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Pike Logan #10
Ghosts of War
Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
The Taskforce has stopped countless terrorist threats across the globe, operating outside of US law to prevent the death of innocents. But now, along the fault lines of the old Iron Curtain, the danger is far greater than a single attack. With Russia expanding its influence from Syria to the Baltic States, the Taskforce is placed on stand-down because of the actions of one rogue operator.
Meanwhile, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill travel to Poland, hired to verify artifacts hidden for decades in a fabled Nazi gold train, only to find themselves caught amid growing tensions between East and West. A Russian incursion into Belarus under the facade of self-defense is trumped by a horrific attack against the United States, driving NATO to mobilize even as it tries to determine who is behind the strike.
On the brink of war, Pike and Jennifer discover that there is a separate agenda in play, one determined to force a showdown between NATO and Russia. With time running out, and America demanding vengeance, Pike and Jennifer race to unravel the mystery before a point of no return is reached. Unbeknownst to them, there is another attack on the way.
One that will guarantee World War III.
The Taskforce has stopped countless terrorist threats across the globe, operating outside of US law to prevent the death of innocents. But now, along the fault lines of the old Iron Curtain, the danger is far greater than a single attack. With Russia expanding its influence from Syria to the Baltic States, the Taskforce is placed on stand-down because of the actions of one rogue operator.
Meanwhile, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill travel to Poland, hired to verify artifacts hidden for decades in a fabled Nazi gold train, only to find themselves caught amid growing tensions between East and West. A Russian incursion into Belarus under the facade of self-defense is trumped by a horrific attack against the United States, driving NATO to mobilize even as it tries to determine who is behind the strike.
On the brink of war, Pike and Jennifer discover that there is a separate agenda in play, one determined to force a showdown between NATO and Russia. With time running out, and America demanding vengeance, Pike and Jennifer race to unravel the mystery before a point of no return is reached. Unbeknownst to them, there is another attack on the way.
One that will guarantee World War III.
Audible Audio
First published June 28, 2016
832 people are currently reading
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About the author
Brad Taylor
48 books2,568 followersBrad Taylor served for more than twenty-one years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2010 as a Special Forces Lieutenant colonel. During that time he held numerous infantry and special operations positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operations Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
October 6, 2025
Pike and Jennifer were working with the Israeli couple, Shoshana and Aaron. It started out as a simple cooperative effort to recover the Torah. It turns out the two people they are trying to recover the Torah from is in the process of starting World War lll. The assassination of the US president is the tipping point. This brings the Task Force back into play with an Oversight Committee missing some members and a inexperienced Vice President who is the acting president now. With every group involved having their own different agenda the world is teetering on the brink of war. Will they turn Pike, the Big Dog loose and allow him to do what he does best?
January 14, 2022
This was a difficult book to get into for me. I have enjoyed each of Mr. Taylor's books previously and expected to pick up this book and not be able to put it down. That was NOT the case with this book for the first 1/3 of the story. I think the plot was "clunky" and disjointed and altogether confusing BUT I was not willing to give up on the story due to his previous books. And the perseverance paid off. Once the plot was straightened out and the story became less disjointed, I enjoyed the story but it is not one of my favorites.
February 26, 2017
Superb book for all thriller readers. Taylor takes the bull--er, Putin--by the horns in this tenth novel in the Pike Logan series. Highly recommended.
January 3, 2017
Incredibly well done, Mr. Taylor. I would give this story 10 stars on Goodreads if I could! Oh wait, I can. 10 of 10 stars!
July 22, 2018
Tensions run high in this Geo-political epic that frighteningly tries to predict tomorrow's news. Brad Taylor who served in the Delta Force and retired as a Lt. Colonel writes with firsthand experience, research and sources. Ghosts of War's tropes are a hybrid between the intense stakes of Vince Flynn and the believable plotting of Tom Clancy. With many light moments that make you laugh, this lightning-paced thriller brings new elements into the genre.
Taylor's idea for this book comes from a few real articles. First is on a Russian motorcycle gang which played a scary role in the invasion of Crimea. The other is about the Russian State-owned oil company - Gazprom - and its connection to the Bratva ( The mob or the Brotherhood in Russian).
This series focuses on a team called the Taskforce, that operates outside the law but under oversight to protect US interests. Due to the events of the previous book, this unit is decommissioned in this book's opening scenes. But its members continue working in their cover jobs that are officially established.
Former Taskforce members, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill are hired to get their hands on a historic Torah by their former Mossad friends. They meet Aron and Shosana in Poland. These two couples have a mountain of weirdness around them considering the lives they live.
The main plot developing in the background focuses on Putin. He is shown as the Machiavellian that he really is and tries to increase his power by expanding his territory into the Baltic and the Slavic States. But he needs a reason to attack that can be justified.
Here comes Simon, former KGB turned Bratva boss who reluctantly is Putin's problem solver. Simon is tasked to stage an attack against a Russian airfield in Belarus and to blame it on Chechen extremists. This way Putin can have a reason to protect his territory by invading his neighbors.
But Simon doesn't stop there. In order to rid the world of Putin, he stages a series of attacks to bring the USA and the Russian Federation into war to secure the territory under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. One of these attacks brings down the Air Force One with a Surface to Air Missile that kills the US President.
Pike Logan's job interdicts with Mikhail who is Simon's right-hand man. This Mikhail is a criminal who was formerly Mossad. Back in his service days, he was the guy who damaged Shosana into the psychotic, crazy, dark-devil that she is today. She faces off against him to come into terms with herself.
Pike and his team along with his Isreali friends go on the trail of finding Simon and Mikhail's plan and stopping it before World War 3 erupts. Taskforce commander Kurt Hale proves to be a brilliant strategist who mentors the Vice-President's transition into the role of POTUS and making decisions that could affect the world. The standoff between US and Russian forces are portrayed in a very Clancyesque way. This part is shown in both strategic and tactical angles.
The Taskforce's Rockstar plane is a treat that comes with the kind of tactical tools and tech that can make Ian Fleming jealous. This book isn't hero-centric as a plethora of characters take part and are equally responsible for solving the crisis. Some of Pike's "Pumpkin King" jokes aimed at Shosana are truly hilarious. Her character development from a cold-blooded, crazy assassin into an emotionally struggling person is beautifully done.
This book shows the best way in which Clancy's style of plotting can evolve and adapt for our current decade's readers. Taylor has written a fun and informative, crazy but realistic plot and he now has a place in my Top 5 Geo-political thriller writers list.
Taylor's idea for this book comes from a few real articles. First is on a Russian motorcycle gang which played a scary role in the invasion of Crimea. The other is about the Russian State-owned oil company - Gazprom - and its connection to the Bratva ( The mob or the Brotherhood in Russian).
This series focuses on a team called the Taskforce, that operates outside the law but under oversight to protect US interests. Due to the events of the previous book, this unit is decommissioned in this book's opening scenes. But its members continue working in their cover jobs that are officially established.
Former Taskforce members, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill are hired to get their hands on a historic Torah by their former Mossad friends. They meet Aron and Shosana in Poland. These two couples have a mountain of weirdness around them considering the lives they live.
The main plot developing in the background focuses on Putin. He is shown as the Machiavellian that he really is and tries to increase his power by expanding his territory into the Baltic and the Slavic States. But he needs a reason to attack that can be justified.
Here comes Simon, former KGB turned Bratva boss who reluctantly is Putin's problem solver. Simon is tasked to stage an attack against a Russian airfield in Belarus and to blame it on Chechen extremists. This way Putin can have a reason to protect his territory by invading his neighbors.
But Simon doesn't stop there. In order to rid the world of Putin, he stages a series of attacks to bring the USA and the Russian Federation into war to secure the territory under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. One of these attacks brings down the Air Force One with a Surface to Air Missile that kills the US President.
Pike Logan's job interdicts with Mikhail who is Simon's right-hand man. This Mikhail is a criminal who was formerly Mossad. Back in his service days, he was the guy who damaged Shosana into the psychotic, crazy, dark-devil that she is today. She faces off against him to come into terms with herself.
Pike and his team along with his Isreali friends go on the trail of finding Simon and Mikhail's plan and stopping it before World War 3 erupts. Taskforce commander Kurt Hale proves to be a brilliant strategist who mentors the Vice-President's transition into the role of POTUS and making decisions that could affect the world. The standoff between US and Russian forces are portrayed in a very Clancyesque way. This part is shown in both strategic and tactical angles.
The Taskforce's Rockstar plane is a treat that comes with the kind of tactical tools and tech that can make Ian Fleming jealous. This book isn't hero-centric as a plethora of characters take part and are equally responsible for solving the crisis. Some of Pike's "Pumpkin King" jokes aimed at Shosana are truly hilarious. Her character development from a cold-blooded, crazy assassin into an emotionally struggling person is beautifully done.
This book shows the best way in which Clancy's style of plotting can evolve and adapt for our current decade's readers. Taylor has written a fun and informative, crazy but realistic plot and he now has a place in my Top 5 Geo-political thriller writers list.
February 2, 2020
I need to read previous books...regardless of their rating.....to get the background stories of some of the actors in the story. I'll come back.
