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Broker
It's 1979. Broker has contracted with the state crime bureau for a secret, risky, undercover job that no cop could do, and it just turned into an open elevator shaft. A former foreign agent turns up dead in a remote patch of woods. A ton of contraband is in play that could have international implications. Broker knows he's as flawed and fearless as the other members of his pick-up crew, but he cant resist following the trail into a limbo world where the shadows of the powerful merge with the shadows of the law. He only has one thing going for him. He's been there before.
361 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2022
24 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Logan
21 books91 followersChuck Logan is an author of crime drama and veteran of the Vietnam War, who lives with his wife and daughter in Stillwater, Minnesota.
He is best known for his series of novels featuring the character Phil Broker, an ex-Minnesota police officer. Logan's novels include Hunter's Moon, Absolute Zero, Vapor Trail, Homefront, and After the Rain. Homefront is now a major motion picture starring James Franco and Jason Stratham.
He is best known for his series of novels featuring the character Phil Broker, an ex-Minnesota police officer. Logan's novels include Hunter's Moon, Absolute Zero, Vapor Trail, Homefront, and After the Rain. Homefront is now a major motion picture starring James Franco and Jason Stratham.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 5, 2022
Very good, a lot of fun, couldn't put it down. Admittedly, there's nothing all that complicated about this book, nothing fancy or deep at all, it just starts with a bang and then moves on from there. It's a great way to introduce the original Broker story and character. It is what it is and I found it a great read.
8/31/22 I just re-read "Broker" and probably enjoyed it even more this time because I've just finished re-reading all of the Broker books. THis is a prequel, fills in a few holes in his story line and it's a lot of fun.
8/31/22 I just re-read "Broker" and probably enjoyed it even more this time because I've just finished re-reading all of the Broker books. THis is a prequel, fills in a few holes in his story line and it's a lot of fun.
June 10, 2017
I've never read anything written by Chuck Logan, but I really enjoyed the Broker character. Good story, interesting cast of characters, and it kept me intrigued. I'd certainly enjoy more books with Broker as the lead, but I'm off right now to see what else he has written.
December 5, 2017
For the last several weeks I have been reading all of the Phil Broker books, a most awesome crime/thriller series by Chuck Logan. This morning I finished the latest in the saga simply titled BROKER. This book is somewhat of a prequel to the series. What makes that fun is, if you have not read any of the books before, you can start here, with BROKER. See? Fun! (And not for nothing, but this gave me a break from Phil Broker's wife, Nina Pryce. While she may have redeemed herself as a fictional character --somewhat-- in HOMEFRONT, I still dislike her as a person. So there!)
Okay. BROKER takes place in Minnesota (where else?) in the winter of 1979. When a shipping crate is stolen, the thieves realize their problem. What was inside the crate was more than bargained for. The thieves immediately realize they bit off a bit more than they could chew. Someone was going to come looking for the box. Someone was going to come looking for them.
At a holiday party, police officers from across the state enjoy a banquet meal at a firing range. Food and guns. Unfortunately, not everyone can play nice. When things get out of hand, guns are fired, officers are down, and forced from the sidelines we find Phil Broker. Gun still smoking from the barrel of his weapon. When the investigation is complete, an offer is put on the table.
A dead cop has an informant on the run, and a new informant with information. Broker's role is to make his way inside an outfit and figure out what's what. Some bad guys are after the old informant, certain she has something they have been looking for. When bodies, and death threats show up, Broker finds himself sucked back into his old life. He becomes what is known in the military as a ghost. With less than three days to garnish results, his new team of mechanics and trusted friends must put together a plan to unravel the situation.
Working against time, in extreme weather conditions, and with seemingly only some of the needed information, Broker knows the odds of them coming out of the fiasco alive is unlikely!
BROKER was fast, and meaty. As always the characters are drawn with such clarity they appear like actual people on the pages. The dialogue is crisp, and concise, and authentic! The plot is tight, and engaging. My only complaint? There are no other Phil Broker novels waiting for me to read! Now what?
Phillip Tomasso
author of Absolute Zero
and Damn the Dead
Okay. BROKER takes place in Minnesota (where else?) in the winter of 1979. When a shipping crate is stolen, the thieves realize their problem. What was inside the crate was more than bargained for. The thieves immediately realize they bit off a bit more than they could chew. Someone was going to come looking for the box. Someone was going to come looking for them.
At a holiday party, police officers from across the state enjoy a banquet meal at a firing range. Food and guns. Unfortunately, not everyone can play nice. When things get out of hand, guns are fired, officers are down, and forced from the sidelines we find Phil Broker. Gun still smoking from the barrel of his weapon. When the investigation is complete, an offer is put on the table.
A dead cop has an informant on the run, and a new informant with information. Broker's role is to make his way inside an outfit and figure out what's what. Some bad guys are after the old informant, certain she has something they have been looking for. When bodies, and death threats show up, Broker finds himself sucked back into his old life. He becomes what is known in the military as a ghost. With less than three days to garnish results, his new team of mechanics and trusted friends must put together a plan to unravel the situation.
Working against time, in extreme weather conditions, and with seemingly only some of the needed information, Broker knows the odds of them coming out of the fiasco alive is unlikely!
BROKER was fast, and meaty. As always the characters are drawn with such clarity they appear like actual people on the pages. The dialogue is crisp, and concise, and authentic! The plot is tight, and engaging. My only complaint? There are no other Phil Broker novels waiting for me to read! Now what?
Phillip Tomasso
author of Absolute Zero
and Damn the Dead
May 31, 2017
Quick, enjoyable page turner. First Broker book I've read and I plan on reading the older ones. As a former military guy his description of tactics and weapons is flawless.
January 30, 2022
I was stoked when I heard that Chuck Logan was writing another novel in the Broker Series. His books were some of my favorites around the turn of the century. I even put off reading his prequel for a couple of years to savor that I had one Broker story left. Like the rest of the series this book was a very fine thriller with excellent organization and writing. I was afraid I wouldn't recognize the same Phil Broker, but it was his voice crystal clear. As usual Harry stole the show and a great counterpoint to Broker.
I couldn't quite give it 5 stars for a couple of reasons. First, there was the slow start. This was the groundwork for the history of Broker going undercover. I thought much of the first 80 pages could have been covered in a flashback or summary with less than half the length. I guess I found the middle of the book the best, because the ending was a bit to unbelievable. Everything wrapped up too tidy and with that much money going under the radar to so many big fish. Chuck Logan thanks again for the unexpected pleasure after I thought we were done. Despite what as I saw as a couple of small flaws, feel free to surprise me again. Please?
I couldn't quite give it 5 stars for a couple of reasons. First, there was the slow start. This was the groundwork for the history of Broker going undercover. I thought much of the first 80 pages could have been covered in a flashback or summary with less than half the length. I guess I found the middle of the book the best, because the ending was a bit to unbelievable. Everything wrapped up too tidy and with that much money going under the radar to so many big fish. Chuck Logan thanks again for the unexpected pleasure after I thought we were done. Despite what as I saw as a couple of small flaws, feel free to surprise me again. Please?
December 30, 2022
Highly recommended.
Another great entry in the Broker series. This is a prequel and does a wonderful job filling in/establishing Broker's backstory and origins. It has been a while since I've read books in this series (the last was Homefront which was deeply disappointing and the worst of the lot), so I don't remember any of the regular character names. I suspect that many of the characters that figure in later books in the series are introduced in this one. I now plan to re read all the books to follow these character's arcs and associations with Broker. Mr. Logan creates three dimensional characters that are very interesting, besides Broker himself.
From what I can find on his webpage, Mr. Logan is working on another novel presently not associated with the series. I do hope fervently that he continues to write novels about Broker. It is one of the better series I have ever come across.
Another great entry in the Broker series. This is a prequel and does a wonderful job filling in/establishing Broker's backstory and origins. It has been a while since I've read books in this series (the last was Homefront which was deeply disappointing and the worst of the lot), so I don't remember any of the regular character names. I suspect that many of the characters that figure in later books in the series are introduced in this one. I now plan to re read all the books to follow these character's arcs and associations with Broker. Mr. Logan creates three dimensional characters that are very interesting, besides Broker himself.
From what I can find on his webpage, Mr. Logan is working on another novel presently not associated with the series. I do hope fervently that he continues to write novels about Broker. It is one of the better series I have ever come across.
September 8, 2017
Great return to Broker by Chuck Logan
Mind games with just enough gruesome action to make this a page turner. Logan's insight into both the criminal mind and the Vietnam veteran mind is remarkable. Plenty of local references for those from the area.
Mind games with just enough gruesome action to make this a page turner. Logan's insight into both the criminal mind and the Vietnam veteran mind is remarkable. Plenty of local references for those from the area.
December 4, 2020
Love Chuck Logan! Was refreshing to discover one I had not yet read. And bizarre synchronicity to read one over Thanksgiving which evolves over a Thanksgiving weekend. Enjoyed the "origin" story to go back in time with the Broker character.
Please write more books!
Please write more books!
January 13, 2024
A solid prequel
I never cared that much for the Vietnam prequel and preferred Broker’s exploits from his later days, but this is an entertaining and action packed bridge between the two. A must for Broker fans and easily accessible if this is your first Broker novel.
I never cared that much for the Vietnam prequel and preferred Broker’s exploits from his later days, but this is an entertaining and action packed bridge between the two. A must for Broker fans and easily accessible if this is your first Broker novel.
September 3, 2024
I got the tip about Chuck Logan from the prologue of a Stuart Woods novel. It's my first Chuck Logan novel and I was impressed. I get all my books used online of from the roadside libraries we see in neighborhoods, and will definitely search for more Logan novels.
October 11, 2018
Great story - unique super hero that Broker is
December 17, 2017
Got to meet Chuck Logan at an event held by B&N--First book of his I have read--look forward to reading the rest of his novels.
2017 Popsugar Challenge--A book with a title that's a character's name
2017 Popsugar Challenge--A book with a title that's a character's name
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews