State of the Union Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
B004KQES9E | Format: EPUB
State of the Union Description
America's worst nightmare has just become a brutal reality. The most unlikely terrorist enemy of all now holds a knife against the country's throat. With both diplomatic and conventional military options swept from the table, the president calls upon Navy SEAL turned Secret Service agent Scot Harvath to disable a brilliantly orchestrated conspiracy intended to bring the United States to its knees.
Teamed with beautiful Russian Intelligence agent Alexandra Ivanova and a highly trained CIA paramilitary detachment, Harvath embarks on an adrenaline-fueled search that spans the world - and leads to a final, deadly showdown on American soil, with a lethal and sinister enemy from the past.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 11 hours and 36 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
- Audible.com Release Date: January 21, 2011
- Whispersync for Voice: Ready
- Language: English
- ASIN: B004KQES9E
This third thriller novel from author Brad Thor picks up shortly after events depicted in "Path Of The Assassin" and once again Scot Harvath is quickly involved in the danger. At President Jack Rutledge's personal request, Agent Harvath moved from the Secret Service to a new position within the newly created "Office of International Investigative Assistance" which is part of the ever increasing Department of Homeland Security. The innocuous title hides the mission of the unit, which is to stop terrorists anywhere in the world by any means necessary. Harvath's old friend, mentor, and father figure Gary Lawlor, who was once the former Deputy Director of the FBI, is in charge of the Office. Now Lawlor has gone missing and Harvath is summoned back to Washington.
There is concern at the highest levels that Gary Lawlor has been a double agent, quite possibly for decades. The notion is unthinkable to Harvath because of the close bond they have shared in the wake of the death of Harvath's father years ago. However, as he is briefed, it becomes clear that everything he believed about Lawlor in the past has been a lie pushed forward by a cover image he needed on behalf of the United States Government. Now thanks to string of murders of other members of his intelligence team, several of which called Lawlor just before their deaths, those in charge believe he turned traitor years ago and has now fled. After telling Harvath the background on a "need to know" basis, they warn him off and instead he is supposed to sit back and wait for contact from Lawlor if and when it happens.
After everything he did in the first two novels, it should have been obvious to bosses, just like it is to the casual reader, that the last thing Harvath is going to do is sit back and wait.
After reading PATH OF THE ASSASSIN, and being thoroughly entertained, STATE OF THE UNION was a natural choice as it picks up the storyline of ASSASSIN. Once again, I must quickly admonish, this is a work of fiction, one where the "secret agents" are not real and actually to live to fight another day regardless the overwhelming odds of death they face. It's a bit like all the James Bond movies...Bond always wins. With that established...
The book opens with U.S. President Rutledge requesting that our hero and uberagent, Scot Harvath, leave the Secret Service to fill a new position within the new, ultraclandestine Office of International Investigative Assistance. Net, net, this is the often bandied "black ops" organization that reports only to the President, and can use any means necessary to accomplish their tasks and missions. While Harvath is leery, Rutledge makes it easy by installing Harvath's friend and, as we learn, surrogate father, Gary Lawlor as the head of OIIA. In previous installments, Lawler was the Deputy Director of the FBI.
Early on, Lawlor cannot be located or contacted, and there is great concern, on many fronts, about Lawlor's mysterious absence. Lawlor spent a great deal of time overseas in his early career, and there are mumblings that Lawlor could possibly be a double agent. Harvath, ever the vigilant friend, is incensed by these accusations, but is more concerned about finding Lawlor than defending him. However, as Harvath learns more about Lawlor's disappearance, and his past, it becomes a plausible possibility that the double agent theory has credence. Harvath still doesn't buy it, but a case is there to be made.
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