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A Jon Smith Novel #1
Bear Trap
This is the novel the FBI and CIA don’t want you to read!
After being delayed by the US Government for over a year, it’s finally here! The author, Bob Asher, is a supervisory intelligence officer with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
Ruthless Russian Spetsnaz soldiers are marauding the Alaskan wilderness killing everyone who has the misfortune to stumble across their path!
"A fast-paced, action-packed military thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats. Bear Trap takes America’s best out of retirement to retrieve a Soviet-era defector from a group of Russian Spetsnaz kidnappers ready to kill without hesitation. An exhilarating mission written with the precision and attention to detail of someone who has clearly been on the battlefield, this book is easily capable of becoming an award-winning movie." - Kristi Elizabeth, San Francisco Book Review
“Bear Trap's title perhaps holds a portent of its strengths, because it certainly traps its readers with a thoroughly engrossing read that is impossible to put down—or predict.” - Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review
Fortunately, CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer and retired Navy SEAL, Jon Smith, has just arrived in Homer, Alaska for a well-deserved vacation.
The Russians have invaded America to bring a defector, former KGB Colonel Oleg Karpinsky, back to the Motherland. Days after the Berlin Wall came down Karpinsky defected. Thirty years later, Dr. Karpinsky is a respected CIA scientist conducting research in the paranormal sciences. He uses a method like ESP called Remote Viewing to gather intelligence on America’s enemies and allies. He is enjoying his annual winter vacation in an isolated cabin in the frozen Alaskan wilderness with his personal security detail (PSD) when the NSA intercepts a message from the Kremlin ordering his covert extraction. Attempts to warn them via their satellite phone go unanswered. The President orders the Pentagon to retrieve them before the Russians can attack. There’s only one problem.
Alaska is experiencing severe icing weather that has grounded all military air assets within range of the cabin except for a lone Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter on the ramp at Homer Airport. The Pentagon scrambles to assemble an ad hoc rescue team for a possible suicide mission facing a highly trained team of Spetsnaz operators.
Can Jon Smith and his ragtag group of Red Shirts save Karpinsky before time runs out?
BEAR TRAP is the first standalone book in the Jon Smith series of action-packed military/espionage thrillers. It’s perfect for fans of Mark Greaney, Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Marc Cameron. If you like their books, then you'll love BEAR TRAP. It combines all their best traits in a captivating, thrill ride pulled right from today’s current events.
Buy BEAR TRAP today and get a front row seat to this action-packed thrill-ride!
Ruthless Russian Spetsnaz soldiers are marauding the Alaskan wilderness killing everyone who has the misfortune to stumble across their path!
"A fast-paced, action-packed military thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats. Bear Trap takes America’s best out of retirement to retrieve a Soviet-era defector from a group of Russian Spetsnaz kidnappers ready to kill without hesitation. An exhilarating mission written with the precision and attention to detail of someone who has clearly been on the battlefield, this book is easily capable of becoming an award-winning movie." - Kristi Elizabeth, San Francisco Book Review
“Bear Trap's title perhaps holds a portent of its strengths, because it certainly traps its readers with a thoroughly engrossing read that is impossible to put down—or predict.” - Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review
Fortunately, CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer and retired Navy SEAL, Jon Smith, has just arrived in Homer, Alaska for a well-deserved vacation.
The Russians have invaded America to bring a defector, former KGB Colonel Oleg Karpinsky, back to the Motherland. Days after the Berlin Wall came down Karpinsky defected. Thirty years later, Dr. Karpinsky is a respected CIA scientist conducting research in the paranormal sciences. He uses a method like ESP called Remote Viewing to gather intelligence on America’s enemies and allies. He is enjoying his annual winter vacation in an isolated cabin in the frozen Alaskan wilderness with his personal security detail (PSD) when the NSA intercepts a message from the Kremlin ordering his covert extraction. Attempts to warn them via their satellite phone go unanswered. The President orders the Pentagon to retrieve them before the Russians can attack. There’s only one problem.
Alaska is experiencing severe icing weather that has grounded all military air assets within range of the cabin except for a lone Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter on the ramp at Homer Airport. The Pentagon scrambles to assemble an ad hoc rescue team for a possible suicide mission facing a highly trained team of Spetsnaz operators.
Can Jon Smith and his ragtag group of Red Shirts save Karpinsky before time runs out?
BEAR TRAP is the first standalone book in the Jon Smith series of action-packed military/espionage thrillers. It’s perfect for fans of Mark Greaney, Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Marc Cameron. If you like their books, then you'll love BEAR TRAP. It combines all their best traits in a captivating, thrill ride pulled right from today’s current events.
Buy BEAR TRAP today and get a front row seat to this action-packed thrill-ride!
- GenresThrillerMilitary Fiction
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2022
390 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 14, 2022
Looking forward to the next one
This guy knows what he is talking about. Good first novel. I eagerly anticipate either a sequel or a second novej
This guy knows what he is talking about. Good first novel. I eagerly anticipate either a sequel or a second novej
July 17, 2022
If you can put this book down without saying” just a few more pages”, you’ve got more self discipline than I do! There will never be another book that draws you into battle like this. It causes emotions to well up inside:anger, excitement, and tears. I wanted to be part of the team. There was some satisfying retribution too. To see that this is a first novel and the governmental hoops the author had to jump through to get it published. I’d say, “get it while you can!.it’s a great look inside the way great people put aside ego and collaborate to accomplish a goal.
July 17, 2022
A Page-Turner of Military Action!
Expecting a high level of entertainment from this novel, I wasn't disappointed! From the beginning to the end, there was constant action and suspense! A great read!
Expecting a high level of entertainment from this novel, I wasn't disappointed! From the beginning to the end, there was constant action and suspense! A great read!
October 2, 2025
I think that this was another one of those authors that I might have found after becoming a member of this great little piece of the internet, Military Thriller Book Group, and subsequently added to the never-ending TBR pile.
As I sit here, after finishing another great book, I had decided to attack my TBR pile and decided to read Bob Asher's inaugural book, Bear Trap, which was a military espionage thriller that was published back in 2022.
The plot synopsis for this book is that this is a story set in the Alaskan wilderness and centers on the recovery of a former KGB Colonel, Oleg Karpinsky, who had defected to the United States 30 years prior and is now a respected CIA scientist.
This former KGB Colonel was involved in a series of programs that had a strong and long-standing interest in parapsychology (ESP, psychokinesis, etc.). The KGB funded classified research programs with potential military and intelligence applications from the 1960s through the Cold War. This interest was spurred in part by fears of a "psychic arms race" with the West, leading to research in areas like information transmission, remote viewing, and even potentially influencing the thoughts and emotions of others.
__________________
The KGB's interest in parapsychology, particularly during the Cold War, was primarily driven by strategic considerations, including potential military and intelligence applications.
Espionage and Mind Control: The KGB, along with the Soviet Ministry of Defense, sponsored research into areas like telepathy and mind control, believing they could be harnessed for espionage and strategic purposes.
Response to US Research: Reports of similar parapsychological research in the United States and other Western countries fueled a fear within the Soviet government of falling behind in any field that could offer a strategic advantage.
Exploring Human Capabilities: The Soviets explored a wide range of phenomena, including telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis, with the goal of uncovering latent human capabilities that could be used for communication, intelligence, and combat.
Potential for Military Applications: There was particular interest in psychokinesis as a potential method to disrupt the electrical systems of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Scientific Curiosity: Beyond military applications, there was a degree of scientific curiosity about these "unexplained phenomena" and a belief that they might be explainable through scientific means, possibly involving "bioenergetics" or "psi particles".
Specific Areas of Interest:
Remote Viewing: The ability to perceive secure data and information from distant locations.
Telepathy/Biocommunications: Used for information transmission and, reportedly, to try to locate submerged submarines.
Psychokinesis: The power to manipulate objects with one's mind.
Mind Influence: Later in the Cold War, there was interest in abilities that could perceive and manipulate others' thoughts and emotions.
__________________
It should also be noted that it was not only the Soviets and the KGB who were interested in parapsychology; the CIA was also invested in research in this area, as their interest in parapsychology was driven by the fear of falling behind the Soviet Union in a "psychic arms race" during the Cold War. Rumors of Soviet research into extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (the ability to move objects with the mind) prompted the CIA to launch its own covert investigations.
Fear of Soviet advances
Starting in the early 1970s, intelligence reports claimed that the Soviet Union was investing heavily in psychic research for espionage purposes. These reports fueled anxieties within the U.S. government that the Soviets might develop "psychotronic" weapons that could be used for:
Intelligence gathering: Using telepathy or clairvoyance to gain information on military projects and access state secrets.
Mind control: Manipulating the behavior of targeted individuals or influencing American leaders.
Biological effects: Influencing the health of targeted individuals through psychic means, with one rumor claiming a Russian psychic could stop a frog's heart.
Weapon disruption: Causing U.S. weapons systems to malfunction.
The CIA's interest in parapsychology was a continuation of its earlier, broader research into human consciousness and mind control:
MKULTRA: From the 1950s to the 1960s, the CIA conducted Project MKULTRA, an illegal research program aimed at developing mind-control and interrogation techniques. Among other methods, one MKULTRA subproject focused on using psychoactive drugs to enhance psychic abilities.
Brainwashing fears: The end of the Korean War in 1953 raised fears among U.S. officials that the Soviets and Chinese were using "brainwashing" techniques or mind-altering drugs on prisoners of war.
Nazi occultism: After World War II, the U.S. captured Nazi documents detailing research into paranormal phenomena, which fueled interest in exploring its potential for strategic advantage.
Low-cost but high-risk experimentation
Ultimately, the CIA's venture into parapsychology, which culminated in the Stargate Project, was a form of low-cost, low-risk experimentation.
Minimal resources: The project was seen as inexpensive, as its primary "equipment" was people. Given the high stakes of the Cold War, the potential to gain a strategic edge justified the unconventional research.
Operational missions: While the research produced inconsistent results, a few anecdotal "successes" kept the project alive for decades. For example, a "remote viewer" allegedly helped locate a crashed Soviet spy plane in 1976.
The Stargate Project
The CIA's various paranormal programs were eventually consolidated under the umbrella of Project Stargate in the 1990s. The program was finally terminated and declassified in 1995 after a CIA-commissioned report found that remote viewing was too unreliable and inconsistent to be useful for intelligence purposes.
__________________
During Karpinsky's annual winter vacation, the Kremlin dispatches a ruthless team of Russian Spetsnaz soldiers to abduct Karpinsky. A fierce Arctic storm grounds all military air assets, forcing the Pentagon to assemble an ad hoc rescue team for a near-suicide mission.
Retired Navy SEAL and CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer Jon Smith, who is also on vacation in Alaska, is recalled to lead the rescue team. He and his team must battle the elements and the Russian operatives to extract the defector before it's too late.
While I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more of his books, one of the points that I found disconcerting was the frequent spelling out and explaining of military terms (if your audience is a group of military/espionage aficionados, it felt as though the author was "talking down" to his audience).
That said, on my self-determined five-star scale, I would give this author three and a half stars (which would round up to four stars on Goodreads), as this novel was a fast-paced, action-packed military thriller that would appeal to fans of Mark Greaney, Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Marc Cameron.
As with all my literary ramblings, these are just my five cents' worth.
As I sit here, after finishing another great book, I had decided to attack my TBR pile and decided to read Bob Asher's inaugural book, Bear Trap, which was a military espionage thriller that was published back in 2022.
The plot synopsis for this book is that this is a story set in the Alaskan wilderness and centers on the recovery of a former KGB Colonel, Oleg Karpinsky, who had defected to the United States 30 years prior and is now a respected CIA scientist.
This former KGB Colonel was involved in a series of programs that had a strong and long-standing interest in parapsychology (ESP, psychokinesis, etc.). The KGB funded classified research programs with potential military and intelligence applications from the 1960s through the Cold War. This interest was spurred in part by fears of a "psychic arms race" with the West, leading to research in areas like information transmission, remote viewing, and even potentially influencing the thoughts and emotions of others.
__________________
The KGB's interest in parapsychology, particularly during the Cold War, was primarily driven by strategic considerations, including potential military and intelligence applications.
Espionage and Mind Control: The KGB, along with the Soviet Ministry of Defense, sponsored research into areas like telepathy and mind control, believing they could be harnessed for espionage and strategic purposes.
Response to US Research: Reports of similar parapsychological research in the United States and other Western countries fueled a fear within the Soviet government of falling behind in any field that could offer a strategic advantage.
Exploring Human Capabilities: The Soviets explored a wide range of phenomena, including telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis, with the goal of uncovering latent human capabilities that could be used for communication, intelligence, and combat.
Potential for Military Applications: There was particular interest in psychokinesis as a potential method to disrupt the electrical systems of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Scientific Curiosity: Beyond military applications, there was a degree of scientific curiosity about these "unexplained phenomena" and a belief that they might be explainable through scientific means, possibly involving "bioenergetics" or "psi particles".
Specific Areas of Interest:
Remote Viewing: The ability to perceive secure data and information from distant locations.
Telepathy/Biocommunications: Used for information transmission and, reportedly, to try to locate submerged submarines.
Psychokinesis: The power to manipulate objects with one's mind.
Mind Influence: Later in the Cold War, there was interest in abilities that could perceive and manipulate others' thoughts and emotions.
__________________
It should also be noted that it was not only the Soviets and the KGB who were interested in parapsychology; the CIA was also invested in research in this area, as their interest in parapsychology was driven by the fear of falling behind the Soviet Union in a "psychic arms race" during the Cold War. Rumors of Soviet research into extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (the ability to move objects with the mind) prompted the CIA to launch its own covert investigations.
Fear of Soviet advances
Starting in the early 1970s, intelligence reports claimed that the Soviet Union was investing heavily in psychic research for espionage purposes. These reports fueled anxieties within the U.S. government that the Soviets might develop "psychotronic" weapons that could be used for:
Intelligence gathering: Using telepathy or clairvoyance to gain information on military projects and access state secrets.
Mind control: Manipulating the behavior of targeted individuals or influencing American leaders.
Biological effects: Influencing the health of targeted individuals through psychic means, with one rumor claiming a Russian psychic could stop a frog's heart.
Weapon disruption: Causing U.S. weapons systems to malfunction.
The CIA's interest in parapsychology was a continuation of its earlier, broader research into human consciousness and mind control:
MKULTRA: From the 1950s to the 1960s, the CIA conducted Project MKULTRA, an illegal research program aimed at developing mind-control and interrogation techniques. Among other methods, one MKULTRA subproject focused on using psychoactive drugs to enhance psychic abilities.
Brainwashing fears: The end of the Korean War in 1953 raised fears among U.S. officials that the Soviets and Chinese were using "brainwashing" techniques or mind-altering drugs on prisoners of war.
Nazi occultism: After World War II, the U.S. captured Nazi documents detailing research into paranormal phenomena, which fueled interest in exploring its potential for strategic advantage.
Low-cost but high-risk experimentation
Ultimately, the CIA's venture into parapsychology, which culminated in the Stargate Project, was a form of low-cost, low-risk experimentation.
Minimal resources: The project was seen as inexpensive, as its primary "equipment" was people. Given the high stakes of the Cold War, the potential to gain a strategic edge justified the unconventional research.
Operational missions: While the research produced inconsistent results, a few anecdotal "successes" kept the project alive for decades. For example, a "remote viewer" allegedly helped locate a crashed Soviet spy plane in 1976.
The Stargate Project
The CIA's various paranormal programs were eventually consolidated under the umbrella of Project Stargate in the 1990s. The program was finally terminated and declassified in 1995 after a CIA-commissioned report found that remote viewing was too unreliable and inconsistent to be useful for intelligence purposes.
__________________
During Karpinsky's annual winter vacation, the Kremlin dispatches a ruthless team of Russian Spetsnaz soldiers to abduct Karpinsky. A fierce Arctic storm grounds all military air assets, forcing the Pentagon to assemble an ad hoc rescue team for a near-suicide mission.
Retired Navy SEAL and CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer Jon Smith, who is also on vacation in Alaska, is recalled to lead the rescue team. He and his team must battle the elements and the Russian operatives to extract the defector before it's too late.
While I really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more of his books, one of the points that I found disconcerting was the frequent spelling out and explaining of military terms (if your audience is a group of military/espionage aficionados, it felt as though the author was "talking down" to his audience).
That said, on my self-determined five-star scale, I would give this author three and a half stars (which would round up to four stars on Goodreads), as this novel was a fast-paced, action-packed military thriller that would appeal to fans of Mark Greaney, Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Marc Cameron.
As with all my literary ramblings, these are just my five cents' worth.
July 19, 2025
Scary Accurate.
As a reader who really enjoys these types of stories, one of the critical elements I look for in them is technical accuracy. Well, Bob Asher nailed it.
This story was so technically accurate and real that I was drawn in almost immediately. I was in the Navy, and then I worked as a law enforcement officer. I am now working in the private security industry, having deployed to sketchy places a couple of times and because of Bob Asher's writing I was having to work with almost zero sleep because I could not put this story down and stop reading.
Ok, this might be a spoiler, but I have to mention it. One of the characters in this story was a really good character. During the action, this character was KIA. It was a gut punch for me... the reader. But I compartmentalized it, just like the other characters in the story, and continued the mission. It was only after finishing the book that I took the time to feel bad that the character was killed. (Bob, that was just EFF'd up killing that kid.)
The story was that technically accurate and well written!
The plot is fantastic and I bought it totally. Every character in the story was realistic and made me want to hang out and grill steaks with them.
I am certainly going to be reading all the Jon Smith stories, but Bob Asher better know, he has set the bar really high. I fully expect him to clear that bar.
Well done!
Bravo Zulu!
As a reader who really enjoys these types of stories, one of the critical elements I look for in them is technical accuracy. Well, Bob Asher nailed it.
This story was so technically accurate and real that I was drawn in almost immediately. I was in the Navy, and then I worked as a law enforcement officer. I am now working in the private security industry, having deployed to sketchy places a couple of times and because of Bob Asher's writing I was having to work with almost zero sleep because I could not put this story down and stop reading.
Ok, this might be a spoiler, but I have to mention it. One of the characters in this story was a really good character. During the action, this character was KIA. It was a gut punch for me... the reader. But I compartmentalized it, just like the other characters in the story, and continued the mission. It was only after finishing the book that I took the time to feel bad that the character was killed. (Bob, that was just EFF'd up killing that kid.)
The story was that technically accurate and well written!
The plot is fantastic and I bought it totally. Every character in the story was realistic and made me want to hang out and grill steaks with them.
I am certainly going to be reading all the Jon Smith stories, but Bob Asher better know, he has set the bar really high. I fully expect him to clear that bar.
Well done!
Bravo Zulu!
December 13, 2022
Good story, one dimensional hero
An impressive first novel, written by an intelligence officer and subjected to ma great deal of vetting pre publication. The story carries the book at a fairly rapid pace. And it's a good story.
What's missing is character. The protagonist - Jon Smith - is one dimensional. Not a problem, per se, but when.marketed as "A Jon Smith Model #1," not having developed the protagonist fully - or even more than written here - doesn't necessarily have me flagging for the author's next.
Contextualize this as a prequel to the formation of a team of retired military
personnel who are called upon and who forge themselves into a team and it would fit. The trouble is that I lack the imagination to see what they would be called upon for. In this case it was because no one else was available but dreaming up another like this seems to me to be forcing an issue.
Perhaps the thing to do is make this the one and only Jon Smith novel and move on. If that's the case, we have an emergent Tom Clancy I'll b minus to read.
An impressive first novel, written by an intelligence officer and subjected to ma great deal of vetting pre publication. The story carries the book at a fairly rapid pace. And it's a good story.
What's missing is character. The protagonist - Jon Smith - is one dimensional. Not a problem, per se, but when.marketed as "A Jon Smith Model #1," not having developed the protagonist fully - or even more than written here - doesn't necessarily have me flagging for the author's next.
Contextualize this as a prequel to the formation of a team of retired military
personnel who are called upon and who forge themselves into a team and it would fit. The trouble is that I lack the imagination to see what they would be called upon for. In this case it was because no one else was available but dreaming up another like this seems to me to be forcing an issue.
Perhaps the thing to do is make this the one and only Jon Smith novel and move on. If that's the case, we have an emergent Tom Clancy I'll b minus to read.
January 30, 2023
Frenetic, hardcore action thriller that flows like a movie, but with an unusual element concerning the "remote viewer" and the use of ESP. There's not a huge emphasis on this element, though, and the author handles it well by not going overboard with the paranormal and by providing lots of true to life details on weapons, military tactics, and law enforcement procedures. Everything else is so detailed and true to life, and the pace never slows, that honestly, you'll barely even notice the ESP aspect. The core cast of characters are interesting, comprising an ad hoc and diverse team of misfits recalled to duty and thrown together because they happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when a crisis develops in the remote reaches of Alaska. It will be interesting to see in future books if Bob Asher keeps the team together, and whether he will continue incorporating light sci-fi-type elements into his books. I can easily see him becoming an equal to authors like Don Bentley or Joshua Hood in the future.
July 1, 2024
This novel literally kicks off with a big bang! Asher kept me turning the pages with his good, professional prose and high-level vocabulary. But what I found even more interesting was the realism of this military thriller, since I always wanted to be a soldier and a pilot.
Currently a supervisory intelligence officer with NGA, Asher was a Naval Aviator for the USMC and also flew Black Hawk helicopters in Iraq for the National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. So his descriptions of this massive battle including a lot of helicopter flying made me feel like I was really on the ground fighting and in the pilot seat flying and I loved it! Asher was careful to explain many of the insider terms he used and even provided a glossary at the end.
Bear Trap is a complex and tightly plotted narrative, but it’s carefully laid out so I didn’t get lost, with a well-wrapped-up ending, right down to the beer bottle on the deck!
Now it’s on to Asher’s second book, set in a totally different environment, drawing on his experience as a police officer!
Currently a supervisory intelligence officer with NGA, Asher was a Naval Aviator for the USMC and also flew Black Hawk helicopters in Iraq for the National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. So his descriptions of this massive battle including a lot of helicopter flying made me feel like I was really on the ground fighting and in the pilot seat flying and I loved it! Asher was careful to explain many of the insider terms he used and even provided a glossary at the end.
Bear Trap is a complex and tightly plotted narrative, but it’s carefully laid out so I didn’t get lost, with a well-wrapped-up ending, right down to the beer bottle on the deck!
Now it’s on to Asher’s second book, set in a totally different environment, drawing on his experience as a police officer!
July 22, 2022
First book and good read.
A lot of the time books regarding American military operations (real and imagined) make me go ‘here we go again’ another ��hoorah kick a and take names” effort about people who cannot lose and can beat the world with their hands tied behind their, collective, backs.
But then this one is just different enough to make it a bit of a page turner. I started reading and the author ‘dragged’ me into a really good storyline with just the right amount of humanity.
Don’t get me wrong the ‘gung ho’ gig is still there BUT the story is interspersed with human characters who feel and get hurt and THIS makes this story stand out from the rest - just a little. And THEN there is the twists near the end which just make you think - hmmmmm. Looking forward to reading the next in this series and really think that progression may make this series really good - maybe even great imho
A lot of the time books regarding American military operations (real and imagined) make me go ‘here we go again’ another ��hoorah kick a and take names” effort about people who cannot lose and can beat the world with their hands tied behind their, collective, backs.
But then this one is just different enough to make it a bit of a page turner. I started reading and the author ‘dragged’ me into a really good storyline with just the right amount of humanity.
Don’t get me wrong the ‘gung ho’ gig is still there BUT the story is interspersed with human characters who feel and get hurt and THIS makes this story stand out from the rest - just a little. And THEN there is the twists near the end which just make you think - hmmmmm. Looking forward to reading the next in this series and really think that progression may make this series really good - maybe even great imho
September 30, 2022
This is a very good fictional account of a patchwork team of (mostly) former active military members who must thwart a Russian Special Forces operation in Alaska. There are many characters so the novel took quite a bit of time to assemble the team and explain who they were and why it was necessary for so many currently retired military personnel were called back to active duty. In addition, several law enforcement officials back in Washington, D.C. needed to be introduced into the storyline as well. Once the novel switched to the mission itself, the action was swift, tension filled and realistic. This is the first thriller novel that features U.S. Special Forces operator, Jon Smith. I look forward to future thrillers that feature Jon Smith.
January 9, 2023
CIA/Retired Seal and Band of Recalled Soldiers Win The Day
Glad I just happened on to Bear Trap! I had been looking for a good military/fiction read and after flipping through multiple pages of books I came upon Bear Trap.
Good story, great character, and I thought it was well done. For fans of Greaney, Thor, Flynn, Peter Nealen, etc., you will like this read!
The best kudos I can give this book, and the author, was that I found myself clicking my kindle screen to see how much of the book I had left to read. I was doing that because I was hoping I was not close to the end as I wanted it to last and last.
Well done sir, we’ll done.
Glad I just happened on to Bear Trap! I had been looking for a good military/fiction read and after flipping through multiple pages of books I came upon Bear Trap.
Good story, great character, and I thought it was well done. For fans of Greaney, Thor, Flynn, Peter Nealen, etc., you will like this read!
The best kudos I can give this book, and the author, was that I found myself clicking my kindle screen to see how much of the book I had left to read. I was doing that because I was hoping I was not close to the end as I wanted it to last and last.
Well done sir, we’ll done.
October 3, 2022
Excellent first novel
I thoroughly enjoyed Bear Trap. Initially I was skeptical, war stories tend to be a bit too predictable, this is more of an espionage attempt being thwarted by a make shift crew of coast guard, retired marines and whoever was available in the area of western Alaska during a snow storm.
A good mix of interesting characters and non stop action. For the military purist there are plenty of acronyms.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bear Trap. Initially I was skeptical, war stories tend to be a bit too predictable, this is more of an espionage attempt being thwarted by a make shift crew of coast guard, retired marines and whoever was available in the area of western Alaska during a snow storm.
A good mix of interesting characters and non stop action. For the military purist there are plenty of acronyms.
September 27, 2022
you will keep the pages turning
A very unusual but exciting read. The plot idea is most interesting and kept the pages turning. Lots of detail representing much research made the story that much more interesting. I suspect the truth is that we have many brave men and women who would come out of military retirement if ever there were a real need like this one.
A very unusual but exciting read. The plot idea is most interesting and kept the pages turning. Lots of detail representing much research made the story that much more interesting. I suspect the truth is that we have many brave men and women who would come out of military retirement if ever there were a real need like this one.
Read
July 18, 2025I liked this thriller. Lots of action, well written and a lots of interesting characters. Written by someone on the inside of special ops and intell. I am already into a short story written by the same author: Smoke Signals (free from the author). All his books are available on Kindle Unlimited. More Clancy than Rambo (and I love both), but with realistic type military action.
July 22, 2025
Action-Packed & entertaining
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a good mix of action, detailed information about technology and tactics, and solid character development. Bonus points for the St. Louis references, since live nearby & it’s always nice to read about familiar landmarks or icons! I will continue to check out other books from the author and in the series.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a good mix of action, detailed information about technology and tactics, and solid character development. Bonus points for the St. Louis references, since live nearby & it’s always nice to read about familiar landmarks or icons! I will continue to check out other books from the author and in the series.
September 18, 2025
superb work of military fiction
What a great book. If you fondly remember the glee you experienced watching the Wolverines in (the original) Red Dawn, slaughter the commies, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this tale of the most unlikely “ODA”, ever do the same. Amazing character development, attention to detail and fast moving plot. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
What a great book. If you fondly remember the glee you experienced watching the Wolverines in (the original) Red Dawn, slaughter the commies, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this tale of the most unlikely “ODA”, ever do the same. Amazing character development, attention to detail and fast moving plot. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
July 17, 2022
What a trap!!!
Such a fitting title!! Once I began reading I certainly was "trapped"! Great story with well formed characters and a believable plot. So much fun to read. I really had a problem putting it down.
Such a fitting title!! Once I began reading I certainly was "trapped"! Great story with well formed characters and a believable plot. So much fun to read. I really had a problem putting it down.
November 7, 2022
A 5 Star thriller
A little confusing until you get into it, a thrilling military action novel. Full of fast actions worthy of a action movie. I look forward to reading the next in Bob’s Jon Smiths adventures .
A little confusing until you get into it, a thrilling military action novel. Full of fast actions worthy of a action movie. I look forward to reading the next in Bob’s Jon Smiths adventures .
January 15, 2023
fantastic
This is one of the best written stories I ve read lately. Told from multiple angles, so intricately woven I never once felt lost in this “could be ripped from the headlines “ amazing first novel. I can’t wait for more
This is one of the best written stories I ve read lately. Told from multiple angles, so intricately woven I never once felt lost in this “could be ripped from the headlines “ amazing first novel. I can’t wait for more
March 3, 2025
Bear Trap
Overall, a good story. Maybe some unnecessary back story and lots of acronyms.
But the story is solid and realistic. Plenty of action for those that crave that, and the violence is not toned down. I even felt the cold as described.
Overall, a good story. Maybe some unnecessary back story and lots of acronyms.
But the story is solid and realistic. Plenty of action for those that crave that, and the violence is not toned down. I even felt the cold as described.
April 29, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. Asher knows how to bring characters to life and write well choreographed action scenes. The book is well edited, there's some suspense, and even the sub-characters get their due respect. If you like military/action/adventure stories, this is your jam.
May 4, 2025
As good as Tom Clancy
This book is as good as anything written by Tom Clancy. I highly recommend it and will be starting the second in the series tonight. Thank you for your service and a great story.
This book is as good as anything written by Tom Clancy. I highly recommend it and will be starting the second in the series tonight. Thank you for your service and a great story.
June 18, 2025
Good read
Just finished the book a very good read would recommend it to anyone,a good no nonsense read just the facts you need so it went along at a good old clip took just two sittings to finish.
Just finished the book a very good read would recommend it to anyone,a good no nonsense read just the facts you need so it went along at a good old clip took just two sittings to finish.
July 11, 2025
A great book by Bob Asher and so good that I'm going to start #2 today. Picked up #3 on kindle unlimited. So, if you like an entertaining military thriller, from a guy who knows...then just buy, borrow, or steal it from someone.... You can thank me later!
July 28, 2025
Excellent read
This author should be read by all that enjoy espionage, spy,military, and books that draw you in quickly. This story line is relevant to today and the world we live in. The characters feel real and relatable.
This author should be read by all that enjoy espionage, spy,military, and books that draw you in quickly. This story line is relevant to today and the world we live in. The characters feel real and relatable.
July 31, 2025
Lots of action, non stop
I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed book, am looking forward to more in the future. This brought up a lot of memories of my experiences in the past, some good and some not so much.
I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed book, am looking forward to more in the future. This brought up a lot of memories of my experiences in the past, some good and some not so much.
December 6, 2025
Amazing story. Very careful written novel, full of details about weapons, police codes etc. Story is intriguing, lots of action, pace could be a little quicker. But very good to read, good plot and twists, very insightful of wat is technically possible these days. Highly recommended
July 18, 2022
Good job.
First book? A very good job. I don't usually read this type of book but drawn in and like it.
First book? A very good job. I don't usually read this type of book but drawn in and like it.
July 23, 2022
Neat!
Being an exam ill tart wife and worked with classified, I believe Jon wrote a most believable story and characters are very well defined. Really
Oh enjoyed ot.
Being an exam ill tart wife and worked with classified, I believe Jon wrote a most believable story and characters are very well defined. Really
Oh enjoyed ot.
July 24, 2022
Fun read
A bunch of Guardsmen, Coasties, and recalled to serve military take on the Russian Spetnaz in Alaska. Won’t spoil the ending butthey did goog.
A bunch of Guardsmen, Coasties, and recalled to serve military take on the Russian Spetnaz in Alaska. Won’t spoil the ending butthey did goog.
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