But when six exchange students go missing, two airplane passengers trade places, and one political-asylum seeker is arrested, a deadly chain of events is set in motion.
With the United States facing an imminent and devastating attack, America’s new president must turn to covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath to help carry out two of the most dangerous operations in the country’s history.
Code-named "Gold Dust" and "Blackbird," they are shrouded in absolute secrecy as either of them, if discovered, will constitute an act of war.
Review:
Once again Brad has given us a great read. This book, like most of his others, could be categorized as a horror story. Were these events to play out in reality, it would indeed be a nightmare. What's even more scary is the plausibility of something like this happening. Act of War is another hit from Brad Thor. His real world technical knowledge is astounding and really enhances the reading experience.
What gets Act of War and U.S. counterterrorism operative Scott Harvath rolling is an operation with the People’s Republic of China known as “Snowdragon.” It is constructed on the premise that war between the United States and China is not a possibility or even a probability, but is rather an inevitability. Given that truism, the winner will be the one who dictates the terms of that war. The only issue is when Snowdragon will be launched. By the time the United States gets an inkling as to what will occur, the Chinese already have the two parts of Snowdragon in place: one in the United States, the other in North Korea.
The narrative accordingly proceeds along two tracks. On one, a four-man reconnaissance team infiltrates North Korea in order to ascertain the nature and extent of the threat. On the other, Harvath races across the country and around the world following the trail of a terrorist recruiter and the six engineering students he has sent from the Middle East to the United States for what is certain to be a nefarious purpose. Thor lets the reader stay a bit ahead of Harvath on the curve, which ratchets up the already agonizing level of suspense just a bit higher.
In order to triumph, Harvath can follow the rules of engagement only so far before he is forced to tear up the book and act in the moment. And while, in the past, this course of attack has worked for Harvath and the country he has sworn to protect and defend, the Chinese plan may be too well-thought-out and too far along in its execution for even Harvath to prevent its success.
Great read and captivating story. Love the main character in the book, Scott and his close circle. The other characters in this book are equally interesting.
