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Riley Covington #3
Blackout
Riley Covington is still reeling from his father’s brutal murder when he learns he’s been traded. Meanwhile, the counterterrorism division has detected a plot to detonate electromagnetic pulse bombs that could leave the U.S. without power, communications, and transportation—right down to dropping planes out of the sky. CTD scrambles to stop the attacks, but they run out of time. Amid the fallout, Riley, Scott, Skeeter, and CTD must regroup to make sure the second bomb doesn’t reach its destination.
416 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2009
13 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Jason Elam
10 books9 followersJason Elam (born March 8, 1970 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida) is a retired[1] American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii.
Elam also played for the Atlanta Falcons. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Elam won two Super Bowl rings with the Broncos and is tied with Tom Dempsey for the longest field goal in NFL history at 63 yards.
Series:
* Riley Covington
Elam also played for the Atlanta Falcons. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Elam won two Super Bowl rings with the Broncos and is tied with Tom Dempsey for the longest field goal in NFL history at 63 yards.
Series:
* Riley Covington
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 1, 2018
All Pro Linebacker and Special Forces Op Riley Covington is at it again.
The terrorists are after Riley, and the only way he can get back into the fight is by faking an injury. The terrorists are planning an EMP attack and succeed, bringing New York and environs, clear to North Philly, back to the stone age.
Riley has to prevent future attacks, and his team is stranded in in New York.
Harrowing descriptions of the EMP attack.
The terrorists are after Riley, and the only way he can get back into the fight is by faking an injury. The terrorists are planning an EMP attack and succeed, bringing New York and environs, clear to North Philly, back to the stone age.
Riley has to prevent future attacks, and his team is stranded in in New York.
Harrowing descriptions of the EMP attack.
September 26, 2019
Blackout picks up shortly after the events of Blown Coverage. Riley is ready to put the past behind him and settle into playing for his team when he is suddenly traded to the Washington Warriors. Word has reached Scott, who has taken Jim Hicks' place, that an EMP bomb is headed to the US. Riley wrote a thesis on EMPs while at the Air Force Academy, and Scott needs him with the team in DC. Riley plays football by day and plans special ops attacks at night as the team searches for clues on where the bomb is going. But they are too late. New York and the surrounding area is devastated by the EMP blast. Now, all they can do is hope they find the second bomb before it goes off.
While some of the machinations stretch believability here, the frantic search for the bomb and the complete unpreparedness of the public hits home. Once the bomb goes off, we get brief glimpses of what happens to regular people - a passenger on a plane, a mom in a highrise apartment - when the initial blast takes out every electronic. Then the reality of eight million people trapped in a Manhattan with fires burning, no transportation, and no law sets in. It's truly terrifying.
For the past couple of years, the tie between Iran and North Korea has been explored by the very best authors in this genre. Kudos to Elam and Yohn for recognizing and exploring it almost a decade ago.
This is a Christian novel, but it treats Islam and its followers with respect, even those who are radical and insistent on destruction by explaining how their beliefs support that. Yet the authors don't back away from the horror of those actions. Nor do they back away from presenting true Christian faith and beliefs, showing how they deal with the struggles every person deals with.
There is no profanity or sex scenes here, but this is not a book for kids due to violence. It will definitely make you think about the vulnerability of our technological society.
While some of the machinations stretch believability here, the frantic search for the bomb and the complete unpreparedness of the public hits home. Once the bomb goes off, we get brief glimpses of what happens to regular people - a passenger on a plane, a mom in a highrise apartment - when the initial blast takes out every electronic. Then the reality of eight million people trapped in a Manhattan with fires burning, no transportation, and no law sets in. It's truly terrifying.
For the past couple of years, the tie between Iran and North Korea has been explored by the very best authors in this genre. Kudos to Elam and Yohn for recognizing and exploring it almost a decade ago.
This is a Christian novel, but it treats Islam and its followers with respect, even those who are radical and insistent on destruction by explaining how their beliefs support that. Yet the authors don't back away from the horror of those actions. Nor do they back away from presenting true Christian faith and beliefs, showing how they deal with the struggles every person deals with.
There is no profanity or sex scenes here, but this is not a book for kids due to violence. It will definitely make you think about the vulnerability of our technological society.
June 15, 2017
An interesting story about a star football player who is also a member of a Special Ops team in the Counter Terrorism Division working to stop an impending terrorist attack on the country with EMP bombs. Information has been smuggled out of North Korea that the devices have been built to use against the United States but the source does not know any other details. Riley Covington and his CTD team must determine when, where, and how the devices will be launched if they have any hope of stopping a major disaster that could affect the entire world. Dividing his time between professional football and a Special Ops team is quite a feat, made even more difficult by the fact that he is a well-known player. Just his life alone becomes a huge juggling act but the CTD team has its work cut out to uncover the many details and piece together a plan to stop the attack. The suspense is palpable as events start coming to a head. Riley and several of his closest friends on the football team are Christ-followers who live out their faith and seek to do the right thing even in difficult circumstances. The book is well worth reading. It was released several years ago as the third in a series. I hope I get an opportunity to read the first two books.
July 5, 2018
I had no idea what to expect going into this book. Only heard of the author Jason Elam in his role as a great NFL place kicker previously.. But I really enjoyed the story and how it it describes the chaos that would follow the explosion of an EMP in a technological country such as the US. But a sense of humor expressed as well, paraquoting one line in the book "How people in the cities can quickly be brought to a halt but the Amish in Pennsylvania can keep going as normal." And in this book they proceeded to drive their buggies into the cities affected and rescued folks and took them back to their farms and barns. Demonstrating their Christian beliefs of helping others . However Rocky Covington the main character gets pulled from a twisted football trade to become part of a counter-terrorism team that he had commanded in the past. The story plot leads the reader down the path to stopping a second EMP before it can go off. Enough said except for the expansion of chaos this country can get hit with without having nuclear bombs going off. It was a good read!
September 2, 2023
I have enjoyed reading this series. Just finished Black Out. This is a great series for men to read because there is not much romance and a lot of action. It is scary to think how bad people act when trouble comes. I like how the characters with Christian morals kept control of their situation unlike the evil around them. I look forward to the last in the series.
March 1, 2019
Thrilling, frightening, sad... These books have it all!
March 3, 2019
I think I've found another favorite author!!
March 26, 2019
3.5 Stars - Not the best book in the series, but still a good read.
October 6, 2021
Riley Covington saves the world once again!
April 8, 2010
BLACKOUT
by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn
Football hero Riley Covington is tasked with a mission that has nothing to do with passing, rushing, or yardage. His FBI former colleague and close friend Scott Ross says Riley is the only person who can help protect the United States from the next terrorist attack. His college thesis on the exact type of weapon aimed at the US makes him the only knowledgeable person on the subject, and his past service with the FBI as a Special Forces operative makes him more than fit to lead this mission.
As someone who doesn’t even believe in coincidences, I found the plot rife with them.
Often while reading “Blackout”, I had the feeling that I was reading a sequel: too much back-story was referred to but not explained, and I was left confused. The first hint I had that this was indeed not the first novel in the Riley Covington series came from reading an endorsement on the back cover after I’d finished. If either less or more attention were focused on previous events, I would have been better able to concentrate on the current scene. Because I hadn’t read of the previous adventures of Riley Covington, the hints were distracting rather than helpful.
I so wanted to like Riley, and almost did, but I didn’t find his character believable. He is too amazingly talented, and while I admired the strength and depth of his faith, he was too humble, for the average person to relate to.
I could never get a gauge of Riley’s age or the ages of the supporting characters. The respected positions they hold and the power and respect they garner don’t match their juvenile dialog and personal actions. The author tries to explain it away in a confrontational scene late in the book, but it was too late by that time to internalize.
The writing in the first half of “Blackout” staggered from passable to intriguing as chapters bounced from The Professional Football League to the Counter Terrorist Division. Midway through, however, the excitement picked up and the writing style smoothed out, making me want to keep turning pages.
In addition, the storyline of “Blackout” is totally believable – it could potentially happen tomorrow and we all know it. Which is why, though I don’t necessarily recommend this book, I ended up enjoying it despite its shortcomings.
My rating: 2 out of 5
My thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this Advanced Review Copy of “Blackout”.
by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn
Football hero Riley Covington is tasked with a mission that has nothing to do with passing, rushing, or yardage. His FBI former colleague and close friend Scott Ross says Riley is the only person who can help protect the United States from the next terrorist attack. His college thesis on the exact type of weapon aimed at the US makes him the only knowledgeable person on the subject, and his past service with the FBI as a Special Forces operative makes him more than fit to lead this mission.
As someone who doesn’t even believe in coincidences, I found the plot rife with them.
Often while reading “Blackout”, I had the feeling that I was reading a sequel: too much back-story was referred to but not explained, and I was left confused. The first hint I had that this was indeed not the first novel in the Riley Covington series came from reading an endorsement on the back cover after I’d finished. If either less or more attention were focused on previous events, I would have been better able to concentrate on the current scene. Because I hadn’t read of the previous adventures of Riley Covington, the hints were distracting rather than helpful.
I so wanted to like Riley, and almost did, but I didn’t find his character believable. He is too amazingly talented, and while I admired the strength and depth of his faith, he was too humble, for the average person to relate to.
I could never get a gauge of Riley’s age or the ages of the supporting characters. The respected positions they hold and the power and respect they garner don’t match their juvenile dialog and personal actions. The author tries to explain it away in a confrontational scene late in the book, but it was too late by that time to internalize.
The writing in the first half of “Blackout” staggered from passable to intriguing as chapters bounced from The Professional Football League to the Counter Terrorist Division. Midway through, however, the excitement picked up and the writing style smoothed out, making me want to keep turning pages.
In addition, the storyline of “Blackout” is totally believable – it could potentially happen tomorrow and we all know it. Which is why, though I don’t necessarily recommend this book, I ended up enjoying it despite its shortcomings.
My rating: 2 out of 5
My thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of this Advanced Review Copy of “Blackout”.
April 24, 2013
Probably one of my favorite books.
I think this book is now a reality. It's happening right now in the Korean Peninsula, where America is also a part of it, for it will protect its ally once the tension heats up even more. Oh my! Let's pray that it will not happen.
Even though I didn't read the first 2 books of this series, I easily got hooked to it. The story is somehow not quite related to those, and some scenes which requires those first 2 series had a flashback, so you can still follow the trail. I really love this book. Especially those action pack scenes, it leaves me breathless. (Like, Oh my! What will happen next?) All those suspense-action scenes were the best. Also, this book was not just made fictitious, but it also depicts some things similar to reality. I love how the authors informed me about those things, which honestly, an added knowledge for me.
We all have our own opinions so respect mine as I respect yours.
One thing is for sure: Grab your own copy friends and see it for yourselves.
BTW, I love Afshin. Yeah! :) How good was he. I really cried when he died. (As in I didn't stop crying until I need to. His heroism was the best example for me).
In every book I had read, I always make sure that I learned something form it. :)
Lessons learned from Blackout: First, we should always be ready so when catastrophe hit us, the damage will not be that disastrous. Second, doing another wound from the past will never heal it, instead, it will only make it worst. Third, we know that we found our friends if they really stand by our side through thick and thin. Fourth, we should not judge people just because they are black, Asians, Africans, etc. Colors and nationality don't define their whole-being. Not all black or Muslim people are bad. Let us first know them before judging them. Fifth, bad people will never win against the good one. Sixth, wars will never create peace. It will only leave many people starving to death, and homeless with no better future. Lastly, God is in control of everything. If He let those things to happen, he has a better reason why. Just always keep our Faith to God and always pray to Him.
God Bless everyone.
I think this book is now a reality. It's happening right now in the Korean Peninsula, where America is also a part of it, for it will protect its ally once the tension heats up even more. Oh my! Let's pray that it will not happen.
Even though I didn't read the first 2 books of this series, I easily got hooked to it. The story is somehow not quite related to those, and some scenes which requires those first 2 series had a flashback, so you can still follow the trail. I really love this book. Especially those action pack scenes, it leaves me breathless. (Like, Oh my! What will happen next?) All those suspense-action scenes were the best. Also, this book was not just made fictitious, but it also depicts some things similar to reality. I love how the authors informed me about those things, which honestly, an added knowledge for me.
We all have our own opinions so respect mine as I respect yours.
One thing is for sure: Grab your own copy friends and see it for yourselves.
BTW, I love Afshin. Yeah! :) How good was he. I really cried when he died. (As in I didn't stop crying until I need to. His heroism was the best example for me).
In every book I had read, I always make sure that I learned something form it. :)
Lessons learned from Blackout: First, we should always be ready so when catastrophe hit us, the damage will not be that disastrous. Second, doing another wound from the past will never heal it, instead, it will only make it worst. Third, we know that we found our friends if they really stand by our side through thick and thin. Fourth, we should not judge people just because they are black, Asians, Africans, etc. Colors and nationality don't define their whole-being. Not all black or Muslim people are bad. Let us first know them before judging them. Fifth, bad people will never win against the good one. Sixth, wars will never create peace. It will only leave many people starving to death, and homeless with no better future. Lastly, God is in control of everything. If He let those things to happen, he has a better reason why. Just always keep our Faith to God and always pray to Him.
God Bless everyone.
May 18, 2011
Fun, quick read. Sure it's fluff and maybe a bit preachy, but, for a read to shut your brain off and just enjoy with a Christian tinge, it fits the bill. It definitely lacks the depth and complexity of narrative of a John LeCarre or even a Daniel Silva, but for what it is, does the job. I do wish they'd stop flitting the main character back and forth between football and saving the world. I think the end of the second book was the time to make the decision. There's enough there that they could have gone either way and made it enjoyable but to vacillate back and forth at this point seems pretty artificial. I also worry about the common problem with thriller series where the authors are tempted to try and top themselves each time in terms of threat and also elevation of the main character while at the same time trying to make it episodic and do a sort of reset. That's a pretty big danger going forward after what happened here. You do something very drastic and now you need to make a choice as to whether you're going forward in dealing with the consequences of that or try to push it off into the corner and act as if the world goes on with that just effecting things locally but not messing with the rest of the world. It's a problem that I felt like Tom Clancy (among others I've eventually gotten frustrated with) eventually got hung up on and caused me to stop reading him. Looks like it could be happening with this series very quickly as well.
June 23, 2010
I have mixed feelings on Blackout. The first half of the story didn’t feel like a thriller at all. Riley Covington, the title character of the series, didn’t play as big a role as expected and his main purpose appeared to be remembering the past and playing football. In my opinion as a reader, the first half of the book could have been condensed into just a few chapters and kept the tension of the story high, rather than taking over a hundred and fifty pages and making me wonder if the “thriller” part of this Riley Covington Thriller would ever start.
The second half of the book, however, was an amazing ride of suspense. It was everything I hope for in a thriller and had an awesome storyline. Electromagnetic pulse bombs aren’t something I’ve seen done to death in fiction, and the glimpse of the devastation an EMP bomb would cause was both fascinating and frightening. Once the story picked up, I couldn’t put the book down. I was drawn into the story and found myself rooting for the good guys and rejoicing when the bad guys took a blow. I came away fully satisfied with the second half of the book.
If you don’t mind a slow start to an exciting story, you might enjoy Blackout. But if you’re like me and prefer a thriller that’s suspenseful from beginning to end, this may not be the book for you.
The second half of the book, however, was an amazing ride of suspense. It was everything I hope for in a thriller and had an awesome storyline. Electromagnetic pulse bombs aren’t something I’ve seen done to death in fiction, and the glimpse of the devastation an EMP bomb would cause was both fascinating and frightening. Once the story picked up, I couldn’t put the book down. I was drawn into the story and found myself rooting for the good guys and rejoicing when the bad guys took a blow. I came away fully satisfied with the second half of the book.
If you don’t mind a slow start to an exciting story, you might enjoy Blackout. But if you’re like me and prefer a thriller that’s suspenseful from beginning to end, this may not be the book for you.
November 25, 2009
Blackout (A Riley Covington Thriller)
Thriller is indeed accurate.
This is my first book by these authors to read. I do not think that it will be my last.
Riley Covington is a pro football player. He is also a hero. A former member of the US Armed Forces, and an expert in various terrorist weapons, Covington is in great demand.
Covington is also a Christian. That means that all the he does is influenced by his commitment to Jesus.
Covington is inexplicably traded away from the team that he loves to play on. He is moved to Washington only to find that he is not wanted by that team's owner. He learns, however, that the government is behind his move, and that they have a need for him.
Covington is to seek to prevent another terrorist attack that could lead to a blackout of the whole nation. In the midst of all of this, he is torn between his feelings for two very different women.
What will the outcome of all of this be?
One thing is for sure, the outcome is that I desire to read more books about Riley Covington.
Thriller is indeed accurate.
This is my first book by these authors to read. I do not think that it will be my last.
Riley Covington is a pro football player. He is also a hero. A former member of the US Armed Forces, and an expert in various terrorist weapons, Covington is in great demand.
Covington is also a Christian. That means that all the he does is influenced by his commitment to Jesus.
Covington is inexplicably traded away from the team that he loves to play on. He is moved to Washington only to find that he is not wanted by that team's owner. He learns, however, that the government is behind his move, and that they have a need for him.
Covington is to seek to prevent another terrorist attack that could lead to a blackout of the whole nation. In the midst of all of this, he is torn between his feelings for two very different women.
What will the outcome of all of this be?
One thing is for sure, the outcome is that I desire to read more books about Riley Covington.
August 14, 2011
This is a series that I have really liked from the very first book "Monday Night Jihad". These authors have done an excellent job of developing the characters in all of the books. While there are a lot of "24-Jack Bauer" style books out currently, not many have a character like Riley Covington. He appeals to a wide group of people/readers. There is action from beginning to end as well as good relationships built between the characters. One particular thing that I personally have really enjoyed is the strong testimony of Riley, how he shares his testimony both in word and in lifestyle and the discipleship of some of the characters in these books. I certainly hope that more characters are brought to Christ in future books (hopefully bringing some readers to a saving relationship with Christ as well). Regardless read these books as well as others that may come out in the future from these authors!
February 19, 2016
Blackout is a fantastic thriller written by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn. Riley Covington, ex-military man, and current professional football player for the Mustangs. After several years of hard-fought play and having a sportsmanlike personality Riley becomes a hometown hero for the team and a respected veteran in the league. But things start to change rapidly when Riley is traded to the Washington Warriors. Why the sudden trade of such a beloved player? Find out when you read Blackout (A Riley Covington Thriller.) I would recommend this book to people with a deep craving for action. Blackout is a very clean book with little cursing and I would also recommend this to younger readers who love sports and military grade action. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 12 due to the difficulty of the vocabulary used.
January 5, 2015
Another awesome book in the Riley Covington series. I got hooked at book one & at book three the story line just keeps getting better. The scary part about this book though is that you could actually picture what happens in the book happening in real life. I can't wait to read the next book & anything else that Jason Elam decides to write too.
I found out about Jason Elam through the Tyndale Rewards program & am so glad that I did. If you are interested in joining the Tyndale Rewards program follow this link. It is a wonderful way to find new authors & earn free books.
www.tyndalerewards.com/signup/?pc=8bb...
I found out about Jason Elam through the Tyndale Rewards program & am so glad that I did. If you are interested in joining the Tyndale Rewards program follow this link. It is a wonderful way to find new authors & earn free books.
www.tyndalerewards.com/signup/?pc=8bb...
Read
February 22, 2020Review of Blackout: This had such a sad feel in it, so dark, so much pain, and death. *sighs* With the bombings and a city going dark this novel shows so much truth of how people act, treat others, and how they live. This thriller is has such a wide range of subjects covered, I did feel parts were unrealistic like Riley's part in finding the EMPs but I may be wrong, I loved reading about the team, their goofiness, the crazy ideas they have, and everything about them, seeing Scott step into the leadership position he had was neat, I loved seeing his character development.
Honestly I loved this but it was so dark/violent/and sad.
Honestly I loved this but it was so dark/violent/and sad.
September 2, 2013
A Quickie Review
It's funny how the amazingly talented author Joel C. Rosenberg endorsed this series, because, while reading this third entry, it felt like a knock-off of his works. There's plenty of action and excitement, but it feels a bit lackluster, and the annoying space-wasting format made the thickness of the book deceptive. Fans of thrillers might enjoy this, but, everyone else should stick to Mr. Rosenberg's works.
Content Concerns: The usual action, violence, and suspense that is always present in these books is just as prevalent here.
Score: 2.75/5
It's funny how the amazingly talented author Joel C. Rosenberg endorsed this series, because, while reading this third entry, it felt like a knock-off of his works. There's plenty of action and excitement, but it feels a bit lackluster, and the annoying space-wasting format made the thickness of the book deceptive. Fans of thrillers might enjoy this, but, everyone else should stick to Mr. Rosenberg's works.
Content Concerns: The usual action, violence, and suspense that is always present in these books is just as prevalent here.
Score: 2.75/5
August 19, 2010
Blackout was a great book. It had some suspense, but not quite as much as some of the other books. Keith Simmons, Riley's friend really reaches a point where his faith becomes real to him and he realizes that his faith involves works as well. Riley continues to struggle with his place as someone who is anyone but normal. He doesn't realize why he is called to such a big role. Overall, most of the characters undergo a dynamic change of growth in their spirituality.
March 15, 2014
I love this series. So disappointed there is only one remaining. :(
January 21, 2014
This series of books are quick reads, easy and interesting. You don't have to like football to appreciate the story. They also have a great message.
July 20, 2025
The third book of the series. Thrilling and interesting like the others!
September 27, 2017
A story about an EMP attack on the U.S. with a super hero character and plot that reminded me of the typical Hollywood disaster movies from the 1980's. I didn't care for the excessive football talk (that had no bearing on the story line) and the personal religious references. Guess I should of read the authors' bios before I read the book.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews