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Open Source
What if a ship carrying a cargo of stolen Russian missiles bound for Iran was mysteriously hijacked? What if Israel was secretly behind the hijacking? What if the guy who fills the vending machines in the office break room figured the whole thing out?Based on actual events, OPEN SOURCE is a geopolitical thriller that follows Casey Shenk, a Savannah, Georgia, vending route driver with an insatiable curiosity, as he uncovers a black-market arms deal-gone-bad and the truth behind a high-level plot to shape world politics. Casey draws his evidence from open sources; by reading beyond the headlines. When his theorizing catches the attention of the wrong people and anonymous threats turn deadly, Casey looks to Susan Williams, an intelligent, but insecure, analyst for the New York-based consulting firm Intelligence Watch Group for help. The two soon find themselves in the crosshairs and fighting to save their own lives, while preventing an even greater injustice that could affect the balance of power in the Middle East and plunge the world headlong into the next Great War.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2010
14 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 11, 2011
Okay, so you may blow off my review because I wrote the book...but if I don't believe in it, how can I expect anyone else to? (Trust me, though, you'll love it!!)
February 2, 2014
Casey Shenk is a delivery driver who refills vending machines around Georgia. He takes interest in current affairs and in his spare time writes a blog. He is fascinated by a story, the highjacking of the MV Baltic Venture by pirates. Using open sources anyone can find on the internet, Casey tries to find what is going on that mainstream media is not telling the public.
The plot for this book is very good. It is a good conspiracy tale that builds nicely as different characters are fed into the story. It is rather involved and gets you thinking because it is so plausible. This novel is about geopolitics, terrorism and rogue elements fighting for their cause.
Casey puts all of these little snips of open source information found on the internet together and joins up the dots. Through his persistence and research, Casey finds out who the pirates are and what is really going on.
I enjoyed reading Open Source because although this is fiction, it is not far fetched. These sort of dodgy dealings by rogue elements go on all the time. I got to the end of this book and thought, "I wonder just how much of this goes on?" as the general public sleeps happily in their beds. This is a good thought provoking read that I will vote 4 stars.
The plot for this book is very good. It is a good conspiracy tale that builds nicely as different characters are fed into the story. It is rather involved and gets you thinking because it is so plausible. This novel is about geopolitics, terrorism and rogue elements fighting for their cause.
Casey puts all of these little snips of open source information found on the internet together and joins up the dots. Through his persistence and research, Casey finds out who the pirates are and what is really going on.
I enjoyed reading Open Source because although this is fiction, it is not far fetched. These sort of dodgy dealings by rogue elements go on all the time. I got to the end of this book and thought, "I wonder just how much of this goes on?" as the general public sleeps happily in their beds. This is a good thought provoking read that I will vote 4 stars.
June 26, 2013
Overall, just a great book. Really enjoyed it.
April 7, 2012
This book left me fairly unsatisfied and I'm willing to admit the failure was on both sides. I try to follow the conflict in the Middle East, but it is so freaking complicated just trying to figure out who the players! This book didn't help me unravel it much, but maybe that's because it's too complicated for me to grasp. Or maybe it's because the author didn't do a good job of unraveling it? And then there was the lack of emotion. And the lack of resolution at the end? I guess the whole point was to let the govt make an informed decision, and once Casey informed the govt, he was done. We didn't need to understand what happened after that. I just felt like I was taken to the edge of a cliff and then, instead of jumping in a glider, we sat down for a cup of coffee. Very anticlimactic.
June 14, 2011
This novel was packed with excitement from beginning to end. International intrigue, spies, murders, assassins, and a vending machine operator! Who knew these would mesh into such a dramatic plot?
The only halfway negative thing I can think of is there were just so many characters, I had trouble keeping up with everyone. But there had to be that many to fulfill the whole storyline. It was my fault if I couldn't keep up with everyone! M.M. Frick did an excellent job with these characters, making them come to life - even the smaller background ones who only showed up once or twice. I could feel who these people were and what motivated them.
The action moves quickly and surprises were around every corner....errrm page turn. I kept trying to find a double agent - oh he's really a bad guy... no he is! I won't tell you if I was right or wrong, but it's a great book to read. Would make an awesome movie as well!
*Disclaimer: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review.
The only halfway negative thing I can think of is there were just so many characters, I had trouble keeping up with everyone. But there had to be that many to fulfill the whole storyline. It was my fault if I couldn't keep up with everyone! M.M. Frick did an excellent job with these characters, making them come to life - even the smaller background ones who only showed up once or twice. I could feel who these people were and what motivated them.
The action moves quickly and surprises were around every corner....errrm page turn. I kept trying to find a double agent - oh he's really a bad guy... no he is! I won't tell you if I was right or wrong, but it's a great book to read. Would make an awesome movie as well!
*Disclaimer: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review.
August 17, 2011
An interesting story with a different approach to international intrigue, this novel describes the efforts of people using "open source" information, i.e., information readily available in the public arena, to interpret, understand, and explain countries' action in the geo-political arenas. When the protagonist, a vending machine servicer, delves into the hijacking of a sea-going freighter, he sets the dominos in motion and ends up with a very personal look into espionage and international assassinations. This was a refreshing twist on the genre and I'm looking forward to other efforts by this author.
April 16, 2011
The best part of this book was the ending. The author has really done a good job on this book. His knowledge flows in just the right manner. This really could have been. The characters are all strong. This is not a book just for the guys with all the suspense and thrills any woman would want to read this book as well. It was hard for me to put down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and how it was going to be taken care of. Hopefully there is another book coming along and I know it will be just as good.
August 30, 2011
While I won't say this restores my faith in the 99 cent ebook, it was a decent thriller. The premise is a fairly ordinary guy looking at public ally available sources is able to determine an international conspiracy is underway. While some of his conclusions seem a bi far fetched, the author avoids most of the unbelievable physical action that takes place in the genre today. I,for one, appreciate that. I did count multiple errors that would have benefited from an editor but I've seen more errors in other ebooks.
December 31, 2011
This turned out to be the surprise of the year for me. I got the Kindle version a few months ago from Smashwords for a couple of bucks and only started reading it last week. Excellent read, well written, clever, real life hero. Couldn't put it away. So that's five stars for a debut!
I believe the book is released as a paperback now as well.
It seems the author will release a new book with the same hero early 2012, so I'm looking forward to that. Great stuff!
I believe the book is released as a paperback now as well.
It seems the author will release a new book with the same hero early 2012, so I'm looking forward to that. Great stuff!
July 23, 2012
I enjoyed reading this well-written, well-edited book OPEN SOURCE which is categorized as a geopolitical thriller. Action in this book takes place on the high seas, domestically and in the Middle East. A home-town boy from Savannah seas a news report about an act of piracy and writes a blog about it which gets him reeled into an action-packed drama. I could see this transferred into a screenplay and on the big screen.
January 12, 2014
Although exciting, I found this book's characters to be completely not believable. They didn't notice obvious and predictable details, or noticed them late and considered them revelations. Also the lead female character, who should have, in her position, been strong, not-easily bullied, and brilliant, was instead always intimidated by her male counterparts and very weak and fearful. In addition, she always seems to have needed the men to come up with all her ideas.
December 23, 2011
I think it extremely unlikely that a parcel delivery man would develop a blog analyzing why an international ship hijacking took place and the political implications that result. Interesting read but a bit of a stretch. The ending did offer an alternative view to the "poor Israel, surrounded by all the bad people who want to do her in".
March 17, 2012
It's an interesting premise, but I never got to the payoff. I stopped reading at 40 percent when I didn't know any more than I did at 10 percent. Thinly plotted with bland, seventh-grade-level prose style. Pass it up unless you can speed read it in an hour.
December 31, 2014
a little far fetched for a snack machine worker to become involved in world affairs, and almost killed. 3 times! very interesting. a little slow at here and there, but with a dash of cynicism and humor at the right moments, this was pretty enjoyable.
December 4, 2011
An interesting thriller about international terrorism and politics. The plot is satisfyingly complex. I look forward to more from this author.
August 5, 2013
interesting premise and some characterizations are 'characters,' foul language is offputting but I'd read the author again.
August 4, 2013
interesting premise and some characterizations are 'characters,' foul language is offputting but I'd read the author again.
March 23, 2014
Great story!
April 26, 2014
Enjoyable reading!
Enjoyable reading!
enough current events and timing to blend in the development of a good story with just enough intensity and a little romance
Enjoyable reading!
enough current events and timing to blend in the development of a good story with just enough intensity and a little romance
May 30, 2016
A very very good book concerning intrigue on a world scale. There was murder, mystery, intrigue, political double dealing, and humor. Like I said, a very good book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews