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Kirk McGarvey #10
Soldier of God
INCLUDES A SNEAK PEAK OF DAVID HAGBERG'S TIMELY AND TERRIFYING NEW KIRK MCGARVEY THRILLER, THE ABYSS, AVAILABLE IN JUNE!"My dearest mother," the letter from the young Saudi Arabian suicide bomber begins, as have so many before it. "The day of joy will soon arrive. Send out presents and sweets; prepare my father and my brother for my wedding to come. My black-eyed wife waits for me in Paradise. Rejoice, o my mother, for we will meet in heaven."Suicide bombers are coming to America's heartland. Their our most precious and vulnerable assets, our children. Following the most terrifying lead of his life, CIA Director Kirk McGarvey traces the threat to a terrorist known as Khalil. But upon further investigation he is convinced that Khalil and the Saudi playboy prince Abdul Hasim bin Salman are the same man. The White House wants nothing to do with McGarvey's assumptions; accusing a Saudi prince of such a heinous plan will surely strain the delicate political balance between the US and the Saudis, always thought to be allies as well as our major oil suppliers. But McGarvey refuses to let politics stand in the way of him stopping Khalil, even if it means that the President of the United States will call him a traitor, even if it means he must resign as Director of the CIA to pursue him, and even if it means his meddling will lead to the kidnapping and brutal beating of his own wife.From the deadly frigid Alaskan waters, to the balmy breezes of the French Rivera and finally to the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., Mac has to unravel the latest threat from Osama bin Laden in order to save American school children from a cadre of suicide bombers willing to martyr themselves for the cause as Soldiers of God.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2005
27 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
David Hagberg
80 books137 followersaka David Bannerman, Sean Flannery, David James, Robert Pell, Eric Ramsey
David Hagberg is a former Air Force cryptographer who has traveled extensively in Europe, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and has spoken at CIA functions. He has published more than twenty novels of suspense, including the bestselling High Flight, Assassin, and Joshua's Hammer.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidh...
David Hagberg is a former Air Force cryptographer who has traveled extensively in Europe, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and has spoken at CIA functions. He has published more than twenty novels of suspense, including the bestselling High Flight, Assassin, and Joshua's Hammer.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidh...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 25, 2018
Soldier of God
David Hagberg
2005
(McGarvey Book 10)
It is a worthwhile book but alas only my first in the McGarvey series
Below from Amazon until the link
"My dearest mother," the letter from the young Saudi Arabian suicide bomber begins, as have so many before it. "The day of joy will soon arrive. Send out presents and sweets; prepare my father and my brother for my wedding to come. My black-eyed wife waits for me in Paradise. Rejoice, o my mother, for we will meet in heaven."
Suicide bombers are coming to America's heartland. Their targets: our most precious and vulnerable assets, our children.
Following the most terrifying lead of his life, CIA Director Kirk McGarvey traces the threat to a terrorist known as Khalil. But upon further investigation he is convinced that Khalil and the Saudi playboy prince Abdul Hasim bin Salman are the same man. The White House wants nothing to do with McGarvey's assumptions; accusing a Saudi prince of such a heinous plan will surely strain the delicate political balance between the US and the Saudis, always thought to be allies as well as our major oil suppliers. But McGarvey refuses to let politics stand in the way of him stopping Khalil, even if it means that the President of the United States will call him a traitor, even if it means he must resign as Director of the CIA to pursue him, and even if it means his meddling will lead to the kidnapping and brutal beating of his own wife.
From the deadly frigid Alaskan waters, to the balmy breezes of the French Rivera and finally to the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., Mac has to unravel the latest threat from Osama bin Laden in order to save American school children from a cadre of suicide bombers willing to martyr themselves for the cause as Soldiers of God.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RCNVL2/...
This book has a good mix of intrigue, politics, action and geo political analysis from the CIA perspective.
EN:
117: He spoke Egyptian Arabic, the most common dialect, and one understood by just about any Arabic speaker.
126: But less than seventy-five years earlier, almost everyone on the tiny peninsula was a Bedouin.
• The Arabian Peninsula is not tiny….
• It is the second-largest peninsula in the world (after Europe), at 3,237,500 km2 (1,250,000 sq mi). The Arabian Peninsula consists of the countries Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and parts of Jordan and Iraq.
• Population: 77,983,936
• Area: 3.2 million km2 (1.25 million mi²)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian...
143: Wahhabism, the strictest and harshest form of Islam
It is important that a man do the correct thing when important people were observing, and do the necessary things when important principles were at stake.
202: …we depended on foreign oil.
• Around 2009, U.S. petroleum production began to rise as new technology provided innovative extraction methods.
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikepatt...
219: …who was a sheriff, which meant he was a descendant of Muhammed
307: Now the sky marshals were back and al-Quaida wasn’t going to use the skyjackings again…
• Spells Quaida vs the Qaida
398: The Qur’an says that for every people there is a messenger.
David Hagberg
2005
(McGarvey Book 10)
It is a worthwhile book but alas only my first in the McGarvey series
Below from Amazon until the link
"My dearest mother," the letter from the young Saudi Arabian suicide bomber begins, as have so many before it. "The day of joy will soon arrive. Send out presents and sweets; prepare my father and my brother for my wedding to come. My black-eyed wife waits for me in Paradise. Rejoice, o my mother, for we will meet in heaven."
Suicide bombers are coming to America's heartland. Their targets: our most precious and vulnerable assets, our children.
Following the most terrifying lead of his life, CIA Director Kirk McGarvey traces the threat to a terrorist known as Khalil. But upon further investigation he is convinced that Khalil and the Saudi playboy prince Abdul Hasim bin Salman are the same man. The White House wants nothing to do with McGarvey's assumptions; accusing a Saudi prince of such a heinous plan will surely strain the delicate political balance between the US and the Saudis, always thought to be allies as well as our major oil suppliers. But McGarvey refuses to let politics stand in the way of him stopping Khalil, even if it means that the President of the United States will call him a traitor, even if it means he must resign as Director of the CIA to pursue him, and even if it means his meddling will lead to the kidnapping and brutal beating of his own wife.
From the deadly frigid Alaskan waters, to the balmy breezes of the French Rivera and finally to the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., Mac has to unravel the latest threat from Osama bin Laden in order to save American school children from a cadre of suicide bombers willing to martyr themselves for the cause as Soldiers of God.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RCNVL2/...
This book has a good mix of intrigue, politics, action and geo political analysis from the CIA perspective.
EN:
117: He spoke Egyptian Arabic, the most common dialect, and one understood by just about any Arabic speaker.
126: But less than seventy-five years earlier, almost everyone on the tiny peninsula was a Bedouin.
• The Arabian Peninsula is not tiny….
• It is the second-largest peninsula in the world (after Europe), at 3,237,500 km2 (1,250,000 sq mi). The Arabian Peninsula consists of the countries Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and parts of Jordan and Iraq.
• Population: 77,983,936
• Area: 3.2 million km2 (1.25 million mi²)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian...
143: Wahhabism, the strictest and harshest form of Islam
It is important that a man do the correct thing when important people were observing, and do the necessary things when important principles were at stake.
202: …we depended on foreign oil.
• Around 2009, U.S. petroleum production began to rise as new technology provided innovative extraction methods.
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikepatt...
219: …who was a sheriff, which meant he was a descendant of Muhammed
307: Now the sky marshals were back and al-Quaida wasn’t going to use the skyjackings again…
• Spells Quaida vs the Qaida
398: The Qur’an says that for every people there is a messenger.
September 24, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3. Kirk McGarvey is Director of the CIA. He is also also America's best super-agent and irresistible to women. Kirk and his wife are on a cruise when a kidnapping attempt by the infamous terrorist Khalil on his friend, a retired high ranking government official. Kirk successfully intervenes, setting off a hunt for Khalil and simultaneously preventing a 9/11 attack on the United States. Further plot details are unnecessary, as they will be familiar to anybody who has read virtually any book in this genre. Kirk is a humorless and relentless protagonist; he resigns his post as CIA director to pursue Khalil unencumbered by American or international law. Neither he nor Khalil nor anybody who shows up in this book are interesting. The dialogue is standard and uninspired. The plot is series of straightforward "chase and fight" sequences, with very little real dramatic tension. One rather obvious plot twist shows up at the end. The writing style is clear. Having read a lot of this kind of story, Soldier of God is slightly below average.
July 28, 2019
This story starts with action right away. Kirk McGarvey is in the wrong place at the right time when a cruise ship is attacked by terrorists in Alaska. This leads to a globetrotting story as McGarvey and the terrorist mastermind look to eliminate the other, with the looming threat of an even more terrifying attack on the United Staes than 9/11.
While this is not the most realistic story, and Kirk McGarvey is not the most likable character, this was a great escapist read for action fans. Something about this series makes me keep going back for more!
While this is not the most realistic story, and Kirk McGarvey is not the most likable character, this was a great escapist read for action fans. Something about this series makes me keep going back for more!
October 26, 2017
Decent "page-turner" as McGarvey confronts a murderous Al-Qaeda operative targets both Kirk, his wife, while attempting to put a "dagger-in-the-heart" of us weak, complacent Americans...good tense action from Alaska, to Switzerland, to the US...not his best but entertaining as heck!!!
June 22, 2017
GREAT
August 3, 2017
These books are so realistic, I have to remind myself that they are novels. On the edge of my seat the whole time
July 13, 2022
Great thrills!
Great twists!
Great story!
Great twists!
Great story!
May 17, 2016
Everything I love about novels dealing with espionage, terrorism, and derring-do is found in abundance in Soldier of God, the 10th Kirk McGarvey novel by David Hagberg.
Kirk is currently the CIA Director. While on a pleasure cruise in Alaska with his wife, Katy, and the former Secretary of Defense and his wife, they become the victims of a terrorist attack engineered by the #2 man to Bin Laden, Khalil. Khalil plans to kidnap the Defense Sect. and put him on trial in Pakistan.
Later Kirk discovers that Bin Laden announces something devistating will occur in the US soon. It is also suspected that Khalil is really a member of the Saudi royal family who is well respected by the US government.
Kirk resigns his post as CIA Director to find Khalil and stop whatever terror is about to happen in the US.
An exciting, up-to-date story brimming with suspense. As with Mitch Rapp et.al., some situations seem a little far-fetched; however, that is the charm of novels like this.
Hagberg also writes with a descriptive clarity that makes his stories not only interesting but seemingly realistic. Example: "His real age was nearer to fifty than the CIA guessed, but he looked thirty-five. Tall, with an olive complexion, dark flashing eyes, and a feline grace, Khalil could project an intimate warmth if the circumstances dictated it, but could in an instant become as cold, indifferent, and deadly as a king cobra ready to strike." "Even in this modern age a true Bedouin is able to harden his heart in order to kill his own daughter as an offering to Allah. The refinements of modern life are nothing more than the effeminate devices of degenerate men."
Kirk is currently the CIA Director. While on a pleasure cruise in Alaska with his wife, Katy, and the former Secretary of Defense and his wife, they become the victims of a terrorist attack engineered by the #2 man to Bin Laden, Khalil. Khalil plans to kidnap the Defense Sect. and put him on trial in Pakistan.
Later Kirk discovers that Bin Laden announces something devistating will occur in the US soon. It is also suspected that Khalil is really a member of the Saudi royal family who is well respected by the US government.
Kirk resigns his post as CIA Director to find Khalil and stop whatever terror is about to happen in the US.
An exciting, up-to-date story brimming with suspense. As with Mitch Rapp et.al., some situations seem a little far-fetched; however, that is the charm of novels like this.
Hagberg also writes with a descriptive clarity that makes his stories not only interesting but seemingly realistic. Example: "His real age was nearer to fifty than the CIA guessed, but he looked thirty-five. Tall, with an olive complexion, dark flashing eyes, and a feline grace, Khalil could project an intimate warmth if the circumstances dictated it, but could in an instant become as cold, indifferent, and deadly as a king cobra ready to strike." "Even in this modern age a true Bedouin is able to harden his heart in order to kill his own daughter as an offering to Allah. The refinements of modern life are nothing more than the effeminate devices of degenerate men."
August 7, 2016
A novel of two parts.
The first part is Die Hard on cruise ship, or Speed 2, only better. Former assassin turned head of the CIA prevents the terrorists from abducting the Secretary of Defense and putting him on some sort of trial.
From there, we get a maverick agent novel, as McGarvey follows the trail of the terrorists to Saudi Arabia. This is more timely than ever, after the release of the 28 pages of the 9/11 report.
Pretty good, but not quite top tier in the genre.
The first part is Die Hard on cruise ship, or Speed 2, only better. Former assassin turned head of the CIA prevents the terrorists from abducting the Secretary of Defense and putting him on some sort of trial.
From there, we get a maverick agent novel, as McGarvey follows the trail of the terrorists to Saudi Arabia. This is more timely than ever, after the release of the 28 pages of the 9/11 report.
Pretty good, but not quite top tier in the genre.
December 29, 2010
This was a pretty easy book to get through. At first I wasn't looking forward to it because it seemed like they were introducing plot lines that didn't really have to be in there. Once I got past the filler it was a good book.
June 17, 2011
First book I have read by Hagberg was recomended to me by a fellow Vince Flynn fan. I enjoyed it, there were some nice twists but it falls a little short of Vince Flynn. Still all in all a good read and I will be reading more Hagberg.
April 23, 2014
I'm a Hagberg fAn. This was not my favorite because of the repetive love interest of the lady cop. But other than that - a good ride!
June 11, 2014
Kirk does it again...
April 5, 2017
Pure pulpy fiction. Racist, xenophobic, but a tolerable action book to be picked up before a trip for 5$. Read it in Gaspe.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews