What do you think?
Rate this book
Sam Packer #1
Fire Hawk
'Breathless fear and suspense' - DAILY TELEGRAPH 'In the Alistair Maclean mould but better written' - DAILY MAIL 'A plot constructed with devilish cunning' - DAILY TELEGRAPH Working undercover in Baghdad, Sam Packer discovers that biological weapons have been smuggled out of Iraq for a devastating blow overseas. But moments after learning this, Packer's cover is blown. He is held captive and tortured, and then suddenly freed. Overjoyed at his escape - engineered by fellow agent and ex-lover Chrissie - Packer can't forget that someone had betrayed him. He's sure that Chrissie knows more than she's saying. But Chrissie will never tell, because she is murdered. Professional and personal priorities clash as Packer searches for Chrissie's killer, and for the elusive anthrax weapon that threatens global conflict...
528 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
222 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
About the author
Geoffrey Archer
23 books50 followersGeoffrey Archer is a fiction writer from London. He specialises in military adventures and spy thrillers and created the character Sam Packer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 12, 2015
Let me put it like this: if you like a traditional spy novel with copious amounts of intrigue, the occasional high-performing super car, and blindingly attractive women who may or may not be on the side of the villains, then Fire Hawk is the book for you. It meets all the usual criteria, invents some of its own, and harbours roughly a boatload (think cruise ship rather than canoe, and marvel on my exceptional wordplay) of suspense and enough plot twists to satisfy even the most demanding reader. It’s a richly detailed novel, and a worthy contribution to a genre that is, arguably, often overlooked in the pursuit of greatness.
At first glance, the premise seems both simple and familiar, arguably a rather worrying state of affairs. There’s the threat of war, for example, and destabilising rumours that prove to be shocking enough to send the entirety of the US into a frantic tailspin. As far as spy novels are concerned, this is far from uncommon. It could perhaps even be suggested that such incredibly high stakes are in fact a necessary component of the standard spy novel, without which they would seem somewhat lacklustre.
However.
Fire Hawk’s plot is far from predictable. It deviates constantly from the expected path of events, is highly detailed, and death-defying stunts – practically staple fare – are a rare commodity indeed. Instead, Fire Hawk focuses on the people involved, from the experts tasked to discover and prevent terrifying threats, to the ordinary people caught unwittingly in the crossfire. It is the joint, cohesive effort of the former that saves the day, not the last-minute stunts of the smartly dressed main character.
Why, it’s practically a feel-good novel.
That said, there is a main character, and his part is undoubtedly important. His name is Sam Packer, and – here comes the predictable part – he’s a spy. A good one, seemingly, although the novel begins with his imprisonment and torture, so for the first half at least it’s not quite certain as to what skills he is supposed to have (if any). Nonetheless, it is his subsequent release, the result of a somewhat dubious deal made with the West, and the information he provides – combined with that gathered from other sources – that leads the powers that be to suspect something rather sinister is afoot.
From there, it’s a cat and mouse game as our brave heroes – teams of specialists, mostly – struggle to save the day, just like any other spy novel. Except Sam Packer, the aforementioned main character, spends the majority of the novel searching for the person or people behind another character’s death, and, relatively speaking, much less time on saving the world. Sure, he’s present, and he plays a somewhat pivotal role, but he is far from the only participant, and arguably not even the most useful one.
This may seem like a small thing to be harping on about. In fact, it probably is. But that doesn’t make the above factors any less important, because it is often those ‘small things’ that make all the difference in comparing a hit and a flop.
Or maybe I’m just sleep-deprived.
Regardless, I felt that it was a nice touch. In too many spy thrillers, the main character appears to be the only person doing any work at all, and the only hope of saving a threatened civilisation. He swans around – heroically – and brings every single thread to a neat ending by the penultimate chapter. It’s admirable, it’s conclusive, and, not to put too fine a point on it, it’s fundamentally unrealistic.
In Fire Hawk, none of that happens. Sam Packer doesn’t save the day in a haze of bullets and pithy one-liners. Neither does he walk off into the sunset with the woman of his dreams hanging on his arm and laughing girlishly. It is a team of people that ultimately save the day, each contributing something unique to the effort, each an expert in their own field, and as I’ve previously mentioned, it is their cohesive, tireless effort that breaks the case wide open. Sam Packer, on the other hand, isn’t even responsible for kick starting the initial investigation into the alleged threat, despite being at that time heavily involved.
To conclude, Fire Hawk has the usual features of the traditional spy novel in abundance, but it uses them in a way that can arguably be considered to be unique. It is as such a refreshing take on a somewhat predictable structure, and one that I found particularly enjoyable.
At first glance, the premise seems both simple and familiar, arguably a rather worrying state of affairs. There’s the threat of war, for example, and destabilising rumours that prove to be shocking enough to send the entirety of the US into a frantic tailspin. As far as spy novels are concerned, this is far from uncommon. It could perhaps even be suggested that such incredibly high stakes are in fact a necessary component of the standard spy novel, without which they would seem somewhat lacklustre.
However.
Fire Hawk’s plot is far from predictable. It deviates constantly from the expected path of events, is highly detailed, and death-defying stunts – practically staple fare – are a rare commodity indeed. Instead, Fire Hawk focuses on the people involved, from the experts tasked to discover and prevent terrifying threats, to the ordinary people caught unwittingly in the crossfire. It is the joint, cohesive effort of the former that saves the day, not the last-minute stunts of the smartly dressed main character.
Why, it’s practically a feel-good novel.
That said, there is a main character, and his part is undoubtedly important. His name is Sam Packer, and – here comes the predictable part – he’s a spy. A good one, seemingly, although the novel begins with his imprisonment and torture, so for the first half at least it’s not quite certain as to what skills he is supposed to have (if any). Nonetheless, it is his subsequent release, the result of a somewhat dubious deal made with the West, and the information he provides – combined with that gathered from other sources – that leads the powers that be to suspect something rather sinister is afoot.
From there, it’s a cat and mouse game as our brave heroes – teams of specialists, mostly – struggle to save the day, just like any other spy novel. Except Sam Packer, the aforementioned main character, spends the majority of the novel searching for the person or people behind another character’s death, and, relatively speaking, much less time on saving the world. Sure, he’s present, and he plays a somewhat pivotal role, but he is far from the only participant, and arguably not even the most useful one.
This may seem like a small thing to be harping on about. In fact, it probably is. But that doesn’t make the above factors any less important, because it is often those ‘small things’ that make all the difference in comparing a hit and a flop.
Or maybe I’m just sleep-deprived.
Regardless, I felt that it was a nice touch. In too many spy thrillers, the main character appears to be the only person doing any work at all, and the only hope of saving a threatened civilisation. He swans around – heroically – and brings every single thread to a neat ending by the penultimate chapter. It’s admirable, it’s conclusive, and, not to put too fine a point on it, it’s fundamentally unrealistic.
In Fire Hawk, none of that happens. Sam Packer doesn’t save the day in a haze of bullets and pithy one-liners. Neither does he walk off into the sunset with the woman of his dreams hanging on his arm and laughing girlishly. It is a team of people that ultimately save the day, each contributing something unique to the effort, each an expert in their own field, and as I’ve previously mentioned, it is their cohesive, tireless effort that breaks the case wide open. Sam Packer, on the other hand, isn’t even responsible for kick starting the initial investigation into the alleged threat, despite being at that time heavily involved.
To conclude, Fire Hawk has the usual features of the traditional spy novel in abundance, but it uses them in a way that can arguably be considered to be unique. It is as such a refreshing take on a somewhat predictable structure, and one that I found particularly enjoyable.
April 26, 2021
My first Geoffrey Archer read and I was disappointed in both the action and romance.
July 14, 2021
Sam Packard from the British Secret Service is sent to Iraq. A whispered tip is given to Sam causing him to be kidnaped, and tortured. Given up for dead, his ex-girl friend intervenes and he is exchanged. His ex then turns up dead, but why? Leading into a suspenseful tale following the weapon and dead lovers murky past through the Middle East, Cyprus and Ukraine.
October 3, 2020
Continual excitement
Very hard to put down. Very well researched with a spider's web of characters, places and dates.
Typical of his style that starts bringing you into the plot on page one.
Very hard to put down. Very well researched with a spider's web of characters, places and dates.
Typical of his style that starts bringing you into the plot on page one.
March 20, 2021
Excellent read
Great story the plot keeps changing, the characters are solid and believable. The story builds up to a great finale. One of the best books I have read for a long time. Well done Mr Archer.
Great story the plot keeps changing, the characters are solid and believable. The story builds up to a great finale. One of the best books I have read for a long time. Well done Mr Archer.
May 10, 2021
Thriller to the very end!
WOW! OMG! I have never experienced so many acronyms in one book before. However they do not distract from yet another thriller and page turned in Archer's inimitable style.
WOW! OMG! I have never experienced so many acronyms in one book before. However they do not distract from yet another thriller and page turned in Archer's inimitable style.
July 4, 2018
Slow and not many surprises
The story was predictable but still entertaining would probably read the next book have put it on my list of to reads
The story was predictable but still entertaining would probably read the next book have put it on my list of to reads
May 6, 2020
Set in Saddam Hussain Iraq with Russian mafia and superpowers involved in Anthrax bomb plot.
Park your credibility check at the door and go for a fun ride through recent history times.
Loved the last minute (totally unbelievable) climax.
Park your credibility check at the door and go for a fun ride through recent history times.
Loved the last minute (totally unbelievable) climax.
January 21, 2013
This book is a thriller on two levels. The first is a tense and intricately-woven pursuit through Iraq, the former Soviet Union and the Mediterranean after the men who are planning an Anthrax attack at an unknown location; the second is a murder mystery revolving around the ambiguous figure of the former lover of the book's hero, Sam Packer.
As ever, with Geoffrey Archer's books, it's a thrilling ride, packed with meticulous detail, suspense and ingenious twists and turns right until the end.
Sam Packer is a great character, full of flawed humanity but steadfast and ruggedly determined.
This is the first of the Sam Packer books and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next.
As ever, with Geoffrey Archer's books, it's a thrilling ride, packed with meticulous detail, suspense and ingenious twists and turns right until the end.
Sam Packer is a great character, full of flawed humanity but steadfast and ruggedly determined.
This is the first of the Sam Packer books and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next.
September 14, 2016
I must admit to being amazed that such a novelist could have made so much money out of so-called thrillers. I bought two of these in a rush at the airport, having never read any of his books. By the time we had landed in the States I realised the mistake I had made, and I had read both the novels. This is a simple novel, involving betrayal and an attack using biological weapons on Washington. Widely implausible, and silly, with the plot given away in the first few chapters. I won’t bother again, though unfortunately as stated I bought two and read the other in ten minutes as well. He made an enormous amount of money out of these. I wonder how?
October 6, 2020
I found Fire Hawk by Geoffrey Archer thoroughly enjoyable. Having read over thirty of Jeffrey Archer books I am pleased that I joined the Kindle organisation as I will continue reading such books that do not have to be spy novels, but are also a good mixture of mysteries etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2022
Cracking read
From an author who has entertained me immensely, yet another very enjoyable read from cover to cover. Thank you Geoffrey for seeing me through the vivid virus that finally caught me after 2 years
From an author who has entertained me immensely, yet another very enjoyable read from cover to cover. Thank you Geoffrey for seeing me through the vivid virus that finally caught me after 2 years
Want to read
June 11, 2013I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11878758
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11878758
January 7, 2016
This is a solid espionage thriller with a couple of good plots. The writing is well paced and the characters are interesting.
November 15, 2015
not bas enjoyed it a little slow but
January 22, 2018
Run of the mill spy thriller, set round the seedier part of mafia and Iraq under Sadam. Easy reading but not a lot going for it
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews