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Z, the sixth of the series of Dave Riley/Green Beret novels, finds Riley, now a civilian, on his way to Africa with SNN reporter Conner Young. Their cover a massive American peace-keeping effort designed to stop the continuing civil war in Angola. Conner has managed to wrangle an invitation to accompany a U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) A-Team that is part of the advance party for the deployment of the 82d Airborne Division from their home in North Carolina to war-torn Angola.
Once there, the team becomes infected with an ebola-like virus that has been devastating the Angola countryside. An immediate quarantine is declared as a "hot-zone" team from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) is deployed to try to check the epidemic and prevent its spread back to the United States.
The shocking truth about the virus point to Van Wyks, a South-African based diamond cartel. The only antidote to the virus, dubbed Z by the hot-zone team, is held in the cartel's heavily guarded headquarters on the Namibian coast.
Former Green Beret Dave Riley is one of the few combat qualified soldiers still standing inside the quarantine zone. Although he is now retired from active duty, Riley is called on to lead a heliborne assault on the cartel's fortress. It's a life or death race to the finish as Riley and the assault team struggle to secure the antidote before the cartel scientists can destroy it.
Once there, the team becomes infected with an ebola-like virus that has been devastating the Angola countryside. An immediate quarantine is declared as a "hot-zone" team from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) is deployed to try to check the epidemic and prevent its spread back to the United States.
The shocking truth about the virus point to Van Wyks, a South-African based diamond cartel. The only antidote to the virus, dubbed Z by the hot-zone team, is held in the cartel's heavily guarded headquarters on the Namibian coast.
Former Green Beret Dave Riley is one of the few combat qualified soldiers still standing inside the quarantine zone. Although he is now retired from active duty, Riley is called on to lead a heliborne assault on the cartel's fortress. It's a life or death race to the finish as Riley and the assault team struggle to secure the antidote before the cartel scientists can destroy it.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 10, 1996
157 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Bob Mayer
211 books47.9k followersBesides my own interests, I read whatever my wife tells me to read-- she's a voracious reader and has wide-ranging tastes as my reviews show (she also always has the TV remote and she's always right about what to watch). I read a lot of nonfiction, mostly for research. Some of my favorite books are Lonesome Dove, Mystic River, LOTR, and an array of science fiction classics including the Foundation series. Our house is covered with books, although I finally broke down and started reading eBooks, strangely enough on my iPhone. Since I carry it pretty much everywhere, it means I always have an entire library of books with me.
I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.
I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.
I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.
I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 27, 2017
Great action but...
Mr Mayer seems to have forgotten who the rebels were compared to the elected government of Angola. In the story the MPLA became the elected government while UNITA, led by Savimbi, were the rebels the UN was getting rid of. During the early chapters all the characters stated they were there to destroy the MPLA heavy weapons and armor to lessen Savimbi's ability to wage war. Otherwise the action and local description put you right in the action. Id recommend it.
Mr Mayer seems to have forgotten who the rebels were compared to the elected government of Angola. In the story the MPLA became the elected government while UNITA, led by Savimbi, were the rebels the UN was getting rid of. During the early chapters all the characters stated they were there to destroy the MPLA heavy weapons and armor to lessen Savimbi's ability to wage war. Otherwise the action and local description put you right in the action. Id recommend it.
May 11, 2018
Whoops
The ending of this book the usual Bob Mayer tough and gritty writing style but overall this was not his best work. The author gets carried away with the geopolitical struggles of the African continent and if this was a history novel would be great but it became bogged down and to me took the flow out of the book.
The ending of this book the usual Bob Mayer tough and gritty writing style but overall this was not his best work. The author gets carried away with the geopolitical struggles of the African continent and if this was a history novel would be great but it became bogged down and to me took the flow out of the book.
April 17, 2023
taut adventure
Bob Mayer wrote this story before OVID-19. He was spot on except instead of a Chinese bio-weapons lab this was released by a lunatic. The style is riveting and drives the reader forward. This is a great read!
Bob Mayer wrote this story before OVID-19. He was spot on except instead of a Chinese bio-weapons lab this was released by a lunatic. The style is riveting and drives the reader forward. This is a great read!
November 18, 2025
Riley rules the Roost
Dave Riley again rears his composed head to thwart an evil mastermind of epic proportions. The story is a bit fanciful, but it does enable Riley to shine which is why we read Mayer's "The Green Berets".
Dave Riley again rears his composed head to thwart an evil mastermind of epic proportions. The story is a bit fanciful, but it does enable Riley to shine which is why we read Mayer's "The Green Berets".
December 6, 2017
Another good book from Bob Mayer. Boats, planes,weapons. all put to good use.
Makes you wonder just how far from the truth this story really is.
Now on to the next book by Mayers
Makes you wonder just how far from the truth this story really is.
Now on to the next book by Mayers
November 3, 2021
What a story
An enthralling tale full of action & anticipation. A page turner for sure. Highly relevant. Superbly written. Entertaining from beginning to end. Thoroughly enjoyable.
An enthralling tale full of action & anticipation. A page turner for sure. Highly relevant. Superbly written. Entertaining from beginning to end. Thoroughly enjoyable.
April 20, 2014
A riveting account of what quite possibly could be happening right now. As the terrorist threat to the US continues to be high, it's not that unlikely that there are those among us who would turn against us. This book was a great read. It started a bit slow but picked up in the end.
August 18, 2014
Dave Riley is still the man. I love these Green Berets series of books. Mayer explains just enough technical details for the reader to understand what is going on while keeping an interesting story going. The subject matter of this book could actually happen.
January 19, 2017
Not bad.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews