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American Praetorians #2
Hunting in the Shadows
It Can Never Be Simple… It has been a year since the bloodbath of East Africa. A year since the shooters of Praetorian Security committed themselves to fighting a war the powers that be refused to acknowledge was even happening. Jeff Stone is now a Praetorian Security Team Leader. The bulk of the company is deployed to Iraqi Kurdistan, ostensibly to protect the oil facilities on some of the few functioning oil fields that are still supplying oil to the West, but also to hunt terrorists on the side. The constant, low-level insurgency that has plagued Iraq since the war has not died down, and now, at the nadir of Western power, appears to be gaining momentum. Iraq is beginning to fall apart. Tensions between the Iraqi government and the Kurds are threatening to flare up over the perpetual flashpoint of Kirkuk. Worse, the battle for supremacy between the Shia extremists of Iran and the Salafists, loosely gathered under the banner of Al Qaeda, is spreading into Iraq. The chaos is spreading like wildfire. It’s going to be a rough deployment…
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First published June 5, 2013
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About the author
Peter Nealen
72 books106 followersPeter Nealen is a former Recon Marine, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and something of an aspiring renaissance man (emphasis on aspiring). He has long been a reader of history, philosophy, folklore, science fiction, and fantasy, and is the author of the American Praetorians series of paramilitary thrillers as well as the Jed Horn series of supernatural thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 19, 2015
LIVE FOR NOTHING. DIE FOR SOMETHING.
"Will guarantee you a medal, a body bag, or both."- US Army Colonel Charles Beckwith.
Balance. One of the things humanity strives for in life. Life is better when everything is fair and things are peaceful at home and abroad. But in a world that's ablaze? Balance is a limiting thing, even for those who are supposed to maintain and preserve it. Hunting In The Shadows by Peter Nealen illustrates this, in a country which in fiction and in real life, is unbalanced. Iraq. A battleground for the most violent religious conflict the world has ever seen, between extremist Sunni and Shia militants. A nation state plagued by terrorists, corrupt criminals and those that will do anything to survive. Into this hell-hole, Nealen inserts the PMC he introduced in the last book, Praetorian Security, and the team run by Jeff Stone. What starts as complex close protection work goes pear-shaped with corrupt Iranian law enforcement, Sunni Militants and mysterious visits by a blustering pencil-pusher from "foggy bottom", taking their shots at men who have been through the fires of hell. Now to the review. In a world that's hit rock bottom, what happens when the powers that be make one too many deals with the devil?
We start in sunny Kurdistan, famously one of the significantly better run parts of Iraq. But even there, things aren't going well for Mr Stone and his team. They're doing close protection/security work for an oil company which has been brave/foolish enough to work there during a particularly troubling time. Iraq's Shia dominated government has decided to make life miserable for the Kurds and ramps up a campaign of harassment involving their "special forces" soldiers who take hostage several of the clients. Mr Stone and his comrades, retaliate and resuce the hostages in response. This causes them to get a visit from one of the US State Department's "world renowned" beuracrats, who then ramps up the pressure after the Iraqi's make a failed attempt at acquiring retribution. The Beuracrat succedes, managing to make the client panic and fall into a trap. Having lost that contract, Stone's superiors send his team down to the province of Basra, in order to investigate Iranian IRGC activities in the area. What starts as a simple surveillance operation morphs into a complex gambit where the Praetorian contractors must risk it all to acquire what could be, in a country breaking apart, the ultimate prize,
In terms of plot, Hunting In The Shadows does what any second book should and surpass its predecessor. Death continues to be one bullet away and the atmosphere is bursting with paranoia that easily surpasses the work of Robert Ludlum. What starts out as just another day in a dangerous part of the world morphs into a gigantic game of chess between the main characters, the Iranians and an unseen force which has its eyes on using the Sunni extremists for a truly neafearious purpose. The action is once again fantastic and since the author happened to have served in Iraq, he successfully brings to life, the tension, brutality and unique characteristics of that warzone. From infiltrating an Iraqi Army airbase through a fetid canal to some epic depictions of urban warfare through the claustraphobic alleys and rubble strewn avenues of Basra, the author does not sugarcoat modern warfare. Then, we have the research which is up to the standard as the previous entry in the series and does not bog down the narrative. Apart from the usual tactics and shooting tips, Mr Nealen brings to life Iraq's legendary sectrarian conflict in all its blood soaked, twisted horror. Enough to drive a idealist to drink, compairing this book to events in the news is damn sobering. And this was released way before Daesh made a fiery, entrance into the public conciousness. All this is combined with the brilliant setting established in the previous novel. A contemporary dystopia, beautifully constructed and further established in this book, we continue to see how bad things have gotten with the main characters uncovering a foreign policy action with shocking reprecussion for them and their own countrymen.
Now for characters. This second book allowed Nealen the opportunity to develop his characters. He did not waste it. We get to see Jeff Stone and his men still trying to deal with the problems they experienced in the last book, and how their relationships have evolved. For all the stigma of being a "mercenary", these men are your classic band of brothers. In the world they're stuck in, they have only each other to rely on, and they know it. We also get a brief insight into Jeff Stone's motivations, what makes him tick and drive him on in a world without hope and honor. Apart from the Praetornians, there were two other standouts. First, there's Mr Haas. He's a former CIA officer who joins the company to help with intelligence gathering, but unlike the usual military thriller where the company officers are incompetent buffoons, Mr Haas knows how to take care himself and help the main characters in the right direction. Then there's Hussein Ali. An asset of Mr Haas, he acquits himself well in the parts of the book which he features in. Unlike the militia he controls, Ali is no nonsense, competent and doesn't screw around, which allows him to work in sync with the mysterious contractors who turn up in his neighbourhood.
So, overall, like its predecessor, I recommend Hunting In The Shadows. It takes all the things which were good about Task Force Desperate and refines them into a beautiful, complex symphony of destruction. The contemporary dystopia still continues to shine and get fleshed out, the action and research will more than satisfy military thriller fans everywhere and with some character development thrown into the mix, Mr Nealen achieves metaphorical "full spectrum dominance" with this book.
TOTALLY RECOMMENDED.
"Will guarantee you a medal, a body bag, or both."- US Army Colonel Charles Beckwith.
Balance. One of the things humanity strives for in life. Life is better when everything is fair and things are peaceful at home and abroad. But in a world that's ablaze? Balance is a limiting thing, even for those who are supposed to maintain and preserve it. Hunting In The Shadows by Peter Nealen illustrates this, in a country which in fiction and in real life, is unbalanced. Iraq. A battleground for the most violent religious conflict the world has ever seen, between extremist Sunni and Shia militants. A nation state plagued by terrorists, corrupt criminals and those that will do anything to survive. Into this hell-hole, Nealen inserts the PMC he introduced in the last book, Praetorian Security, and the team run by Jeff Stone. What starts as complex close protection work goes pear-shaped with corrupt Iranian law enforcement, Sunni Militants and mysterious visits by a blustering pencil-pusher from "foggy bottom", taking their shots at men who have been through the fires of hell. Now to the review. In a world that's hit rock bottom, what happens when the powers that be make one too many deals with the devil?
We start in sunny Kurdistan, famously one of the significantly better run parts of Iraq. But even there, things aren't going well for Mr Stone and his team. They're doing close protection/security work for an oil company which has been brave/foolish enough to work there during a particularly troubling time. Iraq's Shia dominated government has decided to make life miserable for the Kurds and ramps up a campaign of harassment involving their "special forces" soldiers who take hostage several of the clients. Mr Stone and his comrades, retaliate and resuce the hostages in response. This causes them to get a visit from one of the US State Department's "world renowned" beuracrats, who then ramps up the pressure after the Iraqi's make a failed attempt at acquiring retribution. The Beuracrat succedes, managing to make the client panic and fall into a trap. Having lost that contract, Stone's superiors send his team down to the province of Basra, in order to investigate Iranian IRGC activities in the area. What starts as a simple surveillance operation morphs into a complex gambit where the Praetorian contractors must risk it all to acquire what could be, in a country breaking apart, the ultimate prize,
In terms of plot, Hunting In The Shadows does what any second book should and surpass its predecessor. Death continues to be one bullet away and the atmosphere is bursting with paranoia that easily surpasses the work of Robert Ludlum. What starts out as just another day in a dangerous part of the world morphs into a gigantic game of chess between the main characters, the Iranians and an unseen force which has its eyes on using the Sunni extremists for a truly neafearious purpose. The action is once again fantastic and since the author happened to have served in Iraq, he successfully brings to life, the tension, brutality and unique characteristics of that warzone. From infiltrating an Iraqi Army airbase through a fetid canal to some epic depictions of urban warfare through the claustraphobic alleys and rubble strewn avenues of Basra, the author does not sugarcoat modern warfare. Then, we have the research which is up to the standard as the previous entry in the series and does not bog down the narrative. Apart from the usual tactics and shooting tips, Mr Nealen brings to life Iraq's legendary sectrarian conflict in all its blood soaked, twisted horror. Enough to drive a idealist to drink, compairing this book to events in the news is damn sobering. And this was released way before Daesh made a fiery, entrance into the public conciousness. All this is combined with the brilliant setting established in the previous novel. A contemporary dystopia, beautifully constructed and further established in this book, we continue to see how bad things have gotten with the main characters uncovering a foreign policy action with shocking reprecussion for them and their own countrymen.
Now for characters. This second book allowed Nealen the opportunity to develop his characters. He did not waste it. We get to see Jeff Stone and his men still trying to deal with the problems they experienced in the last book, and how their relationships have evolved. For all the stigma of being a "mercenary", these men are your classic band of brothers. In the world they're stuck in, they have only each other to rely on, and they know it. We also get a brief insight into Jeff Stone's motivations, what makes him tick and drive him on in a world without hope and honor. Apart from the Praetornians, there were two other standouts. First, there's Mr Haas. He's a former CIA officer who joins the company to help with intelligence gathering, but unlike the usual military thriller where the company officers are incompetent buffoons, Mr Haas knows how to take care himself and help the main characters in the right direction. Then there's Hussein Ali. An asset of Mr Haas, he acquits himself well in the parts of the book which he features in. Unlike the militia he controls, Ali is no nonsense, competent and doesn't screw around, which allows him to work in sync with the mysterious contractors who turn up in his neighbourhood.
So, overall, like its predecessor, I recommend Hunting In The Shadows. It takes all the things which were good about Task Force Desperate and refines them into a beautiful, complex symphony of destruction. The contemporary dystopia still continues to shine and get fleshed out, the action and research will more than satisfy military thriller fans everywhere and with some character development thrown into the mix, Mr Nealen achieves metaphorical "full spectrum dominance" with this book.
TOTALLY RECOMMENDED.
May 21, 2020
This is the second book in the series, and I liked it. It's got lots of action, the author isn't afraid of killing off his characters, and I'm looking forward to the next book.
The mercenary team isn't there to save Iraq, but if that's what it takes to get the job done, then that's what they'll do, one town at a time..
The mercenary team isn't there to save Iraq, but if that's what it takes to get the job done, then that's what they'll do, one town at a time..
January 2, 2025
Author writes on issues and happenings that might be pulled from today’s or tomorrow’s headlines. Describes what might be happening if things don’t change. Plot is engaging, characters are tough and gritty. Lots of action described by someone who has been there. Great read.
August 21, 2021
Constant action, clever twists.
Very few plot holes (wounded guys from one chapter healed in the next), action constantly building up to or going on, people pulling switcheroos.
Very few plot holes (wounded guys from one chapter healed in the next), action constantly building up to or going on, people pulling switcheroos.
January 1, 2015
Peter Nealen is a former Reconnaissance Marine who has walked the walk, and can talk the talk, as evidenced by the first novel of his American Praetorian series, TASK FORCE DESPERATE. In a first person narrative revolving around former Recon Marine Jeff Stone, he took us on a wild and dreadful adventure through Dijibouti and Somalia, one that ended in a pyrrhic victory.
The follow-up novel, HUNTING IN THE SHADOWS, is even more violent, bleaker, and more twisted. In the wake of the withdrawal from Iraq, the situation in country has predictably gone from bad to worse. Stone, now a Praetorian team leader, is officially assigned to provide security to Liberty Petroleum, a Western oil company. Unofficially, the Praetorians are on the ground to continue what they started in the Horn of Africa a year earlier: take the fight to jihadists since a broken United States cannot and will not.
Nealen's descriptions of combat are tight and brutal, the words of a man who has lived through such experiences. What was particularly impressive to me as a fellow Iraq veteran was his spot-on analysis of the situation on the ground: a cluster of various Islamic groups all fighting each other and most of them simultaneously allied against the West. This was very much the situation on the ground when I was there in 2008 and 2009.
Another plus is that we learn more about Stone, the man and not Stone, the mercenary. These moments are fleeting and few, but bear a stark contrast to the heavy helping of fighting. It helps the reader to better relate to Stone and feel his pain.
HUNTING IN THE SHADOWS is a violent yet educational thrill ride from start to finish, and a must have for fans of the genre, a stark contrast from the Brad Thor-type thrillers.
The follow-up novel, HUNTING IN THE SHADOWS, is even more violent, bleaker, and more twisted. In the wake of the withdrawal from Iraq, the situation in country has predictably gone from bad to worse. Stone, now a Praetorian team leader, is officially assigned to provide security to Liberty Petroleum, a Western oil company. Unofficially, the Praetorians are on the ground to continue what they started in the Horn of Africa a year earlier: take the fight to jihadists since a broken United States cannot and will not.
Nealen's descriptions of combat are tight and brutal, the words of a man who has lived through such experiences. What was particularly impressive to me as a fellow Iraq veteran was his spot-on analysis of the situation on the ground: a cluster of various Islamic groups all fighting each other and most of them simultaneously allied against the West. This was very much the situation on the ground when I was there in 2008 and 2009.
Another plus is that we learn more about Stone, the man and not Stone, the mercenary. These moments are fleeting and few, but bear a stark contrast to the heavy helping of fighting. It helps the reader to better relate to Stone and feel his pain.
HUNTING IN THE SHADOWS is a violent yet educational thrill ride from start to finish, and a must have for fans of the genre, a stark contrast from the Brad Thor-type thrillers.
December 1, 2014
Fantastic modern military thriller
This a strong second book although I found myself wishing to know a bit more about the characters and what drives them beyond simpley killing the bad guys. That being said the author creates a compelling plot that often feels more like someone providing a account of a operation rather than fiction. This is a great series and I'm looking forward to the next book.
This a strong second book although I found myself wishing to know a bit more about the characters and what drives them beyond simpley killing the bad guys. That being said the author creates a compelling plot that often feels more like someone providing a account of a operation rather than fiction. This is a great series and I'm looking forward to the next book.
May 12, 2015
Non stop action from cover to cover with a nice little twist at the end.
February 18, 2017
Awesome read !
Again another great book by Peter Nealen ! I highly recommend this series. Action packed excitement the whole way !
Again another great book by Peter Nealen ! I highly recommend this series. Action packed excitement the whole way !
March 28, 2017
Like Black Powder Red Earth, in novel form.(That's a good thing!)
If you enjoy the intrigue of foreign powers and tribal warlords, maneuvering for power, while PMCs struggle to keep the wolves at bay, this series is for you. Plenty of action, with just enough political strategy to keep the big picture in sight. Plus, the author knows his stuff when it comes to the running and gunning. I feel that helps you stay immersed in the story. Great series so far, I will be reading the rest of them.
If you enjoy the intrigue of foreign powers and tribal warlords, maneuvering for power, while PMCs struggle to keep the wolves at bay, this series is for you. Plenty of action, with just enough political strategy to keep the big picture in sight. Plus, the author knows his stuff when it comes to the running and gunning. I feel that helps you stay immersed in the story. Great series so far, I will be reading the rest of them.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews