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Ethan Galaal #3

Terminal Phase

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Target: Al Sifr.
Profile: Terrorist mastermind.
Mission Objective: Terminate with extreme prejudice.


Ethan is paired with the beautiful yet troubled Bretta Storm in his latest operation--the pursuit of the elusive terrorist financier and mastermind, Al Sifr. The target baits them into a deadly game of cat and mouse that leads the duo through the slums of Romania, the vineyards of France, and the nightclubs of Hong Kong. But the deceptive Al Sifr always proves one step ahead, his trail mired in booby traps and red herrings.

Can the undercover operatives eliminate Al Sifr before he launches a devastating attack decades in the making, or will the pair forfeit everything--including their lives--in a final desperate attempt to stop him?

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2015

31 people are currently reading
41 people want to read

About the author

Isaac Hooke

102 books509 followers
Isaac Hooke is the best-selling author of the Ethan Galaal series of thriller novels, as well as the SF-themed ATLAS trilogy. When Isaac isn't writing, publishing, and blogging, he's busy cycling and taking pictures in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He has a degree in Engineering Physics.

You can follow Isaac on Twitter @IsaacHooke and his website http://IsaacHooke.com.

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Norman.
32 reviews
January 10, 2016
I’ll start this review by rendering in my mind, the highest praise possible for any action spy thriller novel; I simply could not put Terminal Phase, by Isaac Hooke down. Yes, in my mind, this book was indeed that good. The third novel penned by Isaac Hooke following the adventures of Ethan Galaal, an undercover operative for the Defense Clandestine Service of the Defense Intelligence Agency, is a great read, full of believable action, clever set pieces and for the first time in an Ethan Galaal novel, a great, sympathetic villain.

Even though this is the third novel following the adventures of Ethan Galaal, you do not have to have read the first two novels in order to get an idea what is going on. Likewise the plot of the story does indeed stand on its own and the reader can jump right in and enjoy the plot without any burdensome backstory. The plot while imminently engaging is not entirely original, but it is still fun nonetheless. One could almost argue that the plot of the novel reads like a bad James Bond movie rip-off, but in this case it comes together and fires on all cylinders. You want a beautiful but deadly Bond girl, check, jet setting across multiple locations the world over, check, a couple of cool car chases, check, wonderful gadgets and tech, check. Finally to top it all off, the writer even gives the villain his own secret base and a plan to remake the world order. Is the plot original, no, but it works and I couldn’t put it down.

Characterization has always been a challenge for Mr. Hooke, and although the characterization isn’t perfect in Terminal Phase, the author does manage to add depth and vulnerability to the main characters and the villain. Don’t expect Shakespearean characterization, but I immensely enjoyed all of the main characters in the novel. The two main characters Ethan and Bretta, at the onset of the novel have an adversarial relationship , with Ethan possessing a condescending if not overly sexist attitude towards his beautiful companion. Fueled by amazing dialogue and banter between these two characters, the author is able to gradually progress this relationship to the point where the two are an effective if not synergetic team, complimenting one another’s strengths and weaknesses. The author does a great job showing that these two individuals are in a sense broken, broken by the stress of their line of work and a traumatic past in service to their country. However at the end of the novel they complement one another perfectly forming a believable if not deadly one two punch. Bretta helps Ethan overcome his past fears and failures, while Ethan effectively does the same for her, forming a great team. Neither character is perfect nor a Mary Sue, each have their flaws which makes both imminently relatable. I also commend the author for writing a female character that is confident in her capabilities and does not just serve as a convenient plot point and though beautiful she doesn’t just serve as arm candy for the main character. Never does Bretta function as a damsel in distress in the novel but is Ethan’s equal and at times superior in her skill set. Great job on that front.

The villains in this novel were in my opinion spectacular. The author manages to inject just the amount of gray into their characterization making his villains not complex but certainly relatable. As mentioned before, previous Ethan Galaal novels always lacked a plausible and believable villain. In the end when you boiled down to it , the villains in past novels have really just been small scale individuals, centered on regional aspirations mainly involving revenge or the clichéd Islamist terrorists dying for the caliphate. Yawn. Al Sifr, the zero, is complex and dare I say it sympathetic. Yes, Al Sifr is crazy, yes he is a megalomaniac trying to kill billions, however I found his background and his reasons for the hatred of the west believable and plausible. The novel does suffer from its fair share of cannon fodder, individuals who are simply dying for the sake of Islam, but the two main villains, the Young Falcon and Al Sifr are both former allies of the United States, who in a bad turn of events has a personal and devastating tragedy happen in their lives that radicalizes them forcing them to seek revenge. I won’t spoil it, but I found the reasons motivating their actions believable and it morphed them from potential one dimensional villains into well rounded ones. In all honesty, Al Sifr is the better-rounded of the two, devious, fully self-aware, cunning and deadly sincere in what he believes and why he believes it. The Young Falcon is another great character but in the end was underutilized and a tad underdeveloped.

I also want to say that this novel oozes authenticity. To the untrained reader, i.e me, I found the weapon descriptions, the technology used in the novel as well the tactics of our heroes, both savory and unsavory spoke volumes of the research the author put into building his world. This was time well spent, as it instantly pulls the reader into the world he is creating. The kit used by our heroes add a level of authenticity to the story which was certainly a nice touch. The extensive research conducted by the author detailing terrorist communication techniques, handling and smuggling operations of said organizations was eye opening and intriguing to say the least. The locales are described brilliantly, and one can tell the author did his homework on corners of the world never seen by most. Small touches such as detailing how people siphon power in Karachi, Pakistan do a great job pulling the reader into the world the author created. Likewise, the villain’s scheme is certainly plausible if not downright scary, leaving one with a sense of how fragile our current world order really is in this day and age.

The action scenes in this novel are beautifully written with great set pieces and frenetic sequences. The author is great at parlaying his knowledge of military hardware and weapons into believable, tense and satisfying sequences. The scenes are well thought out and choreographed as never did I believe the author was pulling a rabbit out of the hat in order to save the heroes of the novel. Plausible yet fun realism appeared to be the tone the author was shooting for throughout the work and his action scenes conveyed exactly that intention as they were well written, well thought out and enhanced the story showing the capabilities of the main characters as well as their flaws rather than just an opportunity to blow more things up

As you can probably tell, I enjoyed Terminal Phase quite a bit, finishing it all in one sitting. I loved the action, the dialogue between the two main characters and the main villain. This was a fun novel and I highly recommend it to those looking for a good spy thriller.
Profile Image for John.
492 reviews18 followers
January 22, 2018
Simply OUTSTANDING !!

Isaac Hooke has risen rapidly to one of my favorite writers. This is third book with his character former seal Ethan Galaal, this story introduced his new partner Bretta. As beautiful as she is deadly. This book can be read as a stand alone but for full affect you should start at the beginning. They got better and better. I REALLY HOPE THERE IS ANOTHER IN THE SERIES WITH BOTH HEROES!!
21 reviews
January 3, 2022
page burner a lot of action well worth the time to read the book.
I like the way the author build up the characters
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,261 reviews2,352 followers
December 27, 2015
Terminal Phase is the third book in the Ethan Galaal Series but you can jump right in and not have to read the others first to enjoy the book. This book is an adventure, thriller, intelligence-gathering, action packed book that is so filled with twists and turns that you will stay intrigued. The plot is complex but not to the point it is unbelievable. The characters are complex with a strong female and male lead. I hate it when they have a weak, victim-type woman that needs saving all the time. This gal kicks ass. There is just enough thoughts of romance to make you wonder, um... The fighting has vivid blow by blow action but seems to happen quickly when you read it and doesn't drag on. Just the right amount to make you feel you are there and seeing every minute. The tension in the book is very high due to all the situations the heroes get themselves into to solve the riddles. Their job is to stop terrorist from starting World War III but to get to there they infiltrate drug rings, sex slavery, terrorist groups, get shot at countless times, are kidnapped, bombed, and you name it!
I has impressed with the knowledge of guns, military equipment, the Middle East and the customs, black ops, and more that the author has. The book flows so well it is like a movie being played. Loved it.
I have a few of this authors books and haven't had time to read them due to the fact I review books for several places but when I had an opportunity to review this book, I jumped for it! Now I am certainly going back and making time to read the other books of his I have listed under "eager to read " in my Kindle. Great addition to any library! I was given this book for a honest review.
Profile Image for Jim Kratzok.
1,070 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2015
I received a pre-release copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Although this is the third book in the Ethan Galaal series, it's the first one I read, not having read the earlier ones at that point. I have since corrected that omission and am working my way through the earlier books too.

Isaac Hooke is a gifted writer who can spin a yarn with the best of them. His character, Ethan Galaal, is one of the behind the scenes agents working to keep our country safe from threats. His ability to speak his enemy's language like a native allows him to infiltrate and operate in all sorts of circumstances. He is the guy you want to have your back when the going gets rough. Also, featured in this story is Bretta Storm, a female agent, pretty much a perfect person to team up with Ethan. While some of her skills overlap his, she brings her own areas of expertise to the game and the synergy between them is perfect. Both are deadly, but have suffered physically and emotionally during the course of their careers.

The characters, both good guys and bad guys are well fleshed out. The dialogue seems natural and not forced or contrived. I couldn't help thinking, as I was reading, what a great movie this would be! The writing style was so vivid, it was as if I were watching the action rather than just reading about it. That, to me, is a sign of quality writing. When you can lose yourself in a story without being jarred back to reality by awkward prose, absurd dialogue, or 2 dimensional characters, you have found a treasure. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.
Profile Image for Hemant Jain.
314 reviews28 followers
December 29, 2015
Action Packed thill ride with strong characters and gripping story telling.

Terminal Phase is my first Ethan Galaal book and it turned out to be an interesting read. I liked it ... and i am now going to read the earlier two books from this series too.

Ethan is supported by an equally gritty and strong character ... Bretta. Together they form a formidable pair for the terrorists.

The core concept of the story is not unique but the overall book was interesting to read. Isaac pays attention to detail and reader is kept at the edge of the seat with the narrative.

The book has an explosive start and grips the reader with its continuous action. The author literally takes you places since the ‘operatives’ have been places and continue to go places and you, the reader, just tag along.

There is attention to detail that helps you not only visualize the scene but also puts things in perspective. The 2 central characters are introduced with significant impact and readily acknowledge their capability within the first few chapters.

It is interesting to see the female protagonist outshining her male counterpart in she everal scenes … earning his respect too.
Profile Image for Bookwyrm Speaks.
303 reviews20 followers
January 17, 2016
This is the thrid book in the series, although they are stand alone, and you can start here if you want. I would recommend starting with the first book though, since it is so very good! Anyway, this book has Ethan Galaal, a covert operative from a DIA black ops group, kind of an IMF, dealing with a terrorist threat that can cripple the western world. Ethan is very believable, as a highly skilled former spec ops operator transitioned to clandestined civilian work. His new partner has a believable backstory, and meshes with him well. The villains are not cartoon cutouts, but multi dimensional characters with realistic goals and agendas, brought about by what to them seem rational issues. One of the strengths of Issac Hooke is his settings, really giving the reader a feeling they are right there in the action, of which there is an abundance. This book is pedal to the metal from start to finish, and I can't wait for the forth book. Any fan of Brad Thor or Simon Gervaise should really enjoy this series.

I was given a review copy of this book at no cost by the author in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,380 reviews28 followers
December 21, 2015
The third book about Ethan with Bretta joining him in this book to capture Al Sifr again. Bretta had him and he got away after leaving his hand behind since he could not get out of the cuffs on his left hand. Couriers are trading bitcoins for diamonds to cut down on moving of cash. It makes it very difficult to keep track of the terrorists. Ethan meets up with Bretta in Romania. They are assigned to watch a vineyard where it looks like nothing is going on but about the time they would have given up a delivery gets their attention. They are able to break up the cell there which leads them to Hong Kong and what they learn there leads them to Iceland. Will they arrive in time? Moscow has a 9/11 episode and the US has missiles coming in all over the country. Can Ethan and Bretta stop a war between the US and Russia? Be sure to read to follow all of the excitement in between and whether they can stop a world disaster.
Profile Image for Mindy.
325 reviews35 followers
December 30, 2015
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review. I am always scared to start a new author in suspense because I hold any books to a high standard but this one did not disappoint. The only negative thing I have to say is that it took me a while to really get into it. At first I just did not care enough about the character and I'm big on character development. I also have not read prior books in the series but will do so. I think this was the reason I didn't care about the character at first.
Now for the good: the book is non-stop action and there is never a dull moment. The action is what finally drew me in and I cared about the characters by the end of the book. The only reason the book doesn't get 5 stars is for the lack of character development, though I'm sure it would not be an issue if you started at the beginning of the series. I will definitely be reading more of this author!
Profile Image for Julie.
355 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2015
Exciting book! Ethan Galaal is an agent sent to get info on a terrorist organization. When his identity is burned he has to get out but there are always other assignments waiting for people with his skills. Bretta is also an agent, the one person who has taken a picture of the "bad guy" in our story. They are thrown together on a new job, though Ethan doesn't like working with anyone. Neither knows if the other is competent so there isn't much trust to start with. Their adventure takes them all over the globe. The only part I glossed over was a detailed account of how the team was listening in on the terrorists at one point. Too many details to keep me engaged in that one little spot, but soon we back in the action. I haven't yet read the earlier books in the series (I now want to very much) but had no trouble jumping in with book 3.
Profile Image for Connor.
57 reviews3 followers
January 25, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.
I found this to be a great read. It was very suspenseful and well written. It was action packed and I could picture it as being a movie with someone like Bruce Willis in it. If you like the DIE HARD movies, you will like this book.
The only one problem I had with it, was that every once in a while, it seemed to go into too much technical detail of some things; such as, computers, computer programs, etc. If you are familiar with computers, smart phones, and their inner workings then you will not even notice.
I look forward to reading more from Isaac Hooke.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,679 reviews28 followers
July 10, 2016
Reminiscent of Tom Clancy's early Jack Ryan adventures and a worthy successor to Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp. I'm a character reader, I get into the characters, their story, who/what they are. The author does an amazing job of painting the primary character quickly & thoroughly. All the significant characters in his writing are developed similarly. This book is in all senses of the word, a thriller that could be plucked from today’s headlines. No spoilers from me though I can see more about these characters in the future.
Profile Image for Amy Brouwer.
62 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2015
Another exciting adventure with Ethan Galaal! Fast paced and action packed! These books just keep getting better and better. This time Ethan is paired with a beautiful, tough as nails female operative and I just loved her so much! I enjoyed the international globe trotting this time around. I loved the first two but this one is my favorite so far. I received an advanced copy and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Bobbie.
18 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2015
Terminal Phase is suspenseful, exciting and will keep your attention throughout. Well written and researched you will enjoy reading this book. It's one of those books that are hard to put down, you might lose some sleep with this one! Highly recommend you give it a try. I will be reading the first two books in the series soon, and looking forward to reading the next installment.
322 reviews3 followers
Currently reading
March 30, 2016
Fantastic!

I love everything about this book and this series! The writing is superb in every area. The plots are great, the characters are well written/developed, and the details are absolutely perfect. Great writing!!
Profile Image for Bob.
1,984 reviews20 followers
October 13, 2016
The last of the trilogy has Ethan and a new partner, an ex Israeli operative tracking down a terrorist who is about to pull off an attack the he hopes will put the US and Russia into starting a nuclear war.
Profile Image for Bill Davis.
Author 3 books4 followers
December 23, 2015
A hair raising thrill ride! The interaction between Ethan and Bretta alone made this story worth reading. I look forward to more stories about this odd couple.
6 reviews
January 5, 2016
1st chapter began with a bang buy I got bored halfway through.
Profile Image for Richard Myers.
509 reviews11 followers
Read
January 16, 2016
Wonderful book

Another Ethan Galaal fast paced novel with lots of action and great descriptions of scenery and people. I recommend this book to everyone.
74 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2016
Not bad, liked it.

The end of this series, a shame I enjoy a book that's well written, and proof read. Oh well, back to Kindle Unlimited with no grammar check.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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