Hard Target (2)

OPSIG Team Black #2

by Alan Jacobson

After an assassination attempt on the president-elect, the OPSIG team is on the hunt in this “terrific thriller” from the USA Today –bestselling author (Lee Child).

Hard Target  by Alan Jacobson is a ticking time bomb that will keep you clinging to the edge of your seat . . . and turning the pages.  

An explosion pulverizes the president-elect’s helicopter on election night. It soon becomes clear that the group behind the assassination attempt possesses far greater reach than the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force has yet encountered—and a plot so deeply interwoven in the country’s fabric that it threatens to upend America’s political system.

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

458 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2012

About the author

ALAN JACOBSON is the USA Today bestselling author of a dozen critically acclaimed, award-winning thrillers. His 20 years of research and training with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, DEA, US Marshals Service, ATF, Scotland Yard, SWAT, and the US military bring unparalleled realism to his stories and characters—prompting the San Francisco Chronicle to write that “Alan Jacobson researches his books like a good newspaper reporter and then pushes the envelope into reality more thoroughly than the typical crime novel could ever allow.”

Jacobson's series protagonist, FBI profiler Karen Vail, has resonated with both female and male readers and inspired Nelson DeMille, James Patterson, and Michael Connelly to call Vail one of the most compelling heroes in suspense fiction. Likewise, his OPSIG Team Black series has been lauded by real-life Navy SEALs.

Jacobson’s thrillers have been published internationally and several have been optioned by Hollywood.

Web: www.AlanJacobson.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/AlanJacobsonFans Instagram: alan.jacobson
Twitter: @JacobsonAlan

Reviews

[Tulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story.

Author always does his research and asks questions and his background helps him write great books. If the all alphabet soup agencies don't share the full story with each other, how do they expect to find the solution to problems? Fire arms, detailed description of difference between Russian and U.S. made bullets and loopholes in gun sales. Israel and Palestine talks, home grown militant groups, double agents, hacking and not good careful vetting of personal that works for our safety. Many twists keeps you at the edge of your seat.

[Nani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book! Nothing more than I'd expect from Alan Jacobson; well developed main and supporting characters a detailed plot with twists and turns leading to an exciting end. The final chapter makes your jaw drop and leaves you waiting for his next book.

[5ngela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love independent book from Mr Jacobson. I already read False Accusation, The Hunted, and now this. It really great. I hope Mr Jacobson wrote more independent book outside Karen Vail series. It really very great especially with many characters from other books. Unfortunately I kind of hope there will be characters from The Hunted protagonist. Anyway, its a great book.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - Good amount of action and twist and turns but I could've gone a million pages without all the pretentious wine references.

[Ravin Elizalde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Done

The last 100+ pages were the best and I finally couldn't put it down. Before that it took me forever to read it.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very intense book with a wonderful storyline. It will keep you in your chair long after you should be doing something else! Men and women alike will love it. The realism of the plot will keep you thinking after you stop reading. This book will lead to many discussions. A great thriller, toss in a little romance, a touch of psychology and you've got a winner!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An explosive mystery/ thriller with twists and turns that never seem to stop really make "Hard Target" a winner. One of the best things going for this novel is that author Alan Jacobson brings in his whole collection of characters from other novels. The protagonist for "Hard Target" is FBI Agent Aaron "Uzi" Uziel. However we get to interact with Hector DeSantos, Karen Vail, Douglas Knox, and Dr. Leonard Rudnick. The presidential election has just concluded and VP Gendon Rusch is about to be named president-elect. However, the helicopter taking the Rusch family and his entourage suddenly drops out of the sky. The Prseident-elect has survived, but just barely. Rusch is looking at several months or even years recovering from his injuries. FBI Agent Uziel is picked to run the investigation. From the outset every where "Uzi" turns he walks right into stone walls. Whether is from his boss Marshall Shepard, or the other investigating agencies. Among the stress and non stop obstacles thrown in front of "Uzi" he finds romance with an agent from another agency. Leila Harel walks into "Uzi"'s life and turns it upside down some more. ""Uzi" keeps getting separated from DeSantos. While trying to investigate a local militia that's anti-government "Uzi" creates more problems than he is solving. This story was kind of like riding on a roller coaster. It had so many highs and lows moving at a very quick pace. Filled with plenty of action and characters jumping to life. Some great dialog enhanced this story a great deal as well. It was pretty interesting finding out what a "Jesus Nut" was. Sometimes it was hard to figure out, would solution come from domestic or international terrorism. Had to read all the way to the conclusion without cheating to really capture the total experience of this book. Author Alan Jacobson continues to put out thriller after thriller that are addictive. His characters sure are characters as well. 5 stars out of 5 for "Hard Target". A great to pick up and get lost within. Do yourself a favor and try some of Jacobson's thrillers. They deliver.

[Angela Risner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of the Alan Jacobson series featuring profiler Karen Vail.

I was looking forward to reading Hard Target, although I knew that Karen was more of a secondary character in this novel. However, I didn't like this as much as I had hoped.

The story follows Agent Aaron Uziel, who goes by the nickname of Uzi. Uzi lost his wife and daughter while he was a member of the Mossad in Israel. He returned to the States and started working for the FBI. He and his partner, Hector DeSantos, are investigating the attempted murder of the President-elect.

I enjoyed the insight into the workings of the FBI and the part that politics plays in investigations. However, I didn't care for Uzi as much as a character. I feel sorry for him that he lost his wife and daughter, but he makes some truly poor choices in this book. There were definitely some twists that I would expect to see on my favorite soap opera, not in an Alan Jacobson book. Here are the rest of my issues with the book:


1. There were just too many characters. Some had real names, some went by code names; either way, there were just too many.
2. Many things were easily figured out by the reader, but not the characters. No real surprises until the very last page, because it was easy to figure out.
3. One of the bad guys showed up in the beginning and then didn't come back until near the end. By then, I'd forgotten about him and who he was.
4. Not enough Karen Vail.

Is this better than a lot of books out there? Yes, it is. But it just wasn't Alan Jacobson's best.

[PopcornReads - MkNoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review & Giveaway: Alan Jacobson is well-known for his bestselling Karen Vail series, featuring an FBI profiler, but he also writes excellent stand-alone novels. When the publisher offered us the opportunity to read and potentially review Jacobson’s latest stand-alone novel, Hard Target, it was a no brainer. Like novels so fast-paced that you can barely breath? Like political intrigue and conspiracies? Like action-packed thrillers? If so, buckle your seat belt because you’re in for one hell of a ride! And one lucky reader will win an advance readers copy (ARC) of their own, thanks to the publisher! Read the rest of my review & enter to win at http://popcornreads.com/?p=4738.

[Virginia Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Jacobson's book, Hard target, was an amazing read. I received the book for free from Goodreads First read contest. The book was a non-stop page turner that I highly recommmend to anyone who enjoys a action filled book with all the government agencies, terrorist plots,suspense and twist and turns that anyone could hope to find in a novel. Rather than write what the book was about and it's fantastic conclusion, I'll just leave you with my opinion...and that is to read it for yourself. I promise that you will not be disappointed!!!!!

[Katrina Knittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.

This is my first book by this author and by the end of the book I was so impressed. Let me just get it out of the way by saying this was an intense story. This book at times had me sititng on the edge of my chair and even biting fingernails. I loved how the author could just show information in the book and not make it seem boring. This book was so good that it is one of those ones that will make you want to reread it by the time you finish it. A great author and great book.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced thriller. The vice president who was also the president elect was on Marine II when it was shot out of the air. He and one SS agent were the only survivors. The agent died, the VP was badly burned and in the hospital. Uzi was asked to head the JTTF to find out who done it within 8 days. He found evidence that it might have been an inside job and didn't know who to trust, his partner, the president, the vice president, his boss, his bosses boss. All were suspect and someone was trying to kill him to stop his investigation. This is a great book. Felt all to real!

[Carl Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

Makes you think of all the corruption points our government system allows. The novel explores our obvious problems with police corruption, which is a continuation of government corruption, and even the coming problem of just what is the truth - due to cyber attacks and digital theft and modification. This was a good novel that really makes you wonder about our future - do we even have one?

[The OG Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book – first time reading Alan Jacobson, and I am glad I did. Not my normal, or preferred genre, but when an author can pull me in and keep me there – I call it a success. I struggle with the crowded platform of characters. I found it often distracted me from the intense plot, not sure that it was necessary. Perhaps that is the brilliance of Jacobson and why he has been so successful.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: talks of 9/11, wars in the Middle East, torture in camps, extreme violence, death of loved ones

Intense political/spy/espionage fiction- book 2 of 4

Book 2 is highly fast paced and must pay attention to details.

Just because someone works for the government doesn’t mean they are one of the good guys. And the question is why are they working with government intelligence? Did they infiltrate or were they hired? Who can be trusted?

Who was paid by who and why? Too many questions and not enough times.

As the story progresses you learn by who dies or who almost is blown up.

[Rosemary Dreyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 3/4 Stars: This was a political thriller novel that was mostly fast-paced action. The plot was overly complicated and at times confusing. There were so many threads and characters to try to keep track. The woman in red seemed far fetched and her role ended up not being surprising. The writing was mostly well done. Not my favorite of this author’s books.

[Monroe Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed

Love it, full of suspense and action. A bit long in the tooth towards the end but an excellent read. Two comments, on page 1182 you said that the Marine Air Facility was in a marina on the Chesapeake, when in fact it’s on the Potomac River. On page 1622, how did the police get a GSR test without a search warrant? Keep em coming love you books.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story with an amazing plot! It begins with a gripping crime. The President-elect and company are assassinated mid-air by an unknown assailant. Now it's up to FBI agent Aaron Uziel to find the culprits and bring them to justice. Even the sitting president personally taps Uziel to find those responsible, but what he doesn't know is he's in for the ride of his life. Top notch writing.

[Gary Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book, but since the chapters were the days the main characters had to solve a case they were extremely long. Such long chapters made it hard to feel like you were making any progress and didn't give you good stopping places when you had to quit reading for a while. I would recommend this book, many twists and turns including in the last page of the book.

[Janie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two for two!

Two fantastic reads in a row by one fantastic author, Alan Jacobson! He’s just moved into my Top 10 list! Exciting story, extremely intense, sometimes mind boggling, keeping track of all the political jargon, but wow! Both books 1 & 2 of the OPSIG Team Series were excellent! Not one dull moment in either! Highly recommended!

[Julie Mink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It seemed timely for our current politics. The suspense was maintained and seem pretty realistic. I love political thrillers and am going back to pick up the other books in this series. Many of the characters are not who we think they are.

[Adrian Leibas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!

Character development is an amazing touch Jacobson has and really showed with Uzi in this book. Really interested to see if he has any more work in store for Uzi and Santa.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise ending for sure!

[Rosemary Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book, fast paced and lots of unexpected twists and turns.

[Amy Lignor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of this enigmatic writer are sitting on the edge of their seats right now waiting to get this one, and they should be. This is non-stop action thriller that puts Jack Bauer to shame. From plots to sub-plots introducing groups who are being ‘watched’ - everything from the CIA to the NSA to the FBI - are covered in this new tale.

At the very beginning, readers ‘hop’ into the President’s helicopter with the new President-Elect of the United States, and find themselves immediately wrapped up in a terrorist plot that - believe it or not - hasn’t been written before.

The new President-elect, Glendon Rusch, his family, and various Secret Service officers are on their way to a well-earned rest after an exhausting two-year Presidential campaign. Out of nowhere an explosion erupts in the helicopter and the ‘whirly-bird’ goes straight down into a Virginia field. This newest terrorist ‘scheme’ baffles the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, because it’s simply unheard of that anyone would have the sheer guts to attempt an assassination inside a helicopter which is guarded night and day at a base in Quantico.

FBI agent Aaron Uziel, and Hector Santos - a Department of Defense operative - are in charge of the investigation that will soon grow larger and larger, presenting a danger to not only the present administration, but also the next one in line.

With all the twists and turns presented, reviewers will have to be very careful with this one, seeing as that no spoilers can be revealed. What can be said is that the plot of this book is first-class and the research that has been done to make sure the novel is ‘right on target’ is extraordinary. This one is guaranteed to KEEP you sitting on the edge of your seat even after you have it in your hands. This captivating ride is a definite keeper!

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy Lignor

[Jacob Peled · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a saying, "got much, got nothing" , and this book seemingly embodies that by trying to cram everything in. It opens with the US V. President , The President and various ministers, encompassing entities like the Secret Service, all levels of the FBI, the CIA, and the NSA. It even delves into the Israeli Mossad and its operatives, not to mention terrorist organizations.
Surprisingly, even a psychiatrist gets woven into the intricate web of the story. Different countries with their vested interests also come into play, leaving readers to wonder if perhaps only the local farצer in a remote Florida county escaped the book's ambitious scope.
I think there are more than 100 names un the story that you need to keep up with.
As the plot thickens, everyone becomes a suspect, overreaching narrative transforms the story into nothing short of science fiction, bordering on the ridiculous. The characters take on roles more akin to magicians and mind readers than realistic detective agents
Initially, the first 20% of the book I rated at 5-star, but as the plot progresses, it loses its grip, dwindling to a 4-star rating. Towards the end, as the confusion mounted, the rating plummets to a disappointing 2 stars."

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, when I heard that Alan Jacobson is coming out with a new book, I went back to re-read his previous Karen Vail series. But then, I was disappointed to learn that the new book will not be a typical Karen Vail book, although she does make an appearance.=) Regardless, I was super excited to start reading Hard Target. And I could not put the book down the next two days, ended up finishing it at 3am the 2nd day. What a story!!! AJ always manages to introduce so much new information, without making you feel like you're reading some sort of cop/FBI manual, and at the same time, captures your full attention with non-stop actions and twists and turns. He did again with Hard Target, and he did it REALLY REALLY GOOD. It was an extremely entertaining and intellectually-stimulating read that you actually want to read it again from the beginning right after you finish it, which is what I'm doing now - which is rare for thrillers, because you already know the ending, but this one is different!! =) And it's still so good the second time around, and as many thriller-readers would know, you find details you've missed the first time around, and I'm really attached to the characters now. I love how the scale was so much bigger than AJ's other books and the fact that he still managed to keep the story focused on core characters. Alan, seriously, cannot wait for the next one!!!!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a huge fan of Alan Jacobson's writing and I was anxiously awaiting the release of his new thriller, Hard Target. I normally do not read political thrillers, but since it was Mr. Jacobson's work, I had to check it out. This is one of those books that starts out with what seems such an Implausible plot (to myself anyway), but by the end of the book, the reader is left thinking, 'wow, this could really happen!'. The characters are completely fleshed out, giving the reader glimpses of their personal lives, their personalities as well as their involvement in the story's plot line. It is very apparent that a ton of research went into the telling of this story, giving the reader lots of insight into our government and it's inner workings. I actually learned of few things from reading Hard Target! I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you are not into the whole political genre, there is a lot going on in this story and it will keep you guessing.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book from Alan Jacobson I've read and I was quite impressed with his writing style and level of detail.

The story centers around Agent Aaron Uziel (Uzi) who to put it mildly has had some issues and is now being tasked with the JTTF investigation into the bringing down of a copter with the President Elect on board. The story winds through many different roads, whether it be the militia suspected of involvement or Uzi's own past in Israel and his ties to Mossad. The author does a very good job of plot twists and I was wondering where the story was going to wind up at the end and ultimately walked away satisfied.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the political intrigue/spy genre as it has a lot of great action and good buy in on the characters involved.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my first novel by Alan Jacobson . won it off goodreads giveaway .boy Wat a cracking story it is .political thrillers normally take me some time gettin into .but this one had me gripped from the first page to the last . the characters are well written .the plot has more twists than zebedee from the magic roundabout . i look forward to reading more of this author's novels