Well, came back and finished it. No wonder I couldn’t understand what was going on. You really need to read previous books to get the full benefit from this story. Weak ending or it would have jumped to 4 stars
Well, came back and finished it. No wonder I couldn’t understand what was going on. You really need to read previous books to get the full benefit from this story. Weak ending or it would have jumped to 4 stars
April 22, 2016
Read this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com
Brad Taylor’s latest Pike Logan thriller picks up just four months from where his last novel (The Forgotten Soldier) left off. Pike, Jennifer, and the rest of their team members are still in limbo as they await word about the Taskforce’s future.
Sanctioned by the president, the Taskforce, a group of highly trained super-soldiers, operates outside of the federal government’s authority. Technically speaking, their existence is illegal, and they answer only to the president and a small panel of individuals.
Colonel Kurt Hale’s official title is CEO of Blaisdell Consulting. Unofficially, he’s in charge of assigning the Taskforce operators their missions. It was one of his guys who went rogue just a few months prior, seeking revenge for the death of his brother by killing several members of the Qatar government.
That incident and all that followed put the president in a tough spot, which put the Taskforce in a tough spot. Until the smoke clears, they’re all laying low after a stand-down order from the commander-in-chief himself. They simply cannot risk being exposed, as that would lead to everyone, including the thirteen-person oversight committee, being prosecuted.
Without any Taskforce-assigned work, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill agree to a meeting with Israeli operatives–Aaron and Shoshana–who have a job proposal for them. The job in question would require the use of Pike and Jennifer’s company, Grolier Recovery Services.
Grolier Recovery Services was founded by Pike and Jennifer after Pike left active duty, and their funding comes primarily from the Taskforce. They use their business as a means for cover, allowing them to travel to and from various locations without raising suspicion while secretly running covert missions.
This time, though, it’s Aaron and Shoshana who want to use their business for cover. Rumor has it that a Torah, which may have belonged to David Ben-Gurion, was found in a fabled Nazi gold train in Poland. Obviously, Israel would love to confirm and then collect this priceless artifact, but the Polish government will not let them anywhere near it. Hence the need for Pike and Jennifer’s company, which has been linked to other archaeological discoveries in the past.
A deal is made, and Pike and Jennifer head to Poland with Aaron and Shoshana for what is supposed to be a simple, boring confirmation that the Torah is genuine. And that’s exactly what the trip is–boring, at least initially.
When the stakes are raised and the objective of the mission changes, Pike and Jennifer are suddenly needed in a big way. Soon the bullets are flyin’ in typical Brad Taylor fashion, as he continues to churn out some of the most realistic and adrenaline-pumping action sequences in print today.
WHY I LOVED IT
Several things jumped out at me while I read this book. For starters, Taylor has grown with each novel, but I knew going into this one that it would be hard for him to improve upon his last book. In fact, I didn’t think he could. I thought he had already peaked, and boy, was I wrong!
With Ghosts of War, Taylor really went for it–taking Pike and Jennifer away from their regular work in the Middle East and pitting them against a Russian antagonist. That was a brilliant move, and a refreshing change of pace for a series that has quickly grown to ten books in just five years.
The other thing I noticed is that Brad Taylor seems to be hitting his stride. That’s a scary thing for his competition, as all nine of his previous novels have been New York Times bestsellers. It seems silly to suggest that an author with nearly one million books in circulation could only now be showing his true potential, but I absolutely believe that to be true.
More than ever, I sense that Taylor’s finally, truly comfortable in his writing, as he mixes in humor and pop culture references with ease (I laughed when he mentioned a Russian billionaire who had everything but a midget giraffe, an obvious nod to the hilarious DirecTV commercial) while still delivering the nonstop action that he’s known for.
Remember, this is a guy who, just six years ago, was still a Special Forces Lieutenant colonel in the United States Army. After twenty-one years in the military, a career which included eight years in 1st Special Forces Operations Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force, Taylor immediately slid into his next career and now stands King of the Hill on the military thriller genre.
That’s insane!
The only remaining question is: Will Brad Taylor be able to top himself again next time?
I know I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m not betting against him.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT
I don’t want to give anything else away, but the plotlines involving Russia are a real treat to read. Taylor obviously knows plenty about geopolitics, but now he’s mixing in historical fiction and flawlessly weaving past events into the fictional world the Taskforce operates in. The backstory about the Nazi gold trains was well-written and insightful, explaining how the Jewish people were stripped of everything valuable–gold, paintings, wedding rings, etc.–as they were loaded into cattle cars.
Additionally, Taylor provides insight into what’s currently happening in Russia, which is both frightening and compelling to read. And to top it all off, Pike Logan is still the brilliant technician of war that we’ve all come to know and love.
With no signs of slowing down, and every reason to believe his best is still yet to come, Brad Taylor remains one of today’s most exciting thriller authors. Ghosts of War isn’t just a home run–it’s a game-winning grand slam!
Brad Taylor’s latest Pike Logan thriller picks up just four months from where his last novel (The Forgotten Soldier) left off. Pike, Jennifer, and the rest of their team members are still in limbo as they await word about the Taskforce’s future.
Sanctioned by the president, the Taskforce, a group of highly trained super-soldiers, operates outside of the federal government’s authority. Technically speaking, their existence is illegal, and they answer only to the president and a small panel of individuals.
Colonel Kurt Hale’s official title is CEO of Blaisdell Consulting. Unofficially, he’s in charge of assigning the Taskforce operators their missions. It was one of his guys who went rogue just a few months prior, seeking revenge for the death of his brother by killing several members of the Qatar government.
That incident and all that followed put the president in a tough spot, which put the Taskforce in a tough spot. Until the smoke clears, they’re all laying low after a stand-down order from the commander-in-chief himself. They simply cannot risk being exposed, as that would lead to everyone, including the thirteen-person oversight committee, being prosecuted.
Without any Taskforce-assigned work, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill agree to a meeting with Israeli operatives–Aaron and Shoshana–who have a job proposal for them. The job in question would require the use of Pike and Jennifer’s company, Grolier Recovery Services.
Grolier Recovery Services was founded by Pike and Jennifer after Pike left active duty, and their funding comes primarily from the Taskforce. They use their business as a means for cover, allowing them to travel to and from various locations without raising suspicion while secretly running covert missions.
This time, though, it’s Aaron and Shoshana who want to use their business for cover. Rumor has it that a Torah, which may have belonged to David Ben-Gurion, was found in a fabled Nazi gold train in Poland. Obviously, Israel would love to confirm and then collect this priceless artifact, but the Polish government will not let them anywhere near it. Hence the need for Pike and Jennifer’s company, which has been linked to other archaeological discoveries in the past.
A deal is made, and Pike and Jennifer head to Poland with Aaron and Shoshana for what is supposed to be a simple, boring confirmation that the Torah is genuine. And that’s exactly what the trip is–boring, at least initially.
When the stakes are raised and the objective of the mission changes, Pike and Jennifer are suddenly needed in a big way. Soon the bullets are flyin’ in typical Brad Taylor fashion, as he continues to churn out some of the most realistic and adrenaline-pumping action sequences in print today.
WHY I LOVED IT
Several things jumped out at me while I read this book. For starters, Taylor has grown with each novel, but I knew going into this one that it would be hard for him to improve upon his last book. In fact, I didn’t think he could. I thought he had already peaked, and boy, was I wrong!
With Ghosts of War, Taylor really went for it–taking Pike and Jennifer away from their regular work in the Middle East and pitting them against a Russian antagonist. That was a brilliant move, and a refreshing change of pace for a series that has quickly grown to ten books in just five years.
The other thing I noticed is that Brad Taylor seems to be hitting his stride. That’s a scary thing for his competition, as all nine of his previous novels have been New York Times bestsellers. It seems silly to suggest that an author with nearly one million books in circulation could only now be showing his true potential, but I absolutely believe that to be true.
More than ever, I sense that Taylor’s finally, truly comfortable in his writing, as he mixes in humor and pop culture references with ease (I laughed when he mentioned a Russian billionaire who had everything but a midget giraffe, an obvious nod to the hilarious DirecTV commercial) while still delivering the nonstop action that he’s known for.
Remember, this is a guy who, just six years ago, was still a Special Forces Lieutenant colonel in the United States Army. After twenty-one years in the military, a career which included eight years in 1st Special Forces Operations Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force, Taylor immediately slid into his next career and now stands King of the Hill on the military thriller genre.
That’s insane!
The only remaining question is: Will Brad Taylor be able to top himself again next time?
I know I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m not betting against him.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT
I don’t want to give anything else away, but the plotlines involving Russia are a real treat to read. Taylor obviously knows plenty about geopolitics, but now he’s mixing in historical fiction and flawlessly weaving past events into the fictional world the Taskforce operates in. The backstory about the Nazi gold trains was well-written and insightful, explaining how the Jewish people were stripped of everything valuable–gold, paintings, wedding rings, etc.–as they were loaded into cattle cars.
Additionally, Taylor provides insight into what’s currently happening in Russia, which is both frightening and compelling to read. And to top it all off, Pike Logan is still the brilliant technician of war that we’ve all come to know and love.
With no signs of slowing down, and every reason to believe his best is still yet to come, Brad Taylor remains one of today’s most exciting thriller authors. Ghosts of War isn’t just a home run–it’s a game-winning grand slam!
May 4, 2016
This is the 10th book in Brad Taylor's Pike Logan series, but only the third one I have read. Like most series, Brad Taylor's books are best read chronologically, but the references to the past books are not many and they can easily be read independently.
Taylor's books are usually super contemporary, and recent world developments are usually worked into the plot. For some reason, Taylor has chosen to mix real and fictional characters, so Russian leader Vladimir Putin plays such a ruthless role that Taylor should probably read up on libel law on the basis of the description of his actions in the book.
There is less "gun and gear talk" in this book than in some of the other books in the series, which is a development that I applaud. There also seems to be a lighter and more humorous tone in this book than earlier books - again a positive development in my book.
I really like this book, and much better than the other two Taylor books I have read. The story is well developed and the plot somewhat believable, but Taylor lacks the political finesse of e.g. Brad Thor and especially the late Vince Flynn.
[An advance reading copy of this book was generously provided by the First to Read program]
Taylor's books are usually super contemporary, and recent world developments are usually worked into the plot. For some reason, Taylor has chosen to mix real and fictional characters, so Russian leader Vladimir Putin plays such a ruthless role that Taylor should probably read up on libel law on the basis of the description of his actions in the book.
There is less "gun and gear talk" in this book than in some of the other books in the series, which is a development that I applaud. There also seems to be a lighter and more humorous tone in this book than earlier books - again a positive development in my book.
I really like this book, and much better than the other two Taylor books I have read. The story is well developed and the plot somewhat believable, but Taylor lacks the political finesse of e.g. Brad Thor and especially the late Vince Flynn.
[An advance reading copy of this book was generously provided by the First to Read program]
December 8, 2016
“Ghosts of War” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Brad Taylor (http://bradtaylorbooks.com). Mr. Taylor has 17 publications, with this being the tenth in his “Pike Logan Thrillers”.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set mostly in Europe. The main character, Pike Logan, is a operative of The Taskforce.
This is a privately funded organization that works outside of the government, but is under control of a handful at the top of the US intelligence establishment. Pike, along with his wife Jennifer Cahill, have taken on what they think will be an easy, low key job while The Taskforce is on stand-down.
This turns into their being on the front lines trying to stop World War III. They uncover a plot to draw Russia, NATO and the US into a shooting war. It becomes a question if they can quickly find the key players who have instigated things, before the military buildup on both sides spirals out of control.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 10 hours I spent reading this 412 page Thriller. While I had not read any of the nine prior books in the series, this book read well by itself. There was constant action and the plot held many surprises. The cover art is OK, but not outstanding. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set mostly in Europe. The main character, Pike Logan, is a operative of The Taskforce.
This is a privately funded organization that works outside of the government, but is under control of a handful at the top of the US intelligence establishment. Pike, along with his wife Jennifer Cahill, have taken on what they think will be an easy, low key job while The Taskforce is on stand-down.
This turns into their being on the front lines trying to stop World War III. They uncover a plot to draw Russia, NATO and the US into a shooting war. It becomes a question if they can quickly find the key players who have instigated things, before the military buildup on both sides spirals out of control.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 10 hours I spent reading this 412 page Thriller. While I had not read any of the nine prior books in the series, this book read well by itself. There was constant action and the plot held many surprises. The cover art is OK, but not outstanding. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
July 14, 2016
2.5 Stars
A very slow start. I can guess where the story is going but a 1/4 in and it is not there yet. I love the previous book so I'm going to hang in there.
There are two plots in this book, "treasure hunt" and POTUS. This format doesn't work for me. The stories eventually intertwined, but it took too long, bored me to the point I almost gave up.
A very slow start. I can guess where the story is going but a 1/4 in and it is not there yet. I love the previous book so I'm going to hang in there.
There are two plots in this book, "treasure hunt" and POTUS. This format doesn't work for me. The stories eventually intertwined, but it took too long, bored me to the point I almost gave up.
October 15, 2020
Brad Taylor keeps getting better with every Pike Logan novel. This time he moves from Islamic terrorist to the brink of WW3 against Russia and does not disappoint. This is a must read!!
February 23, 2022
This book reads a lot about what’s going on with Russia and Ukraine right now in February 2022. Putin is in the book. I just hope that what is happening right now will end like the book.
I will have to revisit this review later I guess to confirm this however.
I will have to revisit this review later I guess to confirm this however.
December 3, 2016
It’s another Pike Logan novel. #10 in the series. I do enjoy following characters through series seeing them grow or otherwise change, and Brad Taylor is one of my favorites. While certainly fiction, these books often seem very close to reality.
Logan’s “Project Prometheus” (an illegal organization – but secretly sanctioned by the US President ) is on ‘stand-down’ due to some prior exposure (in a venue that should have no exposure at all). Yet, Russia is going after Belarus, just like it did it did with Crimea. There’s the Night Wolves motorcycle gang prowling the streets and the discovery of a WWII Polish gold train. (Any of this sounding plausible?) Oh, by the way, the “hero” of the story, Pike Logan – what a macho name – describes Putin as a "megalomaniac in charge of Russia”. Anyway, add to this an ancient Torah looted by the Nazis, an Israeli hit squad (with a DEADLY, socially maladjusted, female Israeli operative), cool technology, the Russian criminal boss (under the thumb of Putin who is willing to start WW 3 to save his life) AND a dirty bomb … and you have an exciting read!
It's well written with great character interplay and I really liked it. But, alas, it's just an Action Novel – a really good one though.
Logan’s “Project Prometheus” (an illegal organization – but secretly sanctioned by the US President ) is on ‘stand-down’ due to some prior exposure (in a venue that should have no exposure at all). Yet, Russia is going after Belarus, just like it did it did with Crimea. There’s the Night Wolves motorcycle gang prowling the streets and the discovery of a WWII Polish gold train. (Any of this sounding plausible?) Oh, by the way, the “hero” of the story, Pike Logan – what a macho name – describes Putin as a "megalomaniac in charge of Russia”. Anyway, add to this an ancient Torah looted by the Nazis, an Israeli hit squad (with a DEADLY, socially maladjusted, female Israeli operative), cool technology, the Russian criminal boss (under the thumb of Putin who is willing to start WW 3 to save his life) AND a dirty bomb … and you have an exciting read!
It's well written with great character interplay and I really liked it. But, alas, it's just an Action Novel – a really good one though.
June 1, 2022
Taylor goes there in "Ghosts of War." I'm too dim to have read the books in order so I knew what was coming, but it was still shocking as hell. I also love how Taylor inserts pop culture references (a flying Superman punch, Cougar in Top Gun, the Pumpkin King, etc.).
September 6, 2021
Too repetitive with politics, policies, throughout which got to be a bit boring for this reader, thus a bit confusing and a three star.
Shoshana and Aaron, the dynamic Israeli Mossad are Jennifer and Pikes "full house" in a poker game and always a welcomed addition in his books.
I'm wondering if the duo might be more incorporated in a Brad Taylor future book?
Shoshana and Aaron, the dynamic Israeli Mossad are Jennifer and Pikes "full house" in a poker game and always a welcomed addition in his books.
I'm wondering if the duo might be more incorporated in a Brad Taylor future book?
December 14, 2016
Pike books are consistently good with some interesting characters and good story lines.
October 14, 2021
3.5 Stars, a pretty good read.
May 15, 2020
Good mastery of the English & Russian languages, decent story but the content is lacking and somewhat predictable. OK read nonetheless.
December 4, 2019
The writing is still clunky, Pike is still a Neanderthal, and Shoshanna gets constantly compared to the Angel of Death/Dark Angel, but man can Taylor plot a realistic military thriller. Even when laying out the President being shot down in Air Force One and World War III on the verge of being started, Mr. Taylor manages to make it all sound plausible.
I like the fact this book took a bigger swing in it than previous installments. I’m not saying I’d like to see the ante upped with every book, yet every once in awhile it’s nice to see a book change the rules of the game decidedly. It prevents a series from going stale and lends a nice rhythm to the overall arc. After all, that’s how life functions; a series of small changes punctuated by those huge moments that come to define you.
Well, this is a big moment book and is all the better for it.
I like the fact this book took a bigger swing in it than previous installments. I’m not saying I’d like to see the ante upped with every book, yet every once in awhile it’s nice to see a book change the rules of the game decidedly. It prevents a series from going stale and lends a nice rhythm to the overall arc. After all, that’s how life functions; a series of small changes punctuated by those huge moments that come to define you.
Well, this is a big moment book and is all the better for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2017
The author Brad Taylor is retired Special Forces and has a great knack for creating stories with multi dimensional plots. In this story two Israeli mercenaries were trying to start a war between Russia and the United States. Much of the action occurs in Poland and surrounding territory. Two retired Mossad Israelis were caught into an effort to capture the two mercenaries who have succeeded in destroying some Russian aircraft while in a hanger. This certainly gave Putin reason to believe the United States was involved. Then these two mercenaries captured a Russian missile battery and shot down what they though were three NATO aircraft. However these three aircraft were really Air Force One and two military craft flying support. Things really heated up at this point and the two ex Mossad people Aaron and Shoshanna enlisted the help from Pike Logan and Jennifer who had recently been in a clandestine United States Task Force which was disbanded for political reasons. The four of them learned that the mercenaries were planning to capture a dirty bomb and blow it up in a United States base in Europe. Thrown into all this was an effort to get an ancient manuscript of the Torah which was worth a fortune. This was an exciting read however I could have used less of the interaction between the two ex Mossad agents and Pike Logan and his partner Jennifer. It is well worth the read and was a very good book.
August 10, 2019
Loved seeing Shoshana & Aaron again, they’re fun. Having Putin in a book version was scary & added depth to the story. Like all of his books, it’s written with superb knowledge & detail, sometimes too much so. As a woman, I love his thrillers, and the category. But, I don’t need so much detail about the weapons & tanks. I suppose I’m not his target audience though, so I kind of skip over it. I’ve read 10 out of 12 of his books in this series, and I’m going to miss the relationships between the team a lot.
Spoiler
I was really shocked and surprised when Taylor killed off President Warren. I was even sad, after spending 9 books with him. But, I guess it was a good way to keep the Taskforce going & “in the family”.
Bottom line, I hugely recommend this series. No sex, FYI, although there are indications it’s happening. No graphic or gory violence, which is also good.
Spoiler
I was really shocked and surprised when Taylor killed off President Warren. I was even sad, after spending 9 books with him. But, I guess it was a good way to keep the Taskforce going & “in the family”.
Bottom line, I hugely recommend this series. No sex, FYI, although there are indications it’s happening. No graphic or gory violence, which is also good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2024
The thing I didn’t like most about this book is that 10% of the chapters are in first person. Otherwise decent book.
August 20, 2025
Always an exciting time with Pike and his crew. The Israelis make it even more interesting. These are characters and plots that compel me to read more of their exploits!
January 4, 2026
This book was a bit hard to get into but it did get better and I did enjoy it.
January 5, 2023
GHOSTS OF WAR is the tenth entry in Brad Taylor's Pike Logan series. Hot on the heels of its predecessor, THE FORGOTTEN SOLDIER, the story starts with a Taskforce on stand down due to the actions of a rogue operator, and the threat posed by Vladimir Putin and his ultranationalist revival of the Russian menace looking to make power moves.
Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill are contracted by their friends Shoshana and Aaron, former Mossad hit men who have gone to work deniable operations for the Israeli government, with a simple enough job: help them obtain a Torah that was taken from Holocaust victims by the Nazis during World War II.
However, that job rapidly collides with the machinations of a Putinist wet work operator with aspirations of his own, and the situation rapidly escalates to the brink of World War III. The Taskforce is reactivated in the 11th hour with one goal: stop the threat and prevent a war.
As always, Taylor manages to blend current topics with history. This one combines the Russian threat (which has only grown more topical since the book's publication in 2016, with Holocaust history, and does it in such a believable way that you can't help but wonder if we are one incident away from a global conflict.
This book also does an excellent job of further developing Shoshana and Aaron, who have been solid supporting characters for several books now. While the Taskforce is front and center in GHOSTS OF WAR, I would argue that it is the Israelis who are the stars of the show.
Definitely highly recommended. Another fine entry in this excellent series.
Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill are contracted by their friends Shoshana and Aaron, former Mossad hit men who have gone to work deniable operations for the Israeli government, with a simple enough job: help them obtain a Torah that was taken from Holocaust victims by the Nazis during World War II.
However, that job rapidly collides with the machinations of a Putinist wet work operator with aspirations of his own, and the situation rapidly escalates to the brink of World War III. The Taskforce is reactivated in the 11th hour with one goal: stop the threat and prevent a war.
As always, Taylor manages to blend current topics with history. This one combines the Russian threat (which has only grown more topical since the book's publication in 2016, with Holocaust history, and does it in such a believable way that you can't help but wonder if we are one incident away from a global conflict.
This book also does an excellent job of further developing Shoshana and Aaron, who have been solid supporting characters for several books now. While the Taskforce is front and center in GHOSTS OF WAR, I would argue that it is the Israelis who are the stars of the show.
Definitely highly recommended. Another fine entry in this excellent series.
May 4, 2016
It's safe to say I'm just not the right demographic for this. I didn't hate it, but it definitely got to the point where I was slogging through and checking the page numbers to see how many I had left. This is based almost entirely on the political aspects of the book. While I can follow along fine, it just doesn't interest me. I try to stay informed to be a good citizen, but I don't read this stuff for pleasure. That was ultimately the drawback here.
Aside from that it's a great ride! Lots of action, plenty of intense situations with broken people and psycho people. I particularly liked Shoshanna and her story arc; she was just a total bad ass and I loved how she went up and down like a rollercoaster. There was something very satisfying with how the book ended with her part, and I found that was what I appreciated most.
Another portion I was interested about... I hope other country leaders don't read political thrillers like this. I have a feeling Putin wouldn't like it very much.
Aside from that it's a great ride! Lots of action, plenty of intense situations with broken people and psycho people. I particularly liked Shoshanna and her story arc; she was just a total bad ass and I loved how she went up and down like a rollercoaster. There was something very satisfying with how the book ended with her part, and I found that was what I appreciated most.
Another portion I was interested about... I hope other country leaders don't read political thrillers like this. I have a feeling Putin wouldn't like it very much.
July 26, 2016
The Task Force has stopped countless terrorist threats operating outside of U.S law to
protect the death of innocents. But now the Task Force is placed on stand down
because of the acts of one rogue operator. Meanwhile Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill go
to Poland to verify facts hidden for decades in a fabled Nazi gold train. They find themselves caught amid growing tensions between East and West. A Russian incursion into Belarus under
the facade of self defense is trumped by a horrific attack against the U.S. On the brink of
war Pike and Jennifer discover there is a separate agenda in play, one determined to force a
showdown between NATO and Russia. Pike and Jennifer race to unravel the mystery before
a point of no return is reached. Unknown to them another attack is on the way. This is book
10 in the Pike Logan series. The story isn't to bad but there's not a whole lot of action. I
didn't particularly like the beginning but it picked up in the end so I gave it a 3.5
protect the death of innocents. But now the Task Force is placed on stand down
because of the acts of one rogue operator. Meanwhile Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill go
to Poland to verify facts hidden for decades in a fabled Nazi gold train. They find themselves caught amid growing tensions between East and West. A Russian incursion into Belarus under
the facade of self defense is trumped by a horrific attack against the U.S. On the brink of
war Pike and Jennifer discover there is a separate agenda in play, one determined to force a
showdown between NATO and Russia. Pike and Jennifer race to unravel the mystery before
a point of no return is reached. Unknown to them another attack is on the way. This is book
10 in the Pike Logan series. The story isn't to bad but there's not a whole lot of action. I
didn't particularly like the beginning but it picked up in the end so I gave it a 3.5
January 10, 2017
I gave up on this the first time I listened to it (2016, when it was released) and decided to give it another try as Ring of Fire is coming out in a few hours and I plan on buying it. Ghosts of War didn't make it the second time around and I gave up. There was just too much politics and felt more like the author's way of getting his own political bias across, to the detriment of the plot. I may enjoy political thrillers but only when the plot is well-synched with the main characters and the suspense is one that grips me firmly. This book failed to do that, at least for the time I listened, or perhaps I just don't find Putin all that interesting, or the usual Russian shenanigans, for that matter.
The plot may iron itself out later but not soon enough for me. I've enjoyed some Pike Logan books but this isn't one of them.
The plot may iron itself out later but not soon enough for me. I've enjoyed some Pike Logan books but this isn't one of them.
June 4, 2016
Thanks to the publisher and the author for providing an advanced copy for review.
This novel falls within the suspense genre. It is a political and military thriller. This is number 10 in the Pike Logan series.
While I liked the plot topic, I found Brad Taylor's writing to be very cliche, and at times over the top. One term he used, "neck up", made me check what country the author was from. It means to harden up, but sounds dumb when used in a story. Pike and Kurt are likable characters, but Shoshana and Aaron are not. The Pumpkin King nickname for Shoshana was about the lamest thing I have read in a novel in a long time. The story has it's twists, and turns, and I stayed more or less interested. I seldom ever give a less than stellar review as I choose my books wisely, but this is not one of Taylor's best.
This novel falls within the suspense genre. It is a political and military thriller. This is number 10 in the Pike Logan series.
While I liked the plot topic, I found Brad Taylor's writing to be very cliche, and at times over the top. One term he used, "neck up", made me check what country the author was from. It means to harden up, but sounds dumb when used in a story. Pike and Kurt are likable characters, but Shoshana and Aaron are not. The Pumpkin King nickname for Shoshana was about the lamest thing I have read in a novel in a long time. The story has it's twists, and turns, and I stayed more or less interested. I seldom ever give a less than stellar review as I choose my books wisely, but this is not one of Taylor's best.
July 6, 2024
This is my favorite of the series (so far)! I love the development of Pike as a character. I think Pime is the most believable of all the action/adventure novels I read. I would call these a little more intellectual, even when Pike jokingly refers to himself as a “knuckle-dragged. I like the stories with Aaron and Shoshana, but this was by far the best. We got some great insight in to Shoshana’s backstory, which makes me like her even more! I loved the more direct humor in this one, as well as the cultural references (The Pumpkin King). Can’t wait to start the next one and continue the series.
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