at "Caribbean Payback" and was hooked after the first few pages! If you like military fiction or action and adventure, or espionage thrillers then this book has it all. A Canadian United Nations military unit is working in Haiti, about to set up a regular medical clinic, when the troops come under attack from a heavily armed group. The U.N. General in charge won't dispatch help, so by the time the Canadian forces get there Six soldiers have been executed, and a female Officer kidnapped.
The Canadian Prime minister is furious, and she wants these criminals dealt with, and the kidnapped female Captain back alive. So she gives the order to get it done, by what ever means.
The book is fast paced, and is expertly woven together using the treads of Military action, Canadian intelligence services operatives and operations, with highly charged political scenes. The characters are totally believable and exceedingly well crafted. The military action is fast, deadly, and extremely realistic and technically brilliant. I could not out the book down until I finished it, and was extremely disappointed that it was only a novella, as I really really wanted more!.
As first books go this one is probably one of the best I have ever read, and cannot wait until the first full length novel is released!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews