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Signs of War (Cris De Niro, Book 2)

by Gerard de Marigny (Goodreads Author)

4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 · rating details · 19 ratings · 13 reviews

Former hedge fund manager, billionaire Cris De Niro and his new counter-terrorism firm, The Watchman Agency just prevented a nuclear attack on the city of Las Vegas, but not without cost. Charley Santappia, the Agency's Vice President of Operations sacrificed his life to save the city. While at Santappia's funeral, a remorse-filled De Niro announces to his shocked staff th...more Former hedge fund manager, billionaire Cris De Niro and his new counter-terrorism firm, The Watchman Agency just prevented a nuclear attack on the city of Las Vegas, but not without cost. Charley Santappia, the Agency's Vice President of Operations sacrificed his life to save the city. While at Santappia's funeral, a remorse-filled De Niro announces to his shocked staff that he needs to decide whether he wants to continue with their mission. In front of Santappia's coffin, the squad leaders of The Watchman Agency's paramilitary arm, ARCHANGEL, decide to raise one last toast to their fallen commander. They're joined by a 'small man dressed in black' who is something of a legend to members of the Special Forces. A Delta Forces hero turned rogue operative, respected as much as he was feared ... enter Scipio, a very different type of warrior, but could he be the one to replace Santappia? Back at The Watchman Agency's headquarters, undercover CIA agent Felix Salazar shows up with a problem he brings to his old boss from Langley now the Agency's V.P. of Intelligence Services, Michelle Wang. Salazar is convinced that Venezuela has just received a shipment of Iranian medium-range missiles and he thinks he's tracked the missiles to a Venezuelan port closest to the United States. De Niro and company decide to get involved, sending Salazar back to Venezuela to investigate with a fire team from ARCHANGEL as backup. There is also more strange activity at the border. Soldiers of Tuco Ramirez's Pacifico Drug Cartel have been infiltrating en masse onto the Tohono O'odham reservation. This time, Bryan Ahiga head of the legendary DHS/ICE Shadow Wolves doesn't have his border patrol unit to patrol the tribal lands, so he asks De Niro if his team could lend a hand. At the same time, De Niro is contacted by his old friend, David Nicholls. The usually incorrigible British playboy is frantic. He just found out that his dear friends were kidnapped by Somali pirates aboard their yacht, and he wants De Niro and his people to rescue them. De Niro is hesitant to offer assistance, but Scipio proposes to take care of it, as long as he can borrow Santana, De Niro's newly battle-equipped mega-yacht and her crew. The Watchman Agency is spread thin and, once again, on their own! Cris De Niro & The Watchman Agency return to deal with Somali pirates, an imminent threat from an Iranian/Venezuelan alliance and a Mexican drug cartel's plot of immense proportions. These are the SIGNS of WAR ...(less)

Paperback, 328 pages

Published November 14th 2011 by Jarryjorno Publishing (first published October 12th 2011)

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Best Cover Art 2011 (Non-YA)

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Feb 05, 2012 Sharon Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I eagerly awaited the second instalment of the Watchman Agency and Cris de Niro and I was hooked and enthralled within the first few pages. Gerard de Marigny has now matched my other favourite author Lee Child and the Jack Reacher series.

The Watchman Agency receive a tip off that the Mexican drug cartel are planning to wipe out the 'Shadow Wolves' border control in order to have a direct route to the USA for drug running. De Niro feels obliged to help due to the Shadow Wolves help in previous su...more I eagerly awaited the second instalment of the Watchman Agency and Cris de Niro and I was hooked and enthralled within the first few pages. Gerard de Marigny has now matched my other favourite author Lee Child and the Jack Reacher series.

The Watchman Agency receive a tip off that the Mexican drug cartel are planning to wipe out the 'Shadow Wolves' border control in order to have a direct route to the USA for drug running. De Niro feels obliged to help due to the Shadow Wolves help in previous successes in The Watchman of Ephraim. The agency face an added problem, the drug cartel have paid government officials to help them. The corrupt officers have taken over the Shadow Wolves reservation and imprisoned all the inhabitants. Can De Niro and his men take back the reservation, stop the drug cartel with government help and upsetting the political situation between Mexico and the USA. Please remember the Watchman Agency is an independent organisation, funded by Cris de Niro and have no official status in the law, they were set up to prevent another 9/11 attack on the USA.

While the agency are busy with the Shadow Wolves, Cris is asked for help by the man who made him all of his money to help rescue some hostages from Somalian Pirates. Can the agency release the hostages safely. The agency also need to prevent a shipment of missiles to Venezuela, where backed by a rich Iranian they want to sail up close to the American Coast, launch the missiles and destroy the USA. The Watchman Agency is stretched to the limit, can De Niro, with all his resources, succeed?

The author brings to life the issues and threats that the modern world face and dominance of world power certain segments desire. This is an excellent novel, the emotions that the author draws from the reader are unbelievable. The scenes and characters are described not just in appearance but what they are thinking and feeling, this is why I rate the book highly. I am eagerly awaiting BOOK III, RISE TO THE CALL.

Although this is the second book it could be read on its own due to the fact that the author explains and links it very well in the first chapter to the first novel, The Watchman of Ephraim, enabling the reader catch up on events.(less)

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Jan 18, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Signs of War is the second book in the Cris De Niro series. Fortunately, the author does a great job of catching the reader up with what happened in the first book in case you missed it. Therefore, Signs of War can be read as a standalone, but I highly urge you to read the first one - it's just that good.
Cris De Niro started a group called The Watchmen after 9/11 in the hope that they could help thwart terrorists. But when his good friend Charley Santappia, and the agency's Vice President of Ope...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Signs of War
Author: Gerard de Marigny
Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Undercover agent Felix Salazar is not one to take his job lightly. Observing actions instead of acting on them is not what makes him a great agent. His new boss has him watching Iranian ships and informing the agency only when they come to port. Told not board the ships and wait for further orders does not play well with this agent. Realizing that there was much more to what was happening he decides to follow one caravan one evening and...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Chuck rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second in the Cris De Niro series and, like the first one, action abounds. We've got suspected Iranian medium range missiles delivered to Venezuela, an elderly couple held for ransom by Somali pirates and a Mexican drug lord taking over a mammoth Native American reservation in Arizona. Cris and the gang must deal with all of these simultaneously and it stretches their resources to the limit. We are also introduced to Scipio who is the new Vice President of Operations for The Watchman...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Toni Osborne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Book 2 in the Cris de Niro series

Cris de Niro, the protagonist, realises his greatest challenge after a tragic incident is to find the will to go on and to make the decisions that will not only change the course of his life but also those around him. After years protecting Americans from enemies at home and abroad, Cris is starting to have second thoughts about his mandate to do so at any cost. At the end of “The Watchman of Ephraim” (book1) we witnessed some of Cris’s close colleagues sacrifici...more Book 2 in the Cris de Niro series

Cris de Niro, the protagonist, realises his greatest challenge after a tragic incident is to find the will to go on and to make the decisions that will not only change the course of his life but also those around him. After years protecting Americans from enemies at home and abroad, Cris is starting to have second thoughts about his mandate to do so at any cost. At the end of “The Watchman of Ephraim” (book1) we witnessed some of Cris’s close colleagues sacrificing their lives in order to save the city of Las Vegas, a price that has taken a heavy toll on Cris’s conscience. “Signs of War” picks up at the funeral of one of these men and this political thriller follows in the same tradition as the 1st with nonstop action cover to cover.

This time we follow Cris and his team from the “Watchman Agency” on three fronts:

1st dealing with Somali pirates
2nd addressing an imminent threat from an Iranian/Venezuelan alliance
3rd attacking head on the infiltration of a Mexican drug cartel into a border Native reservation.

Mr. Marigny definitely knows how to put together an action packed thriller. This time he has outdone himself with complex multiple plotting that comes to life and incorporates all the technical jargon you can imagine, to some this may be a plus to others an overload of info. I was completely caught up in the web of suspense as I eagerly flipped through the pages, at times my attention span was put to the test with the abundance of the fast moving details. It is easy to relate to each character, they are patriotic and very devoted to their cause. Being a woman I was a little disappointed that Cris’s romantic side was not exploited further. Oh well maybe the sequel will address that side of him.

To sum things up, this is an interesting story that is quite captivating and very exciting. On the negative side, I found the repetitiveness of the reports passed between levels of management and the in-depth description of weapons somewhat overdone(less)

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Jul 04, 2012 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read

This is the second book in the series and its even better than the first. While you dont have to read the first book in the series to read this one. I do recommend it and you are then more familiar with the previous events, characters and their overall mission.

The story is action packed and never lets you down or stops moving. The characters are so well developed and the events told in such a way that you can really envision the story as it happens. And you are completely caught up in the story...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Monnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

After finishing this book, the second in the series featuring billionnaire and counter-terrorism company founder Cris De Niro, I'm happy to report two positives: First, the plot is more interesting and exciting to me than the debut book - The Watchman of Ephraim - and second, the copy editing is noticeably better. I didn't find nearly as many errors in grammar and punctuation, although my husband and I did get a big chuckle over the character who had "been on the lamb [sic] for a decade." Wow, w...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: intrigue

Having just finished the first book by Gerard de Marigny ("The Watchman of Ephraim"), I was excited to read "Signs of War" (both of which I had received from the author). "Signs of War" begins days after "The Watchman" ends, and The Watchman Agency is mourning the loss of one of their own...and the members learn the future of their agency is in doubt. Agency owner Cris De Niro is uncertain about continuing with his mission to prevent future attacks on the US and its citizens after facing the los...more Having just finished the first book by Gerard de Marigny ("The Watchman of Ephraim"), I was excited to read "Signs of War" (both of which I had received from the author). "Signs of War" begins days after "The Watchman" ends, and The Watchman Agency is mourning the loss of one of their own...and the members learn the future of their agency is in doubt. Agency owner Cris De Niro is uncertain about continuing with his mission to prevent future attacks on the US and its citizens after facing the loss of a top team member. But a serious talk with his team, and the deceased team member's widow, persuade him to continue the cause. (This is hardly a spoiler since there are many pages left in the book at this point.)

Coincidentally (?), the day I began this book I heard a news report about Iran, nuclear weapons and Venezuela. These are key topics for "Signs of War" as the Watchman Agency learns about possible nuclear weapons which could pose deadly harm to the United States. At the same time, they hear from a border patrol officer they worked with in the previous book about trouble on the Native American reservation on which he lives and works.

The Watchman team adds a new team member, the mysterious Scipio, who seems to have the moves of a ghost and killing skills of a ninja. Scipio makes an agreement with De Niro and his brother-in-law, who is in charge of the Watchman Agency, that he will lead their "military" arm ARCHANGEL. With the caveat that he has the ability to make the overriding decision on what actions to take. While this doesn't sit well with all members of the team, De Niro trusts his guts and agrees. The reader may think this means greater bloodshed without mercy. As the story unfolds, we learn this is not true. The bad guys get what they deserve, but death is not the automatic answer. There are levels to this character that I hope will be unveiled as the story continues.

I don't care for reviews that tell the whole story (why bother reading the book then?), so I will simply say that in addition to the two story lines already revealed, a minor story line early in the book brings back a few support characters from the first book. While they are minor characters, they also reveal the tone of action and justice tempered with humanity.

A challenge faced by authors who write series is how to connect their books to entice readers to read all the books in the series, especially if the reader hasn't started with the first book. This is the area that I feel de Marigny needs to modify in his future books. I felt too much of the first book was retold in this book. If I had picked "Signs of War" up first, I'm not sure I would have gone back and read the first one since so much of the story was revealed.

I also found the footnotes to be somewhat distracting. I think some of the terms are well-known enough that they are unnecessary. Other terms may need further clarification, but that could be done within the regular text.

Those things said, I continue to recommend this series. I'm looking forward to the next book which is supposed to be out this spring.(less)

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Feb 12, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

The second book in the Cris de Nero series has definitely outdone the first. I loved this book from start to finish. It's complex and full of technical jargon and with the footnotes to explain it really comes to life.

Cris and his team embark on another adventure of high stakes, and include the cast from the first book as well as a few new additions to the team. Valued additions I might add too.

Review to come...

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Mar 04, 2013 Francie Wirkus rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love all the Cris de Niro books by deMarigny. Thoroughly engaging from beginning to end. They are sharp, patriotic and even a little funny. I read Thor & Flynn, so I have some experience with geopolitical thrillers and political thrillers. DeMarigny has a way of differentiating his work from theirs, for which I keep coming back for more.

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Dec 09, 2012 Cornelia DeDona rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great! Really good writing, interesting, chilling, provocative!

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May 30, 2012 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I very much enjoyed book 2 as much as the first. I cannot wait for book 3 to be published! Written with a good balance of realism and fiction, book 2 is equally as much a page-turner as book 1!

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Jul 25, 2012 Robert T. Garcia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bond-bolan-casca-more

An excellent brisk well written story that took in a wonderful adventure. A great read for these summer days.

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About Gerard de Marigny

Author website: http://www.GerarddeMarigny.com
Official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/GerarddeM
Official Twitter page:
http://www.twitter.com/GerarddeMarigny
Publisher website: http://www.JarRyJorNoPublishing.com

Gerard de Marigny is the author of the AMAZON-Bestselling CRIS DE NIRO & ARCHANGEL series.

More about Gerard de Marigny...

Books by Gerard de Marigny

The Watchman of Ephraim (Cris De Niro, Book 1)

The Eagle's Plume (ARCHANGEL, Mission Log #1)

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“A writer fails, not when a reader is not moved; but when, as a reader, the writer is not moved.” — 3 people liked it

“God, Himself, wrote the 10 into stone with his own finger. He told the epic of mankind, our origins and our future, in a book. For me, there is no more noble a cause and no more honorable a vocation than to say, like Him, I am a writer.” — 2 people liked it

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Signs of War (Cris De Niro, Book 2)

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