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Scot Harvath #9
Foreign Influence
Navy SEAL turned covert operative Scot Harvath is called to action once again in this pulse-pounding political thriller from #1 New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brad Thor.
Buried within the black ops budgets of the Department of Defense, a new spy agency has been created. Unfettered by the oversight of self-serving politicians, it reports only to a secret panel of insiders. Its job is to target America’s enemies—both foreign and domestic—under a charter of three simple words: Find, Fix, and Finish.
Recruited as a field operative, Scot Harvath has just returned from his first assignment abroad when a bombing in Rome kills a group of American college students. The evidence points to a dangerous colleague from Harvath’s past and a plan for further attacks on an unimaginable scale.
Harvath is tasked with leveraging his relationship to lure the man out of hiding and kill him on the spot. But what if he has the wrong man?
Simultaneously, a young woman is struck by a taxi in a hit-and-run in Chicago. With only two intoxicated witnesses and over five thousand cabs in the city, the Chicago Police have given up on their investigation. But when the family’s attorney digs deeper, he will uncover a shocking connection to the bombing in Rome and the perpetrators’ plans for America.
As the story rockets to its conclusion, the plots intersect in a race to prevent one of the most audacious and unthinkable acts of terror in the history of mankind.
Buried within the black ops budgets of the Department of Defense, a new spy agency has been created. Unfettered by the oversight of self-serving politicians, it reports only to a secret panel of insiders. Its job is to target America’s enemies—both foreign and domestic—under a charter of three simple words: Find, Fix, and Finish.
Recruited as a field operative, Scot Harvath has just returned from his first assignment abroad when a bombing in Rome kills a group of American college students. The evidence points to a dangerous colleague from Harvath’s past and a plan for further attacks on an unimaginable scale.
Harvath is tasked with leveraging his relationship to lure the man out of hiding and kill him on the spot. But what if he has the wrong man?
Simultaneously, a young woman is struck by a taxi in a hit-and-run in Chicago. With only two intoxicated witnesses and over five thousand cabs in the city, the Chicago Police have given up on their investigation. But when the family’s attorney digs deeper, he will uncover a shocking connection to the bombing in Rome and the perpetrators’ plans for America.
As the story rockets to its conclusion, the plots intersect in a race to prevent one of the most audacious and unthinkable acts of terror in the history of mankind.
388 pages, ebook
First published June 29, 2010
1623 people are currently reading
5865 people want to read
About the author
Brad Thor
46 books7,389 followersBRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five thrillers, including EDGE OF HONOR, SHADOW OF DOUBT, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 685 reviews
August 5, 2016
3 to 3.5 stars.
Better than his previous book (The Apostle), but I am not sure how I feel about the convenient story lines and the repetitive plot points. It is still an interesting action/thriller, but the torture sequences and anti-Muslim sentiment have become almost cartoony - they do not necessarily advance the plot, they just show how angry the author is.
I will keep reading this series because I enjoy political thrillers, but I hope Thor starts to migrate back to his earlier style - more intricate adventure, less shock value.
Better than his previous book (The Apostle), but I am not sure how I feel about the convenient story lines and the repetitive plot points. It is still an interesting action/thriller, but the torture sequences and anti-Muslim sentiment have become almost cartoony - they do not necessarily advance the plot, they just show how angry the author is.
I will keep reading this series because I enjoy political thrillers, but I hope Thor starts to migrate back to his earlier style - more intricate adventure, less shock value.
September 19, 2024
Aware that attacks are planned for London and Amsterdam, counterterrorism forces go into action to thwart the perpetrators. An all-female counterterrorism team called Athena joins the operation. With the author you always feel you are being introduced to the very gritty world of counterterrorism which can be a very rough reality indeed. This book is not a steady stream of action but is a steady stream of how things are figured out and how terrorists are stopped before they are able to do all the harm they intend.
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February 9, 2012Hmmm. This guy is really, really mad. To the point that I am curious why and what in his background made him this way. Homeland Secutity veteran? Some of it is obviously based on true events. Makes me worried about where the world is headed. I am appalled that he is a bestseller. The more I think about this book the more mad I am myself. Who are you clowns that buy this stuff volume 1-9. I threw the library copy in the trash and I will pay for it. You are the people that gave the Heil Hitler. It just seemed like the thing to do. Everyone else was doing it, so it must be right. And I am a gun-toting Texan that believes that people should pay. This is not about vengeance. It is about propaganda. "You are being attacked. Fear. Foe. Fire. Do what I say to be safe!"
