Days of Rage: A Pike Logan Thriller

Pike Logan #6

by Brad Taylor

In former delta force operator and New York Times bestseller Brad Taylor’s latest Pike Logan thriller, the Taskforce must stop their most devastating threat yet—a weapon of mass destruction.

The Taskforce is used to being the hunter, but this time they’re the hunted.

Intent on embroiling the US in a quagmire that will sap its economy and drain its legitimacy, Russia passes a potential weapon of mass destruction to Boko Haram, an extreme Islamic sect in Nigeria. A relic of the Cold War, the Russian FSB believes the weapon has deteriorated and is no longer effective, but they are wrong. Boko Haram has the means for mass destruction, which will be set loose upon a multitude of unsuspecting innocents on one of the world’s grandest stages.

Trying to solve the riddle of who might be stalking them, Pike Logan and the Taskforce have no idea what’s been set in motion; but there’s another secret from the Cold War buried in the Russian FSB, and exposing it will mean the difference between life and death—not only for Pike and his partner, Jennifer, but for perhaps millions more around the globe.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Suspense, Espionage, Spy Thriller, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published July 15, 2014

About the author

Brad Taylor served for more than twenty-one years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2010 as a Special Forces Lieutenant colonel. During that time he held numerous infantry and special operations positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operations Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron.

He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.

When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[John (JC) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been very rewarding. Every time I sit down to read a book in this series I strap into my roller coaster car and let it rip!!!.
There is a group that flies below the radar of the government. Their control comes from an Oversight Group that is made up of select members of the government including the president. This is a constant from book to book but each one has a different plot. Pike is the leader most of the time. Jennifer, aka Koko, keeps him in check and out of the darkness of rage. Their feelings are strong and her moral compass is an important part of the groups activities.
In this specific book, there are terrorist based activities about to take place with the “Old KGB” influenced members having an active part. A team from Israel continues to bang heads with Pike’s team, trying to resolve similar issues. These issues reach all the way back to the Munich Olympics tragedy. Pike’s team soon realizes the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
If my GR friends desire to lose sleep, turning pages while the Sandman is beating them, this is the book to accomplish this endeavor.

[Patrice Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by Brad Taylor. Days of Rage is similar to other books in the Taylor's Pike Logan series where the action is almost non-stop.

Days of Rage begins with the summer Olympic games in Munich, Germany, 1972, where a group of Israeli athletes were killed in a horrific terrorist attack. This event sets the stage for many of the characters and their motivations throughout the plot. Skip to present day where Pike and his team Taskforce, are brought on to finish the job of surveillance against a serious threat to national security.

Initially the quest to find a thumbdrive and its contents moves the story forward. There is sensitive information on this thumbdrive that the Oversight Council is afraid of getting into the wrong hands. Since Pike's team is best suited to thwart terrorists efforts they are called in to clean up the mess. Plus, Pike is more than willing to honor his two fallen comrades by finding out if in fact their deaths were an accident or something worse.

It is not long into the mission when Pike and the Taskforce realize that they are being watched and the death of the comrades may not have been the accident it appeared to be. This makes Pike a very angry man... that is until Jennifer is able to reel him in. She seems to be the only reason why he hasn't blown a fuse yet. It's because of Jennifer that he teams up with another team who may (or may not) want the same thing they do.

Days of Rage is a multilayered plot that causes the readers to question everyone at play. There's the Russians who are hellbent on getting revenge on America, the Israeli's who want to avenge their fallen athletes and find the truth as to who was to blame for the Munich massacre, and the American's who may have hidden agendas. There is just so much going on. At times it's exhilarating but also exhausting.

What was particularly interesting in this addition to the Pike Logan series is that it seemed to be more about female power. There's one woman, Shoshanna, who seems like a real badass. Who couldn't love an empath? I almost liked her more than Jennifer, although her acrobatic prowess is a pretty awesome ability.

Ultimately, Days of Rage is a great read. Lovers of espionage and political thrillers. Taylor uses a true event as the catalyst for a literary thrillride in the dangerous world of counter-terrorist efforts. Although this is only the second novel I've read in this series, it will not be the last.

Copy provided by Penguin Group via Netgalley

[Tucker Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Long memories”

The lesson here is don't tick off Pike or the Israelis because they will hunt you down -- no matter how long it takes, or how difficult the task, or how long the odds, or how many people get in their way and try to stop them ... they will hunt you down because they have long memories and their own moral code that's pretty much "an eye for an eye ... and then some."

Oh, and it's a heck of a good ride. I'm with the other reviewers who said this is author Brad Taylor's best book to date. He's always been great at starting his books with good hooks and plots, but some have fizzled near the end ... not DAYS OF RAGE. It starts fast but the finish is at a frenetic pace and in a league all its own.

The new cast of characters that join up with Pike and Jennifer are fantastic and that was an excellent way to "refresh" this series for lack of a better word. I hope some of these characters will show up again in future installments of the Taskforce/Pike Logan series.

Highly recommend this for fans of thriller/espionage books.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Brad Taylor read and there will be more. Action throughout. The ending could have been a bit better and that's why 9 of 10 stars.

[Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really hooked on the Taskforce and Brad Taylor. Maybe the best one so far but I gotta keep going. Back to the library tomorrow to get the next book in the series.

[James Winchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Brad Taylor, the way he writes his stories grabs the reader at every twist and turn. He provides the right amount of action and humor. You can see that he is Pike and Jennifer is DCOE. His writing is smooth and well written.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Days of Future Past

Pile Logan, Jennifer, Decoy and Knuckles are on assignment in Turkey. That was where Turbo and another Task Force member were killed driving off a cliff. The task force was tracking a guy code named “Chicklet” for his big teeth. While tracking their quarry, Jennifer and Pike nearly die the same way their team members did, making it obvious that Turbo’s death wasn’t an accident.

Like all the Task Force/Pike Logan stories before this one, it was a jet fueled ride into terrorist strong holds. They handle Boko Haram, Russia and possible chemical or nuclear weapons. The stakes have never been higher.

I confess to being hooked on this series and I listened to this on Audible. The performance was good. This is a five star thriller you don’t want to miss.

[Jon Kurtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brad Taylor once again spins a tale that is both intriguing and action packed. In this most recent installment featuring Pike Logan, Taylor continues to utilize interesting backdrops from around the world. The romance between the main characters, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill, is now out of the closet. In an interesting turn, Pike's growing feelings for Jennifer make it difficult for him to focus on the mission as opposed to her safety, but her presence tempers the rage that has to this point defined his character. As for the story, I will say, "The Russians are coming, The Russians are coming." Reprising Cold War sentiment, a Darth Vaderish character from the Russian FSB (Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti or Federal Security Service, read new and improved KGB) is bent on providing a weapon of mass destruction to an African terrorist. More by accident than design, a team of American operatives is killed, opening the door for Pike and his merry band to enter with guns blazing. The death of friends provides an opportune reason for Pike to display his infamous/notorious anger as well as Jennifer's new found ability to temper it with her presence. The dynamic keeps the reader guessing if Pike will travel to the dark side or take mercy on those who stand in the way of his mission. As with most Pike Logan novels, Pike often allows his personal animus to trump the mission, but that's part of his charm. You just never know what to expect. As has become my custom, I will not provide much of the story line, but will say a few recurring characters die and the ending could have been a little more imaginative. Overall, I enjoyed the read and provide Days of Rage with a 4.1 on my more detailed scale.

[Scott A. Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A costly mission for Pike and The Taskforce. Very interesting idea and well executed by Taylor. I like the way he weaves history into these books. Koko is getting more acclimated to the job. Will we see their new Israeli friends again? Looking forward to finding out. Outstanding series so far.

