Customer Reviews

Foreign Influence: A Thriller (Scot Harvath)

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

FOREIGN INFLUENCE is a fast paced, thrill ride into the world of covert ops. Former Navy SEAL Scot Harvath is back, and in fine form. After a bus loaded with American college students is bombed in Rome, Harvath shifts into high gear. It's a horrific crime that can't go unanswered and Harvath is the man for the job. Clear across the world in Chicago, a second, less spectacular crime is committed--a seemingly random hit and run.

Harvath is no stranger to violent terrorism or the fanatical minds behind it, but Harvath can't know the depth of the evil in play.

In a brutal pursuit that will test his knowledge of justice and mercy, Harvath must also confront his own inner demons, and they're as dangerous as the people he's pursuing. FOREIGN INFLUENCE rocks the house with Thor's best effort yet! We would expect nothing less from the New York Times #1 bestselling author of THE LAST PATRIOT.

Cheers for Brad Thor!

Brad Thor and Vince Flynn are my two favorite authors who write political action thrillers with protagonists who take a no nonsense approach in dealing with terrorists. In this novel former Navy Seal Scot Horvath, who is Thor's protagonist, is assigned by the highly covert government agency for whom he works to capture the Troll, with whom Horvath has dealt in other novels, because the agency suspects the Troll of committing certain terrorist acts. But Horvath soon realizes that the Troll has been framed, and actually enlists his help in trying to prevent terrorist acts of destruction in Europe and America.

Thor is at the top of his game in this action packed, fast moving, and well crafted story. Horvath uses some particularly gruesome enhanced interrogation techniques, though he never loses his humanity. Indeed, without giving anything away, Thor nicely explores the tension that Horvath has in the relationship with his fiancee Tracy. Thor also highlights the role of women in combatting terrorists by having an elite Delta Force team comprised solely of women assist Horvath as he races literally all over the globe to uncover and prevent certain planned terrorist attacks.

This novel is fast reading and very entertaining. Most of the negative reviews do not deal with the novel, but with ordering problems with Amazon. If like me you are a Brad Thor fan, you will not be disappointed. And if you are new to Brad Thor, you can easily understand what is going on without having read his earlier novels. I really liked this novel and recommend it.

Was it me or was Scot Harvath incredibly brutal in this one? While Thor's books do strike an emotional chord, it struck a very different one in the beginning of this book. We all know what cowards and hypocrites terrorist are, but when Scot happens upon a terrorist camps that holds and tortures children... chilling. I was ready to grab a rifle and march over there myself. Vindication is had in an incredibly poignant and heartbreaking scene. And that scene sets the tone for this book. Scot doesn't usually hold back but there was something... different... about the type of needed brutality and the method in which it was dispensed.

The chickenhearted "my religion is about peace" terrorists are tossing bombs around like candy and innocent people are, of course, the unwitting targets. The horrors described are brutal and graphic. There are a number of storylines that swirl around in this book but Brad being Brad brings them together in one explosive "ending".

I read this one with the same fervor that I read ALL of Thor's books. I find that I have "reader's remorse" when I read his work. I get it, I devour it, and then I hate myself because now I have to wait even longer for his next work. Whoever said "patience is a virtue" has never read a good... GREAT book. Luckily Brad will put out another one at the end of this year. The surprise is how he works that one in this one. Brad Thor is an author whose work I love reading, love talking about, and love spending my time reading.

Lots of people making political statements as reviews around here. These novels are escapist fantasy stuff. Think "24" in novel format. And there is nothing wrong with that. Is torture employed? You bet. But almost always it's the "bomb is about to go off" variety rather than an on-going policy thing. Is the protagonist turning into a sadist? Well, now, that's an interesting question. As a matter of fact, I kind of wish the author would go there. Because lately these books have been very cookie cutter with absolutely no character development. Hey, Scot is getting older. When he gets kicked in the groin it still bothers him in the next chapter. That's the character development. Oh,the book didn't start with a couple of throw away lines about Scot and the girl from the last book went there separate ways. That is a change of pace. Although she's not in it, so not much difference, really. The protagonist going down a dark path with some redemption towards the end (or not) would be a nice change.

That being said, the novel does what it sets out to do. Keep you on edge of your seat. Earlier novels did it better but that may be more because they were fresher. It's a decent summer read. It's not great literature and it is not horrid right-wing propaganda, either.

To set the record straight, I abhor professional book reviewers! Amateurs to me, present a far more balanced (and dare I say, intelligent, viewpoint. I always feel that the reviewers for the big media organisations have either an axe to grind with the author (hence they give the book a poor rating), or are getting a generous back hander to write something favourable (hence the book gets a good, or great review). Or maybe I'm just plain cynical! Who knows? However, when I read comments like "The Master of Thrillers", or "Quite Possibly the next coming of Robert Ludlum", I cringe! Comments like these are Bull****! They say and mean nothing. And the are about as useful in a review, as tits are on a bull! Yet both of these ridiculous statements appear on the back cover of Brad Thor's new book, "Foreign Influence", sadly detracting the reader from what is quite genuinely, a well-plotted, pacy thriller. I must confess, Thor's first 4-5 titles did little to impress me. I had grown up with the likes of LeCarre, McCarry, Forsyth, Littell, Ludlum, etc., and frankly, Thor's first outings simply did not make the grade of these exceptional writers, despite what the media critics said! BUT, from Takedowm onwards, I have noticed a great maturing in this young author, exhibited by stronger story lines, more in-depth characters, tighter plotting, and more importantly, that rare ability to produce a story that grabs the reader & doesn't let go, but instead impels him/her forward, chapter after chapter, until the final denouncement, when all is explained & the loose ends are tied up. This is, in my humble opinion, what makes a superior thriller writer. "Foreign Influence" is such a story, and Thor carries it well, right through to it's most satisfactory conclusion. Thor is not the "master of Thrillers", but he is getting better all the time, & if he continues with books such as this, he will certainly make the cut very soon. Highly recommended escapism!

This book is predictable in that in the end the reader knows that the U.S. and special agent Scot Harvath are going to win. But, like everyone else, I read the book for the action along the way. As someone who has been on the front lines, Thor describes the war on terror with great detail, including various and creative methods of torture. Some readers, however, may be under the impression that all Muslims are terrorists the way they are described in this book, although I am sure that was not the intent. I also would have liked more information on Site 243, but hope that his next story starts anew and doesn't merely pick up where this one ended. This was not Thor's best book, but it was an action-packed thriller that entertained me on the train for the week.

I have read all of Brad Thor's books and enjoyed them, some more than others. This one is possibly one of his best. The story flows so well you will find yourself finishing yet "another" or "just one more" chapter. Very entertaining. My only complaint is that I wish there was more of Scot Harvath, though the other characters are intersetesting especially the Athena Project. Can't wait for the next one.

For those that need a 24 fix now that the series is over this is a good place to get it.

I just finished reading yet another outstanding Brad Thor novel. He just keeps getting better and better and I'm really looking forward to reading The Athena Project and Full Black. Brad tells it like it is and truely does base his stories on reality. Todays society is definitely too PC and it is certainly a detriment to America. We need to call a spade a spade and do whatever it takes to prevent further terrorist attacks and defeat these scum-bags. Just like Scot, we need to fight terror with terror. Keep up the great work Brad, and I'll keep buying and reading!

Wow! I really enjoyed this one and I'm extremely happy to have discovered another new writer (for me, at least). Some of the things he describes in the book about what kinds of benefits foreigners receive from our country is a little frightening. The sad thing is that I believe him. I recommend this book highly.