Customer Reviews

The Jericho Sanction

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The Jericho Sanction is the second novel written by North and Musser. It follows the New York Times' Bestseller Mission Compromised as the second book in a three-book series. (If you haven't read Mission Compromised yet, it is now out in paperback.) In The Jericho Sanction, North continues the action-packed story of Peter Newman, a Marine lieutenant colonel whose covert operation against terrorists and Saddam Hussein was betrayed by United Nations' and U.S. government bureaucrats.

Newman and his wife Rachel go into hiding following an assassination attempt orchestrated by a renegade UN Deputy Secretary General with KGB ties. Although, he has been framed as an international terrorist, Newman is called out of hiding to help the US military find three soviet-era nuclear weapons that may have fallen into the hands of Saddam Hussein.

When his wife is kidnapped in Israel, along with an Israeli woman, Newman teams up with the Israeli military to find them and the nuclear weapons. The events that follow bring the middle-east to the brink of nuclear war, as Israel considers a proactive nuclear strike as its necessary action of defense.

Like Mission Compromised, this book is a gripping story of international intrigue, conflict, violence, betrayal and faith. It is an entertaining and intelligently written page-turner that the reader is sure to appreciate.

As President Reagan's coordinator of US counter-terrorism efforts in the mid-1980's, North was involved in highly-classified covert operations, including the 1985 interception of the Achille Laura cruise ship hijackers and the bombing of Libyan terrorists' bases.

As this novel was going through the finishing touches prior to publication, North was embedded with US Marines as they stormed Baghdad as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He uses his first-hand knowledge of the region, the governments, conflicts, and of US military operations to write a realistic story about the war on terrorism. This novel reveals the murderous hatred of terrorists and the faithful courage of the soldiers who oppose them.

North said in an interview about the book that he spent significant time with the Israeli military in order to write accurately about it. He also says that all of the descriptions of the equipment and weaponry in The Jericho Sanction (and there are several high-tech gadgets used in it) are all "dead-on accurate."

The action in this book is fast-paced and moves from scene to scene before you can blink your eyes. It lacks in-depth character development, as the characters play their roles too neatly--exactly the way you would imagine without any surprises. Even so, by reading this book, you become familiar with the caliber and commitment of those men and women of the Israeli, British, and US militaries who are unselfishly risking their lives to prevent more atrocities like the September 11th attack.

The book ends with one of the three nuclear weapons missing, and the weapon may eventually find its way to the United States. North offers a glimpse of the third and final book of the trilogy. He says that the upcoming book will be about the US capabilities to deal with the nuclear threat from terrorists and from countries like Iran that may already posses nuclear weapons.

This is an interesting and useful novel about weapons of mass destruction, an international arms market in illegal weapons, the potential for rogue regimes to acquire extraordinarily dangerous weapons and the absolute requirement for both covert operations and preemptive actions.

As an Army brat I think North is a little too Marine centric but then, as a Marine, he has to be.

Additionally, North's understanding of the slow, ponderous and clumsy nature of Washington bureaucratic politics, the requirement for allies both overt and covert and the need for leaders to follow their instincts is all too accurate. (In a sense that is what a lifetime of leadership training and experience is all about--creating leaders who can determine which hunches they have to follow and which they should avoid.)

America can project a lot of power because countries like Turkey, Britain, Israel and individual people in many of other countries are willing to work with us. The morning this is not true, we will be a dramatically weaker and more vulnerable nation.

As you read in the daily papers about the level of surprise in the 17 years that Iranians have been lying about their nuclear program or the revelation that Libya was much closer to building a nuclear bomb than experts had projected, you will find the Jericho Sanction reads a little more like daily events and a little less like fiction

Excellent thriller based on more history and fact than fiction, a la Clancy. Well researched (experienced) book is a "page turner."

North just gets better with each book. No "dead spots." You'll get your money's worth. Very entertaining.

I really enjoyed the book -- I didn't want to get interrupted once I started reading it. Ollie North realistically depicts the characters -- be it a US marine, an Israeli counter-terrorism expert, or a former KGB general, as well as the politician of the time of the book (though none referred by name) -- the Prime Minister of Israel, the Secretary of State, or the President caught in the midst of a sex scandal. It is also nice to read the book where the character is a US marine written by a Hero US Marine, a decorated war veteran, who can relate on the personal level what exactly is going through the mind of the main character. I also found the book very informative in many ways, both from Colonel North's explanations throughout the text and by the glossary of terms and abbreviations used throughout the book, provided in the beginning of the book (e.g., names of Israeli units such as Sayeret Duvdevan etc.). Enjoy this fantastic read!

I bought this book because I just happened to go into a place where there was an Oliver North book signing. Large men with suits and ear-pieces lined the rows, trying to be inconspicuous, trying to look like shoppers. It's only pertinent because North's life could still possibly be in danger, from foreign and domestic threats.

It is because of this that Jericho Sanction is such a great book. North obviously has written from experience, utilizing his vast knowledge of Washington bureaucratic politics, the Middle East, tensions with Israel, WMDs, and the military to craft a story that is intriguing, fast-paced, and exciting.

Peter Newman, a Marine lieutenant colonel is the protagonist who is on the hunt for three missing nuclear weapons that have fallen into the hands of terrorists. What's more important to Newman, but not the world, is that his wife has been kidnapped.

Twist and turns develop into surprises, heated action, and the involvement of several smaller subplots that keep the book as entertaining as a big-budget Hollywood military blockbuster.

The strength of the novel is in the descriptions; vivid and clear, North obviously knows the details that are important and entertaining. He knows the field of which he writes - it's been his occupation for quite some time.

Throughout the book you'll wonder how much is fiction, and how much is simply North changing the name of an operation, enemy, or ally from the battles, risks, and top secret information that he has known for half his life.

Does Iraq have weapons of mass destruction? With that question still lurking, "The Jericho Sanction" is a pertinent thriller. Through the eyes of Peter Newman, Marine, we see once again the subterfuge and lies of Middle East politics--not to mention the politics of western capitalism and moral relativity.

Although the book stands alone, it will be particularly gratifying for those who have read the first novel, "Mission Compromised." We witness the events of the Newman family's survival, and the subsequent troubles they face when Mrs. Newman is kidnapped from a street in Jerusalem. The attack is more than a personal vendetta; it is a ploy to sell nuclear weapons and track down embedded double agents. Once again, a renegade Russian diplomat is at the helm, steering the story toward a conclusion that is realistic, but without any real surprises.

For readable, yet credible military thrillers, North and Musser form a team that's hard to beat. North's background lends eye-opening insights into the political and military process, while Musser's prose brings the story to life. With the loose ends left at the end of this book, I have no doubt that we'll be seeing a third book soon. I can't wait.

I read very little fiction but this book and his previous book, "Mission Compromised" captured my interest immediately. I was just compelled to "read on". Oliver North has put reality into fiction form. "The Jericho Sanction" is an easy read and should be on everyones "must read" list. It's a real pleasure to recommend this book.
Donald W. Trask
WW2 Veteran
M/Sgt USAF Retired.

Certainly enjoyed reading The Jericho Sanction. I thought at first that it was just a "guy" book but after reading it felt that men and women would enjoy it too. Even after skipping some of the military information, the book was a good read with enough character development to keep the reader interested and concerned. The ending certainly was a lead in into the next book, and I look forward to reading it too. I have already passed this book along to a friend.

It frustrates me to see that many critics who hold animus towards an author due to their disagreement with his/her politics or who resent the fact that their hunger for revenge went unserved for past scandals find it so convenient to use the amazon website to bash, disparage and vilify. Regardless of your personal opinion about Oliver North this thriller is ample evidence of his superb writing ability.
The Jericho Sanction is a smart blend of current events, political intrigue, military special operations tactics, espionage and interesting characters that makes this novel appear more like a non-fiction narrative. It is definitely crafted by one who has lived and operated in such environments and not the fantasy, high-tech, supercilious, verbose, literary sleep aids authored by Tom Clancy, who diverts the reader into a maze of military techno-wizardry that serves more to stroke his unbearable ego. North has provided just the right blend of intrigue, techno-speak, and an interesting story line that makes this one hard to put down. I was captivated by every chapter.
Those of us who have had the privilege of serving this great nation in the US armed forces will agree that The Jericho Sanction is a true testament to the esprit de corps that was once the hallmark of our great military before the political correctness police imposed their fluffy-pillow agenda thus emasculating our military institutions and turning them into social engineering centers.

The Jericho Sanction was a good read. Content and themes were what I expected from a conservative who is a former USMC officer. As with most novels, the outcome was predictable. However, predictability did not take away too much from the book. It was worth the time it took to read.