Blog Archives
Mr. Gobscheit
Mr. Gobscheit, by Avery Mann, follows semi-retired American naval officer and diplomat Mark Jamison, happily tucked away with his wife Sarah in Angel Landing, until an early-morning call from his old friend Foggy Gorgarty yanks him back into the world of espionage and geopolitics. Jamison is quickly reactivated by US naval intelligence and dispatched to Dublin under diplomatic cover, notionally to advise on safeguarding the undersea fiber-optic cables that make Ireland a digital hub, and less openly to nudge the country toward NATO membership. Once in Ireland, he finds himself reporting—at least on paper—to Jack Gobscheit, a vain, corner-cutting defence official whose celebrity stems from having “persuaded” Moscow to remove a loose Russian nuclear device from Irish waters near the AE6 relay station. Jamison, Foggy, and the American naval attaché Tom Harrington slowly uncover the truth behind that device, a Russian trawler snooping around the cables, and a web of connections linking the Irish ministry, the Russian embassy, and a powerful transatlantic surveillance contractor—culminating in a high-stakes play that weaponizes undersea infrastructure, media leaks, and public outrage to reshape Ireland’s debate over neutrality and NATO.
I enjoyed how unabashedly character-driven this thriller is, even when it’s neck-deep in technical and political detail. Jack Gobscheit is drawn as a kind of tragicomic embodiment of mid-level power: smug, lazy, eager for status, and entirely willing to trade national security for a slice of a Kremlin-backed hotel empire. His partnership with Russian political operator Sergay Markov, their pilgrimage to Putin’s seaside dacha at Gelendzhik, and Jack’s golf-course alliance with a very recognizable American president give the book an almost satirical energy; the scenes where global security is haggled over between tee shots or glossed in translation so Jack can focus on his future casinos are darkly funny and slightly chilling.
On the other side, you have Foggy–wry, loyal, quietly competent, and his complicated entanglement with Jack’s wife Sally, whose affair doubles as a human-scale melodrama and an ingenious way for NATO to keep eyes on a man who might be selling out his country one memo at a time. That blend of farce and genuine menace worked for me: nobody here is a flawless superhero, but you can feel how venality at the middle tier of government can be just as dangerous as malice at the top.
The novel grounds itself in real-world developments: Snowden’s revelations about NSA cable taps, Medvedev’s explicit threat to treat undersea cables as legitimate wartime targets after Nord Stream 2, the expansion of Russian espionage in Dublin, and the role of big tech data centers in Ireland’s economy are all woven into the narrative. I appreciated the topicality. This really is a thriller of now, not some abstract Cold War rehash. Long passages walk the reader through the architecture of ONI’s technical centers or the economics of Ireland’s data-center boom. The book earns its techno-thriller label with a real sense of dread. I just occasionally wished for one less paragraph of explanation and one more scene of Jamison actually wrestling with the moral cost of his schemes.
I’d recommend Mr. Gobscheit to readers who gravitate toward geopolitical thrillers, techno thrillers, spy novels, and political satire stories, especially anyone curious about how vulnerable our invisible infrastructure really is. If you like the mix of policy detail and moral ambiguity in a Tom Clancy novel, but wouldn’t mind a sharper, more ironic eye on bureaucratic ego and transatlantic dysfunction, this will feel pleasantly familiar. For me, Mr. Gobscheit is a timely, slightly barbed thriller that proves undersea cables and Irish neutrality can be just as gripping as missiles and moles.
Pages: 181 | ASIN : B0DYV66C5L
Article Five: A World War Three Novel
Article Five, by J.D. Duncan, is a geopolitical military thriller that kicks off with coordinated attacks and covert sabotage that shove NATO toward its most frightening promise: collective defense. We bounce between the pressure-cooker halls of London, field operations chasing a sleeper agent tied to bombings near St Paul’s tube station, and the widening war footprint stretching to places like Estonia and Moscow. The spine of the plot follows Prime Minister Powell as he tries to hold the line politically and morally while Tony Abbott and John Rafferty chase the human machinery behind the chaos, including Andrew Barker and an injured would-be defector, Gregov Maximov. It all drives toward a tense, exhausted ceasefire and a messy “angry peace,” not a clean victory.
What I liked most is how the book moves. Duncan uses tight point-of-view hops and quick location stamps to keep you aware of the board while still letting you feel the sweat in the room. Powell’s sections especially land for me because they aren’t written like a superhero fantasy. They feel like a person trying to sound steady while everything is shaking, including the uncomfortable reality that allies might hesitate when you need them most. The action scenes are crisp without turning into a tech brochure. There’s a memorable early sequence with a special forces team taking down a Russian helicopter to grab its electronics, and you can almost smell the burning fuel and wet forest in the aftermath. It’s the kind of detail that makes the genre work: specific enough to feel real, but still readable if you don’t speak “military” fluently.