[Bea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I seem to be in the minority as I didn't love this book. It was my first book by Taylor and probably my last. It didn't wow me and it had a hard time keeping my interest. The characterization was flat, though the Mossad Agent Aron was interesting. There was no lack of action, and lots of deaths, but the story lacked depth. It had potential since the seeds of the story go back to the murder of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972 but it quickly developed into a mix of the standard tropes of rogue agent bent on revenge and save the world from a nuclear threat. Several times I came close to DNFing the book but I kept going to the end. Safe to say that Taylor's style doesn't work for me.

[Kevin Scott Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first-rate military thriller. The author, a veteran of the U.S. Army and Special Forces, shows great expertise in weaving together cutting-edge electronic surveillance technology with the gritty low-tech reality of close-quarters combat. An ambush scene involving a meeting at an abandoned warehouse is particularly well done.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLAST FROM THE PAST

[4.5 stars rounded down to 4]

"Send forth the boys".- Prime Minister Golda Meir authorizing activation of the Wrath Of God Project.

Nukes. No military/counter-terrorist thriller series is complete without at least one book focusing on crazed fanatics getting their grubby mitts on the good stuff. The nature of the threat makes it perfect to build fast paced, race against time scenarios and allows authors to demonstrate what their characters are made of. However, since so many books have used this threat time and time again, authors have to be creative to prevent readers from getting bored. Brad Taylor is one such creative author, having quickly established himself as one of the hottest names in the military/counter-terrorist thriller genre with his ongoing Pike Logan/Jennifer Cahill series. While the nature of the threat in this book has forced me to take one star off (can't match the GPS constellation failing like in book 5), his version of the terrorist/nuclear weapon scenario is one of the best in years, topping Memorial Day by Vince Flynn which was one of the first thrillers to focus on the nuclear threat in a post-9/11 world. Now to the review. What happens when history begins to repeat itself in the worst way possible?

The novel begins in September 5th, 1972 in the closing stages of one the defining terrorist attacks in history. The Munich Olympic Incident. We get to see from the perspective of one of the hostages the moment when a hand grenade got tossed into the helicopter, incinerating everyone inside. We then cut to five years later where the man officially behind the attack is having a chat with a KGB officer. The latter cultivated him as an asset and to increase his standing in the PLO, gave him the intel which made Munich successful. As their meeting concludes, the KGB officer witnesses the demise of his asset, Ali Salameh, with Mossad blowing him off the face of Beirut with a car bomb. Cut to 2014 Bulgaria where an FSB officer creatively murders a informant meeting with a Mossad officer with a tricked out bluetooth transmitter. He then returns to his safe house and finds the FSB director general waiting for him. The latter tasks his subordinate with a new mission. To kill the people watching a Nigerian Boko Haram terrorist which the FSB is considering cultivating for a special purpose. The officer does the job but unfortunately, his victims are members of the Taskforce, the deniable counter-terrorist unit the main protagonists of the series are members of. They fly into Bulgaria and survive an attempted killing. From there, they get sucked into a conspiracy which threatens the most anticipated sporting event of the year in a rarely used setting.

In terms of plot, "Days Of Rage" maintains the extremely high standards of the previous books. Pike and Jennifer slowly find their work cut out for them as the main opposition for much of the book are not a bunch of amateur Islamist fanatics. This opposition establishes themselves causing the stark death of one of my favorite secondary characters. The action is equal to that of the previous book, "The Polaris Protocol". From a violent cat and mouse game across a Bulgarian historical fort to a frantic hunt for the nuclear weapon across one of the busiest cities in South America, "Days Of Rage" has the action that has come to be expected from the Pike Logan series.
The novel also has the research Brad Taylor has become known for. I even learned a thing or two, (The FSB despite officially concerned solely with domestic security does have a mandate to go overseas like their counterparts at the SVR). Part of that research also extends to the innovative kit with a fictional twist that features in the books. This time, it's the Russian Federation which steals the show. The antagonists in this book have possession of a nifty transmitter which can sabotage medical equipment and even take control of modern cars. Recently, a experiment done by DARPA proved that automobiles with computerized components could be hacked like any computer and be commanded to do things like speed up, while the driver would be powerless to stop such a thing.

Now to characters. Pike and Jennifer have fully developed and are always a joy to read. Jennifer in particular has only gotten more savvy with each book. At one point in the novel where things go balls up and there's a armed FSB officer at point blank range, she doesn't hesitate and instead unloads on him with her Glock 30. Next, we have a team from Mossad who help Pike and Jennifer along when the oversight council have one of their moments. They reflect the relationship between Pike and Jennifer but instead, inverts them. First there's Shoshana. She's the trigger-woman and the equivalent of Pike. Very quirky, but insanely competent at her job, I hope she makes a reappearance in another book. Next, we have Aaron. He's the straight-man who tries to reign in his partner's wilder tendencies, like Jennifer does with Pike. The relationship between them is some of the best character interaction Brad Taylor has written and is further enlivened when Shoshanna instigates a debate between her and Pike about their different perspectives on killing.
Now to the antagonists. Sadly on this front, I think Taylor didn't do as well in this book compared to the last one. There was only one clear standout, Yuri Gorshenko the FSB officer. Quite the fanatical nationalist who wants his country on top once more, the author appears to use him as an illustration about how getting consumed by one's feelings can lead to damnation in a high stakes profession where death is one bullet away. As he suffers set-back and failure, his mental state slowly comes crashing down and he's reduced to a vengeful, pathetic wreck in his final attempt at killing the main characters.

Overall, while not pushing the Pike Logan series into new heights, "Days Of Rage" maintains the standards set by the previous books and is perhaps the best Post-9/11 counter-terrorist thriller revolving around the nuclear bomb threat. Taylor enriches the narrative with a historical conspiracy reaching back to the earliest days of international terrorism and with a great secondary antagonist and two secondary protagonists who liven up the proceedings with Pike and Jennifer and further establishes Brad Taylor as the new Vince Flynn.

[Steven Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year, I'd set out to reacquaint myself with the works of Brad Taylor. I did so and was reminded by how gifted a storyteller he was. So many writers in this genre lack the details that only somebody of his operational pedigree can bring to the table, and there are so many people of that pedigree wanting to produce books who lack the natural talent for writing. Taylor has both, which is what makes his books such a pleasure to read.

While visiting with Mark Greaney at his book signing in Scottsdale, I saw a Brad Taylor book which I thought was the most recent. I picked it up along with Mark's latest, AGENT IN PLACE (which I highly recommend), then got home and took a look on the inside of the book I had picked up (RING OF FIRE)...only to learn there were SEVERAL novels in between that I had missed.

Some fan I am! So, I immediately went to Amazon and ordered everything between THE POLARIS PROTOCOL and RING OF FIRE, leaving me with only OPERATOR DOWN to acquire. And having just read DAYS OF RAGE, I am glad that I did go on that purchasing binge.

DAYS OF RAGE displays Taylor's unique ability to not only weave in modern headlines (in this case, Edward Snowden's defection to Russia and the rise of Boko Haram) but also his knowledge of history (the 1972 Munich massacre and the fact that US intelligence supported the Palestinian terrorist who perpetrated that attack, albeit after the fact) into a taut and breakneck thriller that rapidly accelerates. It's that ability to weave in those headlines and that history that take a plot that, on its own, would be a pedestrian post-9/11 thriller plot and turn it into gold.

I particularly liked how Taylor worked in the Mossad team. Shoshanna was, naturally, my favorite. At the same time, he avoided the path I have seen other thriller writers have taken (making the US and Israeli teams chummy) and instead realistically portrayed the tension and differences in mission mentality between the two groups. They did come together and work towards a common objective in the end, but that they weren't exactly holding hands at first was both realistic and worked for storytelling purposes.

One last thing I'll mention: revenge is a common motif in this novel. It's done well. I won't say much beyond that, as that would be giving away the plot.

For many years, I was without mainstream thriller writers over whom to get excited with regards to new releases, but between Taylor and Mark Greaney, it looks like the good times have returned. I'm looking forward to working my way back to current with the Taskforce novels and then staying current with subsequent releases.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read any of the Pike Logan series. This being my first rodeo I can't say it enough...WOW! This book is so action packed. I had to put it down at times, just to catch my breath. The accuracy of everything in this book is amazing. From military tactics, politics (which I dislike a lot, and usually would put a book down because of it. Not this time, no way!), weaponry, to current events, everything was spot on and meshed so well. Each time I thought I knew where the plot was going it would nail me with another path much more exciting than the one I was traveling. I couldn't help but get sucked in to the point I felt like I was one of the characters riding right along with this group of hero's. The comradery between old and new characters gave me some good chuckles. With tongue-in-cheek banter and flying innuendos it's easy to cheer them on. I literally fist pumped at the end. I might admit to letting out a whoop or two

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book exciting and fun to read. It propelled me into an imaginary world where my heart was beating faster hopefully not getting caught. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Why only 4 stars? Well there were some questionable scenes that I accepted to allow the book freedom of expression..., loved it.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

An AWESOME read- full of surprises with Pike and his Taskforce Team at the ready. Thriller, murder, Russians, Israelis, Summer Olympics ‘72 in Germany- death and motivation for the entire team. Twists and turns- bomb? Enjoy

[Jeff Siegmund · Rating 4 out of 5]

The task force continues to chase threats around the globe. Jennifer continues to develope her role as a task force member.

My least favorite book in a great series.

[R.J. Gilmour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burrough a correspondent for Vanity Fair has written the definitive study of the Underground in the United States. Looking at a host of counterculture movements including the Weathermen, the Black Panthers, the Symbioses Liberation Army and others he traces their history and their politics. It is detailed study of a movement that has been forgotten. Important for anyone wanting to understand the politics and culture of the 1960s and 1970s.

"In the end, the untold story of the underground era, stretching from 1970 until the last diehards were captured in 1985, is one of misplaced idealism, naivety and stunning arrogance. Depending on one's point of view, its protagonists can be seen as either deluded dreamers of heartless terrorists, though a third possibility might be closer to the truth: young people who fatally misjudged America's political winds and found themselves trapped in an unwindable struggle they were too proud or stubborn to give up." 16

"It was December 1969, Fred Hampton's murder was just one of a series of ominous events that heralded the nightmarish end of a tortured decade. Two days later in Altamonte, California, Hells Angels knifed and killed a teenager in the unruly crowd watching Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones perform at the infamous concert. The papers were still crammed with lurid stories of the massacre of five people at the hands of Charles Manson's hippie cult four months earlier. In later years each of these events would be cited as the unofficial end of the Age of Aquarius, or the death of the '60s, or the passing of the Woodstock generation's dreams of love and hope." 85

"In January 1970 the first of the Weathermen began going "underground". The term itself had many meanings to many people, but in general being underground in America during the 1970s meant living under an assumed identity. The underground wasn't a place; it was a lifestyle, a fugitive lifestyle." 89

"It was true. America, it turned out, had fallen in love with everything about this groovy new counterculture-except in politics. Those like Weathermen who had predicted a revolution in America ended up being half-right. A revolution was arriving, but it was a cultural rather than a political phenomenon." 155

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read 4 of the first 5 books from Brad. I won an advanced reading copy of Days of Rage in a Facebook Give away. I debated on waiting until reading Polaris, but glad I did not. This to me is Brads best work and I could not put the book down. From exploring Pikes and Jennifer's relationship to linking the plot from long ago events to present news events...the story flowed very well. Love the added humor of Pike not always getting where the women in the book are coming from...I think every guy can relate. It is not without good characters getting killed...very much real life as the good guys don't always make it home. Two of my favorite authors of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor whose characters, Mitch and Scott, I grew to love to read about...Pike ranks right there with them. The best thing about those characters is they are not perfect in many ways, but they are extremely good at what they do, and Brad makes the story very relevant to what is happening recently, and what has happened even after the book was written. Making it scarily real.

I cant wait to get Polaris at my first chance.

[Maggie Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Days of Rage is a high octane, modern thriller. Brad Taylor has succeeded in creating the American James Bond in his character Pike Logan. Taylor has packed all of the excitement and action a Die Hard movie into this plot centered around global terrorism. The Americans, Israelis, Russians, and even Boko Haram all converge in an international plot to halt or pull off a global terrorist attack. Taylor’s solid writing style and complex plot continue to entertain and unfold right up until the very end. He’s created strong characters with developed back stories and interpersonal relationships that make this sensational story line seem even more plausible. In Days of Rage, Brad Taylor has created a strong yet flawed main character in Pike Logan and I cannot wait to see what harrowing situations he get’s himself into next. In my humble opinion Brad Taylor is well on his way to becoming the next Tom Clancy. I very much enjoyed this work of his and will be seeking out more of his books after seeing what Taylor can do in Days of Rage.

Read more of the Review here: http://www.blackdogspeaks.com/days-rage/

[Dee Haddrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally read 23 July 2024: re-read 21 January 2015. Changed from four to five stars. Any book that can make me that angry, sad, annoyed and frustrated for the characters as this one did, deserves nothing less!!!

Pike and Jennifer are back in another Taskforce mission that leaves you breathless, waiting to see what happens next. These books frustrate me while reading, because it seems as though Pike and crew are always being held back from getting the job done. But thankfully, Pike is usually proven right and, of course, he completes the mission and more, and leaves a trail of dead bad guys behind him. I was concerned for awhile near the end of the book, that one person wouldn't get what he deserved, but I should learn never to doubt Pike. Yet another great action packed thriller in a terrific series.

[H.W. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good novel, but the last 50 pages make it an outstanding novel. Brad Taylor writes with great clarity and great authority; he knows his stuff (been there, done that). DAYS OF RAGE builds to a heart-pounding, explosive conclusion as the "Taskforce" mounts a desperate search for a "suitcase nuke" in Brazil. It's set to detonate at a World Cup venue, but the Taskforce doesn't know exactly where the bomb is nor what time it's set to trigger. They know only that time is running out. Finally, after having exhausted all options, the team ordered to stand down and get out of the blast radius. Then . . . well, ya gotta read it.
Taylor, a Special Forces vet, incorporates current events and real technology (not sci-fi stuff) into his novels. Fortunately, he knows how to write very well, too.

[Duff Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great entry in a great series. It is a very timely and all-too-believable plot filled with the usual high level of action. The two main characters, Pike Logan and his partner Jennifer, continue to develop and grow as the series continues.

If you have not previously read the earlier entries in the series, it is best if you start at the beginning to appreciate better the history behind the relationship of the two main characters.

As the series has continued, the writing has improved considerably, not that it was bad at the beginning, just better as it progressed.

If you like action-filled, realistic plots about spies and bad guys, you will like the Pike Logan series, including this most recent entry.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure if this is my favorite Pike Logan book thus far, but it might be. I think it struggled a bit with a slower start than some of the others, but when it got going it probably had the most interesting plot so far and by far the highest stakes. Also Taylor was not afraid to make some bold character choices here to shake up the series a bit. I really hope we get more of Soshanna in future books. Jennifer is becoming a more interesting character as well. I'll probably take a short break from the series to avoid burnout, but I do plan on being caught up maybe by the end of the year.

[Mojo Shivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great outing for the Taskforce. More importantly, it was a great introduction to Shoshana, who I gather becomes more important to the series in time. It wasn’t a perfect novel as some errors in style and plotting find their way through. But it is a solid thriller with everyone you could want in a book of the genre.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pike Logan books are an extraordinarily good example of what they are. Yes, it's a thriller, an airport read if you will, but the characterisations hold up, the dialogue is witty and the action non-stop. They avoid the usual sexist cliches and cardboard cut out bad guys, whilsy giving appropriate visceral thrills when inevitably the guys in white hats win out.
Genuinely excellent for an entertaining two or three hours.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action packed thriller! Excellent.

[Bill Warden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy his books .... Especially when he talks about Charleston.

[Paul Youngerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a 3.5⭐️book. Good overall story, but drawn out a bit too much

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Days of Rage, Brad Taylor comes out firing on all cylinders with a novel ripped right out of the headlines. An old line Russian agent, who was once deeply involved in a terrorist plot from the 1970s, wants to drag America into another war by arming Akinbo, an African terrorist from Boko Haram, who is fighting in Nigeria, with a poison gas and use it to kill Americans. The Russian thinks that America will then get involved in another war, which will bankrupt the American economy. wants Akinbo to buy the poison from a Syrian arms dealer in Istanbul. But before the Russians can launch their plot, they have to get the Americans who are shadowing Akinbo off his tail.

So a Russian hit squad is dispatched and ends up diabolically killing two members of the Taskforce, in what looks like an auto accident.

Enter Kurt Hale, the head of the Taskforce, a super secret off the books anti terrorist unit, who wants Pike Logan and Jennifer back in the field to pickup the surveillance on Akinbo. Pike Logan and Jennifer are now "ex members" of the Taskforce. Pike Logan, as those who have read these books knows, is a super successful ex delta force operator with special combat skills, a very short fuse and a strong killer instinct. Jennifer is his partner and girlfriend. She combines cirque du soleil acrobatic skills with advanced military training. Jennifer is the only one who can rein in Logan.

Meanwhile a member of an ally of America has learned of a computer file from a Russian spy. Before the agent can get the file, the Russian has a "heart attack". The agent does get a clue to the flash drive's location, but before he can retrieve it, his country sends him to Istanbul - the same city where Akinbo is to meet the Syrian.

Logan, Jennifer and fellow Taskforce team mates Knuckles, Decoy, Blood and Retro, are also in Istanbul trying to re-establish surveillance on Akinbo, but his team is ambushed on the roads and then comes under pistol fire from the Russians as well, and one of the team is killed, and Jennifer is on the run -- being chased by two Russian killers. And the surveillance itself is almost destroyed because the Syrian is gunned down by a motorcyclist.

Jennifer and Logan end up teaming up with the motorcyclist and their team to try to stop Akinbo. Because, when the first Russian plan to kill Americans with poison gas is interrupted, the Russians fall back on an even worse plan.

But Taylor is not content with just Logan and Jennifer's hunt for the terrorist. He throws in a traitor at home, and the US ordering Logan and Jennifer to stop their ally from finding the computer drive, which supposedly has incriminating information about America's actions in the 1970s.

Needless to say, the novel barrels along from one action sequence to the next. Logan is incensed when one of his team is killed and will stop at nothing to thwart the Russians

Taylor is on very firm footing when the focus is Logan and Jennifer in the field. His action scenes are top notch. He also clearly understands the mentality of special forces soldiers and other soldiers from allies.

Of course the traitor at home who tries to gum up the Taskforce actions is SOP for these type of books. As is the fact that Logan will ultimately determine the traitor's fate, outside the jurisdiction of any laws.

Although Taylor kills off a couple of minor characters, the pulse pounding ending is also fairly typical.

But this is another fine edition in Taylor's Pike Logan series. The Pike Logan series is action packed anti terrorist thrillers and so far Taylor has kept the plots fairly fresh and current.

Action and thriller fans will enjoy.