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."-Benjamin Franklin
Brad Thor claims to be defending America. After all he is from Homeland Security! He makes the case in novel form that to defend freedom we should have Secret Police with unlimited power. He even loathes the FBI, which most would consider right arm of the enforcement community, as meddlesome and an impedance to the "real guys" here in the US. The entire book rants that the rights we have are stupid and dangerous, that the civilians do not deserve them, that we are morons and traitors, that we should all be under constant surveillance with drones and cameras on every corner. Phones and computers tapped.
Half the book is about how to torture, the best way to torture, how it should be done more and expanded. The rules against it are stupid and dangerous. That his chosen people pick who is grabbed and tortured whenever they want. Obviously. In the US or abroad. At one point his main character hands over a prisoner to be tortured, as a reward for good work he gets this guy, and laughingly tells the other agent to kill him after he's "downloaded" all he can from him.
Extreme hatred and dehumanizing of people based on race and religion. "Some of them are here, and some even look like us." (Sound familiar? It should. Check WW2, and Communist Russia and China)
This guy is either crazy or is writing for crazy people, or both. And when I say writing for crazy people, I do not mean the people who buy the book for the most part. I mean "for" as in a job. Some of this stuff I will not even repeat. I do not like his Muslim fundamentalist villains either. I think all organized religion is silly, at best. But you know how to make someone like that really dig in? Give power to the extremists? Attack them. Kill their dads. I think that is the point. An enemy is needed. To fight one another over religion is in the words of Yassar Arafat, "like having a fight over who had the bigger imaginary friend."
It is not fair to paint a whole culture of billions as inherently evil. If that were the case we would all be dead, because there are a lot of them. For the most part they are just trying to live their lives. Brad Thor conveniently forgets the heinous points of Christian history. Including a great deal of historical badness aimed directly at these people. Much of it recent. He wants us to be worse than them. That is his answer. And if that happens America is dead anyway. These people that would destroy our liberty to "protect us" are the greater danger by far. Brad Thor, meet the Dumpster.
"Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country." -- Reichsmarschall Hermann Wilhelm Göring, founder of the Gestapo, Head of the Luftwaffe, at Nuremberg 1946
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."-Benjamin Franklin
Brad Thor claims to be defending America. After all he is from Homeland Security! He makes the case in novel form that to defend freedom we should have Secret Police with unlimited power. He even loathes the FBI, which most would consider right arm of the enforcement community, as meddlesome and an impedance to the "real guys" here in the US. The entire book rants that the rights we have are stupid and dangerous, that the civilians do not deserve them, that we are morons and traitors, that we should all be under constant surveillance with drones and cameras on every corner. Phones and computers tapped.
Half the book is about how to torture, the best way to torture, how it should be done more and expanded. The rules against it are stupid and dangerous. That his chosen people pick who is grabbed and tortured whenever they want. Obviously. In the US or abroad. At one point his main character hands over a prisoner to be tortured, as a reward for good work he gets this guy, and laughingly tells the other agent to kill him after he's "downloaded" all he can from him.
Extreme hatred and dehumanizing of people based on race and religion. "Some of them are here, and some even look like us." (Sound familiar? It should. Check WW2, and Communist Russia and China)
This guy is either crazy or is writing for crazy people, or both. And when I say writing for crazy people, I do not mean the people who buy the book for the most part. I mean "for" as in a job. Some of this stuff I will not even repeat. I do not like his Muslim fundamentalist villains either. I think all organized religion is silly, at best. But you know how to make someone like that really dig in? Give power to the extremists? Attack them. Kill their dads. I think that is the point. An enemy is needed. To fight one another over religion is in the words of Yassar Arafat, "like having a fight over who had the bigger imaginary friend."
It is not fair to paint a whole culture of billions as inherently evil. If that were the case we would all be dead, because there are a lot of them. For the most part they are just trying to live their lives. Brad Thor conveniently forgets the heinous points of Christian history. Including a great deal of historical badness aimed directly at these people. Much of it recent. He wants us to be worse than them. That is his answer. And if that happens America is dead anyway. These people that would destroy our liberty to "protect us" are the greater danger by far. Brad Thor, meet the Dumpster.
"Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country." -- Reichsmarschall Hermann Wilhelm Göring, founder of the Gestapo, Head of the Luftwaffe, at Nuremberg 1946
February 23, 2012
Pfff, it was OK.
The kick-ass no-rules vigilante Scot Harvath and his band of Merry Men were flat and uncompromising, as usual, and not very judicious in their talent for violence. Anyone that disagrees with the all-knowing superhuman Scot Harvath is a complete idiot and a liberal, which for Thor is the same thing. He starts out with some criticism of Obama's policies, which I don't think belongs in a thriller. If he wants to write an op-ed or a book about that, that's fine, but you shouldn't do that in a thriller.
Like many conservative thriller authors, Thor is ignorant, quick to argue his opinions and seems to think that we can "win" the War on Terror by creating "top-secret" assassination units that are unfettered by congressional oversight, which is ALWAYS restrictive and run by ignorant, dumb liberals that always want to "appease" terrorists. After all, the only language that those medieval raghead barbarians understand is force, right?
Brad Thor writes that he thinks there are peace-loving Muslims but not peace-loving Islam. Fine, but you don't have to be all in-your-face about it.
I found the novel to represent a black-and-white view of the world having none of the nuance presented by authors like Ludlum, Le Carre, Forsythe and others where grey men deal with grey events in an entirely grey world.
The book is also sloppy. In the final thrilling episode, there are suicide bombers wearing vest-bombs and holding "dead-man" triggers -- meaning that if their hold is released, the bomb will go off. The hero solves that problem by shooting them in the head -- no explanation of why the bomb did not go off.
Also, the dwarf riding in a harness on the back of a giant dog was a bit much...
The kick-ass no-rules vigilante Scot Harvath and his band of Merry Men were flat and uncompromising, as usual, and not very judicious in their talent for violence. Anyone that disagrees with the all-knowing superhuman Scot Harvath is a complete idiot and a liberal, which for Thor is the same thing. He starts out with some criticism of Obama's policies, which I don't think belongs in a thriller. If he wants to write an op-ed or a book about that, that's fine, but you shouldn't do that in a thriller.
Like many conservative thriller authors, Thor is ignorant, quick to argue his opinions and seems to think that we can "win" the War on Terror by creating "top-secret" assassination units that are unfettered by congressional oversight, which is ALWAYS restrictive and run by ignorant, dumb liberals that always want to "appease" terrorists. After all, the only language that those medieval raghead barbarians understand is force, right?
Brad Thor writes that he thinks there are peace-loving Muslims but not peace-loving Islam. Fine, but you don't have to be all in-your-face about it.
I found the novel to represent a black-and-white view of the world having none of the nuance presented by authors like Ludlum, Le Carre, Forsythe and others where grey men deal with grey events in an entirely grey world.
The book is also sloppy. In the final thrilling episode, there are suicide bombers wearing vest-bombs and holding "dead-man" triggers -- meaning that if their hold is released, the bomb will go off. The hero solves that problem by shooting them in the head -- no explanation of why the bomb did not go off.
Also, the dwarf riding in a harness on the back of a giant dog was a bit much...
August 24, 2011
This was my first Brad Thor book (I came in at #9 in the series) and by golly if it didn't take me by surprise.
But look, I have gotten ahead of myself. Let me begin by drawing attention to the elephant in the room, and by elephant, yes, I mean the poor writing.
No, Brad Thor is never going to win any literature awards, well, not for writing skill anyway, and no this book is not without a few good cliches and some lashings of cheesy, but there is something else this author is doing here that makes this book a worthwhile read despite the cheeseball and simplistic nature of his writing.
It is a quick read with equally paced action and there are colourful characters and plotlines in abundance. I don't know. It is bizarre because I am never backwards in coming forwards about my repulsion of slap dash writing, but for some reason, shock horror, I was able to overcome it this time.
I can't give you the key to unlocking what made this book work for me. Action, charismatic characters, an easy read for a wet drizzling day when the sun refuses to shine. I can't put my finger on it. I can only admit that I enjoyed the read and while I probably won't be reading the books that precede this one, I will give #10 a look in when i come across it.
But look, I have gotten ahead of myself. Let me begin by drawing attention to the elephant in the room, and by elephant, yes, I mean the poor writing.
No, Brad Thor is never going to win any literature awards, well, not for writing skill anyway, and no this book is not without a few good cliches and some lashings of cheesy, but there is something else this author is doing here that makes this book a worthwhile read despite the cheeseball and simplistic nature of his writing.
It is a quick read with equally paced action and there are colourful characters and plotlines in abundance. I don't know. It is bizarre because I am never backwards in coming forwards about my repulsion of slap dash writing, but for some reason, shock horror, I was able to overcome it this time.
I can't give you the key to unlocking what made this book work for me. Action, charismatic characters, an easy read for a wet drizzling day when the sun refuses to shine. I can't put my finger on it. I can only admit that I enjoyed the read and while I probably won't be reading the books that precede this one, I will give #10 a look in when i come across it.
July 25, 2011
I started out really liking this book. It has all the action-packed spy intrigue that I love. But after a while, Thor's political ideology started showing through, and it really rubbed me the wrong way. He started out with disparaging remarks about our current president and his policies, which was my first clue that I might have a hard time with this book. It became overly clear that his politics and mine are polar opposites, and the more I read, the more disgusted I became. He sounds like any of the hateful Republican warmongers and torture lovers that repulse and scare me, and it really disturbed me how he wrote his character Scot Horvath to be so quick to use his own version of waterboarding as well as other torture processes. Also, every single woman in this book is written to be unbelievably beautiful, smart, sassy, and full of testosterone. By the time I was finished with the book, I wanted to toss it in the trash.
March 1, 2012
I wish I could give this book zero stars. I realize it's part of a series, but someone gave me this and it's the only one that I've read - I'm not sure what the other 8 are like, but this is jingoist propaganda. I am disgusted by all the racism disguised as patriotism in this book. At first, I just thought it was cliche to have terrorists be Middle Eastern, but the more I read, the angrier I got - not only are the terrorists offensive stereotypes, but the 'good guys' are constantly spouting insensitive anti-Muslim garbage. The descriptions of the Middle Eastern people and their culture, the experience in the 'Pakistani part of town', everything. They even go as far as to say that Muslim extremists are doing exactly what Mohammed would want them to do, and that any peaceful Muslims are actually the ones perverting their religion. I can't express strongly enough how much this ticks me off.
In addition (as if you needed more reason to avoid this book?), the plot isn't that great and it's very jumpy. There is a lot of repetition (how many times do you have to remind me that Scot admirs the Troll's soft spot for dogs?) and the writing is overall just ok, with crappy dialogue. The protagonists are all very one-dimensional and seem like meatheads, with a 'punch/shoot first, ask questions later' mentality. It's one thing to read a book about a rogue cop breaking the rules, but their utter disregard for the legal system and for basic human rights is appalling - they even torture, mutilate, and nearly kill a guy who turns out to be completely innocent, without feeling bad about it when they realize their mistake. The women in this book are all exactly the same, too...gorgeous, tough, blah blah blah. Strong women are great, but I need some variety. Also, if Scot is so in love with his fiance, why does he seem so overly interested in all of these sexy women? I kept reading in part because I have a very hard time not finishing a book, and also because I kept thinking there must be something redeeming in this story for it to be rated so highly on Goodreads, but that just wasn't the case.
In addition (as if you needed more reason to avoid this book?), the plot isn't that great and it's very jumpy. There is a lot of repetition (how many times do you have to remind me that Scot admirs the Troll's soft spot for dogs?) and the writing is overall just ok, with crappy dialogue. The protagonists are all very one-dimensional and seem like meatheads, with a 'punch/shoot first, ask questions later' mentality. It's one thing to read a book about a rogue cop breaking the rules, but their utter disregard for the legal system and for basic human rights is appalling - they even torture, mutilate, and nearly kill a guy who turns out to be completely innocent, without feeling bad about it when they realize their mistake. The women in this book are all exactly the same, too...gorgeous, tough, blah blah blah. Strong women are great, but I need some variety. Also, if Scot is so in love with his fiance, why does he seem so overly interested in all of these sexy women? I kept reading in part because I have a very hard time not finishing a book, and also because I kept thinking there must be something redeeming in this story for it to be rated so highly on Goodreads, but that just wasn't the case.
October 2, 2010
UUUUGHHHH!
I just finished another cliff hanger! And the next one isn't even written yet! Oh man...
Okay, just to set the record straight, Brad is back with this one. I thought his last book was a little off (it was, really!) so I had some reservations getting into this one. But it only took 25... maybe 15... okay, 10 pages to hook me! And, it never let up. Scot Harvath is back on the good guy's side, and hunting down the terrorists. And all seems well, until the cliffhanger on the LAST page that sent me back into the book to search, and see... yup, that really is who I'm thinking it is... SHOOT! That's not how I wanted it to be! Oh well, that just means there has to be another one, right?
I just finished another cliff hanger! And the next one isn't even written yet! Oh man...
Okay, just to set the record straight, Brad is back with this one. I thought his last book was a little off (it was, really!) so I had some reservations getting into this one. But it only took 25... maybe 15... okay, 10 pages to hook me! And, it never let up. Scot Harvath is back on the good guy's side, and hunting down the terrorists. And all seems well, until the cliffhanger on the LAST page that sent me back into the book to search, and see... yup, that really is who I'm thinking it is... SHOOT! That's not how I wanted it to be! Oh well, that just means there has to be another one, right?
June 24, 2020
Another excellent installment in Brad Thor's Scott Harvath series, although the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger.
February 5, 2013
While Brad Thor is a great writer, this story is clunky and irritating. There are some excellent plots overshadowed by religion, torture and violence that appears to serve no point but death and destruction. And this is only part 1. Lowest rating to date. 5 of 10 stars
August 11, 2019
Another fun and full of action book. A little sad about Harvath and Tracy.
February 24, 2025
This thriller had one thing going for it that no other book I've read this year has. I read the book from cover to cover and didn't find a single typo. Whoever proofread the manuscript gets full marks from me for a job well done. The book itself was a fantastic page turner. No doubt about that. I won't divulge too much of the plot on the off chance someone reading my reviews actually decides to read the book. A worthy effort and well worth the time spent.
July 22, 2010
Hey, I have been a bit distracted this week with the arrival of the new grandson, but to call this latest novel by Brad Thor just a thriller is a disservice. Foreign Influence is a great read from page one right to the last paragraph. Do not exit the novel early; the ride is not over. There are a few more twists and turns to be enjoyed, so please follow it to the last word. My yearly Scot Harvath craving has been Found, Fixed & Finished. I would much prefer to receive my fix on a quarterly or bi annual basis at minimum though.
Foreign Influence contained all the right elements for me. The pleasant in your face, bullet to the brain that Harvath can deliver with a-bomb , and then his sweet sensitive side of wanting to be a father & husband. Thor has constructed a wonderful, selfless hero and surrounded him with as many mismatched, damaged supporting characters as possible. I really enjoyed the new people he introduces us to in this novel and look forward to seeing as many of them as possible in his future works. To my knowledge this novel has landed in the top ten of the New York Times bestseller list and is there rightfully. Brad Thor has elevated his game again and woven a thriller that for me, exceeded my expectations.
Although most have been edited, I hit a streak of run on sentences and use of too many commas while writing this post so here are the main reasons why. I, Giovanni Gelati of Gelati’s Scoop got a major groove on this novel- Foreign Influence:
-Plotline-this stuff could be tomorrow’s headlines.
-The action is there from beginning to the last word. Make sure, unlike me, that you have nothing to do; this is hard to put down.
-New characters-there are many and they are fun, likeable, and relevant.
-Humor-yeah, that’s right humor. I laughed a number of times and really enjoyed it. A few terrorist jokes mixed with a few Mother-In- Law/Wife jokes are good for the soul.
-Did you hear the one about the Troll, the Priest, the computer hacker & the jihadist? Oh yeah, I just read it. This thriller has it all.
Foreign Influence for me rocked, no two ways about it. Brad Thor does it again; I just wish he did that more often. Maybe with the rise of the ebooks, and the ease in which they can bring the product to market, this will be a reality. One can never have enough Scot Harvath , just my opinion. What are you reading today?
Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Foreign Influence contained all the right elements for me. The pleasant in your face, bullet to the brain that Harvath can deliver with a-bomb , and then his sweet sensitive side of wanting to be a father & husband. Thor has constructed a wonderful, selfless hero and surrounded him with as many mismatched, damaged supporting characters as possible. I really enjoyed the new people he introduces us to in this novel and look forward to seeing as many of them as possible in his future works. To my knowledge this novel has landed in the top ten of the New York Times bestseller list and is there rightfully. Brad Thor has elevated his game again and woven a thriller that for me, exceeded my expectations.
Although most have been edited, I hit a streak of run on sentences and use of too many commas while writing this post so here are the main reasons why. I, Giovanni Gelati of Gelati’s Scoop got a major groove on this novel- Foreign Influence:
-Plotline-this stuff could be tomorrow’s headlines.
-The action is there from beginning to the last word. Make sure, unlike me, that you have nothing to do; this is hard to put down.
-New characters-there are many and they are fun, likeable, and relevant.
-Humor-yeah, that’s right humor. I laughed a number of times and really enjoyed it. A few terrorist jokes mixed with a few Mother-In- Law/Wife jokes are good for the soul.
-Did you hear the one about the Troll, the Priest, the computer hacker & the jihadist? Oh yeah, I just read it. This thriller has it all.
Foreign Influence for me rocked, no two ways about it. Brad Thor does it again; I just wish he did that more often. Maybe with the rise of the ebooks, and the ease in which they can bring the product to market, this will be a reality. One can never have enough Scot Harvath , just my opinion. What are you reading today?
Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Book Blogs, and also look for our posts on Amazon. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
April 17, 2023
Book Review - Foreign Influence - Brad Thor
Brad Thor’s “Foreign Influence” grabs you from the first chapter and then pulls you in for the rest of the book. I enjoyed the beginning and the middle but I did questioned the ending. It was somewhat abrupt. I'm not a fan of 'cliffhangers' but I understand why authors do them...to get readers to continue reading the next book in the series. In this high octane thriller, Thor keeps the reader on the edge of their seats during the entire story up until the end. I was elated that Thor brought back many of the former characters from previous novels in the series. If you enjoyed other Scot Harvath books, you'll like this one too, as long as you don't mind a little brutal interrogation. Most espionage novels have interrogation scenes and Thor does a good job in writing a classic but intense one in this spy thriller. Foreign Influence has lots of action and plenty of political intrigue. The storyline is timely and relevant and easily believable and detailed. I remember reading Foreign Influence and thinking, “I’m really watching World News Tonight.” Brad Thor has set the bar so high that I'm now spoiled! Seriously, you can't go wrong with this book. Foreign Influence is another outstanding thrill ride with Scot Harvath
Brad Thor’s “Foreign Influence” grabs you from the first chapter and then pulls you in for the rest of the book. I enjoyed the beginning and the middle but I did questioned the ending. It was somewhat abrupt. I'm not a fan of 'cliffhangers' but I understand why authors do them...to get readers to continue reading the next book in the series. In this high octane thriller, Thor keeps the reader on the edge of their seats during the entire story up until the end. I was elated that Thor brought back many of the former characters from previous novels in the series. If you enjoyed other Scot Harvath books, you'll like this one too, as long as you don't mind a little brutal interrogation. Most espionage novels have interrogation scenes and Thor does a good job in writing a classic but intense one in this spy thriller. Foreign Influence has lots of action and plenty of political intrigue. The storyline is timely and relevant and easily believable and detailed. I remember reading Foreign Influence and thinking, “I’m really watching World News Tonight.” Brad Thor has set the bar so high that I'm now spoiled! Seriously, you can't go wrong with this book. Foreign Influence is another outstanding thrill ride with Scot Harvath
December 10, 2010
Maybe the Feds payed Brad to write this book. Nothing but government propaganda. According to the book we need to have surveillance cameras on every street corner and super-hero marines to save us from evil terrorists. Nothing but BS from start to finish.
February 2, 2019
Another entertaining, slam-bang action-thriller, and Scot Harvath is once again quite the bad-ass!
An entire network of terrorist groups is waging attacks all across the globe, starting with a bombing in Rome. And the evidence points to an old adversary and somewhat-ally from Harvath's past. Now working for a highly classified black ops agency, it's job to target America's enemies, dead or alive, Harvath is sent into battle to hunt down the true culprit behind these attacks before they unleash global terror not only the U.S. but the whole world!
Non-stop action and just another fun rollercoaster of a ride! Typical Brad Thor!
An entire network of terrorist groups is waging attacks all across the globe, starting with a bombing in Rome. And the evidence points to an old adversary and somewhat-ally from Harvath's past. Now working for a highly classified black ops agency, it's job to target America's enemies, dead or alive, Harvath is sent into battle to hunt down the true culprit behind these attacks before they unleash global terror not only the U.S. but the whole world!
Non-stop action and just another fun rollercoaster of a ride! Typical Brad Thor!
December 31, 2020
Read as part of the house cup. Thor delivers another solid delivery. Harvath has to track down a known foe to resolve an additional threat. Scot Harvath continues to find himself in tough situations where he shoots his way out, breaks rules by abusing really bad bad-guys. Did I say they were really bad? Because Scot Harvath makes sure to tell us that this bad guy really goes beyond the pale and deserves everything coming to him. In the end, the president is happy, political opponents are put in their place, and all the people that hate clandestine activities are even madder. Sound familiar? Yeah because this is a prescription. But hey, I enjoy it and Thor can weave a tale that I can listen to over and over again. Oh, and I have because I keep going through the series.
July 17, 2018
Reviewed 25 Nov. 2014 - Another book with the Scott Harvath character, the incredibly talented, dedicated and "patriotic" former Seal.
Disdain for fundamental Islam seems to be a main motive of Harvath's actions. The descriptions of why are clear enough. But the limits (virtually none) of what Harvath is willing to do to take out as many of the "bad guys" as he can strain the patience of this patriotic reader, who takes the Constitution seriously. The author notes Harvath and others' indiscretions with the Constitution, but that's about it. He has no patience for anyone who needs the protections of the constitution, since he only mentions "real bad guys" deserve no protections (in his mind).
The author makes a few other observations via Harvath too, one which seems a bit much, though I share some of the sentiment: "Political correctness is going to be the death of Western Civilization." (Disc 6 track 1) Political correctness certainly does not include following the constitution.
My 16 year old son and I both enjoyed the humorous dialog, especially between the two cops in Chicago. The reader of this audiobook, Armand Schultz, started off a bit shaky on the Chicago cop accents, sounding a bit more Canadian than blue collar Chicagoan. But as he got into the characters, he became closer and closer to the real thing. I have some experience with that accent, having grown up and lived for 30 years in the Chicago area. After the beginning, Armand Schultz does a fantastic job.
I have my reservations with the author's seemingly thorough belief in the efficacy of "enhanced interrogation," i.e. torture. (Disc 6 Track 4) I think this method is probably fraught with far more problems of actually getting good intelligence and other negative ramifications than the author cares to admit. The techniques used by the "bad" and! "good" guys are so graphically described here as to be sadistic. The info obtained always seems be just what they need. Hmmmmm. Reality is much different. See the Senate report on Torture, recently released.
The author states his own further opinions (probably) via his main character: "Harvath always thought treating terrorist acts as criminal acts was a big mistake instead of treating them as acts of war." Doing so actually only invited greater bloodshed, expansion and loss of life.
But the author never really goes into the details of how his fighting & killing lots of terrorists, the (often) stateless people who use terror as a tactic for various goals, often religious, will actually stop the spread of that terror and vicious form of religion. His treating it like the more commonly appreciated and understood actual wars against geographically defined states is a problem. There are huge differences, which 13 years after 9/11, and the situation in Iraq/Syria/Afghanistan should give anyone pause.
Thor seems very comfortable with American going down the very ugly path of sinking to our opponent's methods and has little to no appreciation for appropriate tactics and strategy to combat the greater problem of theocracy and intolerant fundamentalism.
Disdain for fundamental Islam seems to be a main motive of Harvath's actions. The descriptions of why are clear enough. But the limits (virtually none) of what Harvath is willing to do to take out as many of the "bad guys" as he can strain the patience of this patriotic reader, who takes the Constitution seriously. The author notes Harvath and others' indiscretions with the Constitution, but that's about it. He has no patience for anyone who needs the protections of the constitution, since he only mentions "real bad guys" deserve no protections (in his mind).
The author makes a few other observations via Harvath too, one which seems a bit much, though I share some of the sentiment: "Political correctness is going to be the death of Western Civilization." (Disc 6 track 1) Political correctness certainly does not include following the constitution.
My 16 year old son and I both enjoyed the humorous dialog, especially between the two cops in Chicago. The reader of this audiobook, Armand Schultz, started off a bit shaky on the Chicago cop accents, sounding a bit more Canadian than blue collar Chicagoan. But as he got into the characters, he became closer and closer to the real thing. I have some experience with that accent, having grown up and lived for 30 years in the Chicago area. After the beginning, Armand Schultz does a fantastic job.
I have my reservations with the author's seemingly thorough belief in the efficacy of "enhanced interrogation," i.e. torture. (Disc 6 Track 4) I think this method is probably fraught with far more problems of actually getting good intelligence and other negative ramifications than the author cares to admit. The techniques used by the "bad" and! "good" guys are so graphically described here as to be sadistic. The info obtained always seems be just what they need. Hmmmmm. Reality is much different. See the Senate report on Torture, recently released.
The author states his own further opinions (probably) via his main character: "Harvath always thought treating terrorist acts as criminal acts was a big mistake instead of treating them as acts of war." Doing so actually only invited greater bloodshed, expansion and loss of life.
But the author never really goes into the details of how his fighting & killing lots of terrorists, the (often) stateless people who use terror as a tactic for various goals, often religious, will actually stop the spread of that terror and vicious form of religion. His treating it like the more commonly appreciated and understood actual wars against geographically defined states is a problem. There are huge differences, which 13 years after 9/11, and the situation in Iraq/Syria/Afghanistan should give anyone pause.
Thor seems very comfortable with American going down the very ugly path of sinking to our opponent's methods and has little to no appreciation for appropriate tactics and strategy to combat the greater problem of theocracy and intolerant fundamentalism.
September 24, 2018
In looking back over my reading list, I was surprised that I had not read a novel from the Scot Harvath series since 2013.
As mentioned in my last review...I definitely am a Scot Harvath fan as his love of country, his moral compass, his personal value system, and especially his heart march to the beat of the best of American men and women who protect us each day and the best of them never receiving an ounce of recognition for their service. The author seems without a doubt to have the soul of Scot Harvath as he shares this character and all the people that Scot represents flawlessly.
Brad Thor's novels provide a very realistic behind-the-scenes of the men and women who truly protect Americans on a day-to-day basis and the very real sacrifices that affect them, their families and loved ones.
As mentioned in my last review...I definitely am a Scot Harvath fan as his love of country, his moral compass, his personal value system, and especially his heart march to the beat of the best of American men and women who protect us each day and the best of them never receiving an ounce of recognition for their service. The author seems without a doubt to have the soul of Scot Harvath as he shares this character and all the people that Scot represents flawlessly.
Brad Thor's novels provide a very realistic behind-the-scenes of the men and women who truly protect Americans on a day-to-day basis and the very real sacrifices that affect them, their families and loved ones.
July 17, 2018
Hmmfp.
Disappointment, and a reminder that just because an author has published over 20 novels doesn't mean they're any good.
Just read https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... by Jerome.
Think I'll give Vince Flynn a go instead. And Tom Clancy
Note: 2 stars is pretty much my one star, but I reserve 1 star for those that don't deserve a star at all, like Robert Kiyosaki and other fraudulent con artists.
Disappointment, and a reminder that just because an author has published over 20 novels doesn't mean they're any good.
Just read https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... by Jerome.
Think I'll give Vince Flynn a go instead. And Tom Clancy
Note: 2 stars is pretty much my one star, but I reserve 1 star for those that don't deserve a star at all, like Robert Kiyosaki and other fraudulent con artists.
May 31, 2011
THIS is a return to form for Brad Thor…I have not read a book like this from him in quite a while. The only reason it gets docked one star is due to the large summary in the epilogue…I see that as a problem amongst many writers today. I want to be SHOWN what happens, not TOLD. But the plot was excellent, the dialogue was great, the characterization was magnificent, and I was SHOWN far more than I was TOLD. Bravo!
August 18, 2017
I've read a few of Brad Thor books before, but this one was a little too intense for me. A lot of torture interrogation techniques and a lot of anger and hatred
January 8, 2022
Super good terrorist thriller with some excellent twists — especially at the very end! (The best twist is actually on the last page!) But this one features Scot doing what he does best, plus the addition of a super badass group of female agents. I really enjoyed that part of the book as generally the ones doing the ass kicking in these books are men. Having Scot neutralize plots and take out bad guys with a group of women was really cool. It also features other agencies like MI6, and I always like the Brits when it comes to espionage and badassery. I got hooked on this series when I first picked up Lions of Lucerne a few years ago, and I continue to be hooked today. On to #10!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2017
Entertaining and full of intrigue. Harvath lives in a world most of us can't really imagine but know in
our heart exists. I especially enjoyed the the Athena Team and their contribution to the action. Mr. Thor is a master storyteller!
I found the profusion of characters a little difficult to keep track of in the flurry of action and intensity of the story but that could be just me.
Overall, its a story the faint of heart and those prone to "progressive-ism" will hate! (Is that even a word?) That alone makes it worth reading.
our heart exists. I especially enjoyed the the Athena Team and their contribution to the action. Mr. Thor is a master storyteller!
I found the profusion of characters a little difficult to keep track of in the flurry of action and intensity of the story but that could be just me.
Overall, its a story the faint of heart and those prone to "progressive-ism" will hate! (Is that even a word?) That alone makes it worth reading.
December 1, 2018
The action starts on page one and runs right up to the final period.
A fast and easy read that you’ll have a hard time putting down for fear of missing out.
A fast and easy read that you’ll have a hard time putting down for fear of missing out.
August 3, 2019
Another good Brad Thor thriller. Highly recommend!
October 22, 2019
Solid thriller. “MERICA”
March 10, 2020
Really great thriller with twists and turns. One thing I love about the Thor series is that everything seems very possible. This terrorist attack could 100% happen. Ready for the next one.
May 8, 2017
Brad Thor doesn't disappoint. Scot Harvath and the gang go from one mission to the other but each one keeps the suspense in play.
July 15, 2024
One of my favorite Thor books so far. Harvath and crew travel all.ovwr the globe trying trying to stop a terrorist cell.
Who gets attacked next and can Scot get there in time.
Who gets attacked next and can Scot get there in time.
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