The Intercept (Jeremy Fisk, #1) in SSG: Spy/Spec-Ops Group

Sep 16, 2013 Samuel rated it liked it

The counter-terrorist genre is populated mostly with American Assassins and British Special Forces Soldiers. So one day, I decided to buy this book for a change of scenery, to see what an NYPD Policeman had to bring to the table....not much it seems.

The book begins with an NYPD+FBI stakeout. A terrorist, suspected to be planning an attack is tracked to Times Square, where in the most thrilling part of the book, an NYPD sniper tracks and shoots the man before he can set off a large amount of hyd The counter-terrorist genre is populated mostly with American Assassins and British Special Forces Soldiers. So one day, I decided to buy this book for a change of scenery, to see what an NYPD Policeman had to bring to the table....not much it seems.

The book begins with an NYPD+FBI stakeout. A terrorist, suspected to be planning an attack is tracked to Times Square, where in the most thrilling part of the book, an NYPD sniper tracks and shoots the man before he can set off a large amount of hydrogen peroxide. We then cut to Pakistan where Osama Bin Laden, is dressing down his subordinates for their increasing failure to pull off any significant or innovative terrorist attacks. As a result, he gives them an operational concept, to create a situation in which perceptions are manipulated up to the moment where high value targets are lured into killing range of a jihadist. Soon after, DEVGRU takes Bin Laden on a one way trip to Davy Jones Locker and the plan is activated by his successors, which begins when a Swedish airliner is subject to a failed hijacking in the days leading up to the opening of a rebuilt World Trade Center. Six civilians apprehend the hijacker, and are billeted as guests of honour for the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, Detective Jeremy Fisk of the NYPD intelligence division smells a rat, beginning an investigation which turns into a race to stop the political assassination to end all assassinations.

Plot-wise, the book is nothing special. Maybe it's because of the writing style but it seemed to go very slowly (perhaps the author was trying to reflect the reality of police work for the real life NYPD intelligence division?) but in a genre which is supposed to have you wildly guessing about what will happen next, it failed. The plot twists were predictable and the main threat at the end, the jihadist, will be easy to identify. In terms of research, the book is all right. The author seems to have talked to the right people about how the NYPD works , the weapons and tactics seemingly plausible enough, but even that doesn't make this book stand out in the counter-terrorist genre

As for characters, it was a little more promising on this front-although not much, with only a few good stand-outs. Jeremy Fisk, the protagonist, is your typical hard boiled detective. With most first novels, he's not fully fleshed out yet, but the author has the foundations of a promising character laid down. His partner, Gernsten is much more fun, seemingly channelling Lisbeth Salander . Being forced to constantly grin and bear the constant sexism of the boys club is already tough, but when she's forced to guard six jumped up instant celebrities, Gernsten finds the lead which eventually leads the Al Quaeda operation to implode. She's was much more interesting than Mr Fisk and it's a real shame that the author had to put her beyond the point of no return. Finally, we have "The Six", a group of instant celebrities who provide the best character interaction of the novel. They're a group full of jealousy, pettiness and occasionally some sympathy, and there's even a love triangle of sorts between three of them.

Now for the criticism. The book flowed too slowly for my taste despite a few promising action scenes. The author is still learning his craft however and the next book in the series "The Execution" involving Mexican Narco Terrorists may improve it. Next, too much time was relegated to the intricacies of television appearances, especially the make up sessions that the six go too. The counter-terrorist genre is supposed to be a tale about good an evil, not a parody of modern media. If this was the author's attempt to differentiate himself, it backfired in my view.

Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh, but the book didn't really click with me. Maybe others will like it, but if the author wishes to enter the top tier of the genre, occupied by Flynn, Berenson, Clancy, Thor and several independent authors like Steven Konkoly and Stephen England, he needs to start by dialling up the action and nail-biting suspense.
MEH ...more

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Feb 27, 2019 David Dalton rated it really liked it

Shelves: action, intense, terrorist, dectectives

a hardback read for me. Very rare nowadays. I liked this police thriller. Kept me on my toes. Looking forward to books two and three featuring Jeremy Fisk. Good police thriller. Dick Wolf writes another winner (yes, that Dick Wolf).

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