I recently discovered a new initiate to the military thriller genre in the work of Daniel Charles Ross, and his FORCE NO ONE, a story that introduces all the excitement that fans look for- the bait, $100 million dollars, murder, espionage, fire fights, the military hardware, especially the killing drones. It all culminates in a finale in stopping the terrorist assault on the Detroit’s Tigers’Stadium and the World Series.
Ross displays masterly development of detailed scenarios, much like Vince Flynn’s writing. He lays out the execution of the mission as Brad Thor would, plotting it out from start to finish. He begins by introducing us to a rugged, seasoned, supposedly special operator gone bad, to prison that is, who is on the search, overturning every rock,to those holding the briefcase and the key to a $100 million, end of the rainbow, stash hid in the mountains of the Hindu Kush.
It’s a storyline with exquisitely developed personalities of all characters and even the secondary ones. Starting with Xavier “Zave” Cloud, special operator given a criminal background to serve as entrance to the underworld, to seek out the islamic plotters.He is adept at the hunt and pursuit, and even unpleasant torture, with the end result of finding the $100 million before ISIS or the Chinese do. It takes him into the seamier side of Detroit. To a Chinese restaurant, run by Chinese Special Forces General Xing whose daughter is held in Ramadi by ISIS. A deal is made, Xavier rescues the hostage and Chinese special forces controlled by Xing, with access to nukes, will assist in the retaking of $100 million dollars. Thus removing the threat of having to deliver the nukes to ISIS.
The CIA and US special military serve as the behind the scene puppeteers manuevering Xavier into place to recapture the missing $100 million and halt the nuke exchange. They are aware, through the undercover work of a murdered Detroit Homeland Security agent that a terrorist plot is afoot with hints of a nuke suitcase coming into play, with the white vigilante nationalists named Wolverines stirring the whole pot in Detroit.
Ross develops great characters and insights into the pettiness and corruption found in all big city bureaucracies across America. He creates a joint federal homicide taskforce with the hottest female homicide team since the days of “Cagney and Lacey.” Amber “Corvette” Watson with a 2013, yellow Z06 convertible Corvette, accompanied by her hunky, years younger state trooper boy toy. Then there’s Tracey Lexcellent, flaming red hair, 5’9” legs go on forever who favors Jimmy Choo sandals. They get the job of figuring out why all the bodies are showing up.
These seemingly separate stories get blended and in the end, explodes in a race to stop a terrorist hit on the World Series.The action in the Hindu Kush provides all the battle action and military equipment readers love to see in capturing the money and the kidnaped girl. The story climax introduces killer drones. The individual characters are developed to such a degree you could write a novella on each.
This is an intellectuals’military thriller too. You’ll love the citations of quotes at the beginning of chapters from noted philosophers from antiquity, modern playwrights and well known military figures. They give a touch of sophistication to the tale. The novel delivers a likeable protagonist, a great overview of the pluses of Detroit, and a loveable female team one could see reappearing in later novels.
This book delivers all that you read a military/political thriller for, the guns, planes, firefights, intricate plot, and detailed, well developed secondary characters. It is an excellent premiere novel that would have readers anticipating Daniel Charles Ross’s next release. A big 5* on this one!