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Vigilante #6
Discreet Activities
As a result of information gathered via electronic surveillance by intelligence agencies in the U.S. and Canada, a budding terrorist organization, the Army for Islam or AFI, is suspected of planning an attack, its target possibly NYC, Burlington, Vermont or even Canada’s famed Montreal.
When four foreign students from Pakistan with known ties to the AFI’s Montreal cell arrive in the area on New Year’s Eve, Discreet Activities’ head, Jonathan Addley, along with Chris Barry and other DA consultants are more than willing to take on the additional workload.
After two of the DA team members die violently in an AFI related suicide-bombing, the job becomes getting revenge on those responsible for this Holy War…
When four foreign students from Pakistan with known ties to the AFI’s Montreal cell arrive in the area on New Year’s Eve, Discreet Activities’ head, Jonathan Addley, along with Chris Barry and other DA consultants are more than willing to take on the additional workload.
After two of the DA team members die violently in an AFI related suicide-bombing, the job becomes getting revenge on those responsible for this Holy War…
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2012
51 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Claude Bouchard
91 books2,113 followers*USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR*
I was born in Montreal, Canada, at a very young age, where I still live with my spouse, Joanne, under the watchful eye of Krystalle and Midnight, two black females of the feline persuasion. In a former life, I completed my studies at McGill University and worked in various management capacities for a handful of firms for countless years. From there, considering my extensive background in human resources and finance, it was a logical leap in my career path to stay home and write crime thrillers.
My first stab at writing was actually in 1995, the result being my first novel, "Vigilante". Two others of the same series followed by 1997 but all three remained dormant until publication in 2009. Since, besides writing a stand-alone, five other thrillers have joined the VIGILANTE series. I also penned "Something's Cooking", a faux-erotica parody and cookbook under the pseudonyms Réal E. Hotte and Dasha Sugah. I'm currently working on "See You in Saigon" and "The First Sixteen", two further installments of my series. I have to say, I'm enjoying this writing gig.
Other interests besides writing and subtly persuading people to buy my books include reading, making noise with my six guitars, painting (oil and watercolour), cooking (year round though I love the grill in the summer), traveling and planning to work out soon. I've also been known to sleep on occasion.
You can visit my website at claudebouchardbooks.com which is almost as fun as DisneyLand and absolutely free.
I was born in Montreal, Canada, at a very young age, where I still live with my spouse, Joanne, under the watchful eye of Krystalle and Midnight, two black females of the feline persuasion. In a former life, I completed my studies at McGill University and worked in various management capacities for a handful of firms for countless years. From there, considering my extensive background in human resources and finance, it was a logical leap in my career path to stay home and write crime thrillers.
My first stab at writing was actually in 1995, the result being my first novel, "Vigilante". Two others of the same series followed by 1997 but all three remained dormant until publication in 2009. Since, besides writing a stand-alone, five other thrillers have joined the VIGILANTE series. I also penned "Something's Cooking", a faux-erotica parody and cookbook under the pseudonyms Réal E. Hotte and Dasha Sugah. I'm currently working on "See You in Saigon" and "The First Sixteen", two further installments of my series. I have to say, I'm enjoying this writing gig.
Other interests besides writing and subtly persuading people to buy my books include reading, making noise with my six guitars, painting (oil and watercolour), cooking (year round though I love the grill in the summer), traveling and planning to work out soon. I've also been known to sleep on occasion.
You can visit my website at claudebouchardbooks.com which is almost as fun as DisneyLand and absolutely free.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 30, 2012
Discreet Activities (#6) Claude Bouchard
I have read the first three in the Barry/McCall series and decided to skip a few and go to the last. This time Chris is on a mission to stop terrorists from bombing Canada and America. It is a race for time, and Barry has his team to help him. People end up dead and no one is safe.
Fast paced action thriller. I really love Claude Bouchard work and loved Discreet Activities. I was introduced to some new characters, two of which are strong females. I look forward to going back and reading the two I missed: The Homeless Killer & 6 Hours 42 Minutes
I have read the first three in the Barry/McCall series and decided to skip a few and go to the last. This time Chris is on a mission to stop terrorists from bombing Canada and America. It is a race for time, and Barry has his team to help him. People end up dead and no one is safe.
Fast paced action thriller. I really love Claude Bouchard work and loved Discreet Activities. I was introduced to some new characters, two of which are strong females. I look forward to going back and reading the two I missed: The Homeless Killer & 6 Hours 42 Minutes
August 19, 2021
An elite group carry out state sanctioned torture and murder in order to thwart a plot by incompetent terrorists. Sort of A team up against Four Lions.
June 27, 2012
If you like vigilante justice, you will probably like "Discreet Activities" by Claude Bouchard. Thematically, it's a Charles Bronson "Death Wish" on steroids. On the subject matter side, this is a love it or hate it novel. I love it when terrorists' butts are kicked and kicked soundly. However, there is a negative psychogical bent to the well-funded, -groomed, and -connected, above-the-law good guys (shades of "The Star Chamber") that makes them one step away from being legalized terrorists themselves. There is a remorselessness about the murder and mayhem they perform for the sake of Canadian justice, and that makes them cardboard characters in the story. It could be argued by the end of the story that the reader has a better feel for some of the "minor" league terrorists than the good guys. But again, there isn't close to the level of understanding about terrorist motivation in this book that there was in the movie, "Syriana".
The short novel moves, which is one good thing. It's also a bad thing. I found myself skimming over some of the more mundane dialogue that often passed for informational dumps and some of the step-by-step narration of character movements, which took the place of deepening the plot. Some of the technical tools of the trade were interesting, but again seemed to be detailed to the point of showing off the research not heighten the story line. The diversions (sub-plots) from the main plot are more to show how bad-ass the "good" guys are rather than taking the time to strengthen and deepen the main plot and intrigue. The grammatical faux pas are nothing about which to get a twist in your knickers.
The author does continually raise the stakes, though the tension is often diminished because the good guys moves are played out ahead of time. A number of reader surprises are rendered flat because of this technique. And to that end, there is only one major plot twist within the body of the story that is well played out. There is a nice reversal at the end, and one final dig that was nicely, though implausible dropped into the end of the story. If you like drop-kicking bad guys, it's a four. But for thriller aficionados, it's a ho-hum three.
The short novel moves, which is one good thing. It's also a bad thing. I found myself skimming over some of the more mundane dialogue that often passed for informational dumps and some of the step-by-step narration of character movements, which took the place of deepening the plot. Some of the technical tools of the trade were interesting, but again seemed to be detailed to the point of showing off the research not heighten the story line. The diversions (sub-plots) from the main plot are more to show how bad-ass the "good" guys are rather than taking the time to strengthen and deepen the main plot and intrigue. The grammatical faux pas are nothing about which to get a twist in your knickers.
The author does continually raise the stakes, though the tension is often diminished because the good guys moves are played out ahead of time. A number of reader surprises are rendered flat because of this technique. And to that end, there is only one major plot twist within the body of the story that is well played out. There is a nice reversal at the end, and one final dig that was nicely, though implausible dropped into the end of the story. If you like drop-kicking bad guys, it's a four. But for thriller aficionados, it's a ho-hum three.
May 29, 2012
This author is a constant five star writer. His Barry/McCall series is 6 installments in with Discreet Activities as the latest. If you haven't started this series you are missing out.
Action wrapped plots that just pull you in. Discreet Activities takes you into the minds of terrorists as well as the people determined to stop them.
Barry has grown comfortably into Discreet Activities group which secretly go where police and government agencies can't.
McCall has done some inner growth as well, accepting the limitations of the police and how Barry and his group can help.
Will they find out what the plot is and where it will take place? Will they find out in time?
This book engages in real world type events, emotions and a touch of....Oh, if only we could just do it this way and damn the consequence.
Good luck putting this book down and beware of falling into it's world.
If you want to bond with characters whether they are good or not so good, take a fast pace to reading, wonder what will happen with every page and just be wonderfully satisfied with the outcome.....then get your read on and get it with Discreet Activities.
This book does not disappoint.
Action wrapped plots that just pull you in. Discreet Activities takes you into the minds of terrorists as well as the people determined to stop them.
Barry has grown comfortably into Discreet Activities group which secretly go where police and government agencies can't.
McCall has done some inner growth as well, accepting the limitations of the police and how Barry and his group can help.
Will they find out what the plot is and where it will take place? Will they find out in time?
This book engages in real world type events, emotions and a touch of....Oh, if only we could just do it this way and damn the consequence.
Good luck putting this book down and beware of falling into it's world.
If you want to bond with characters whether they are good or not so good, take a fast pace to reading, wonder what will happen with every page and just be wonderfully satisfied with the outcome.....then get your read on and get it with Discreet Activities.
This book does not disappoint.
December 30, 2012
Discreet Activities is the 6th book in the McCall/Barry "Vigilante" series. In this book. the clandestine government agency that Barry is currently working for is very active at protecting the citizens of Canada, as in exercising their "license to kill." The main premise is that a terrorist cell may or may not be planning an attack and Chris Barry is leading the investigation. This is the first of the vigilante series that I read. The characters are well developed and the plot grabs you right from the beginning. I found this to be a quick read because I intended to just read a few more pages before bed... then a few more... then maybe just a few more... Overall good pacing, strong plot, and great characters.
November 25, 2013
On an entertainment level it is good but I found myself asking questions about the reality of the plot.
Would top level security order pizza and not be aware of anyone walking into a house ?. Perhaps the explorer would have been fitted with cameras and sound by the owners and they would check the car for tracking devices. Why steal cigarette packets from a highly secured business. Just buy the cigarettes. A four man team would be watched by both sides and any suspicious activity would be questioned whether it appeared to be friendly or not.
Still a great series and Claude Bouchard is an excellent author. This one has too many holes to be believable but is still a demonstration in how to write an entertaining story.
:-)
Would top level security order pizza and not be aware of anyone walking into a house ?. Perhaps the explorer would have been fitted with cameras and sound by the owners and they would check the car for tracking devices. Why steal cigarette packets from a highly secured business. Just buy the cigarettes. A four man team would be watched by both sides and any suspicious activity would be questioned whether it appeared to be friendly or not.
Still a great series and Claude Bouchard is an excellent author. This one has too many holes to be believable but is still a demonstration in how to write an entertaining story.
:-)
May 3, 2012
Discreet Activities is a quick, go for a ride, prevent you from sleeping, want to hurry up and read because you want to know who did it kind of book. All of Claude Bouchard's books are fantastic roller coaster reads from start to finish, but this one was an even faster ride for me because I couldn't sleep without knowing how it ended and who was the culprit behind the heinous crimes. I got sucked in from the very moment I opened this book and it held me, helpless, in it's grips right up to the very end, and left me wanting for another Barry/McCall series book! (copied from the original I posted at Amazon.com)
September 30, 2012
I've seen all the five star reviews and sugest you all read the Vigilante, much better than this forced tosh. A book to far, I loved the Vigilante and have enjoyed other Bouchard Novels, but this was terrible. The characters were so lame and self centered, the plot felt false and tired.
What’s wrong with ‘said’, he shot back, retorted and so many other words instead of said or answered. The dialogue was plastic to say the least.
If you want to read a good book, forget this go for ‘Vigilante.’ Well worth a read.
What’s wrong with ‘said’, he shot back, retorted and so many other words instead of said or answered. The dialogue was plastic to say the least.
If you want to read a good book, forget this go for ‘Vigilante.’ Well worth a read.
September 19, 2014
Another great book in the Vigilante Series. I just love Barry and McCall and their Vigilante group. They get to go in and do all the things the "good guys" aren't allowed to do- Basically kick some serious terrorist butt. This time when terrorists plan an attack on Canada, the group must keep these young Muslims under surveillance to see how and when they will attack and try to stop them in time. There is plenty of butt kicking and nai biting, as Claud Bouchard is know for in this series. Yes, another great addition to this series. I am on my way to #7.
February 9, 2016
A tense and unbelievably suspenseful book! Jon and Chris are back once again in true 'Punisher' style. When the legal system can't finish the job, Discreet Activities will always be nearby to see justice done....the way it should be.
Plenty of action and a perfect story with the fresh addition of Leslie (formerly a bank teller from the previous book). Mr. Bouchard's writing is so descriptive and detailed to allow the reader to 'see' the story in a move-style. It was very good! I'm looking forward to more adventures in the next book, 'Femme Fatale'.
Plenty of action and a perfect story with the fresh addition of Leslie (formerly a bank teller from the previous book). Mr. Bouchard's writing is so descriptive and detailed to allow the reader to 'see' the story in a move-style. It was very good! I'm looking forward to more adventures in the next book, 'Femme Fatale'.
February 1, 2012
I don't often put one book aside to read another because, well, I'm nosy. I have to know the outcome. That said, I did put aside another book to read Discreet Activities. I was not disappointed. Claude Bouchard once again thrills readers with his characters and plot twists. Having read the entire series I can attest to the enjoyment they provide. I encourage everyone to read the 'Vigilante' series.
May 2, 2012
Another book in this series and while still a good, solid read, it was my least favorite of the ones I've read so far. I'm definitely a character-driven reader so the fact that this plot had characters other than the usual 'crew' in the primary group and just 'walk on' parts more or less for the characters I'd gotten attached to made it somewhat less interesting for me.
Entertaining, but this is one I am not likely to re-read like the others.
Entertaining, but this is one I am not likely to re-read like the others.
March 5, 2017
I have read all of the other books in this series, but this one somehow got missed. Good for me, though! In this one, the team gets wind of a terrorist plot. They don't know who or where or when. This makes up the main plot. There are a bunch of secondary ops that were really interesting, kind of like the comic relief of the book. There is one major surprise in the story and a very enjoyable ending! Just another excellent work by this author.
September 2, 2012
Discreet Activities was a free Amazon offer a few days ago., I downloaded it to my I Pad and began reading it yesterday. Needless to say, I have been unable to put the Book down! I had to know the outcome! The characters were described so well I felt like I knew and understood all of them. It is a great read and I plan on reading more f rom this author.
May 13, 2013
I have now read all of the vigilante series and I think each one is better than the the one before. I can see real growth in this author and will continue to read his books as he publishes them. I could not put this one down until I finished it and have been ignoring my own writing it was that good. Keep up the good work, Claude. Wish I had more than five stars to give you!
September 24, 2013
Wow! I really continue to think and wish that Discreet Activities exist really! This book was a really fast paste actions and the plot was so real it was almost impossible to put this book down! Everyone who like police procedures and investigations books should really start to read this author!! Thanks to him to share his talent and hope more one are coming!
May 31, 2013
This series keeps getting better with each installment! Discreet Activities has a wide cast of interesting characters and riveting narrative. Chris Barry and friends continue to take out the trash as a mysterious terrorist plot is uncovered and the elite team is called in to help decipher the situation. Action aplenty, justice meted out Claude Bouchard style.
May 2, 2013
I really enjoyed the story line of this book, though I'm not completely satisfied with the ending. The dialogue between the Pakistanis was almost painful for me to read, it was so unnatural and formal. The author's character development continues to impress me.
January 7, 2013
Brilliant!
May 4, 2013
Okay, there were some unexpected twists and I ended up liking it.
October 14, 2013
The good guys were infallible; the bad guys were inept. Disappointing.
September 17, 2014
Claude Bouchard does it again. Chris Barry, Dave McCall, and John Addley track down potential terrorists before they can strike in Montreal. Lots of action and a relevant and compelling story.
August 28, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book. I recommend this book to everyone. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews