Clear by Fire: A Search and Destroy Thriller
Written by: Joshua Hood
Narrated by: John Pruden
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:08-18-15
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Genre: Military Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
Publisher's Summary
Inspired by the experiences of a decorated combat veteran and former member of the 82nd Airborne Division, Clear by Fire is a blistering new military thriller about an American hero who, in order to clear his name, must take down a highly classified band of soldiers that has gone murderously rogue.
Mason Kane was a loyal American soldier and a proud member of the elite, off-the-books Anvil Program - a group of black ops soldiers who wage war from the shadows. But all that changed when his commander, as a part of a twisted scheme to force America's continued involvement in the Middle East, ordered an innocent Afghan family murdered.
Refusing the order, Mason finds himself on the run, hunted by his former comrades and labeled a terrorist by the country he served faithfully. Relying only on his survival skills and the help of female Special Operations operative Renee Hart, Kane must embark on his gravest mission yet: unraveling the conspiracy that reaches all way to the president's inner circle and stopping the world's most dangerous soldiers from completing their treacherous plan.
Set in the shadows of the war on terror, this realistic, action-packed adventure puts a twist on the traditional military thriller and starts a brand-new series that fans of Brad Thor and Brad Taylor will love.
©2015 Joshua Hood (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Review:
Mason Kane served as a dedicated specialist soldier with a black ops group known as the Anvil Program. When his commander, Barnes, decides to pursue his own agenda, which is to escalate the American presence in the Middle East, and murders an innocent family, Mason objects. He soon finds himself under attack as his team members try to eliminate him from telling the truth. Now he is on the run dodging authorities and trying to clear his name before he has to live banished as a terrorist. Mason seeks help from friends in the Middle East whom some would label as enemies.
Meanwhile back in the states, Special Operations operative Renee Hart is discovering the edge of a conspiracy that will send her back to the Middle East. She is one kick-butt soldier and her team is glad to have her back. She ends up trying to interrogate Mason to find out what he knows. Slowly the facts and pieces are revealed and another government agency steps in to engage their services. Manson and Renee have to deal with loss and injury as they try to head off Barnes and his troop who are on a killing path.
Hood presents a detailed view of war, including direct battles and behind the action military mind issues. There is plenty of action but Hood develops the characters as well. I enjoyed the primary characters, Mason and Renee. They are awesome soldiers and I appreciated their determination to do right even as they have to fight battles in a vicious, twisted war. I am impressed with this debut novel and trust he will provide more action entertainment in the future. I recommend this to readers who enjoy solid military thrillers.
Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by John Pruden. He kept the pace of the action and used different voices to fit the characters. The quality was good and made for fast listening.
I received this audio from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. This is part of my Audiobook Challenge.
