Code Name: Payback

Code Name #1

by William W. Johnstone

In this explosive new post-millennial action adventure series, multi-million copy seller William W. Johnstone introduces ex-CIA agent John Barrone. Here, Barrone spearheads a secret strike force of elite law enforcement and intelligence professionals on a seek-and-destroy mission against America's enemies. As terrorists smuggle an awesome bio-weapon of mass destruction into the West Coast, Barrone and his team race against time to take on the plotters. Moving fast, striking hard, they'll do whatever it takes to win.

Audio Cassette

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

William W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.

Reviews

[Jack Stubblefield · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's tough for me to read Johnstone books. I enjoy the action and the basic plots of his modern men's adventure books. What I don't like is his characters political beliefs (what I assume to be Mr. Johnstone's as well) that are inescapable when you read his books of this nature. This particular book had a really high death rate for US citizens. I wasn't expecting that. I guess that just gives more weight to his idea of the regular populace being sheep. I remind myself that these books are fiction. I can stop reading if I choose to. If you can get past the political rhetoric, the story really isn't that bad.

[Terry Mcmullen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made it 3/4 through and finally gave up. Not my cup of tea.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wondered why this Johnstone Clan book series did not continue. The first in the series gives me an answer. This is awful! I wouldn't write this is the worst of the Johnstone series, but in the bottom five.

This is basically a chase book. Much like a Matthew Reilly book without his better writing. Way too many people in various groups from various countries after another group of various people from various countries are introduced within a few pages. None are well developed and, in the end, only two are able to be kinda cared about.

The settings are horribly written. People walk into a building, a lobby, drive down a road, through a city. Only tiny amounts of background are defined. What is defined to gross detail, at times, are assorted massacres. To many of these get into the body parts and children. I wouldn't mind these if the rest of the book had been written with such focus.

Something else that bothered me were the constant coincidences of running into this person and that person. Including in New York City!

The dialogue is as poorly written. The entire book seems to have been a lazy exercise in attempting to produce a series with little care about the outcome. Obviously the writer got their political viewpoint across, that I happen to agree with. But when those lines are the best parts of a book, it's time to write a political treatise and not fiction.

Bottom line: 2 out of ten points.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was somewhat realistic, given this book was written well before the 9/11 event. Terrorists plot to kill the President, and many Americans in NYC, for the PLF (People's Liberation Front)'s cause. The new hero is John Barrone, along with other ex-Federal, State agents. They train together in West Texas and track the PLF from L.A., across country to NYC. They also must keep quiet about who they are to the FBI, CIA...etc. Lots of action, but little character development give this novel 3 stars.

[Peter Charleston · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale about a group of highly talented agents trying to stop terrorists.