I also appreciated the author’s willingness to sit in the moral grey. The spy stuff isn’t framed as glamorous. It’s transactional, paranoid, and sometimes petty in a relatable way. Rafferty, for example, is funny and sharp, but also tired, cynical, and constantly measuring people for leverage. That energy pairs well with the book’s bigger idea: wars are not only fought with tanks and missiles, but with narratives, timing, and information control. Maximov’s “evidence hidden in plain sight” angle, tucked into something as mundane as a fishing-rod website, is a perfect little metaphor for modern conflict. And Barker’s thread, from coerced bombing logistics to his end, left me cold in the right way. It’s not melodramatic. It’s bleak, brisk, and believable.
I’d recommend Article Five to readers who like their thrillers political, modern, and a little unsettling, the kind that makes you put the book down for a second and think. If your happy place is the Tom Clancy and Brad Thor lane, but you want something with a more current-media pulse (there’s even a nod to BBC coverage and the churn of online commentary), you’ll probably have a good time here. It’s best for people who enjoy big-stakes geopolitics and the smaller, grimy human choices underneath it, and who don’t need a tidy ending to feel satisfied.
Pages: 341 | ASIN : B0FPCZ6V8B
Vaccine: A Terrorism Thriller
Robin C. Rickards’ Vaccine: A Terrorism Thriller is a tightly wound medical and geopolitical thriller that spans decades, tracing the roots and reach of a mysterious virus with chilling implications. The novel kicks off with a covert extraction in post-war Vietnam, spirals into secretive military research at Fort Detrick, and stretches to the 1990s with echoes of biological danger and buried secrets. At its core, the book follows Major Darien Rhodes, a gifted but stubborn infectious disease expert, as he battles bureaucracy, hidden agendas, and his own conscience in an effort to uncover the truth behind a terrifying disease with no name, no cause, and no cure.
What struck me most was the writing’s visceral intensity. The first few chapters grabbed me, drenched in sweat, blood, and the low thrum of helicopters and paranoia. Rickards writes like someone who’s lived in a lab coat and knows what’s at stake when science goes silent. The pacing is confident, with bursts of claustrophobic tension that feel like watching a fuse burn. But it’s not just action; the book spends thoughtful time inside the minds of its characters. Rhodes is a complex, sympathetic lead — brilliant, dogged, haunted. His frustration with the military’s politics and their cold, calculated response to a mystery illness felt raw and real, especially in an era where public trust in institutions is fragile.
The plot sometimes leans on exposition. There are moments, particularly during scientific breakdowns or historical recounts, where the narrative slows and the tension thins out. At times, the dialogue leans more toward explanation than emotion, shifting the focus from character feeling to background detail. Still, I didn’t mind being taught, because Rickards clearly knows his stuff. The background in infectious disease, military protocol, and covert research added weight and believability. And when the story snaps back into motion — as it often does — it hits hard. The final act, in particular, left me uneasy in the best way, with ethical questions echoing after the last page.
I’d recommend Vaccine to readers who enjoy thrillers with brains and backbone. It’s ideal for fans of Michael Crichton, Richard Preston, or anyone who likes their fiction layered with fact. If you’ve ever wondered what kind of nightmares lie behind closed lab doors, or how far people will go to hide the truth, this book’s for you. It’s gritty, smart, and at times deeply unsettling.
Pages: 421 | ASIN : B009596W5O
Magnanotron: The Evolution
Magnanotron: The Evolution is a high-octane military thriller that fuses emotional personal drama with futuristic warfare and global political tension. The story picks up with Commander Jason Patrick mourning the loss of his father, then launches into a series of global threats, from Houthi pirates and Venezuelan gang takeovers in the U.S., to clandestine nuclear plots in Iran. Saniscalchi weaves the development of a cutting-edge shielding tech, Magnanotron, into the narrative, as a team of elite soldiers employs it to battle terrorism, defend American ideals, and even toy with the fringes of science fiction as it hints at invisibility and teleportation. It’s part tech-thriller, part military adventure, with a strong sense of duty and brotherhood throughout.
The story opens on a somber note, Jason grappling with grief after his father’s passing, and that thread never really lets go. I appreciated this blend of heart and action. It made the stakes feel personal. Jason’s loyalty to family mirrors his commitment to his team and country. At times, the writing leaned on exposition and direct dialogue, which occasionally dulled the impact of high-tension moments. But it was clear that Saniscalchi cares deeply about his characters and the men and women in uniform they represent. There’s a sincerity in his storytelling that makes even the more predictable beats feel grounded.
From a writing standpoint, the style is straightforward, brisk, and often cinematic. That works well for the genre, especially in the battle scenes. The action sequences, particularly the rescue mission in Gallo and the Magnanotron-enhanced assaults, are sharp and vivid. But what really gave me pause was the science fiction angle: the accidental disappearance and reappearance of a test subject hinted at teleportation or cloaking technology. That twist caught me off guard, in the best way. I wish it had been explored more fully. It’s like the story flirted with going full sci-fi but held back to stay in familiar military-thriller territory. Still, it added a spark of the unexpected.
Magnanotron: The Evolution is a fast-paced and action-heavy read that doesn’t forget the human element. It’s for fans of military fiction, especially those who enjoy stories rooted in current geopolitical tensions with a dash of speculative tech. If you like your heroes tough but principled, your missions bold, and your plot with enough grit to keep the pages turning, this book is for you.
Pages: 133 | ASIN : B0DZV7Q65J
The Silent Professional
Sky Thunder follows a man retired from the military who now works as a CIA operative leading a mission to protect a scientist defecting from Morocco while facing off against a group of radical terrorists. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
As I finished my first book Cry of the Eagle I was doing some research on how I was going to continue the Colt Hawkins Series. During my research, I was reading about how the stealth technology had gone from aircraft to missiles and how China actually has a stealth missile called Sky Thunder. I loved the name. As I was building the outline, I remembered a book from the late 70’s that I read in high school by Gayle Rivers called The Five Fingers. I used that as the base idea for Sky Thunder.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
I research everything. For Sky Thunder, I did an in-depth study of Russian Services like the FSB, Elite units, and how Russia uses contractors to be mercenaries, and even though I may know some of it, I still researched to make sure I am as accurate as I can be. I always want the story to sound authentic with the reader in mind. Especially my fellow brothers and sisters who wear or have worn the uniform. If I get positive feedback from them, then I know I did ok.
Colt Hawkins is such an engaging character. What was the inspiration for his traits and dialogue?
That is really a good question. Colt is a combination of people that I have had the pleasure to work with. Hell, part of him is me. Colt is the silent professional, Once you have been through some real life and death experiences you have nothing to prove to anyone. Colt knows what he can do when he has to do it. He doesn’t like it but he will do it for the greater good. The part where he tries to keep his emotions to himself. All the good that comes his way he is afraid to trust it. The bad he keeps in because he doesn’t want to burden anyone.
Colt slowly realizes he can’t do it alone. This is my story. Use what you know, right? I think as warriors we have it ingrained into us that we can endure, I don’t need help, I am ok, we shake it off, ignore it, or bury it deep within regardless and continue the mission at all cost. But now the mission is us, our families. At some point you have to depend on others if you don’t it becomes a lonely world. So Colt and his teammates are flawed. Like every team I have ever been on.
Where will the next installment in this series take readers? When can they expect to see it released?
Book Three Rogue Vengeance is the aftermath of Sky Thunder on so many levels. The opening paragraph reveals several things from Sky Thunder that will catch the readers by surprise. China reveals itself to Taiwan. I will say this, for Colt and Liberty things hit too close to home.
Rogue Vengeance is ready. As of right now, we are looking at every Veterans Day to be a release date for all my books. But that may all change if I acquire representation with an agent.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
“Sky Thunder” is the story of the men and women of one of the world’s most elite and secretive paramilitary organizations. Special Activities Division of the CIA, Former Tier One Operator Colt Hawkins is gritty, smart, honorable, battle-tested, and devoted to his fellow operators and his country, who are frequently put in harm’s way by the evils of the world.
Colt Hawkins has recently retired from the military and is now a CIA Operative engaged with NASA Director Dr. Liberty Starr. A new team has been assembled on their first mission in Morrocco to protect a CIA spy transferring a defecting Chinese Scientist. During the defection, Vlad Benchiko, the mastermind behind the Dallas bombings, and Wahid Madi and Amal Sefer, the two Iranian-trained radical terrorists who were also responsible for all the killing and destruction in Texas, catch Task Force 24 and the CIA off-guard trying to stop the defection.
The scientist discovered a secret about Russia and China collaborating to develop the first strike weapon, a stealth missile called Sky Thunder. The new President is determined to obtain the innovative technology that America abandoned and orders the mission- seize the technology and destroy a secret facility deep inside Russia in the Caucasus Mountain ranges. Colt leads his team, U.S. Army Special Forces members, and U.S. Navy Seals into a never attempted feat. Inside the White House, a Chinese double agent is a top advisor and part of the President’s inner circle.
CIA Special Activities Division Task Force 24 retrieves the technology. Another team is ambushed by Vlad and his army of mercenaries of Red Star Group. At the same time, the President gives the abort order, afraid of being blamed and giving the White House a black eye, leaving the CIA operatives inside Russia to fight for their survival, not giving up Dr. Liberty Starr and the CIA team with Washington insiders try to save Colt and the men and women in Russia.
An unbreakable bond is forged when people sacrifice their lives for each other to bring these brave men and women home.
Sky Thunder
Sky Thunder is an intense military thriller that drops the reader straight into the chaos of war, espionage, and political maneuvering. The book follows an elite group of operatives navigating missions that blend battlefield tactics with high-stakes intelligence work. From the brutal streets of Iraq to the tangled webs of Washington D.C., Sky Thunder doesn’t hold back. It’s a gritty, unapologetic look at modern warfare, where danger lurks at every turn, and loyalties are tested in life-or-death situations.
One of the book’s strongest points is its sheer realism. The author’s descriptions of sniper teams setting up in war-torn Iraq feel authentic. The opening sequence, where a sniper team eliminates insurgents planting a bomb, is a perfect example. The technical details, the tension of lining up a shot, and the small but critical mistakes that can happen in combat all make this an immersive read. I found myself completely absorbed in these moments, feeling the weight of every trigger pull.
But for all its action-packed sequences, some of the dialogue, particularly in the political and intelligence briefings, can feel a bit bogged down by exposition. The high-level discussions about espionage, classified leaks, and international threats are fascinating but occasionally read more like a debriefing. That being said, these sections show the bureaucratic chaos behind military operations. The tension between intelligence agencies and boots-on-the-ground soldiers is palpable, and Stewart does a solid job illustrating the frustration that comes with politics interfering in war.
The characters are where Sky Thunder really shines. Colt Hawkins, the battle-hardened yet emotionally scarred operative, is compelling because he’s both an unstoppable force and a flawed man. His PTSD-fueled nightmares, like the flashback of an Iraqi ambulance carrying insurgents instead of babies, add layers to his character. And the relationships in the book, especially between Colt and Liberty, bring a much-needed human element to all the gunfire and strategy. While some side characters fade a bit into the background, there are standouts like Bo and Sam, who help ground the book’s non-stop action with camaraderie and humor.
Sky Thunder is for readers who crave military fiction that doesn’t sugarcoat anything. If you love military thrillers and American Sniper or Lone Survivor kept you up at night, this book is made for you. It’s intense, action-packed, and filled with the kind of insider knowledge that makes military fiction feel real.
Pages: 298 | ASIN : B0DK655KYG
My Most Crucial Audience
In Sky Thunder, a specialized team of operatives infiltrates Russian territory in an attempt to sabotage the development of advanced weaponry. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
There were several things. While researching the following plot for the Colt Hawkins Series, I found information about China and an actual stealth missile, which they call Sky Thunder. The name alone caught my attention. Combined with an old book I read in high school, I believe it was from the 1970s called The Five Fingers by Gayle Rivers. It is a classic Vietnam War Novel.
I felt that the action scenes were expertly crafted. I find that this is an area that can be overdone in novels. How did you approach this subject to make sure it flowed evenly?
All my action scenes are from combat or training scenarios I have experienced or witnessed.
The scenes would speak independently if I could add a “real” element to my writing. In the opening scene of Sky Thunder, Colt is having a flashback as he sleeps. The dream was a real-life sniper mission that I was a part of in Iraq when I was a soldier.
I think many of the writing of characters in my genre are made to be superhuman. So, I use this for several reasons, such as a flashback to show that Colt is vulnerable to what he has done in the past. I wanted my characters to have flaws, making them more relatable to my readers.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
That is an excellent question, and there are a few, such as the importance of perseverance and the search for identity. Those two resonate because I write to cope with my mental health and struggles as a combat veteran.
When I first started writing, I felt that if veterans enjoyed my stories, I won as a writer. They were, first and foremost, my most crucial audience. But I realized that there was more to it than that.
It is for anyone who reads my stories. Regardless of your life struggles, you have to find your balance, give yourself a mental health check, forget what everyone else is doing in their lives, and concentrate on yourself- Search for identity, I asked myself many times after I stopped wearing a uniform and was struggling with my mental health.
At some point, you have to “Stay in the Fight.” A fight for your self-perseverance. What do you have to do to make those adjustments or changes? I wanted to be an example that there is light at the end of the tunnel. If I can do it, anyone can.
Colt and all my characters are consistent in self-evaluating.
Can we look forward to seeing more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I have a lot going on. Book three of the Colt Hawkins Series, Rogue Vengeance, 75k words is finished, and the final edit is complete. I am going to query a few agents on this work. I am finishing up book four, The Price of Freedom, which has over 100k words and is a pivotal piece in the series.
I also have a Dungeon and Dragon Fantasy Novel outlined for a series. I have outlined a one-off-only novel with the setting starting at the end of World War Two that will be an Adult Thriller.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
“Sky Thunder” is the story of the men and women of one of the world’s most elite and secretive paramilitary organizations. Special Activities Division of the CIA, Former Tier One Operator Colt Hawkins is gritty, smart, honorable, battle-tested, and devoted to his fellow operators and his country, who are frequently put in harm’s way by the evils of the world.
Colt Hawkins has recently retired from the military and is now a CIA Operative engaged with NASA Director Dr. Liberty Starr. A new team has been assembled on their first mission in Morrocco to protect a CIA spy transferring a defecting Chinese Scientist. During the defection, Vlad Benchiko, the mastermind behind the Dallas bombings, and Wahid Madi and Amal Sefer, the two Iranian-trained radical terrorists who were also responsible for all the killing and destruction in Texas, catch Task Force 24 and the CIA off-guard trying to stop the defection.
The scientist discovered a secret about Russia and China collaborating to develop the first strike weapon, a stealth missile called Sky Thunder. The new President is determined to obtain the innovative technology that America abandoned and orders the mission- seize the technology and destroy a secret facility deep inside Russia in the Caucasus Mountain ranges. Colt leads his team, U.S. Army Special Forces members, and U.S. Navy Seals into a never attempted feat. Inside the White House, a Chinese double agent is a top advisor and part of the President’s inner circle.
CIA Special Activities Division Task Force 24 retrieves the technology. Another team is ambushed by Vlad and his army of mercenaries of Red Star Group. At the same time, the President gives the abort order, afraid of being blamed and giving the White House a black eye, leaving the CIA operatives inside Russia to fight for their survival, not giving up Dr. Liberty Starr and the CIA team with Washington insiders try to save Colt and the men and women in Russia.
An unbreakable bond is forged when people sacrifice their lives for each other to bring these brave men and women home.
Sky Thunder
Sky Thunder is an intense, high-stakes military thriller that plunges readers into a covert operation aimed at stopping a dangerous new stealth missile program. The story follows a specialized team of operatives as they infiltrate Russian territory to sabotage a top-secret facility developing advanced weaponry. The stakes are global, the action relentless, and the geopolitical intrigue thick with tension. Through a mix of tactical precision, political maneuvering, and pulse-pounding combat, the book captures the high-risk world of special operations and intelligence warfare.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its commitment to authenticity. Stewart clearly knows his stuff when it comes to military operations, and he doesn’t hold back. The mission briefing sequences, the chain of command details, and the breakdown of special forces strategy all feel meticulously researched. This level of detail makes the story immersive, especially the section where Colt and his team receive their OPORD (Operations Order), which is packed with acronyms and unit designations, making it feel more like a declassified military report.
The action sequences, however, are where Sky Thunder truly shines. The book is loaded with high-adrenaline combat scenes that feel cinematic. A standout moment comes during a chaotic firefight with Russian attack helicopters, where the operatives engage in a desperate battle to stay alive. The descriptions are vivid, the stakes high, and the sense of danger palpable. There’s also a particularly tense HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) jump scene where Colt experiences a moment of sheer isolation as he plummets through the night sky, uncertain whether his team followed him out of the plane. These moments make the book gripping, giving readers a front-row seat to the intensity of modern warfare.
Character development, while present, takes a backseat to the mission. Colt, the team leader, is competent and battle-hardened, but his internal struggles are only briefly explored. We get glimpses of his doubt and leadership pressure, especially during critical moments, but the book focuses more on external threats than deep emotional arcs. Supporting characters like Smitty, Super Dave, and Lindsey add personality, but the sheer number of operatives and military personnel makes it hard to form strong attachments to any single one. That said, the camaraderie and sharp banter between team members help keep the story grounded in human connection.
Sky Thunder is a must-read for fans of military thrillers who appreciate realism and tactical depth. If you love books by authors like Tom Clancy or Brad Taylor, this will be right up your alley. However, if you prefer character-driven stories over mission-driven plots, the technical detail might feel overwhelming. The action is top-tier, the tension real, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Just be ready for a deep dive into military logistics along the way.
Pages: 298 | ASIN : B0DK655KYG
