From New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Joel C. Rosenberg comes the fifth military and international political thriller in the Marcus Ryker series.
The world's most wanted terrorist is dead.Marcus Ryker recommended the drone strike himself.The intelligence was rock-solid.But what if it was wrong?
Abu Nakba--the man responsible for lethal attacks in Washington, D.C., London, and Jerusalem--is finally dead. Marcus Ryker has been tasked with hunting down and destroying what's left of the terror group Kairos.
But before Ryker can mobilize his team of CIA operatives with their new assignment, a disturbing report from Libya suggests all may not be as it seems. The U.S. bombing that should have taken out Nakba's headquarters now appears to have been a disastrous mistake--and Ryker himself may be responsible.
With Kairos gearing up for a major retaliatory strike against the U.S., time is short, and terror cells may already be inside American borders. But Ryker won't be able to stop this threat until he clears his own name, and his closest ally inside the White House can no longer help him.
The Libyan diversion threatens to leave Ryker on the sidelines just when his country needs him most.
Packed with action and intrigue, this thriller novel is everything Joel's fans have come to expect.
A high-stakes suspense novel for fans of Jack Carr, Ryan Steck, and Kyle Mills Perfect for fans of geopolitical thrillers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. Note: This is a different person than the fantasy author, Joel Rosenberg
Joel C. Rosenberg is the founder of The Joshua Fund and the New York Times best-selling author of THE LAST JIHAD (2002), THE LAST DAYS (2003), THE EZEKIEL OPTION (2005), THE COPPER SCROLL (2006), EPICENTER (2006) and DEAD HEAT (2008) with more than 1.5 million copies in print. THE EZEKIEL OPTION was named by the ECPA as the Gold Medallion winner of the "Best Novel of 2006." Joel, an evangelical Christian whose mother is Gentile and whose father is from an Orthodox Jewish background, previously worked with several U.S. and Israeli leaders, including Steve Forbes, former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky, and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has been interviewed on hundreds of radio and TV shows. He and his wife have four sons and live near Washington, DC.
Marcus Ryker's 5th installment is Rosenberg's best yet!
Can Marcus ever catch a break?
Marcus is a DSS agent (Diplomatic Security Service). In the previous book, the poor guy was captured by Hezbollah while on duty trying to protect American and foreign dignitaries. He escaped and fought his way back to our allies, and OMG, he got fired in The Libyan Diversion amid misinformation?!
But Marcus is too good. Once the agencies figured out they've been played and there's a creditable threat on American soil, the WH soon needs him back.
Rosenberg is a master at weaving geopolitical events and nail-biting action. The Libyan Diversion was so intense and riveting, that I think my heart skipped a beat.
The Libyan Diversion is not only a political/terrorism thriller but also a Christian thriller. Faith and prayers are to be expected but not overwhelmingly so.
I paused reading this novel due to personal reasons, but once I picked it up again I was unable to put it down and finished it in two days and I'll tell you, I'm a slow reader. I love everything about this thriller! It was extremely fast-paced and such a rollercoaster, my heart ached from the very first chapter and it was a wild ride until the finale.
My heartfelt thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for the DRC. Published May 16, 2023.
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Joel C. Rosenberg, and Tyndall House Publishers for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Joel C. Rosenberg, thought to be one of the great prognosticators of Middle East political goings-on, is back with another novel in his Marcus Ryker series. Filled with wonderful geopolitical drama and on point writing, Rosenberg dazzles readers with his detailed stories that have a way of turning into newspaper headlines, while never skimping on action or extrapolating out of the realm of possibility. With a great deal left up in the air when the previous novel ended, Rosenberg offers series fans something intense and full of answers, while layering on more questions to ponder. Fantastic reading for those who have the time and inclination!
After locating one of the world’s more nefarious terrorist—Abu Nakba—Marcus Ryker is ready to make his move. He outlines his proof regarding the location of a man responsible for horrible bombings both within and outside the US, letting POTUS and the National Security Team decide to strike with a powerful drone. When the strike is done, all seems to be right in the world, until a news report shows that the intel was flawed and a number of disabled children in hospital ended up being killed when the strike took place.
While Ryker has been tasked with getting rid of the remaining members of Kairos, the most ruthless terrorist group with strong Middle Eastern ties, he soon becomes persona non grata as details of the drone strike surface. He is immediately suspended by POTUS, just before the Leader of the Free World is struck down by a horrible medical emergency, leaving the country in a political quagmire. What can Ryker do but face the music and remain sidelined, as he tries to understand how he must have been so wrong?
In response to the strike, Kairos is preparing for a retaliatory strike against the Great Satan, with a plan that will surely have reverberations all over the world. Keeping news of the president’s illness from the press, the vice-president must assume a role he never expected would be his, under the 25th Amendment. As new intelligence suggests that Kairos could not only be targeting America but be inside its borders, it is a scramble to crack the code before all is lost.
All the major players will have to make decisions well outside their comfort zones, in an effort to save the free world and keep the country safe from terrorist harm. With the clock ticking and a major event planned in the heart of the country, action must be taken. Will Marcus Ryder remain a benchwarmer, even with that major gaffe on his record? Rosenberg spins a story like no other and kept me begging to know more as I pushed through this book whenever time permitted.
Whatever the reader’s politics, Joel C. Rosenberg makes reading this book both enjoyable and thrilling. He has an insider’s view of the Middle East situation and uses it effectively with a strong narrative. There are so many moving parts to follow that Rosenberg relies on his key cast of characters to push things along before reaching the climactic moment. Mostly in the moment revelations, Rosenberg allows some of his characters to develop their backstories and progress, which is sure to appease series fans. Plot twists emerge repeatedly, with a number of events building on one another until the final event pits two opposing forces together. One cannot get enough of this, particularly as Rosenberg has a knack for predicting events in geopolitical spheres, unlike any other author I have read. With a number of threads left to dangle, the next in this series is sure to be even more impactful and I await its release.
Kudos, Mr. Rosenberg, for a stellar piece of writing and proof that political thrillers can be multi-dimensional.
One of the best thriller series out there. I love Rosenberg’s way of writing and the mix of suspense and geopolitical drama is top notch. I highly recommend this book and series.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Edelweiss for the advanced copy.
The Libyan Diversion by Joel C. Rosenberg is one of the best books in this series. I was a little doubtful at first to continue reading about Marcus Ryker but I am glad I read this one. The ups and downs is what makes it so good and of course the telling of the story is very well done by Rosenberg. The book is filled with suspense and action as well as political back stabbing. I wonder what problems lie ahead for Marcus. I must thank Tyndal House and Netgalley for letting me read this advance copy.
The 5th book in the Marcus Ryker series finds Ryker recovering from his ordeal of being kidnapped and tortured by the Karios terrorist group. Before he can even mend from the injuries, he has thrown himself back into the hunt for remaining members of the group.
With his team, and Annie is back, he sets out to destroy Abu Nakba, the leader of the terrorists once and for all. With rumors flowing hot from the press corps Ryker is thrown to the Washington wolves-but mirroring the title-it is all a diversion.
Rosenberg is well educated on the politics and counties in the Middle East. He brings this and his excellent storytelling, timing of suspense and plot, to the table. I have read all his series and this has become my favorite. In Ryker he has created a perfect thriller protagonist and I am hoping this becomes a long series.
Thrilling as usual. Unfortunately it’s a 4 star from me as there was mild language. In the past I didn’t remember Rosenberg having any language so I was disappointed by that. Otherwise a very fun read!
What a book! This is the fifth book in the series focusing on Marcus Ryker; I would highly encourage you to read all the books in order to get the full scope of the story being told. Mr. Rosenberg has become one of my favorite writers with his political thrillers that are so good you can almost see them happening in real life. I feel like each book in this series has gotten better. I don’t want to spoil the book because it is so good but it definitely kept me glued to the story the whole way through! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read this early; you won’t want to miss this one when it is published in 2023!
Still on the hunt for the terrorist organization KAIROS Ryker and the crew set up an attack against the leader early on in the book. But regardless the results of the attack KAIROS already has planned a massive attack and it will be up to Markus and company to foil it.
A strong story through the first two thirds of the book, then it takes off like an SR71 to the end.
Fast paced, spy novel that was a very fun read. Once again Marcus Ryker must save not only the president of America he needs to stop the most dangerous terrorist group. What they have planned could destroy the country. I enjoy a well written spy novel and Joel is one of the best, but I believe Marcus should retire.
This just popped up on my feed and I thought I'd somehow missed it, and instead it doesn't come out for another 4 1/2 months... But I neeeeeeeeed it now.
This is another must read by Joel Rosenberg. Evidence points to the location of the world’s most wanted terrorist. Marcus Ryker’s recommendation for an immediate strike is accepted by the president and the compound is destroyed. Before Ryker and his team can follow up the attack with a search for the remaining members of the terrorist cell, evidence emerges that his evidence was faulty and the compound actually housed civilians. The attack is used as justification for the terrorists to retaliate with a major strike against the United States. Further evidence vindicates Ryker, but with an attack imminent his team must race to identify the target and stop the attack.
America is anticipating a papal visit, with appearances in four major cities. Each appearance will draw thousands of people, making each one a potential target. The failing health of the president, the question of succession and the kidnapping of three American health workers in Yemen all serve as a diversion from the coming disaster. Tensions mount as Ryker and his team race from city to city attempting to locate the terrorists and anticipate their next move, culminating in a showdown that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Rosenberg’s Libyan Diversion presents a scenario that is all too real. He takes you behind the scenes at the White House and the CIA to witness the decision making and activities that take place in a crisis and provides a roller coaster of a ride for his readers. Marcus Ryker is a character who will appeal to fans of Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath and Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan. I would like to thank NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for providing this book for my review.
I have read all of this author's books and especially love the Ryker series! This crime drama fits into today's realm of possibilities and what terrorism could inflict on our world and our nation. This plot mirrors either a Jason Bourne or Bruce Willis action film, but is written by a Christian. I highly recommend starting with the first edition and reading through each one. Well written, believable, and hard to put down.
This fifth in the Marcus Ryker Series is primarily set stateside. The action was intense and believable. There were sections of the novel that grabbed my interest more than others. The narrator was just ok.
This was not my favorite. Marcus basically turned terroist (you are who you hang out with, let’s blow some kneecaps out?) The book was very predictable to me, and that storyline was very sloooooooow. I am only giving it 2 stars cuz of the awesome 100 pages at the end.
This was a totally riveting read that I simply could not put down! I picked it up to start it and literally read it in one sitting! Absolutely amazing!
Joel Rosenberg isn't just a storyteller, he's a fascinating one who's able to capture the readers` interest from the get go. With the way it ended, I'm wondering if there will be a book six☺️.
I have never read anything by this author before and I’m sorry I hadn’t. The book is excellent, lots of action and moves very quickly. I highly recommend it to action readers.
Joel Rosenberg is one of my favorite authors, and his continuing saga of CIA employee Marcus Ryker is simply outstanding. His knowledge of the mid-East is so evident, especially in Ryker series of novels. Marcus Ryker is a heroic, masculine hero who operates in ways that are often unauthorized but extremely effective. In THE LIBYAN DIVERSION he recommends the destruction of what is thought to be a headquarters of the mid-east terrorist group Kairos. News groups around the world condemn the action of the US, showing the bodies of men, women, and children killed in what was supposed to be Kairos headquarters and not simply a village. Kairos seeks revenge by planning on assassinating the Pope and the US President who are scheduled to appear together, speaking to huge crowds at 4 of the largest football stadiums in the US. Marcus Ryker is called on to protect the millions of folks expected to attend by preventing any terrorist attacks on these places. THE LIBYAN DIVERSION is simply spell-binding reading. Marcus Ryker continues to come across as a loyal, tough American who has lost his family while preventing terrorist acts, and continues to go beyond the norm to protect the US from those who would destroy it. The novel is chock-full of sub-plots involving disagreement between members of the current administration, especially between the CIA Director and the President, the latter of whom has a heart attack while arguing with the CIA Director regarding the effectiveness of Marcus Ryker. The Vice-President becomes the acting President and tries to bring together the members of the Cabinet to solve the crisis facing the US. Rosenberg is a master of creating believable characters and realistic situations. His novels all involve critical situations facing nations of the world. Unlike a few of my favorite authors (Vince Flynn, etc,), Rosenberg's characters, though strong and placed in dangerous situations, solve things in a realistic, and thrilling way. His novels featuring Marcus Ryker are his best, and THE LIBYAN DIVERSION is the best Ryker novel yet. It is a thrilling, action-packed read.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Joel Rosenberg and Tyndale House Publishers for an ARC copy of this book. If you are looking for a gripping, action packed political thriller then this book is for you. Marcus Ryker is the main character and he and his team fight against terrorists and terrorist attacks. Being that this is book 5 in the series, I would would recommend reading them in order if you haven’t read them previously. Joel Rosenberg is a great author and one of my favourite. His books are extremely realistic and relevant to events happening in the world today. He makes you feel like this could actually be happening right now. The story is well thought out and entertaining. I love the author's flashbacks to previous events that are relevant to the story without over doing it. Also love that he puts a cast of characters at the front of the book. I can’t say enough good things about this book. Loved it and highly recommend it.