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Scot Harvath #18
Backlash
In ancient texts, there are stories about men who struck from the shadows, seemingly beyond the reach of death itself. These men were considered part angel, part demon. Their loyalty was to their families, their friends, and their kings. You crossed these men at your peril. And once crossed, there was no crossing back.
They were fearless; men of honor who have been known throughout history by different names: Spartan, Viking, Samurai.
Today, men like these still strike from the shadows. They are highly prized intelligence agents, military operatives, and assassins.
One man is all three.
Two days ago, that man was crossed—badly.
Now, far from home and surrounded by his enemy, Scot Harvath must battle his way out.
With no support, no cavalry coming, and no one even aware of where he is, it will take everything he has ever learned to survive.
But survival isn’t enough. Harvath wants revenge.
In the most explosive novel Brad Thor has ever written, page after captivating page of action, intrigue, loyalty, and betrayal will keep you hooked until the very last sentence.
They were fearless; men of honor who have been known throughout history by different names: Spartan, Viking, Samurai.
Today, men like these still strike from the shadows. They are highly prized intelligence agents, military operatives, and assassins.
One man is all three.
Two days ago, that man was crossed—badly.
Now, far from home and surrounded by his enemy, Scot Harvath must battle his way out.
With no support, no cavalry coming, and no one even aware of where he is, it will take everything he has ever learned to survive.
But survival isn’t enough. Harvath wants revenge.
In the most explosive novel Brad Thor has ever written, page after captivating page of action, intrigue, loyalty, and betrayal will keep you hooked until the very last sentence.
467 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2019
6926 people are currently reading
4360 people want to read
About the author
Brad Thor
46 books7,385 followersBRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five thrillers, including EDGE OF HONOR, SHADOW OF DOUBT, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,093 reviews
July 25, 2019
Based on others reviews, many will be surprised by this rating. My rationale is I don't care for slaughter of innocents, nor inflated ratings. I despise the loss of meaningful and impactful characters. I like vengeance, but in this disappointing effort the price is too steep. 4 of 10 stars!
July 10, 2019
Hip-deep into the Scot Harvath series, Brad Thor continues to deliver poignant novels that pull the reader into the middle of the political and espionage-driven world of today. When local authorities are called to a rural community in New Hampshire, they discover four bodies, carelessly slain. The names raise a red flag in the Intelligence community, beginning calls high up the chain of command. With ties to all those slain, one name being suggested as a potential shooter is Scot Harvath, but could he really have killed these people? It turns out not, as Harvath is aboard a covert plane somewhere in Russia, chained to a seat by mercenaries who have no worries about treating their prisoner poorly. When the plane goes down, Harvath is the only survivor, but perhaps not for long. He is in the middle of the Russian wilderness during the height of winter, with only the howling of the wind and wolves to keep him company. If he wants to stay alive, he will have to use all his training to find safety. In Moscow, the news of the crash raises the ire of senior officials, who had hoped for a smooth ‘snatch and grab’ of the Intelligence operative. Now, they will have to locate the wreckage and capture Harvath again. In Washington, those close to Harvath cannot believe that he would be responsible, but know that he was in New Hampshire. They discover that he may have been covertly removed from the country and begin their own mission to extricate him, while not tipping the balance of international diplomacy. Russia has all but declared war on America with such an act, but that is for the politicians to iron out. While working on a plan to get to safety, Harvath will have to survive and stay off the proverbial radar. When he comes to a small community near the Finnish border, he does all he can to stay alive and one step ahead of his captors. The race is on to find Harvath and to the winner comes the spoils. With an international disaster looming below the surface, the new Cold War could be close. Thor delivers again with a stellar novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and Harvath donning a few more scars. Recommended for fans of the series as well as the reader who loves thrillers of an espionage and political flavour.
I have loved most every one of the Harvath thrillers that Thor has penned, finding myself in the middle of their action and political fallout. Thor is able to capture the essence of the story and add his own political flavouring, which keeps the reader wondering if this could actually happen in today’s world. Harvath has lasted for eighteen previous novels, so his scars are plentiful and his stubbornness on point. The reader can sense something else fuelling him in this piece, that being the loss of (another) loved one to those who would see him destroyed. While somewhat reflective on all that he has done in life, there is also a strong sense that Harvath needs to bring about revenge for the loss of a loved one. Thor adds some other interesting information tied to the gathering in New Hampshire, which the reader can discover as they make their way through the narrative. Packed with many returning characters, Thor entertains with some of the unique individuals who appear in many of the nineteen books this series have been published. These characters work well together and blend effectively to create a strong narrative and exciting story. Speaking of the story, it remains strong and kept moving in a forward direction, offering interesting perspectives for those who enjoy espionage with a political angle. Thor has been able to keep his stories strong and uses the current political and social situation to fuel the narrative, rather than relying on past—read: Islamic terror—themes that have long since been flogged to death. While I know the aches and pains must be getting quite troublesome, I wonder if there is another novel or two left in Scot Harvath, or ideas that Thor still wants to tackle.
Kudos, Mr. Thor, for a wonderful addition to the series. I cannot wait to see what else you have for us and hope your fans enjoy this piece as much as I did.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I have loved most every one of the Harvath thrillers that Thor has penned, finding myself in the middle of their action and political fallout. Thor is able to capture the essence of the story and add his own political flavouring, which keeps the reader wondering if this could actually happen in today’s world. Harvath has lasted for eighteen previous novels, so his scars are plentiful and his stubbornness on point. The reader can sense something else fuelling him in this piece, that being the loss of (another) loved one to those who would see him destroyed. While somewhat reflective on all that he has done in life, there is also a strong sense that Harvath needs to bring about revenge for the loss of a loved one. Thor adds some other interesting information tied to the gathering in New Hampshire, which the reader can discover as they make their way through the narrative. Packed with many returning characters, Thor entertains with some of the unique individuals who appear in many of the nineteen books this series have been published. These characters work well together and blend effectively to create a strong narrative and exciting story. Speaking of the story, it remains strong and kept moving in a forward direction, offering interesting perspectives for those who enjoy espionage with a political angle. Thor has been able to keep his stories strong and uses the current political and social situation to fuel the narrative, rather than relying on past—read: Islamic terror—themes that have long since been flogged to death. While I know the aches and pains must be getting quite troublesome, I wonder if there is another novel or two left in Scot Harvath, or ideas that Thor still wants to tackle.
Kudos, Mr. Thor, for a wonderful addition to the series. I cannot wait to see what else you have for us and hope your fans enjoy this piece as much as I did.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
May 6, 2019
Everything he’s ever done has led him to this moment.
By now, readers know his story. Former Navy SEAL Scot Harvath cut his teeth with SEAL Team Two, the cold weather specialists, before joining the Navy’s storied SEAL Team Six, where he eventually assisted on a maritime presidential detail—catching the eye of the Secret Service.
After Harvath had spent a brief amount of time with the Secret Service, the president, in an effort to hit back at the terrorists who pledged jihad against America, made Harvath the leader of a top-secret program called the Apex Project—where he was tasked with two things: Do whatever it takes to protect his country, and no matter what, never get caught.
From there, Harvath’s career as an apex predator continued, this time under the guidance of Reed Carlton, a legendary spymaster whose career in espionage stretches back nearly forty years. Under Carlton’s tutelage, Harvath thrived as a counterterrorism operative, bravely standing on the front lines against the war on terror and selflessly sacrificing everything to defend his fellow countrymen, which he’s done time and time again over the course of seventeen action-packed novels.
Bottom line: if Scot Harvath came with a warning label, it would caution against hurting his country, his brothers-in-arms, or his loved ones.
Now, coming off one of the most crucial operations of his storied career, someone’s come after Scot in a way few have ever dared. Cut off from any and all support, Harvath suddenly finds himself alone behind enemy lines, the lone survivor of a devastating plane crash. Armed with two decades of experience and little else, Scot must find a way to battle through the frigid, sub-zero temperatures and fight his way through a gauntlet of bad guys if he . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2019/05/06...
By now, readers know his story. Former Navy SEAL Scot Harvath cut his teeth with SEAL Team Two, the cold weather specialists, before joining the Navy’s storied SEAL Team Six, where he eventually assisted on a maritime presidential detail—catching the eye of the Secret Service.
After Harvath had spent a brief amount of time with the Secret Service, the president, in an effort to hit back at the terrorists who pledged jihad against America, made Harvath the leader of a top-secret program called the Apex Project—where he was tasked with two things: Do whatever it takes to protect his country, and no matter what, never get caught.
From there, Harvath’s career as an apex predator continued, this time under the guidance of Reed Carlton, a legendary spymaster whose career in espionage stretches back nearly forty years. Under Carlton’s tutelage, Harvath thrived as a counterterrorism operative, bravely standing on the front lines against the war on terror and selflessly sacrificing everything to defend his fellow countrymen, which he’s done time and time again over the course of seventeen action-packed novels.
Bottom line: if Scot Harvath came with a warning label, it would caution against hurting his country, his brothers-in-arms, or his loved ones.
Now, coming off one of the most crucial operations of his storied career, someone’s come after Scot in a way few have ever dared. Cut off from any and all support, Harvath suddenly finds himself alone behind enemy lines, the lone survivor of a devastating plane crash. Armed with two decades of experience and little else, Scot must find a way to battle through the frigid, sub-zero temperatures and fight his way through a gauntlet of bad guys if he . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2019/05/06...
January 5, 2021
This book continues the fine Scot Harvath series and is recommended to action/adventure fans. It is mainly one long, difficult escape--from wolves, from Russian special forces, from the Arctic cold. There are points where the cliches are so thick they are distracting. The characters are not too developed, except insofar as they interact with Harvath.
However, I commend Thor for his fine research that leads to thrill-a-minute action scenes.
However, I commend Thor for his fine research that leads to thrill-a-minute action scenes.
July 23, 2019
Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit
Introduction
Backlash has a straightforward story whose beats should be evident within the first few pages of starting the story. Scot Harvath has been captured by the Russians and has to fight his way out in an inhospitable terrain.
What I liked
Backlash manages to break the cycle of ennui that was creeping into the series with a different kind of story, albeit one we have seen before in other series.
Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit
Introduction
Backlash has a straightforward story whose beats should be evident within the first few pages of starting the story. Scot Harvath has been captured by the Russians and has to fight his way out in an inhospitable terrain.
What I liked
Backlash manages to break the cycle of ennui that was creeping into the series with a different kind of story, albeit one we have seen before in other series.
Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit
August 9, 2019
3.5 stars. Definitely better than #17, #18 in the series, but not up to the level of intrigue and excitement of Thor’s previous Scott Harvath installments.
👎 The plot is based on the political machinations of Russia v USA, but the conflict isn’t fleshed out enough ... there is a lot of telling that Russia is evil, and a lot of action depicting their malevolence, but the background story explaining motives is lacking in development.
👎 It is more a story of survival than political espionage. Additionally, the scenes describing the survival skills (from the harsh arctic environmental as well as the evil Russian pursuers) become redundant.
👎 The denouement is rushed. Those revenge scenes are the perfect fodder for explosive thrills and chills, but tension is not built as the reader is hurried through one revenge kill to another.
👍 Quick pacing, easy summer escapism read.
👎 The plot is based on the political machinations of Russia v USA, but the conflict isn’t fleshed out enough ... there is a lot of telling that Russia is evil, and a lot of action depicting their malevolence, but the background story explaining motives is lacking in development.
👎 It is more a story of survival than political espionage. Additionally, the scenes describing the survival skills (from the harsh arctic environmental as well as the evil Russian pursuers) become redundant.
👎 The denouement is rushed. Those revenge scenes are the perfect fodder for explosive thrills and chills, but tension is not built as the reader is hurried through one revenge kill to another.
👍 Quick pacing, easy summer escapism read.
July 4, 2019
5/5 STARS*****
WOWZA!!!! That was an amazing book! I wasn't sure Brad Thor could top himself after Spymaster and that cliff-hanger ending, but he did with a vengeance! It's really hard to talk about this book without giving anything away. It's definitely different from other books in the series. I will just say that this is Brad's "Exceeds Expectations" performance review! (those who have seen him in person know what I'm talking about ;) ) If you haven't read Spymaster, read that first and have this one waiting to start immediately! You will not be disappointed.
WOWZA!!!! That was an amazing book! I wasn't sure Brad Thor could top himself after Spymaster and that cliff-hanger ending, but he did with a vengeance! It's really hard to talk about this book without giving anything away. It's definitely different from other books in the series. I will just say that this is Brad's "Exceeds Expectations" performance review! (those who have seen him in person know what I'm talking about ;) ) If you haven't read Spymaster, read that first and have this one waiting to start immediately! You will not be disappointed.
November 10, 2019
This is a difficult book to rate. It is the 19th in the Harvath series and I have been a fan since the beginning. I have collected all 19 books as signed first editions and most them signed by Thor at appearances I have attended. Like all his fans I enjoyed the adventure and thrills that Brad took us on in these books. Unfortunately, it is difficult to keep a good thing going and the series has had its ups and downs. I was particularly distressed when Thor started to let his personal political views leak into his fiction. Not a good thing for an author to ever do. He must have realized this and corrected that problem but his plots were still becoming rather tiresome as there are only so many ways you can kill a terrorist without being repetitive, another problem for authors. Nevertheless, Thor did manage to do his best and in this book it appeared that he might be setting up a whole new story arc for this series. The book begins with a catastrophic event that plunges Harvath into the darkest depths of human emotions that he has ever been portrayed as experiencing in any of the previous books. Could this be the final book of the series or was this the beginning of an entirely new and different role for Scott Harvath and the beginning of a new series?
Sadly, I was disappointed on both counts. This book is not the end of the series though I really think it has run its course and a talented writer like Thor should let it go and start something new. Of course that means that this is not the start of a new story arc as the addition of bonus chapter at the end of the book gives the reader a glimpse at Thor's next Harvath adventure. So this disappointment affected my three star rating. Three stars for me means the book is worth its purchase price and the time it takes to read the book. Do not get me wrong, this is a good book and one of Thor's better ones. What I enjoyed most was that it wasn't entirely devoted to shoot outs and and explosions. A good deal of the book has Harvath trying to survive the elements in an Arctic wilderness and that is definitely a change for most of the books in this series. Thor has also decided to abandon Arab villains for a change switch to Russians which isn't a big change but it is a change. Over all it was a page turning adventure that I enjoyed until about the last third of the book when things became more of a routine Harvath adventure. This portion of the book culminated with the final chapters which were long on gratuitious violence that to me fell just short of being pornographic in the apparent joy derived from inflicting pain and death. The author attempts to rationalize the violence as justifiable revenge but the reader may wonder if revenge is ever justifiable and whether depicting such activity is appropriate entertainment and that is really what this book is supposed to be. It left me uneasy and since I already think this series has seen better days I will have to think about continuing my support for it.
Sadly, I was disappointed on both counts. This book is not the end of the series though I really think it has run its course and a talented writer like Thor should let it go and start something new. Of course that means that this is not the start of a new story arc as the addition of bonus chapter at the end of the book gives the reader a glimpse at Thor's next Harvath adventure. So this disappointment affected my three star rating. Three stars for me means the book is worth its purchase price and the time it takes to read the book. Do not get me wrong, this is a good book and one of Thor's better ones. What I enjoyed most was that it wasn't entirely devoted to shoot outs and and explosions. A good deal of the book has Harvath trying to survive the elements in an Arctic wilderness and that is definitely a change for most of the books in this series. Thor has also decided to abandon Arab villains for a change switch to Russians which isn't a big change but it is a change. Over all it was a page turning adventure that I enjoyed until about the last third of the book when things became more of a routine Harvath adventure. This portion of the book culminated with the final chapters which were long on gratuitious violence that to me fell just short of being pornographic in the apparent joy derived from inflicting pain and death. The author attempts to rationalize the violence as justifiable revenge but the reader may wonder if revenge is ever justifiable and whether depicting such activity is appropriate entertainment and that is really what this book is supposed to be. It left me uneasy and since I already think this series has seen better days I will have to think about continuing my support for it.
July 8, 2019
5+ stars
Without question, Backlash is my favorite Scot Harvath book. From start to finish this has been an extreme survival and emotional journey. A must read!
Without question, Backlash is my favorite Scot Harvath book. From start to finish this has been an extreme survival and emotional journey. A must read!
August 9, 2019
Overkill in every sense. This is high war casualty fare. Brutal.
So here is the reaction I promised last week after I finished. I was away from tech and a decent keyboard.
Know that I have not read Scott Harvath before. So starting at #19 is absolutely hubris. Yet, I was glad I did. Because I didn't hold the killing off of long appearing characters against him. And took the read for what it was in this form and length of book alone.
It's a difficult read for the killing/ overkill factor. But beyond that constant and continual violence is the logistics and nomenclature of this part of the world. Arctic Circle Russia trying to get into Finland.
It's basically a survival tale. I take 20 down, you take 6 down. Almost like the Lone Survivor movie in another place and life cycle.
Thor can write minutia and technical description. Immensely well.
If you have appreciation for Cold War and high state treachery on a hundred plus body count scale- this one will fill your bill. It's all about the evil Russia of the present. As if China or North Korea are minor players without the same tactics and "usual" lethal "comrade" practices to their own.
But honestly, I don't suggest this book for anyone who is in any manner thin skinned. No one will ever hold hands and just "get along" or ever sing any interpretation (in any generation) of Kumbaya in this tale. And "friends" may also be expendable.
So here is the reaction I promised last week after I finished. I was away from tech and a decent keyboard.
Know that I have not read Scott Harvath before. So starting at #19 is absolutely hubris. Yet, I was glad I did. Because I didn't hold the killing off of long appearing characters against him. And took the read for what it was in this form and length of book alone.
It's a difficult read for the killing/ overkill factor. But beyond that constant and continual violence is the logistics and nomenclature of this part of the world. Arctic Circle Russia trying to get into Finland.
It's basically a survival tale. I take 20 down, you take 6 down. Almost like the Lone Survivor movie in another place and life cycle.
Thor can write minutia and technical description. Immensely well.
If you have appreciation for Cold War and high state treachery on a hundred plus body count scale- this one will fill your bill. It's all about the evil Russia of the present. As if China or North Korea are minor players without the same tactics and "usual" lethal "comrade" practices to their own.
But honestly, I don't suggest this book for anyone who is in any manner thin skinned. No one will ever hold hands and just "get along" or ever sing any interpretation (in any generation) of Kumbaya in this tale. And "friends" may also be expendable.
July 5, 2019
After a major traumatic event, Scot finds himself in the Arctic Circle with Russian mercenaries after him. Initially, they want him alive for all of the information he can provide, but when U.S. pressure, led by a rescue specialist and the Troll (Nicholas) is ramped up, the mercenaries' mission parameters are dead or alive. Scot's training as a Navy SEAL kicks in, especially his SERE skills (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape.) Not only does he need to stay one step ahead of two-legged soldiers, but there are four legged predators after him as well. After yet another near brush with death, he stumbles first into a cabin belonging to a Sami woodman/trapper, who is beyond help, and eventually into his daughter's medical clinic in a Sami village. Great action, and Scot is driven by rage to take vengeance on the perps responsible for the trauma. Frankly, the vengeance was too rushed, and would have made a great sequel. 4.5 stars.
October 13, 2022
It was overkill.
January 16, 2020
2.5 stars -
Edit: this is my first and probably last Brad Thor novel and I did no research on the type of books and style that he typically writes. Just picked it up randomly but these are my thoughts as a first time reader who also enjoyed other survival novels like Hatchet!
Overall it is a decent action / survival thriller as the main character Harvath is trying to make it out of the depths of Russian wilderness and away from Russian mercenaries as he was brutal kidnapped. The story points of Harvath fighting to make it out was a decently gripping read.
In general there was just a huge lack of humanity in the book. The initial brutal murders and kidnapping had no justified motivations leaving the reader to just say “I guess they’re Russians so you know... evil!” which is just lazy writing on the part of the writer to basically try to deliver an NCIS episode premise as plot points. This lack of humanity becomes even more present at the end of the book when Harvath **spoiler** survives but then decided to go on a really awful revenge rampage that results in murdering a child just so one of the Russians will know the pain of loss like Harvath will have to face for the rest of his life. I can fully sympathize with the sheer amount of trauma and PTSD Harvath is going through after such an ordeal. But Brad Thor provides absolutely no contextualization around these characters, leaving the readers wondering if they are supposed to be cheering on for the murder of innocent children.
Definitely wouldn’t recommend this book if you want interesting or well developed characters who are conscious of how their actions impact the innocent or want to see characters actually deal or confront with their trauma in non-disturbing ways. The best way to read this is to just sit in the action and skip the last few chapters
Edit: this is my first and probably last Brad Thor novel and I did no research on the type of books and style that he typically writes. Just picked it up randomly but these are my thoughts as a first time reader who also enjoyed other survival novels like Hatchet!
Overall it is a decent action / survival thriller as the main character Harvath is trying to make it out of the depths of Russian wilderness and away from Russian mercenaries as he was brutal kidnapped. The story points of Harvath fighting to make it out was a decently gripping read.
In general there was just a huge lack of humanity in the book. The initial brutal murders and kidnapping had no justified motivations leaving the reader to just say “I guess they’re Russians so you know... evil!” which is just lazy writing on the part of the writer to basically try to deliver an NCIS episode premise as plot points. This lack of humanity becomes even more present at the end of the book when Harvath **spoiler** survives but then decided to go on a really awful revenge rampage that results in murdering a child just so one of the Russians will know the pain of loss like Harvath will have to face for the rest of his life. I can fully sympathize with the sheer amount of trauma and PTSD Harvath is going through after such an ordeal. But Brad Thor provides absolutely no contextualization around these characters, leaving the readers wondering if they are supposed to be cheering on for the murder of innocent children.
Definitely wouldn’t recommend this book if you want interesting or well developed characters who are conscious of how their actions impact the innocent or want to see characters actually deal or confront with their trauma in non-disturbing ways. The best way to read this is to just sit in the action and skip the last few chapters
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2019
A Russian mercenary group has kidnapped Scott Harvath and killed his family. When the plane crashes deep in Siberia, Harvath survives, and has to make his way through Russia while being hunted by violent mercenaries.
Meanwhile, the authorities in the States are trying to find out what happened to Harvath. The police and the feds don't make things any easier.
Reminiscent of Louis L'amour's Last of the Breed, this is a very entertaining novel with a good deal of tension. Recommended.
Meanwhile, the authorities in the States are trying to find out what happened to Harvath. The police and the feds don't make things any easier.
Reminiscent of Louis L'amour's Last of the Breed, this is a very entertaining novel with a good deal of tension. Recommended.
June 28, 2019
Harvath goes hardcore this time around. He's motivated for revenge and he has the skills to make it happen. There's no question that you'll feel for the protagonist by the end of this book. You'll also be entirely sure you don't want him believing you've wronged him in any serious way. I don't want to give anything away. I'm just going to say one thing... damn!!!
July 23, 2019
This book is so outlandish it stretches credulity to the max.
It is 90% survivalist and 10% spy story.
In real life the ‘Hero’ should have been dead by page 130.
It was hard to go on reading something that is so obviously ridiculous so I hopscotched to the end.
2-stars because I did finish it as preposterous as it was.
It is 90% survivalist and 10% spy story.
In real life the ‘Hero’ should have been dead by page 130.
It was hard to go on reading something that is so obviously ridiculous so I hopscotched to the end.
2-stars because I did finish it as preposterous as it was.
July 31, 2023
I usually love his books. THis one, I had an audio edition, took 2 hours of basically nothingness to even get going. It was the most boring of Harvath's books though it had the potential to be explosive. Anyways, a complimentary 3 stars based on it being a Scot Harvath book---that's it.
June 27, 2019
Another summer, another Scot Harvath book. And that's not a bad thing because Thor is as reliable as the Fourth of July. Backlash contains everything readers have come to expect from a Thor novel: intrigue, corruption, Harvath's invicibility after getting the smithereens beaten out of him, loss of people he loves, the author's political opinions.
It's as American as apple pie, and recommended as a good summer read for thriller fans.
It's as American as apple pie, and recommended as a good summer read for thriller fans.
August 20, 2019
This was a book that I could not put down. Exciting from beginning to end. Enough said. If you have time read the book. Has more meaning if you've read the others before it but it is not a necessity.
July 2, 2019
If I ever find myself trapped behind enemy lines, with a family member kidnapped by a foreign national, or simply on the verge of being mugged on the streets of New York City, the one person I would want around to save the day would be Scot Harvath. Having been pretty much the central figure of what now amounts to 19 books, Harvath represents the type of brash, cowboy-up heroics that has become a dying breed in both our world and the world of fiction.
Brad Thor is another hero of mine. He is a beacon of conservative light in a literary field mostly made up of authors with contrary positions. In the crazy world in which we presently live, this makes me appreciate Thor even more. His latest novel, BACKLASH, is filled with classic U.S. vs. Russia gameplay that makes you feel as if it was written at the height of the Cold War, well supplanted in the Reagan era. The action takes place in the present, and the result is a politically charged thriller that may be Thor's finest work. Once again, he has demonstrated why he is the modern-day successor to the late, great Tom Clancy.
"There will be killing till the score is paid." That quote from Homer's epic, THE ODYSSEY, begins this great novel and pretty much sums up what is to follow in a succinctly powerful sentence. The story opens with a flight of military men all escorting one very important passenger, who is hooded and chained in place so as to not bring harm to any of the armed men around him. The image calls to mind the opening sequence of Christopher Nolan's final Dark Knight film, which featured the supervillain Bane in a similar position. Much like the plane that Bane was on, things do not end well for this flight or most of the people on board, as it crashes into the frozen tundra that is the Murmansk Oblast region of Russia.
At the same time, a police chief from New Hampshire is placing a call into the CIA because of a murder scene he came upon. A house on Governors Island contains four corpses. It is obvious to the chief that these people had been killed by a skilled assassin, and judging from the mess left behind, someone from that household was taken against his or her will.
Successive chapters reveal the details of these two mini-mysteries. Among the deceased from the home in New Hampshire are the founder of The Carlton Group, Reed Carlton; his successor, Lydia Ryan; and Lara Cordero, the fiancée of former Special Forces and current Carlton Group primary operative Scot Harvath. It turns out that the gathering was the clandestine wedding of Harvath and Cordero, a sacred event that was invaded by enemy forces who took the lives of the people closest to Harvath --- obviously with the intent of sending a message.
This information now reveals the identity of the masked prisoner on the ill-fated Russian flight. With countless enemies made around the globe over his many years of service, it could have been almost any group that had it in for Harvath. However, the wedding was so close to the vest that it had to have been someone on the inside who gave up that location to the Russian terrorists who stormed the ceremony and took Harvath with them. Bringing him back to Russia is a huge win for Russian forces, and one that particularly humiliates the American President as well as the entire U.S. intelligence community.
With that plane crash-landing, Harvath is fortunate to have survived and suffered only minor injuries. He is strong enough, and filled with enough rage, to promptly take out all of the remaining Russian military men from the plane. He also is able to leave the head of the mission alone to die a painful death as his lower extremities are crushed beyond help. The only issue now is for an unarmed Harvath, without any form of communication, to survive in the frozen landscape in this stark part of Russia, which also happens to be in the midst of a killer blizzard.
It is at this point where BACKLASH shows off Thor's finest writing, which has never been seen in any of his previous books. We are able to enjoy a man versus wilderness scenario that could have been stripped right off the pages of a Jack London novel. I so thoroughly enjoyed this portion of the story that I didn't want it to end. But I knew I had to prepare myself for an ending that most likely would depict revenge like we have never seen before in any prior installment of this stellar series.
Harvath cannot get to safety by himself and is fortunate to make the acquaintance of a Russian doctor named Christina. Christina has no love lost for the Russian military as her husband was a casualty of one of their missions, leaving her alone without any compensation for his death. He needs to get to the safety of Finland, but that is a long and arduous journey in life-threatening weather conditions. Now, having been able to finally get word to his colleagues in the U.S., we are set for a rescue attempt that will have readers biting their nails right down to their nubs.
Just as satisfying, if not more so, is the highly anticipated revenge. Harvath is completely hollow inside with grief, and there is not a person or force of nature on the planet who could stop him from his next mission. I won't reveal the details, but can assure his fans that you will be as entertained as I was to go along for that ride.
BACKLASH is a triumph for Brad Thor that will attain the expected bestseller status it so deserves. I just hope that his other loyal readers appreciate the effort he put into this book by giving us a situation for Scot Harvath that we all hoped we would see one day, while at the same time leaving our hero a mere shell of himself with an uncertain future on his horizon. We'll just have to wait for the next one.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Brad Thor is another hero of mine. He is a beacon of conservative light in a literary field mostly made up of authors with contrary positions. In the crazy world in which we presently live, this makes me appreciate Thor even more. His latest novel, BACKLASH, is filled with classic U.S. vs. Russia gameplay that makes you feel as if it was written at the height of the Cold War, well supplanted in the Reagan era. The action takes place in the present, and the result is a politically charged thriller that may be Thor's finest work. Once again, he has demonstrated why he is the modern-day successor to the late, great Tom Clancy.
"There will be killing till the score is paid." That quote from Homer's epic, THE ODYSSEY, begins this great novel and pretty much sums up what is to follow in a succinctly powerful sentence. The story opens with a flight of military men all escorting one very important passenger, who is hooded and chained in place so as to not bring harm to any of the armed men around him. The image calls to mind the opening sequence of Christopher Nolan's final Dark Knight film, which featured the supervillain Bane in a similar position. Much like the plane that Bane was on, things do not end well for this flight or most of the people on board, as it crashes into the frozen tundra that is the Murmansk Oblast region of Russia.
At the same time, a police chief from New Hampshire is placing a call into the CIA because of a murder scene he came upon. A house on Governors Island contains four corpses. It is obvious to the chief that these people had been killed by a skilled assassin, and judging from the mess left behind, someone from that household was taken against his or her will.
Successive chapters reveal the details of these two mini-mysteries. Among the deceased from the home in New Hampshire are the founder of The Carlton Group, Reed Carlton; his successor, Lydia Ryan; and Lara Cordero, the fiancée of former Special Forces and current Carlton Group primary operative Scot Harvath. It turns out that the gathering was the clandestine wedding of Harvath and Cordero, a sacred event that was invaded by enemy forces who took the lives of the people closest to Harvath --- obviously with the intent of sending a message.
This information now reveals the identity of the masked prisoner on the ill-fated Russian flight. With countless enemies made around the globe over his many years of service, it could have been almost any group that had it in for Harvath. However, the wedding was so close to the vest that it had to have been someone on the inside who gave up that location to the Russian terrorists who stormed the ceremony and took Harvath with them. Bringing him back to Russia is a huge win for Russian forces, and one that particularly humiliates the American President as well as the entire U.S. intelligence community.
With that plane crash-landing, Harvath is fortunate to have survived and suffered only minor injuries. He is strong enough, and filled with enough rage, to promptly take out all of the remaining Russian military men from the plane. He also is able to leave the head of the mission alone to die a painful death as his lower extremities are crushed beyond help. The only issue now is for an unarmed Harvath, without any form of communication, to survive in the frozen landscape in this stark part of Russia, which also happens to be in the midst of a killer blizzard.
It is at this point where BACKLASH shows off Thor's finest writing, which has never been seen in any of his previous books. We are able to enjoy a man versus wilderness scenario that could have been stripped right off the pages of a Jack London novel. I so thoroughly enjoyed this portion of the story that I didn't want it to end. But I knew I had to prepare myself for an ending that most likely would depict revenge like we have never seen before in any prior installment of this stellar series.
Harvath cannot get to safety by himself and is fortunate to make the acquaintance of a Russian doctor named Christina. Christina has no love lost for the Russian military as her husband was a casualty of one of their missions, leaving her alone without any compensation for his death. He needs to get to the safety of Finland, but that is a long and arduous journey in life-threatening weather conditions. Now, having been able to finally get word to his colleagues in the U.S., we are set for a rescue attempt that will have readers biting their nails right down to their nubs.
Just as satisfying, if not more so, is the highly anticipated revenge. Harvath is completely hollow inside with grief, and there is not a person or force of nature on the planet who could stop him from his next mission. I won't reveal the details, but can assure his fans that you will be as entertained as I was to go along for that ride.
BACKLASH is a triumph for Brad Thor that will attain the expected bestseller status it so deserves. I just hope that his other loyal readers appreciate the effort he put into this book by giving us a situation for Scot Harvath that we all hoped we would see one day, while at the same time leaving our hero a mere shell of himself with an uncertain future on his horizon. We'll just have to wait for the next one.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
July 24, 2019
Wow! What an intense ride.
I honestly don't know how Brad Thor is able to write the stories he does, although I have to say I am so GRATEFUL for his amazing talent.
What Scot has to endure in this ride is beyond heartbreaking, it's unfathomable.
The Old Man is deteriorating and Scot and Lara go to his safe house to be married before Carlton gets much worse. As everything unfolds, the Old Man, Lara and Lydia are all executed while Scot is made to watch. He is then drugged and kidnapped by Russian players and taken to Russia. He endures horrific torture and interrogation before the plane he's being transported on fails during flight and crashes into the freezing and unforgiving landscape of Russia during a blinding winter storm. Can he survive and escape Russia before he is found? Find out by reading this book!! You won't regret it.
I honestly don't know how Brad Thor is able to write the stories he does, although I have to say I am so GRATEFUL for his amazing talent.
What Scot has to endure in this ride is beyond heartbreaking, it's unfathomable.
The Old Man is deteriorating and Scot and Lara go to his safe house to be married before Carlton gets much worse. As everything unfolds, the Old Man, Lara and Lydia are all executed while Scot is made to watch. He is then drugged and kidnapped by Russian players and taken to Russia. He endures horrific torture and interrogation before the plane he's being transported on fails during flight and crashes into the freezing and unforgiving landscape of Russia during a blinding winter storm. Can he survive and escape Russia before he is found? Find out by reading this book!! You won't regret it.
August 5, 2019
Brad Thor brings what military thriller readers want: vengeance, a high body count, the US is always right, terrorists are always bad.
He's been perfecting this for a long time and kudos. This is another excellent installment in his series.
Having commanded a Special Forces team with a maritime specialty (all graduates of Danish Fromandkorpset Combat Swim School) and serving in 10th Special Forces, which is oriented for cold and high altitude operations (Winter Warfare training every year and graduating International Mountain Climbing School) I find his action reasonably accurate. However, I also find a lack of the intangibles of actual experience. No matter how much an author studies or researchs, there is nothing quite like being there and living it. Kipling's Unforgiving Minute.
A good book for the genre.
He's been perfecting this for a long time and kudos. This is another excellent installment in his series.
Having commanded a Special Forces team with a maritime specialty (all graduates of Danish Fromandkorpset Combat Swim School) and serving in 10th Special Forces, which is oriented for cold and high altitude operations (Winter Warfare training every year and graduating International Mountain Climbing School) I find his action reasonably accurate. However, I also find a lack of the intangibles of actual experience. No matter how much an author studies or researchs, there is nothing quite like being there and living it. Kipling's Unforgiving Minute.
A good book for the genre.
July 11, 2019
Like many GR friends, I lost interest in the adventures of Scott Harvath a few books ago due mostly to Middle East terrorist fatigue. The good news here is "Backlash" takes Harvath in another direction reminiscent of Louis L'Amor's iconic non-Western "The Last of a Breed". Both concern Homeric escapes from Russia while aggressively pursued by superior forces. The difference is Harvath's odyssey is justifiably fueled by revenge for what the Russians had so viciously taken from him. He becomes relentless in his resolve to survive, escape and exact that revenge. This is a well written, fast moving adventure that might be Brad Thor's best book in this extraordinarily good series.
November 18, 2022
well. Thor is a good writer. quick read. a lot of good action. but to say i enjoyed - not much. flat, you know that Scott is going to win all the way. but main problem - he is motivated only by one source - revenge. and Geopolotlicly is boring. and the end is rushed.
July 18, 2019
Incredible. I give out very few 5 star ratings, but this book earned every one of them. I've been reading the Scot Harvath thrillers for years. To be honest I was afraid the series had waned a bit with some less than stellar entries in recent years. Hidden Order veing the worst offender with its eye roll inducing plot involving the Federal Reserve. Yawn. Even Spymaster, the most recent entry before Backlash, had issues as I felt Harvath wasn't as front and center as he should be.
However the cliffhanger end to Spymaster set up Backlash to be the best entry in the entire Harvath series. Thor threw out the formula here and gave us a rip roaring tale of survival and revenge that shows Harvath absolutely unleashed. Sometimes I think Thor can struggle with his endings, but here everything is absolutely nailed. Epic both in climax and what is a de facto epilogue.
If you love the genre then Backlash will make the list of your all time favorites along with Consent to Kill. Get your hands on it asap.
However the cliffhanger end to Spymaster set up Backlash to be the best entry in the entire Harvath series. Thor threw out the formula here and gave us a rip roaring tale of survival and revenge that shows Harvath absolutely unleashed. Sometimes I think Thor can struggle with his endings, but here everything is absolutely nailed. Epic both in climax and what is a de facto epilogue.
If you love the genre then Backlash will make the list of your all time favorites along with Consent to Kill. Get your hands on it asap.
December 31, 2020
3.5 Stars. This novel started off well and was a solid read throughout most of it. Towards the end, Harvath conveniently gets out of a situation that, as it was written, he shouldn’t have been able to do. It’s just frustrating as a reader to have an author write this way. It has happened before in earlier novels by Brad Thor. Harvath should have been killed or at least wounded by sniper fire. I don’t see myself reading any more books by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2019
Wow, this one was one of the best Harvath books in a while. It reminded me of another great book. Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour. Although I feel a little sad for Scott it is still great action all the way through. Strongly recommended.
September 15, 2019
Quick read, love Scott Harvath books
July 19, 2022
I thought this was Scott Harvath at his best. And no cheap cliffhanger ending!
September 21, 2019
Backlash is undoubtedly one of the best action thrillers of 2019. This is no small feat, with 2019 being a fantastic year of thrillers, including True Believer by Jack Carr, Lethal Agent by Kyle Mills, Assassin’s Revenge by Ward Larsen, and many more that make up the fine action thriller genre of novels. Following up on the breathtaking cliffhanger of Spymaster, the previous novel, Backlash takes Scot Harvath on a nightmare-esque ride, exacting both excruciating mental and physical tolls on Harvath. While Brad Thor is known to feature a variety of exotic and stunning locales in his books, Backlash takes place mostly in the snowy grounds at the Border of Russia and Finland. To me, this setting made complete sense, as Harvath is put through the wringer, surviving mercenaries, harsh weather, freezing water, and hopelessness. The story has a gut-wrenching emotional drive for Harvath to make it out of his perilous situation and embrace the darkness and rage boiling inside him.
With Harvath on his own and on edge like never before, it made for even more brutal and unforgiving action sequences, where Harvath takes out the bad guys like a total bad-ass. I personally enjoyed the shootouts and brilliant ambushes orchestrated by Harvath, that left me smiling at how brutal and effective they were. Brad Thor shows a good insight of technical details of weapons which factored well into the gritty tone of Backlash. If anything, I wished for a bit more of a weapon-oriented approach with some portions of the shootouts but even with that in mind, the action was superb.
Beyond weaponry, Backlash holds an array of survival tips and techniques that Harvath applies to keep himself functional and on his determined goal of survival. Brad Thor does a great job in balancing the details from seeming too overboard, and at the same time giving enough descriptions for readers to have a clear picture of Harvath as they read Backlash. I enjoyed the blend of fiction with realism of surviving in such a dangerous environment with quick wits as those of Harvath.
While other novels in the Scot Harvath series usually focus on a diabolical threat to America, this novel takes a more centered approach on Harvath and his emotions as he reels from his tragedies, which made the read even more better for me as it felt different and fresh. This novel takes on an even darker approach for Harvath, showing him feral like never before. Brad Thor’s writing as well had a hardened edge to it, filled with strong emotions and sentiments towards Russia, in-keeping with Harvath’s dislike of Russia.
With the events of Backlash, I am very excited to find out what’s next in store for him. I highly recommend Backlash for all action thriller fans with a healthy dose of geopolitical stakes involving United States and Russia.
With Harvath on his own and on edge like never before, it made for even more brutal and unforgiving action sequences, where Harvath takes out the bad guys like a total bad-ass. I personally enjoyed the shootouts and brilliant ambushes orchestrated by Harvath, that left me smiling at how brutal and effective they were. Brad Thor shows a good insight of technical details of weapons which factored well into the gritty tone of Backlash. If anything, I wished for a bit more of a weapon-oriented approach with some portions of the shootouts but even with that in mind, the action was superb.
Beyond weaponry, Backlash holds an array of survival tips and techniques that Harvath applies to keep himself functional and on his determined goal of survival. Brad Thor does a great job in balancing the details from seeming too overboard, and at the same time giving enough descriptions for readers to have a clear picture of Harvath as they read Backlash. I enjoyed the blend of fiction with realism of surviving in such a dangerous environment with quick wits as those of Harvath.
While other novels in the Scot Harvath series usually focus on a diabolical threat to America, this novel takes a more centered approach on Harvath and his emotions as he reels from his tragedies, which made the read even more better for me as it felt different and fresh. This novel takes on an even darker approach for Harvath, showing him feral like never before. Brad Thor’s writing as well had a hardened edge to it, filled with strong emotions and sentiments towards Russia, in-keeping with Harvath’s dislike of Russia.
With the events of Backlash, I am very excited to find out what’s next in store for him. I highly recommend Backlash for all action thriller fans with a healthy dose of geopolitical stakes involving United States and Russia.
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