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Alan Craik #3
TOP HOOK
The Alan Craik novels have earned GORDON KENT electrifying praise for their breakneck pace and raw emotion, as well as for some of the most remarkable heroes--and villains--in fiction today. Now U.S. Navy Officer Craik is back in action, all because one man, fueled by anger, ambition, and pain, has ignited an explosive chain of events that threatens not only two good careers, but world peace itself....
TOP HOOK
It’s springtime in Newport and Alan Craik and his wife, Rose Siciliano, are on top of the world. She’s headed for astronaut training; he’s going into an espionage school. Parents, pilots, lovers, and loyal navy officers through and through, the husband-and-wife team are eager to take the next step. Then it all comes crashing down.
In a Virginia suburb of D.C., a senior CIA man has committed a series of clandestine acts that have led him into the most dangerous place he has ever been. Now George Shreed’s dark secret is in danger--and a woman is demanding a million dollars in exchange for her silence. Shreed’s next desperate move is to find someone to take the blame for the information he himself leaked. The fall guy will be a Rose Siciliano.
Suddenly, an investigation targets Rose, and, by association, her husband, Alan. And as a circle of treachery tightens around them, events race out of anyone’s control. In command of an airborne unit on the USS Thomas Jefferson in Trieste, Alan is contacted by the same woman who is blackmailing Shreed. Soon he is being pulled into a vortex of spies and counterspies while a series of stunning escalations take his high-tech airborne attachment--and the world--to the brink of war.
In the most dangerous region on earth, Alan Craik is crashing through forbidden airspace to find a spy, code-named “ Top Hook ,” whose act of betrayal is more complex--and chilling--than anyone can guess.
From the deafening roar of jet fighters launching off an aircraft carrier to nerve-shattering clandestine meetings in Turkey, North Africa, and Pakistan, Top Hook is a relentless turbocharged ride--and the best work yet from the most original writer in military adventure today.
TOP HOOK
It’s springtime in Newport and Alan Craik and his wife, Rose Siciliano, are on top of the world. She’s headed for astronaut training; he’s going into an espionage school. Parents, pilots, lovers, and loyal navy officers through and through, the husband-and-wife team are eager to take the next step. Then it all comes crashing down.
In a Virginia suburb of D.C., a senior CIA man has committed a series of clandestine acts that have led him into the most dangerous place he has ever been. Now George Shreed’s dark secret is in danger--and a woman is demanding a million dollars in exchange for her silence. Shreed’s next desperate move is to find someone to take the blame for the information he himself leaked. The fall guy will be a Rose Siciliano.
Suddenly, an investigation targets Rose, and, by association, her husband, Alan. And as a circle of treachery tightens around them, events race out of anyone’s control. In command of an airborne unit on the USS Thomas Jefferson in Trieste, Alan is contacted by the same woman who is blackmailing Shreed. Soon he is being pulled into a vortex of spies and counterspies while a series of stunning escalations take his high-tech airborne attachment--and the world--to the brink of war.
In the most dangerous region on earth, Alan Craik is crashing through forbidden airspace to find a spy, code-named “ Top Hook ,” whose act of betrayal is more complex--and chilling--than anyone can guess.
From the deafening roar of jet fighters launching off an aircraft carrier to nerve-shattering clandestine meetings in Turkey, North Africa, and Pakistan, Top Hook is a relentless turbocharged ride--and the best work yet from the most original writer in military adventure today.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Gordon Kent
25 books26 followersPseudonym of writers Kenneth M. Cameron with his son Christian Cameron.
Series:
* Alan Craik
Series:
* Alan Craik
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 22, 2019
Top Hook thankfully does not suffer from the same extraordinarily dull and prolonged start (that took almost half the book to get going) as Peacemaker did. Rather within 50-70 pages the story manages to find it legs and begin jogging forwards gaining momentum towards a rather gripping tail end that has you glued to the pages to find out how things will unravel.
The ending is good winding up the subplots for the most part and leaving open plenty of room to continue the larger story arc without trimming this books plot short and abruptly as some books suffer from. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see more of what happened to Ray Suter after his large part in the prior book and the first half of this one it was a bit of a shame that he seemed to fade away after the development in his subplot. Especially considering the detail that went into various other parts of the story.
I was about ready to give up on the author after the stumbling mess that Peacemaker was but Top Hook now has me interested in seeing what happens in the next installment.
The ending is good winding up the subplots for the most part and leaving open plenty of room to continue the larger story arc without trimming this books plot short and abruptly as some books suffer from. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see more of what happened to Ray Suter after his large part in the prior book and the first half of this one it was a bit of a shame that he seemed to fade away after the development in his subplot. Especially considering the detail that went into various other parts of the story.
I was about ready to give up on the author after the stumbling mess that Peacemaker was but Top Hook now has me interested in seeing what happens in the next installment.
December 31, 2018
Ok. A man's book. Why? Long periods spent describing mechanics of aircraft, naval carrier operations and codeboards as discussed between 'inner circles' and outsiders.
Double agent naval warfare dilemma, softened with deliberate character damage to equally qualified naval high-flier wife.
Well obser ed human chacteristics and basic storyline. However by half way I was happy, felt i missed nothing, by skipping some of the technical information.
Double agent naval warfare dilemma, softened with deliberate character damage to equally qualified naval high-flier wife.
Well obser ed human chacteristics and basic storyline. However by half way I was happy, felt i missed nothing, by skipping some of the technical information.
August 29, 2020
very enjoyable
October 31, 2022
Wicked good military thriller with interesting characters that you become invested in, while the unfolding drama definitely draws you into their world.
July 29, 2013
Parts of this book were interesting, but I found most of this book rather long and dull. Rose, is in the begining and part of the reason for the story, but she gets lost as a charater in the plot when her husband, Alan, more or less takes over the story. People who may enjoy this book more are those that have some knowledge of aircraft and can remember what abbreviations such as RIO, CAG, LSO,CNO etc. And yes, there is a follow up to this book, do I want to read it? I don't think so.
May 25, 2008
Great story... Rated "R" for language. Minimal violence. Actually suggested we pull it from our school's library. If you want to read through the "R" for the story... consider yourself warned, but enjoy the skies.
June 11, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A little slow starting but lots of action and adventure as I got further into it. Would highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews