Choke Point

Scot Harvath #25

by Brad Thor

Every betrayal begins with a lie...

While all eyes are on Taiwan, China makes a stunning move against Thailand. Using a series of proxies, it plunges the country into chaos, looking to capture a narrow, but critical piece of land, which will give it the upper hand over the United States and help the Chinese Navy dominate both the Indian and Pacific Oceans. With the new American president unwilling to openly commit troops or intelligence personnel, Scot Harvath and his team are called into service. Their to track down an American turncoat—a former teammate of Harvath’s who is assisting Beijing. What they will discover, however, is China’s most elite espionage unit and their plans not only for Thailand’s collapse, but also America’s.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Action, Suspense, Mystery, Audiobook

Hardcover

First published June 16, 2026

About the author

BRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven thrillers, including CHOKE POINT, COLD ZERO, EDGE OF HONOR, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).

CHOKE POINT is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.

Reviews

[Tim]

Just average.

[Lynn]

Riddle within a Riddle

Choke Point is the most recent book in the Scott Harvath series, by Brad Thor. Following whatever is happening in current events, Thor always manages to work them into every story.

In this story, China is stirring the pot in Thailand and attempting to blame it on Cambodia. Scott is on the ground in Thailand and at the same time dark forces are moving in the United States, possibly related to the events in Thailand.

As always, this was a solid five star book that ended with phone calls going to two different dialed in people, Scott being one of them. It looks to me as if Brad Thor already has is next plot ready to go.

[Matt]

Brad Thor is back with another solid addition to the Scot Harvarth series. Another international issue in the back country of Thailand and surrounding area sees Harvath making the most of a harrowing situation, which could have consequences for America as a longtime foe emerges with a new plan.

When explosions across Thailand send the country into chaos, all eyes are shifted from the true international situation. China is using proxies to distract as it works on a plan that will see America embarrassed and control of the region shift significantly. China seeks a key piece of land that will lock naval control in the region and ensure dominance of both the Indian and Pacific Oceans. While the new US president is hesitant to send troops and intelligence agents to quell the issue, Scot Harvath and his team ship out to put out a raging fire. They must find a former US Marine who is assisting Beijing and bring him back home, though other means of stopping his treachery is possible. In the midst of flying bullets and spilling blood, Harvath learns of a plan that could bring America to its knees at the hands of the Chinese, unless drastic action is taken. Thor delivers an addictive story once more for series fans.

I have long enjoyed Brad Thor’s work, as he never disappoints when Scot Harvath is involved. The narrative speeds along and keeps the attentive reader impressed with the action, both political and military. The story gain momentum and soon has the reader fully committed, with short chapters proves decisive in laying the foundation of a powerful story for all to enjoy.

Characters are well-developed and Harvath does it yet again. He is well past backstories and his development seems tied solely to the mission in this piece. Many in the story appear, some returning for more action while others make their debut. Having seen many characters develop a backstory is one of the great things with this series and Thor makes them a curious part for the attentive reader.

Thor finds key plot points to inject exciting themes and developments. The reader ends up surprised and wanting more, which is always on offer. While geopolitics and military maneuvers seem central, the curious reader will surely find something they can enjoy. I await the next adventure and all that Thor has to offer, while Scot Harvath shows his grit yet again.

Kudos, Mr. Thor, for a gripping story with unexpected twists!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Skip]

Book #25 in the Scot Harvath series. A devastating series of bombings tears through Bangkok, Thailand, leaving scores of tourists dead. The FBI deploys forensic assistance teams, but the U.S. President also sends in a black-ops team, led by Scot Harvath. When he determines the mastermind is a disgraced former Navy SEAL teammate who has turned traitor, he shifts to brutal, unconventional methods to stop his adversary, Kevin Kobler, before more terror can destabilize the Thailand, allowing a military takeover and for China to take control of an important U.S regional ally and critical sea lane in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., a former U.S. Marine is being hunted by unknown assassins due to his outspoken views that China's threats against Taiwan are a feint. Exciting, non-stop action.

[Amy]

Not in my top ten Brad Thor books, but still a high octane read. 2.5/5

[Abibliofob]

Scot Harvath is hunting a bombmaker in Thailand, will he catch him? If you like mayhem and action combined with a political struggle on the highest level then you should read Choke Point, the latest thriller from Brad Thor. It is a wild ride on two continents with a single goal. The book is as always well written and researched. I had a really good time reading this and can't wait to see what's in store for Harvath in the next book.

[Philip]

HEY!! DID Y'ALL KNOW YOU CAN NOW AWARD QUARTER, HALF AND THREE-QUARTER STAR RATINGS HERE? WELL, YA CAN!!!

So this was my first Thor; I knew the name and that he wrote thrillers, but otherwise had no interest until I saw the Bangkok setting. I'm always up for any actioner set in East/Southeast Asia (i.e., no romances or "family sagas"), but they are generally few and far between — other than John Burdett's "Sonchai Jitpleecheep" Bangkok-based mysteries, all I can really think of is Adam Hall's The 9th Directive, an early "Quiller" spy story written way back in 1966.

Anyway, was then surprised to learn this is basically ALL that Thor writes; this is his 25th "Scot Harvath" book, and with nothing to compare it to I have to say it was...not bad. Definitely a page turner — he did keep me wanting to see what happened next — but it was ultimately just another "gotta catch the crazy bomber before he kills again," (or again and again and again; he does set off a lot of bombs before they finally — no real spoiler here — nail his ass). Thor certainly knows his hi-tech paramilitary stuff (including near-Murderbot levels of drone and camera use), and does a good job setting the scene in Bangkok environs, (including an op in Thailand's deeply conservative Muslim south, which the Americans should clearly have handed off to the locals — as they'd promised to do — since as Thor plainly states, "Pattani was a place where outsiders drew outsized attention, even when they were trying to blend in"). But he does get a middling amount of fairly important stuff wrong, too, most notably in matters involving the CIA.

First of all, there's no need to even bring Harvath into this situation in the first place, (and I’m assuming that's true of at least some of his other adventures as well). Scot & Co. are "contractors" brought in to take care of those cases "outside what the CIA can handle;" but the fact is, today's CIA can handle damn near anything. Years back, the Agency's Special Activities Division (SAD; now Special Activities Center [SAC]) was derided as the intel community's "knuckle draggers," but they truly came into their own after 9/11 as a quick-reaction paramilitary force that (for good or bad) wasn't hamstrung by the time-wasting, up-and-down-the-chain-of-command required for any "traditional" military decisions. Anyway, this coulda/shoulda been a straight-up (and more realistic) CIA story — especially since Harvath here spend the whole thing virtually joined at the hip to a Bangkok Station CIA insider...so why didn't the Agency let their own, largely former Special Forces badasses just take care of this in the first place?

There's also a seriously egregious typo early on, where Thor describes CIA "NOCs" as being "intelligence officers that operated with official embassy cover," (my highlight). That's in fact the exact opposite of the truth; NOCs operate "without" diplomatic protection; their whole purpose is to distance themselves as much as possible from any government affiliation, which is what makes them effective as "deep cover operatives," (I mean, it's right there in the name; as anyone who's ever heard of Valerie Plame or just seen the first "Mission:Impossible" movie knows, "NOC" literally stands for "non-official cover.") And finally, Thor's CIA guy here not only has an ongoing, unreported affair with a Thai intelligence officer — an absolute firing, if not prosecutable, offense — his Chief of Station also then falsifies the same officer's official medical records to cover an embarrassing Viagra-related "episode"...there's just no way any of these guys would pass their next polygraph.

As to the actual story, as with most such thrillers it's both exciting and silly in equal parts. Multiple deadly gunfights in downtown Bangkok, involving diplomatically-protected security personnel from the Chinese embassy; a largely unnecessary side plot set in Northern Virginia and involving a totally different set of characters; and endless "boys will be boys" middle fingering and "fuck you...no fuck YOU" bantering that probably added a dozen pages to an already bloated story. And while Thor sets his tale amidst actual present-day tensions between both Taiwan/China and Thailand/Cambodia, he chickens out when it comes to setting the story during the actual Trump presidency, instead going with a made-up "President Jim Mitchell," (probably not wanting to piss off his MAGA-supporting readers). And then finally, one of the climactic shootouts ends (yet again) in "death by monologuing," where one of the big bads meet his end due to endless blabbing, rather than just shooting people when he has the chance.

ONE LAST GEOPOLITICAL THOUGHT: About the only "good" thing (if you can call it that) to come out of the on-going wars in Ukraine and Iran, is that in this age of inexpensive drones and other hi-tech/low-cost weaponry, large superpowers are (hopefully) realizing that it's not as easy to take out a smaller country as it used to be. Both Russia and the U.S. are really struggling in their David-and-Goliath wars against much smaller foes...so one can only hope that China is watching and rethinking its intentions (and military options) towards Taiwan.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller]

I have said this before, but it bears repeating. There is no author with his finger on the pulse of the global political landscape with the experience and background that Brad Thor brings to the game. He has held countless roles within the halls of government and deep espionage, and he freely releases much of what he knows in his terrific series featuring Scot Harvath.

Thor also brings with him a distinctly conservative approach to telling these stories, which is frankly refreshing. Additionally, he touches the heartstrings from the get-go with a dedication to his brother, Scot Thor, after whom Harvath is named.

The action in CHOKE POINT is immediate and relentless. The opening scene features Kevin Kobler, a rogue former SEAL whose bomb-setting skills are at the center of a series of terrorist plots meant to create the highest level of political subterfuge and lead to a deadly global conflict. That is, until Harvath and his associates get involved.

Harvath recently has gotten married and has rejoined his longtime employer, The Carlton Group, who have him on a deep jungle reconnaissance mission in the Philippines when he is pulled out to address the bombing in Bangkok. Kobler, meanwhile, is a mercenary working for an unknown benefactor and has driven himself deep inside Bangkok’s dark underground to plan his next attack.

Harvath teams up with a former adversary, Rick Morrell, who he must be able to work with in order to prevent another terrorist attack that potentially could drive the U.S., China, Russia and other major political players into a dangerous game of global chess. Whoever is paying Kobler is doing so as part of a huge shell game to make intelligence of the U.S. and their allies believe that someone else is behind it in order to get an expected and possibly catastrophic reaction.

There is a second plot line featuring agents based in the U.S. who find themselves targeted by the same people behind Kobler and the bombings. They spend most of the novel on the run from dangerous assassins seeking to silence them. Meanwhile, Harvath and Morrell have made some rare missteps that not only has allowed the bomber to get away but also has cost the lives of some valuable and non-military team members who they vow to avenge.

Once Harvath and company figure out that they are being duped by the political shell game, with China being used as bait, they are able to respond accordingly with their own subterfuge. The goal is to keep their enemies believing that they are taking the bait while tirelessly working to smoke out Kobler before one of his bombs cost thousands of more lives.

CHOKE POINT is aptly titled. Brad Thor and his dynamic political thriller writing takes us by the throat and does not release its hold until he is completely done with us. This is another timely and insightful read from a master of the genre.

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[Kristine]

What can I say about this book that I haven't said in the past? One thing I CAN say is that I completely disregarded my never ending (and ever growing) TBR list and threw everything to the side to read this on the day it came out. THAT is not something that I can say about too many books or too many authors.

First of all, I have grown to love Scot Harvath. Full Stop. (I mean, we ARE at 25 books now)

Was this the best book in the series? No. It wasn't. But with that being said, I enjoyed it and finished it in one sitting. I also left feeling content knowing that this was my one Scot Harvath book of the year and was happy that I read it.

This book is a bit odd in that we really don't have anyone from Scot's world working on this case with him (Secondary characters that work with him). We do get a few telephone interactions with Nicholas when he needs some important information relating to the case he is working on.

I listened to this on audio and as usual, the narration was performed by Armand Schultz, who has basically become the voice of the series. Why am I mentioning that? Well, because one of my favorite voice portrayals that he does (at least for me) is of Nicholas. I don't know what it is about that particular portrayal, but I love it and can always immediately recognize his character.

This book gets a little complicated setting up the back story of the history of Thailand, Cambodia, China and Taiwan but it is neccessary for the reader to understand the political implications of what the bad guys are attempting to accomplish.

The story actually breaks off into two seperate storylines - Scot's storyline in Bangkok chasing a villainous bomb maker and then there is another character in the United States that is somehow also tied into everything. They stay seperate storylines until the end when everything gets pulled together.

As usual, this book is filled with non-stop action as things begin with some major bomb attacks in Bangkok and then continue as Scot is brought in to help with the local authorities. He is able to find and follow certain clues and ends up teaming up with one of the local Americans who is stationed out of the Bangkok office.

Again, while not the best book of the series, it still kept my interest and had me invested right up until the very end. After 25 books, I'd consider that a win :)

[Steven Netter]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books

Choke Point is overflowing with international intrigue, explosive action and enough tension to make a bomb technician sweat. It’s Scot Harvath at his best as he engages in a deadly game of cat and mouse through Thailand with thousands of innocent lives and the established world order hanging in the balance. Brad Thor has once again crafted a top-notch thriller that is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride. Simply put, this book absolutely rips.

[Angela]

4 Stars

‘Scot Harvath is an ex-Navy SEAL Secret Service agent…. First he rescues President Rutledge and saves his daughter Amanda as head of his security detail, later he is a covert counter-terrorism agent. He travels around the world, ignores pain and wounds, gets the villains, girls, jokes with comrades.’

Choke Point is Book #25 in the Scot Harvath Series by Brad Thor. This collection delivers a high-octane blend of espionage, political intrigue, and relentless action that kept my little thriller-loving-heart hooked right from the very first page. Following the journey of Scot Harvath - an ex–Navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism operative - the books deliver a gripping mix of tactical realism, high-stakes, global impact, and deeply personal challenges.
The pacing is razor-sharp - and missions unfold with vivid intensity, yet there’s enough breathing room for moments of reflection, emotion, and moral complexity. And it appears that Mr. Thor meticulously researched military tactics, intelligence operations, and international affairs - which gives the series authenticity, while his knack for cliffhangers ensured I was reaching for the next book immediately.
Well worth the binge.
Happy Reading…

[Garrett]

## The Book in 1 Sentence
A series of bombings takes the team from one country to another, searching for the maker and the reasons why this American is involved.

## Brief Review
This book was fun and an easy read. The action is well told, which is what I want from these books, but there seems to be a sprint through in the book. There are some good actions points and intelligence actions, but the side plots do not link up to the main story like the other books typically do. This book does do something different that we don't typically see in Brad Thor's books and that is the setup of a direct next book.

## Why I Read this book
I have enjoyed most of the rest of the series. Why not continue?

## In-Depth Review (Favorite Quotes)
So the main story line is really good. I think the idea of false flag attacks are something that are becoming more and more a part of our reality rather than something that was an idea once upon a time. To give some perspective, the [CIA thought about killing US Civilians, blaming it on the Cubans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operati...), all for a justification to invade Cuba. President JFK said "Naw Fam" and then the CIA did some other stuff. We've seen something similar to this in [[For All Mankind]] at the end of Season 3. This book does something similar and something that I do think is quite a bit more realistic as it is against a country without as much of a presence in the intelligence world, but would have worldwide ramifications.

Brad Thor has always had a secondary plot line that ties into the main one. This one follows a Marine with PTSD and there is this huge setup that it was the reason he couldn't be trusted, but at the end, this justification is thrown away without really being discussed. I can't say much more without spoiling it, but the bigger issue is that it doesn't really tie into the main storyline. It is very self-contained and has no continued plot development outside those characters. Maybe that is what the book ending is all about.

That is where the biggest change is from the standard Brad Thor novel. Usually these end like an old-western. Scot rides off into the sunset waiting for his next mission. This time, there isn't a breath before "both cell phones went off." I think it has happened at least 1 other time, but either way it is nice change of pace.

## [Rating](https://epicscreentime.com/rating-rules)
I really enjoyed this story. It was simple in the complexity and story telling, but it was fun. The action felt intentional and fair for the most part. There wasn't any point where I felt Scot was Superman like in [[Shadow of Doubt]]. I enjoyed the story and am very curious what is next in the series. I think the easy read makes this an 8, but just barely.

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[Carole Barker]

Who is really behind deadly explosions in Thailand?

The world is reeling after a series of bombings in Thailand leave citizens of many countries, including the US, dead. As Thai law enforcements agencies desperately try to identity those behind the attack, speculation points to neighboring Cambodia. Tensions have been simmering between the two countries over a border dispute, so their being the culprit is a logical assumption. The US government wants to find answers quickly and prevent an escalation of hostilities between the two countries so sends in not only the technical assistance Thailand has requested but also Scot Harvath and his team of highly skilled operatives. Harvath and company soon find that not all is as it seems...there are indeed Cambodian teams in the area, but there are also Chinese operatives and a rogue American bomb-maker who once worked on a SEAL team with Harvath before being forced out of the service. Back on US soil, a discredited analyst turned podcaster with PTSD is on the run from what he claims is a hit team out to stop him from printing his speculations as to China's expansion plans. As more bombings occur, can Harvath discover who is truly behind them and what the group's end goal is before more die and war erupts?
As is generally the case in this top notch series from author Brad Thor, this 25th installment weaves an of-the-moment geopolitical concern...fears of Chinese aggression in Southeast Asia...into a fast-paced tale of territorial ambitions, clashing countries, and the high stakes world of international intrigue. Protagonist Scot Harvath is back on his game, pushing boundaries and breaking rules in his quest for answers while pursuing a formidable opponent (who is reminiscent of Dennis Hopper in Speed) on foreign soil. The book can be read as a standalone for those who haven't read previous entries in the series without missing out on too much, and is guaranteed to be a welcome addition to the oeuvre for those who are fans of the series. Readers of Jack Carr, Brad Taylor and Nelson DeMille should give this book (and the series as a whole) a try as well. A great summer thriller that seems to spring from today's headlines, served with a dollop of patriotism just in time for the US's 250th birthday.

[Corey]

Twenty-five novels! From The Lions of Lucerne to Choke Point, this entry has reminded me exactly why I've stayed with Scot Harvath for twenty-five novels. Brad Thor delivers a story that's both fiercely modern and deeply rooted in everything that made Harvath iconic from the beginning. Choke Point is Brad Thor at his best!


After a devastating bombing takes place in Bangkok, the FBI response team is called in to investigate, but Scot Harvath has his own way of hunting down those responsible. Harvath teams up with a rival CIA operative, soon discovering he is not pursuing a terrorist bomber, but a rogue US operative hired by the Chinese to carry out bombings across the globe, their plan to ignite WWIII.

A former United States Marine has uncovered a conspiracy that certain parties want to keep contained, and after a failed assassination attempt on his life, he turns to the only person he can trust, his ex-fiance who is a highly respected White House operative.

Harvath and the Carlton Group turn Bangkok upside down hunting down the bomber, and they will not rest until they do.

Choke Point is more than just another thriller I feel, it's a milestone. A testament to a character who has become a fixture in modern espionage fiction. Well worthy of it's place as the 25th novel. Five stars, easily.

[Wayne]

CHOKE POINT is the 26th Scott Harvarth novel I have read....and one of his better ones. This time we find him in Thailand and Cambodia hunting for a turncoat American agent Kevin Koebler who found he could make a great deal more money by working for and with anti-Americans. He thus becomes a turncoat who the Americans in power send Harvarth to hunt him down. An exciting tale that still makes for an exciting read.

[Pamela]

Another suspenseful Harvath thriller. The situation made all the more realistic by the current geopolitical climate.

[Todd]

Another Harvath masterpiece from Brad Thor.

There is a disgruntled former SEAL/EOD tech who has set himself up as a freelance bomber for hire and he's in Thailand working for someone who wants to undermine the government.

Meanwhile back in the States a bad apple is trying to take out a squeaky wheel who has an idea of what's going on.

[Francine Aron]

Enjoyable but not his best. Easy read, fast paced as always and the main topic was quite current.

[Erik]

After a horrible week I needed a good thriller to take my mind off of things. And Brad Thor delivered like he always does.

[Kevin Folker]

really enjoyed this one and best one in last 2-3 years IMO

[Ron]

A decent Harvath story with a convoluted but plausible plot.

[Thomas George Phillips]

There were two plots in the story and various characters; I found the story line confusing. None of the central characters, in my opinion, were well defined.

[Romulo Perez-Segnini]

A heart-pounding non-stop action thriller with the backdrop of terrorist bombings in Bangkok.

The US government sends the FBI’s Evidence Response Team to assist the Thai’s authorities. The CIA sends their top operative, Scott Harvath, and his team to unofficially dig deeper. Scott uncovers that the bomber is a former SEAL now mercenary selling his service to the highest bidder. It becomes a race against the clock as there is a more sinister plan behind the bombings. Will Scott be able to foil the next bomb attempt?

Very entertaining as the banter between Scott and the Bangkok based CIA operative, Rick Morrell, is very funny.

[Bart Shroyer]

Always enjoy these books. This one not as good as some others. A little disjointed and the ending felt rushed.

[Jeff]

Choke Point is the 25th book in this series, and Scot Harvath is hot on the trail of a ruthless bomber in Thailand. While the action is virtually nonstop, this is really a stripped down version of Harvath, as he’s joined by a small crew with the action limited to essentially one locale, and the plot is fairly straightforward (for this series). There’s also a secondary plot that takes place back in the States, but it seemed unnecessary and never really tied in to the main plot, unless the author is setting the stage for the next book. Overall, a good read but it just felt like not a lot of effort was expended writing this one.

[Mark Tauber]

Hard to believe this was the 25th Scot Horvarh book. Brad Thor always tells a great story, and this one definitely continues his track record. Almost all the action happens in Thailand, with a brief parallel plot in the US. Honestly, the domestic sub plot didn’t add to the book. It was a mild distraction, albeit interesting. I still gave the book 5 stars, so not a big deal. His descriptions of Bangkok and surrounding areas was a Birds Eye view of the region, bringing the people, the country and the culture alive.

It seems like everything I’m reading lately, recommended and supplied by ScoutsTales.com has been wonderful! Order now, because Thor’s marketing team is going to create very long wait lists at the ljbraries.

[Roy Huiskes]

Suspense. Simplicity. “In one go”

[Tracy Lewis]

Another action-packed Scot Harvath book;

[Kim]

Wasn’t sure if I would like or finish this book because it had a lot of military technical jargon like names of different guns and abbreviated agency names at the beginning. I kept reading and eventually got more pulled into the storyline and characters. Some violence, so probably not for everyone. This is book 25 in a series. I’m going to try Book one and see if it appeals, I like a series.
Relatable to current events, makes you wonder.

[Germaine]

Very disappointed in this outing found it very boring also
Didn't read as if MrThor had actually written thus instalment very bland