Alpha (Black Flagged, #1) in SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group

Aug 05, 2013 Samuel rated it really liked it

Black Flagged- "Classification given to an intelligence officer who is to be interrogated and summarily killed if apprehended".

Black Flagged is the first in a series of spy novels that are grittier than established names such as Scott Harvath and Mitch Rapp. As the author, Steven Konkoly notes, his books often have unapologetic themes and are not for the faint hearted. The title refers to a D.O.D program founded by one of the books main characters aimed at training assassin's who could be used Black Flagged- "Classification given to an intelligence officer who is to be interrogated and summarily killed if apprehended".

Black Flagged is the first in a series of spy novels that are grittier than established names such as Scott Harvath and Mitch Rapp. As the author, Steven Konkoly notes, his books often have unapologetic themes and are not for the faint hearted. The title refers to a D.O.D program founded by one of the books main characters aimed at training assassin's who could be used to get over red tape and inter-service rivalry. The book itself is like a fusion between Ludlum and Forsyth and in this review, you'll see why.

The story kicks off in 1990's Serbia with a bang. A lone assassin sets up an incredibly destructive ambush for a major Serbian militia member. After hosing down the Serbian's Range Rover's with gunfire, the assassin finishes off his target with an axe. Noting that the target was visiting his brother who helped manage his fortune, the assassin pays an off page visit and steals a sizeable amount of money taking some for himself. The book then cuts to the USA in 2005. The assassin, going under his real name Daniel Petriovich has left his old job, married and built up a highly successful civilian business in Maine. One day, he gets a phone call from a subordinate of his old superior and is persuaded to perform a favour, to kill a man. Petrovich does so but soon finds that he's helped eliminate eight major Al-Qaeda financiers, destroyed an ongoing federal investigation and as events escalate, with the CIA and FBI hunting him down, is forced to go back into a world he hates and rely on a mentor he despises.

In terms of plot, Black Flagged is solid. In the classical Robert Ludlum tradition, it's one well trained man up against the government and on the run. Only a few twists here and there but some of them will surprise you and make you smile. The book relies on the mysterious nature of the main characters, slowly revealing hidden aspects of their personality as we get near the conclusion. Action is also solid, a particular highlight happening right inside the Pentagon where one of the secondary characters gets a chance to shine with a judicious use of lethal and non-lethal weaponry. The research is superb with tactics, trade-craft and weapons having that authentic ring, just like in a Forsyth novel but not overbearingly detailed like in a Clancy door-stopper.

In terms of Characters, Black Flagged is interesting. In their world, a Darwinist world view common in most Forsyth novels is apparent. There are only the quick and the dead in the world of Black Flagged and the main cast is very quick and leaves anyone who gets in their way dead. Here are three standouts. Take Daniel Petrovich for instance. Like a ruthless version of the film version of Jason Bourne, he's highly competent, lethal and wants to be left alone with the woman he loves. Unlike Jason Bourne and Mitch Rapp however, the measures he takes to try and accomplish his goals also involve cop killing and other morally ambiguous actions. (This is just my interpretation but I think the author was trying to partially de-construct Mitch Rapp/Jack Bauer style characters through Petrovich, showing that in the course of their job, there would be much collateral damage.) He won't win fans from law abiding readers and many will have fun discussing whether he's a sociopath or merely "pathologically practical" but for me, Petrovich is quite fascinating and has a redeeming side in the form of his deep love for his wife, Jessica who despite acting like an ordinary housewife, will surprise you near the end of the book. Next, there's General Sanderson, Petrovich's former employee. To use Patton's term for Rommel, he's a magnificent bastard, someone who is willing to remove obstacles in his way through any means necessary and in style. Charming, amoral and intelligent, during the novel he screws with the CIA and FBI and utterly humiliates the latter. He's a brilliant character that even though you're supposed to hate him, at the same time, you will be cheering him on and waiting with bated breath to see what gambit he conducts next. Finally there's Richard Farrington, a minor character who gets to show off the capabilities of the rank and file Black Flagged assassins. With his use of several unique gadgets to get rid of several people in his office covertly, he made a splash for a minor character and thankfully will return in later instalments of the series.

Overall, Black Flagged is a solid spy novel and an excellent introduction to a promising series. Many of you will be aghast at the actions of some of the characters but hey, Mitch Rapp, Jack Bauer and Scott Harvath have done worse. The Black Flagged members are at least honest about the fact there's no right or wrong, operating in a cynical world where there there is only moral ambiguity. For the faint hearted, there are other, more pleasant books in the thriller genre, read them instead. For those who are happy to have their world-view shaken up a bit and are tired of misty eyed world view presented by Tom Clancy but love a well researched thriller, welcome to Black Flagged. VERY RECOMMENDED. ...more

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Mar 27, 2014 Jim Morton rated it really liked it

Great detail and story...enjoyed it.

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Mar 21, 2013 David Dalton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: action, assassin-s, thriller, guns-gun-and-more-guns, intense, special-ops, spies

At first I was a tad confused, but at the story progressed, I got more into it. Quite a thriller, with spies, assassins, a political thriller, FBI, CIA,guns blazing, knifes slashing, who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? I will follow up this series soon and read the 2nd book in this series:

Black Flagged Redux (Black Flagged, #2) by Steven Konkoly

. ...more

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Nov 23, 2018 Garry Thompson rated it liked it

Good book, I want to read the other stories in the series. It was difficult to start and I almost quit the story, but am glad that I stayed with the novel.

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