Customer Reviews

No Other Option

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This engaging combination of military action thriller and police procedural is a first novel by Marcus Wynne, who has considerable credentials in the same fields of expertise as many of his characters. It pursues an old theme, that of the good soldier gone bad, and does so with a quiet competence that makes it a very convincing read.

Jonny Maxwell was once the top member of Dominance Rain, a secret CIA dirty work team. All of the team are the very best, but Jonny was even a little bit better. Unfortunately, his tastes also ran to violent sex with unwilling victims. Finally discovered, Maxwell was sentenced to a long prison term. Unfortunately, luck and a bit of planning enables him to escape. Dale Miller, once Jonny's best friend, is assigned to aid a team of U.S. Marshals in bringing Jonny back quickly, before the entire special forces group is exposed.

The first part of the book tells the story of Maxwell's escape and the efforts of Dale Miller and the Marshals (led by Jed Loveless) to bring him in. Miller and Loveless have a love/hate relationship that subtly interferes with the effectiveness of the team. As the Marshals bicker, Maxwell cut's a grim swath in the Milwaukee area. Jonny seems to be able to run rings around his pursuit at will. He engineers deadly bank theft that turns into a major slaughter. Then he manages to fake his death, fool the Marshals, and leave Dale mystified. Maxwell isn't just good at what he does, he is deadly, and hates to leave witnesses.

The story turns to Minneapolis, the next stop on Maxwell's quest for the resources to succesfully flee the U.S. and set up a new life. Unfortunately for Jonny (and his victims) his penchant for rape brings him to the attention of Detective Nina Capushek of the Sex Crime Unit. When Nina recognizes the Jonny Maxwell's signature in a recent rape case she comes into contact with Dale Miller. Fearing the worst, Dale arrives in Minneapolis and, in very short order, is providing assistance to the Minneapolis police. The violence escalates and the book proceeds inexorably to its final confrontation.

Characterization is just right for this kind of book. Jonny's behavior unfolds a piece at a time, as the story requires. Rather than long explanations of his childhood trauma, we are given sudden, sharp insights. Indeed, Marcus Wynne is what I would call a 'just enough' author. Each character has just enough detail, there is just enough armament detail to satisfy the military enthusiasm, and just enough violence to keep the reader riveted. "No Other Option" is far better than just a decent first novel. We are promised that there is more to come, and I'm looking forward to it.

Marc Ruby - for The Mystery Reader

NO OTHER OPTION is a book about covert operations by a person who has been there. Marcus Wynne is a former special operator in the U.S. Army, Federal Air Marshal,executive bodyguard,researcher and trainer. Now he has directed his talents in to a novel that gives the reader a first hand look at black operations. I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of this book and I was most impressed. Mr. Wynne has a good handle on the weapons, techniques and mindset of those who must operate in the shadows. Based on a true story, NO OTHER OPTION is about the nationwide manhunt for a special operator who goes "off the reservation" and becomes a serial ... murderer. Pursued by his former partner and a group of U.S. Marshals, the story gets deep into how shadow warriors live and work. HIGH INTENSITY STORY LINE!

I've read truckloads of thrillers. Most of them are pretty standard fare and follow a basic formula. The end is almost never in doubt. But it's not about the destination, it's about the journey and Marcus Wynne takes the reader on a very suspenseful and exciting one with No Other Option.

Some may say that the characters lack significant depth and they would be right. But let's face it, this isn't Pulitzer winning material. If that's what your looking for look elsewhere. For me, the characters are as fleshed out as they need to be.

I rank Mr. Wynne right up there with my favorites in this genre, most notably Stephen Hunter. I can't wait to read Warrior in the Shadows.

Through his fictional characters, Marcus Wynne tells the story of America's covert intelligence organizations and the people who inhabit that dark world. And he tells it as it will never be told in print, except as a novel... though none the less true, even if the form is called fiction.

NO OTHER OPTION tells the story of the people who are sent to do America's dirty work, and this story gives great insight into how they do it. This book is not just peppered with the jargon of our covert operatives, not just descriptive of the weaponry, but gives the reader insight into the how these inhabitants of that dark world think. It may be told as fiction, but it's all fact.

Fans of thrillers get a bonus with the publication of NO OTHER OPTION. It marks the first novel by a covert operator who knows how to write... and a writer who truly understands covert operations. Marcus Wynne may be writing fiction, but this is how it is in the world of covert intelligence organizations, and he goes to great lengths to help us understand the thinking and actions of those that have lived the life.

G. Diamond
Intelligence Section
USMCR (1957 - 1965)

Where has Marcus Wynne been all my literary life? For someone who loves special operations/military type fiction, this is an incredible book. I hate to use cliches here but No Other Option really is an "edge of your seat thriller". The reader feels as though he or she actually knows the characters. Wynne's ability to vividly portray Dale Miller, Jonny Maxwell, and Nina Capushek, completely blows the reader away.
Mr. Wynne, if you read this, I'd just like to say (and I'm not sucking up to you here, I'm being honest) that I have never before read a book that mixes a Hemingway-like talent to vividly portray characters, their thoughts and feelings, with special operations scenarios. Also, I'd really like to know if the character of Nina Capushek is based on anyone and if so, may I please have her number?
Nina is hot, tough, and funny at the same time, which is awesome. Dale and Jonny are great characters as well. Dale is not the typical fictional spec ops guy. Usually, they're portrayed as simply gung ho with no feelings. But Dale has emotions that make him so human. As for Jonny, I don't think I've read a book in which I feel sorry for the antagonist. Jonny is an amazing character.
In short, if I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. Thank you so much Mr. Wynne! I can't wait for the sequel.

No Other Option is the first novel I've read by Marcus Wynne. Bottom line: I will have no other option but to seek out more of his work. This was a great book. Wynne grabs you in the first few pages and does not let go. Wynne provides a solid cast of characters which provide good depth to the storyline. The story moves forward with pace - full of suspense, plot twists and virtually non-stop action as circumstances pit former friends and colleagues against each other in a battle of wits, determination and physical endurance. Admittedly, the chief antagonist is a ruthless, remorseless killer. Thus the story is not for the feint of heart. That said, this was a tough book to put down.

Read the author's biography, and you know you are dealing with someone who has been there, done that. Wynne takes us into the covert world of military special operations. He asks the question: What does a country do with highly trained operators in the absence of war?

Jonny Maxwell was considered the best. But Jonny had a problem - he liked to rape women. So Jonny goes to jail and breaks out, because that is what he was trained to do.

They send Jonny's partner, Dale Miller, to bring Jonny in, failing that to take Jonny out. This is an edge of your seat manhunt. A thriller that suggests SWAT teams and SOG Marshal units are not up to the task when confronting highly trained and highly organized people.

It is so refreshing to read a book where the author gets the guns and the action right. Wynne obviously knows what certain kinds of weapons are capable of and more importantly what they can't do. He also understands small unit and single man actions.

I enjoyed this book. It is a great find to discover another writer who works in this genre and knows what he is talking about.

As a former "partner" of Marcus, I would like to say that he is a very talented, honest individual. To " A Reader In South America," I would offer a different perspective of females in law enforcement. If there are so few that are attractive, why is it so typical that their partners feel a need to either protect them or engage in other activities with them, most often both? Other females in law enforcement, please read this book. It is well written and gives us the credibility that we deserve.

Great job, Marcus.

SpecFor man gone mad. Every militaries nightmare. What happens when a highly trained assassin loses the plot and goes 'bad'. Jonny Maxwell, just such a soldier, a member of a very elite SpecFor group has been jailed for a large number of rapes. He escapes jail, leaving dead guards in his wake, and we follow his rampage through the Midwest of the USA, corpses left scattered everywhere, as ghe authorities bring Jonny's military colleague Dale Miller to assist the police efforts to recapture the convict.

The book weaves its compelling tale around the friendship that was enjoyed by Dale and Jonny, by Dale's intimate knowledge of Jonny's methods, and and throws in the detruction of more policemen than exist in many small towns, a few criminals, a few houses and cars.

This book would be the ideal basis for a film to beat Lethal Weapon. Astoundingly believable plots and characters.

Breathtaking!!

Smell the Cordite, Feel the Muzzle Blasts...., Oct 17 2001
By Rob Krott (Olean, NY) - See all my reviews

I don't read much fiction - mostly I only spend my time with non-fiction military history. So trust me when I tell you this thriller is a first-class great read. I was fortunate to get an advance copy of Marcus Wynne's No Other Option. What a great book. This is a page-turner of a novel, packed with realistic up-close and personal gunplay and urban combat, high body counts, and exploding cop cars. If I didn't already know the author personally I'd be completely blown away and wondering where this guy has been hiding...

Wynne's story is about a spec ops NCO who "goes off the reservation" and is incarcerated in federal prison. Schooled in the art of military mayhem as a trained killer, Jonny Maxwell, the villain, was once a high-speed, low-drag special operations soldier. Unfortunately, Maxwell had one serious flaw: he was an insane serial rapist who liked to listen to tape recordings of his crimes while on his military missions. Here, Wynne has created a real scumbag of a bad guy a seriously formidable individual. Someone you want to blow away yourself. Jonny escapes from Leavenworth with the intention to wreak as much havoc as possible and make a major "score" on his way out of the country. In his wake is a bloody trail of mayhem and carnage. Tops on his list for revenge is his old friend and protégé, Dale Miller, who testified against him. Miller is sent by his commander in Special Operations Command to assist the Federal Marshals in hunting Maxwell down - and if necessary, exterminating him with extreme prejudice. Miller wants to capture Maxwell and return him to prison, but you just know that ain't gonna happen. He embarks on this mission with his trusty MP-5 submachine gun and a bag of tricks. He links up with some cops who are mistrustful and to keep things steamy, a Twin Cities homicide detective named Nina Capushek. Nina is a tough, capable female who, like Miller, thrives on danger, adrenaline, and a life on the edge. They deal with several cops and Federal Marshals, who view Miller as an adversary and someone to mistrust. Further complicating matters for Miller is another "operator" sent shadow Miller and to kill Maxwell if Miller can't do the job.

No Other Option is a standout amongst thrillers. Written by an "operator" it brings a taunt, action-packed story from the shadowy world of covert operations into the bright light of federal law enforcement. It's so technically accurate and realistic the cordite will sting your eyes and the muzzle blasts will make you flinch. I read this book in one sitting. It has garnered recommendations from Stephen Coonts, David Morrell, and John "Lofty" Wiseman. Why is it so good? Maybe because Marcus Wynne is the real deal: a former grunt who patrolled the Korean DMZ as an original member of our North Korean Hunting Club. An ex-82nd Airborne trooper, he later became a Federal Air Marshal. He led a counter-terrorist Air Marshal team during the Gulf War and was later hired as a private consultant to train the South Africa Police Services' hostage rescue team and Nelson Mandela's Presidential Protection Unit. He's also a serious martial arts "player" and a skilled gunfighter. So if you're tired of reading books where the author doesn't know a 9mm from an entrenching tool, rest assured this book is accurate. Wynne gets it right, without boring you with arcane technical details or Clancy-esque techno-babble. Hopefully they'll make it into an action adventure movie without messing up that accuracy. (Marcus Wynne has published a sequel to this and his second book, Warrior in the Shadows, combining the protagonists from both novels: Brothers in Arms )
Caveat: Reviewer is friends with author, Marcus Wynne

Rob Krott is the author of: Save the Last Bullet For Yourself: A Soldier of Fortune in the Balkans and Somalia

SAVE THE LAST BULLET FOR YOURSELF: A Soldier of Fortune in the Balkans and Somalia