Las Vegas on Twelve Dollars a Day

Mike Bennett

4.27 · Rating details · 380 ratings · 3 reviews

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Published November 24th 2020

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Feb 14, 2021 Julie Watson rated it really liked it

I received an ARC from Col. Mike Bennett for LAS VEGAS ON TWELVE DOLLARS A DAY and found it to be fascinating, but in some aspects I found myself in over my head. On one hand it’s like a manual on how to train a new operative, agent, employee for the CIA. But it is told from the viewpoint of the protagonist Jon Prescott who is introduced as an instructor/trainer of intelligence collectors, of CIA operative teams.

Prescott, as an outside contractor to the CIA,developed a program to perfect tradec I received an ARC from Col. Mike Bennett for LAS VEGAS ON TWELVE DOLLARS A DAY and found it to be fascinating, but in some aspects I found myself in over my head. On one hand it’s like a manual on how to train a new operative, agent, employee for the CIA. But it is told from the viewpoint of the protagonist Jon Prescott who is introduced as an instructor/trainer of intelligence collectors, of CIA operative teams.

Prescott, as an outside contractor to the CIA,developed a program to perfect tradecraft with emphasis on the more arcane skills of espionage conducted in a hostile and clandestine environment. Not the examination of their cutting edge technology knowledge, but ensuring they have perfected such skills as mastering the art of surveillance detection routes (SDR), honed their skills of observation knowledge, of cultural behavior in areas of the world a trainee would be assigned. It is perfecting the trainees’ SIGINT. Basically, one of learning how to live in a low profile, or living your cover.

This sets up the storyline of why the plot finishes at a showdown with Prescott designing an operation’s important details. The author does this by reliving or reminiscing of the time these various components in the final operation appeared in his life whether it was when he served in the military and interacted with some of the secondary characters in the Middle East and Africa or trained some of these operators in a specialized trainee site outside Las Vegas or in Idaho’s backwaters. It covers a two decade period of time.

What I found interesting was the geopolitics relayed in this quasi-novel. It addresses the rise to power of Qasem Soleimani, legendary Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps- the Quds Force. He is described as a killer but also a master strategist and created layers of operations nested within operations. He devised an effective technique to counter Bush’s objectives in Iraq with the introduction of Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFP), basically high end explosives packed in a cylinder similar to a paint can, something that could be mass produced in a workshop.

Soleimani’s Quds Force had a tier of lower end commanders that served as senior tactical commanders and one in particular, Jamal Madan al-Tamimi, provided EFP training in a camp. In October 2008, the problem was addressed, but one escaped, al-Tamimi. January 2019, the US dealt in real time with Soleimani in a final showdown. He lost. These are the aspects that anchored this book for me. But it would take me a moment or two to realize when we were back in the novel.

The book takes you through the various assignments Jon Prescott dealt with, from Vegas,To Idaho,to Ft.Meade, Middle East serving as a liaison to DOD,JSOC, CENTCOM, to what I think of as Spookville, but is referred to as Creech in the book. Even a stint in Africa, Nairobi,as is Mogadishu, Somalia addressed.

Africa’s current geopolitics are addressed by an examination of the role the Chinese have in mining rare earth metals throughout various areas on the continent. It seems like everything relating to the Chinese in Africa all centers around rare earth mining. And it takes us to the final showdown, the takedown of al-Tamimi outside of Mogadishu, Somalia-A full tactical operation involving Navy SEALs and all those individuals Jon Prescott had either trained or worked with across operations in The Middle East, Pakistan, and Africa over a 20-year period of time.

The novel is into elaborate details of specialized communications equipment, computers utilized, satellite hookups, sat phones, specialized fiber optic cable laid for spying. You name it and if it had to do in some manner with Intell gathering communication, it was discussed. As I no longer work with computers and have limited access to them, much of the detail was lost on me. I have to confess, what I read left me a little uneasy because not having the knowledge, I could not discern what was fact and what was fiction. What are the details you don’t discuss.

It wasn’t the smoothest read I’ve ever done, but the book has merit. If you are a part of the computer world and are into spy craft, you will love this book because you understand the basics upon which this book is predicated and why the equipment is important. The storyline of relating the differing career moves was interesting and what the job entailed held your interest. I’m appreciative too of his honoring the serious, dangerous legwork done by native operators who are under-appreciated for their contributions to our intelligence sector. It’s always the visible ones, the elites, who are recognized for heroic efforts.

I have mixed feelings regarding this novel. It definitely has value to those who wish to get an insider look at how spy craft is learned, taught. It is definitely an education in specialized equipment used. There are multiple levels of value to this book, it’s all in how you read it. It is designed for a specific audience- those who have specifically worked in the field as agents in the Intell/security arena, special op community like SEALs, Rangers, Deltas, or those that work in the DOD, JSOC, CENTCOM, FT.Meade communities. Some may pick it up to read as a novelty, for information conveyed,to have an appreciation for the cross training done, for the level of training done. But those who will truly appreciate it will be in the Intell community. This is designed for a specialized audience. I commend Col. Mike Bennett for taking an unheard of, novel approach to introducing us, the novices to the Intell underworld. Not exactly a novel per say, not a reference book either, it’s a combination. ...more

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Mar 29, 2021 Grady rated it it was amazing

A story of redemption

Author Colonel Mike Bennett brings in depth military knowledge and experience to his debut novel. As a former military officer and graduate of Ranger School and the Special Forces Qualification Course, he was repeatedly deployed to various zones during his thirty-year career. He knows the territory about which he writes and understands the intricacies of espionage.

The language of the novel is appropriately raw and visceral and the author takes the time to explain clearly th A story of redemption

Author Colonel Mike Bennett brings in depth military knowledge and experience to his debut novel. As a former military officer and graduate of Ranger School and the Special Forces Qualification Course, he was repeatedly deployed to various zones during his thirty-year career. He knows the territory about which he writes and understands the intricacies of espionage.

The language of the novel is appropriately raw and visceral and the author takes the time to explain clearly the devices and terms pertinent to the militaristic aspects very well indeed. Example, ‘Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs) were high explosives packed into a cylinder akin to a paint can with the lid removed. A concave liner of professionally milled copper or steel is then clamped over the cylinder’s open end. When the explosive is detonated, it creates a focused jet of hypervelocity molten metal that can cut through even the heaviest main battle tank armor at close range.’ That degree of attention to detail clarifies and adds to the impact of the story’s progress.

Another aspect that makes this military thriller work so well is the author’s election to offer a terse but precise history of the Middle East conflict, opening the story in Syria 2007 – 2008 – a fine preparation for the introduction of is primary character Jon Prescott on an auspicious day in 2001 – ‘The world had changed. Jon Prescott…saw a black plume of smoke streaming out of what appeared to be one of the twin towers in NYC. It was the day when Jon put past feelings aside and made a promise to himself, he would reengage and get back in to the game. His initial role was a trainer and mentor of the next generation of technical intelligence collector, and he performed his task as an independent contractor for the CIA…’

The complex plot is distilled in the author’s synopsis – ‘Nearing retirement, an independent contractor enabling CIA technical operations mentors the next generation of patriots in their craft until tragedy pulls him back into the game to rollback China’s global ambitions. Jon Prescott had made mistakes in his life, as most people do, but there were some decisions he had made in his past he wanted to rectify. Following 9/11, he started a journey along a path toward redemption, a path that would lead him to the vast stretches of federal lands out west where he would train the next generation of special operators and technical intelligence officers. These young American men and women are fighting to preserve the liberties that America offers and would soon join the fray to flush terrorist strongholds out of East Africa. Although the Tier 1 operators rightfully claim the mantle of leadership in the realms requiring violence of action, the technical enablers of low-vis operations tend to their duty’s unseen in the shadows.’

For those of us who have served in the military this novel takes on special significance. For those unfamiliar with the terms and conditions, the book is so well written that it becomes both educational and entertaining. Highly recommended.
...more

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Mar 20, 2021 Kirsty rated it liked it

Shelves: 2021-kindle, read-in-2021, reviews

Las Vegas on Twelve Dollars a Day - Mike Bennett

This novel discusses elaborate details of communications equipment, it will appeal to you if you are interested in the computer world or spying as you will understand the basics. I didn’t think this book flowed as well as I would have liked.

I was definitely not the target audience for this book as I didn’t have enough knowledge of what all of the acronyms meant.

Rating 3/5

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