Primary Command

Forging of Luke Stone #2

by Jack Mars

Jack Mars, elite Delta Force veteran Luke Stone, 29, leads the FBI’s Special Response Team on a nail-biting mission to save American hostages from a nuclear submarine. But when all goes wrong, and when the President shocks the world with his reaction, it may fall on Luke’s shoulders to save not only the hostages—but the world.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2019

About the author

Jack Mars is author of the bestselling LUKE STONE thriller series, which include the suspense thrillers ANY MEANS NECESSARY (book #1), OATH OF OFFICE (book #2) and SITUATION ROOM (book #3).

Reviews

[Xabi1990 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devorado.
Segundo de la serie de Luke Stone (ex-Delta “nasío pa matá”) con guion similar al anterior.

Engancha una barbaridad a base de mucho diálogo, capítulos cortos y acción a raudales. De lo mejor (¿o lo mejor?) que he leído en el género, estos de mi desconocido Jack Mars.

Y son cortitos. Tengo tal nivel de adición que ya me he comprado el siguiente, menos de 4 euros, y le empiezo en ya. Me voy a leer tres seguidos… increíble en mi y contra mi política de cambiar de género, y eso que tengo dos joyas esperándome en el kindle.

[Sean Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

In PRIMARY COMMAND (The Forging of Luke Stone—Book #2), a ground-breaking action thriller by #1 bestseller Jack Mars, elite Delta Force veteran Luke Stone, 29, leads the FBI’s Special Response Team on a nail-biting mission to save American hostages from a nuclear submarine. But when all goes wrong, and when the President shocks the world with his reaction, it may fall on Luke’s shoulders to save not only the hostages—but the world.

PRIMARY COMMAND is an un-putdownable military thriller, a wild action ride that will leave you turning pages late into the night. The precursor to the #1 bestselling LUKE STONE THRILLER SERIES, this series takes us back to how it all began, a riveting series by bestseller Jack Mars, dubbed “one of the best thriller authors” out there, and after two books only, I agree.

This book also gives more in depth character development for the SRT, their friends, and people not their friends. Often it is difficult to tell a good guy from a bad guy. The pace of this book is riveting, shocking, with loads of twists, loads of action, loads of suspense, I could not stop reading.

This book was so compelling, gripping, a rollercoaster ride, my heart was pounding for the last 30% of the book.

Sorry all other authors, publishers, I am straight on to Book 3 on the Forging Of Luke Stone !! Now !!

Five stars for this heart pounding thriller.

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half way through I thought this was going to be tough to be a 2 star rating then it went to 2.5 and finished with 3 stars. Will I read the next one...we'll see, Lots of other interesting reads and recommendations to go through first I think.

[Agus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado más que el primero. Cargo el siguiente para que no se me pase seguir leyendo a este soldado.

[Prasanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Mars has left no Stone (pun intended) unturned in this riveting novel.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing adventures of Luke Stone

Another good book in the continuing adventures of SRT members Luke Stone and Ed Newsom. Good over Evil, Lots of Action.

[Wenzel Roessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an action/political/military story goes this is first rate. My only complaint is the lack of character development, every one (except Murphy) is pretty one dimensional. And Luke's wife is not very well written and her whining is a distraction to the story.

[Guillermo Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

No falla, señores. Perfecto para salir del bloqueo lector.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting action adventure in this series. Narrator is excellent. Some anti-religion dialogue (“almighty”?). Keeps interest up throughout. 3-1/2⭐️⭐️⭐️🔅

I use fast forward for gore or profanity.

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book2 in the Luke Stone series.
Audiobook Review
Elite Delta Force veteran Luke Stone, 29, leads the FBI’s Special Response Team on a nail-biting mission to save American hostages from a nuclear submarine. But when all goes wrong, and when the President shocks the world with his reaction, it may fall on Luke’s shoulders to save not only the hostages—but the world.
I read book 1 and was instantly hooked with this new character by Jack Mars, Luke Stone. In book2 we get to find out more details about him and his wife, and that he also has a child which makes the story even more compelling and him more human not just a black ops member. We also become more involved with the team and the other characters surrounding stone, seriously my investment in these characters is so high that I cannot wait to read the next one in the series.
This is a fast paced thriller that leaves you hanging on every page or if you listened to it on Audio as I did, then on every word. Honestly, I love Jack Mars as an author. All his stories are brilliant and fast paced, his attention to every detail is incredible and he writes with such fluidity that you just can't put the book down. The plot is engaging as always and I am already looking to get straight onto book3.
You can read/listen to this book as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading Forging of Luke Stone book1 first to get the initial background on Luke.
Kerry Kennedy Author

[Peter Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another home run from Jack Mars! The book starts out in typical Luke Stone fashion pedal to the metal. The story itself is a very, very good one (especially in light of what is know known today about the D.C. crowd). This book should not be overlooked as it is important to the totality of the Luke Stone timeline.
I’m going to preface this next part of my review by stating the fact that I find all the love interest and family sub plots to be completely unnecessary to the main character. I get it...he’s torn, multifaceted, blah, blah, blah. I’m not reading Luke Stone to find out about his family life. I’m reading Luke Stone to find out new and creative ways to kill bad guys. That being said I think Mr. Mars spent some of the pages frivolously going off the main course to explore these family avenues. However, that is my only complaint regarding this Luke Stone installment.
Primary Command is a great story that will have you running late to every appointment until you’re finished reading the whole damn thing.
Thanks to Mr. Jack Mars for another great Luke Stone thriller. Awesome stuff

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre. Mars has too many action scenes and too many plots and sub-plots for this book to be anything other than a disjointed mess. Russians capture American spies on a deep-sea submersible. Luke Stone rescues them and ignites pyrotechnics in a Black Sea harbor. US and Russian fighters clash in the Bering Sea. A secret cabal within the CIA plots. The president is weak and on the verge of a breakdown. He escapes his White House prison for a midnight getaway. Bad guys capture him. Stone's mother-in-law is a bitch. Stone's wife is at wits-end about his dangerous job and frequent travel. Gosh, there are a lot of weapons that Mars can identify. Stone's group finds out that the prez is secreted in some West Virginia wilderness, and try to free him. Oops! Prez is dead, as are Russian mobsters in the same room. Who dunnit?

Who cares.

Ignore the 5-star ratings unless you're pretty dim. Excitement? A bit, to be sure, but disjointed. Well-written? Hardly. Worth reading? Only on a long, boring flight somewhere dull.

[Balthazar Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luke Stone part of the newly formed SRT is sent on a mission to rescue three Americans held hostage in Russian. The mission is a disaster from the beginning and is just the opening move in a larger game being run by the shadows of the American intelligence community. The path is towards war but Luke doesn't know this as finds himself caught up in a game where his life is put at risk and those of the whole world.

Parts of this were totally unbelievable even though it is fiction. Presidents do not jump the fence of the White House without being seen. But that isn't the only thing about this book that doesn't sit easy and made the book a bit far fetched in places. The writing style didn't flow smoothly the entire time and the story didn't grab me like some of the other works by Jack Mars.

It's an okay read but a bit of a let down.

[Mountainhombre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost stopped reading this novel, but I'm glad that I continued.

The novel started with the thoughts of the President of the USA. Basically, way too much about how he hated short people. This seemed short-sighted (pun intended) and very crazy. But, it did kind of make sense given what happened later.

Anyway, there's tons of action, a good plot, and some decent (but not great) characterizations.

There are, as is common with this type of thriller, quite a few plot holes. Unfortunately, I can't give examples without spoiling important elements of the novel.

So, read it for a lot of fun, but not for realism.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? There has not been a book by Jack Mars yet that I have not liked. I've read the entire Luke Stone series, the new Zero series and now this prequel series - they are all honestly top notch.

I do not think you can get the full scope of the events in this book unless you have read the first series, but Mars does add enough back story that you wouldn't be completely lost.

As usual, Luke is a wonderful character because he is human and that shows through quite nicely. He is not perfect but he does have good intentions. We also get to see a little deeper into the beginnings of the end of his marriage (even though she does not deserve him, but we knew that from the first series) and some other bits of personal background within the crew. It's funny because since its been a while since I've read the first series, I'm trying to remember where everything is on the timeline and also trying to remember what ends up happening with a certain back stabbing traitor...but I guess I can always go back and look.

But....another great book by a great author.

[Jim B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

More action and surprises with the Special Response Team (SRT). The book also gives more in depth character development for the SRT, their friends, and people not their friends. Often it is difficult to tell a good guy from a bad guy. Susan Hopkins gets a walk-on part as well (If you have already read the Luke Stone Thriller series you are well acquainted with this wonderful lady). Another great read from Jack Mars.

[Keith Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute thriller

A book which I found extremely difficult to even consider putting down. Interwoven with as many different plots that, at times, made it impossible to keep a track on. Whilst fighting the Russian counter attacks to the deeply engrossed American internal political conundrums and infighting, with internal Mafia and gangland counter threats, this became a maelstrom of destructive action. A book not to be missed by action genre lovers.

[C. Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually found this story line a wee bit scary. How much is going on in a similar fashion in the USA today? A weak POTUS is no longer fictional! The only hope is that the VPOTUS is incapable of being part of such a plot - she simply doesn't have the intellectual capability. She would probably try to giggle her way out of a difficult situation.
Some unnecessary blasphemy - but never using the name of the Islamic 'prophet'! Salman Rushdie's experience has made sure of that!

[Paul E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neat reading!

It’s a dynamic military and governmental story from the first page! But there’s no doubt that you will want to get to that last page also.
It’s a frightening prospect about which this book is written. However, with the political realities of our times split asunder in our own country today, the possibilities for it being a genuine possibility cannot be overstated!

[George Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare tale of intrigue and suspense

I found the book to well written and the characters were believable and became good friends. The story line was compelling and hard to put down. It seemed to be something that could not possibly happen and yet it is totally believable. The author keeps you guessing and builds the story to the point that you can not put down the book.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these books, but they start out really awkward and Slow. It can be quite painful to get in there to the story. Once finally in, these are very enjoyable. I do get a little muddled at times when switching between primary command and the other Luke Stone series set later since I discovered those first, but that's just a me problem.

[Jefrois · Rating 2 out of 5]

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I don’t know what to make of this.

Contains LOTS of “sipped,” and “sips,” and “he padded,” and “slept in,” and “coffee,” and “sweat,” and “vomit,” and people identified as being of various hues-skinwise, and “CNN.”

I have written directly to the author, but, so far, there has been no response.

As far as the genre goes, I find this entire book boring, repetitive, and trite.
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[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action always.

Who names a kid Gunner? Becca is a nut job that doesn’t add anything to the book. The book could function without the wife, replace and rid. All characters except the wife are developed and work good together. There was fair flow in the book from chapter to chapter. Read and determine.

[Suki Rickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2

Book 2 had a few errors throughout and was an okay read. The plot and characters were likable enough. The plot is mostly the same as book 1, with different enemies and a change of scenery. The characters are also the same more or less. There were a few nice surprises, but nothing super exciting.

[Lori Tremain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 2 of Luke Stone military endeavors in the private sector. This one where the President is murdered. It's not a good book! The author has pasted and copied whole pages of book 1 in here. Same scenes, different Chace in some of the actions as well. I almost stopped reading because, well, I already read in book 1.

[Paula J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another piece to Luke Stone

This prequel series is a must for Luke Stone fans. The pace keeps the reader hopping, and it is interesting to get insights about Becca (Luke’s wife). An easy, “fun” political thriller!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action continues

The bad guys continue to crawl out of the woodwork. The presidency continues to waver and WW3 looks to be a real possibility. With all this, what are his chances with being a husband and father?

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picks right up were the first one left off and takes off on action pack ride! Lots of action and the SRT team seems to get in the thick of things. Pretty quick read and some good build up for the series.

[KERRY MIDDIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Primary Command, it was an excellent follow on from Primary Target. Action filled with great characters although it did tend to get a little heavy on the technical details. All in all very enjoyable!!

[BeverlyNespal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense continues:

This is another great book in the Luke Stone series. In these books we learn more about the young Luke Stone. He now has a son. He is in a new military agency. The President has been murdered. Must to get the details. This is a fast paced book.