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The Unit #0.5

Before the Unit: The Recruiting of Kevin Banks

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This is the much-awaited prequel to Anne Fox's series, THE UNIT. Kevin Banks has his dream job: protecting the President of the United States. But the president believes there is something greater that he can do. Find out how Kevin joined the unit and became "Spud."

88 pages, Paperback

Published August 21, 2020

127 people are currently reading
1593 people want to read

About the author

Anne Fox

25 books47 followers
Anne Fox is an author (obviously), firearms instructor, former flight instructor, and holds degrees in music and biochemistry/molecular biology. She currently spends her time writing, traveling, and participating in marksmanship competitions.

Living in the desert Southwest city of El Paso, Texas, she draws heavily from her own experiences and past travels while accompanying a husband in the military to bring life to her stories. She enjoys traveling and seeing what the United States has to offer while based out of her travel trailer.

Her non-human friends include two Maine Coon cats (Sigwan and Hebert), a flock of chickens that lay blue eggs, and a pond full of goldfish. She also participates in El Paso's Community Cats program by caring for a colony of feral cats. She enjoys a host of hobbies which she also draws from for her books: rockhounding, gardening, jewelry-making, beadwork, silk flower arranging, and other crafts.

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5 stars
70 (51%)
4 stars
37 (27%)
3 stars
17 (12%)
2 stars
7 (5%)
1 star
4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
October 19, 2020
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/19/2020)! 🎁
56 reviews
October 7, 2022
This book was a quick easy read which works well for the way the story is written. It's meant to be a conversation where one main character tells their story to the other. It was interesting and showed me some thought on how it would feel like to be a secret service agent. I liked the pace of the book and the idea behind it to give a backstory to a character. It did it's job making it intriguing to read the rest of the series. It worked well to read it almost in one sitting as I'd recommend doing so for the conversation and story to flow well. I liked how it was explained in detail the thought process to the job and the strong commitment and sacrifice that it takes. It's more than a job but a lifestyle. It also talks about a secret society of elite who work for the government which has always been rumored and could be true. It's honestly most likely real. I enjoyed this short book and look forward to more!
Profile Image for Jennie Akeson.
35 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2020
Nice to know a major character personally

I initially didn't want to read. I dislike short stories but this is way more. It explains the dynamics of the particular character we know as Spud and his before life. We understand his background more and what he went thru in his first life

I highly recommend reading and hope there are more shorts like this giving characters more realism. I have read one but can't remember off hand the name but I will invest in the rest of the series. Read it. I recommend.
576 reviews6 followers
Read
December 2, 2021
A close-up account of secret service duty

To be the personal body guard of the President of the United States of America and to be willing to sacrifice your life for him, if need be, is a huge responsibility.
To greatly admire his character, while keeping a professional distance, is also not easy.
To accompany him into some of the most dangerous places, such as Nigeria, Afganistan and Detroit, took unusual courage.
When time came to change, he accepted it with equilibrium, as the gift the President gave him.
Well worth reading.
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
602 reviews17 followers
January 20, 2022
I am always fascinated by the idea of shadowy people/ organisations fighting the criminals the population know nothing about. This short novel describing how the members of The Unit are recruited was great - a perfect introduction to the series. Camp Chaos, book one, in which the former (and to the rest of the world, dead) Kevin Banks is now the oldest and most experienced of the small, elite group, was also a great read. I thoroughly recommend this series, starting with this prologue to anyone similar tastes
410 reviews5 followers
January 7, 2023
This is the prequel to ‘The Unit’ series by author Anne Fox, and involves discussion between two main characters, Spud and Hank. This book reveals the specifics of how Spud became a member of the Unit’s Field Team and the motivation that led to the founding of ‘The Unit’ in the first place. Although this is a short book of 78 pages and could easily be read in a relatively short time, fans of ‘The Unit’ will find it invaluable in providing the backdrop to the series.
209 reviews2 followers
May 26, 2021
Compelling

The story of a young man wanting to serve his country. With perseverance he got to serve his country as a secret service agent protecting the President of the United States. It tells of his respect and admiration for that man. He eventually is recruited to another clandestine organization. I am anxious to continue on to the next story.
13 reviews
February 25, 2021
Draws the reader in at once!

We get a feel for the characters from the first page. They are serious, with a sense of humor. Their feeling for the Constitution and our country made me like them. Want to read more by Anne Fox!
105 reviews2 followers
June 23, 2021
No thriller or mystery, but maybe some ok backstory for following Unit books? It was weak, maybe a high school interest in sex and a fair amount of big man chest beating. If I read these Unit books, I don't think this backstory would give me anything of value.
334 reviews3 followers
August 23, 2020
This is a great intro to a truly outstanding series! The story illuminates how one of main characters in the series finds that he is a perfect match for The Unit - an elite law enforcement organization that only a few people in the country are even aware exists. If you are already a fan of The Unit series, this book provides a great back story on an important character - if this is your first introduction to the series, fasten your seat belt - you are in for an exciting ride!
717 reviews7 followers
January 20, 2021
A very interesting and definitely contemporary read/look at current political thinking around the personality of the president of the USA.
31 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2021
Good start to great series.

Looking forward to the next book in the series. Excellent in getting me hooked. I looked forward to the challenged.
Profile Image for James.
722 reviews13 followers
April 5, 2021
Gentle intro

No action just a gentle intro to the series. It grabs your attention and makes you want more. Already purchased first book in series.
Profile Image for Charlene Davis.
1,143 reviews5 followers
July 19, 2021
A story

Its a little boring. Short read
A man talks to a woman about life as secret service.
Its not as boring as it sounds though


47 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2021
Good read

I like Knowing house bird became Of the unit. I'm really interested in reading more of the books in this series.
Profile Image for Anne Fox.
Author 25 books47 followers
June 21, 2022
This prequel to Anne Fox's The Unit series is newly updated with a fresh interior look and some minor editing. At the request of readers of The Unit series, it tells the backstory of the character known as "Spud." This novella-length book is easily completed in a couple of hours.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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