Customer Reviews

A Northern Thunder

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Staunch Stalinist Peter Nampo lives in North Korea; he wants to make it a power to be reckoned with and a moneymaker for its satellite weapon system that he is developing. Once in geo-orbit, it can knock out other countries satellites and spread radiation on its enemies; he plans to sell it to terrorists and rogue nations for hard cash to feed the population that is on the verge of starvation.

Nampo is such a VIP that he is a never in the open unless it is with his three doubles; a North Korean assassin is killing all the scientists around the globe that are near completion on the weapons system. Rear Admiral Julius Krowl of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is aware of the situation and sends Reserve Colonel Will Parker, the only western man who knows what Nampo looks like to get inside North Korea and figure out which of the doppelgangers is the real Nampo in order to take a picture. He prepares for the mission under grueling conditions but he also makes preparation to make sure his back is covered if he is successful.

Readers of fast paced, adrenaline pumping military thrillers that keep the audience attention throughout will thoroughly enjoy NORTHERN THUNDER. Each main character is well developed and understandable even the villains (who consider themselves the good guys patriots and our side the villains) who hate the United States. Surprisingly, China is portrayed as a gentle giant trying to keep its wayward child under control. Andy Harp knows how to create a good story that is germane to the times.

Harriet Klausner

I just finished reading "A Northern Thunder" the other night and thought it was a great, fast paced book that was smart and realistic. The characters are believable, the settings are dead on and realistic, and the action and background is as realistic as you can get without being there yourself! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this to anyone for an enjoyable read. LTC Andy Harp, USMC Ret. has really researched the politics of a very isolated culture, and has brought his knowledge of winter survival and training and created a scenario that is probably closer to the truth than anyone would like to admit. I can't wait to read his next novel!

In this ever-increasing cynical world, where some thrillers appeare to be manufactured, and one too many coincidences can really spoil the plot, Colonel Andy Harp USMCR (Ret) seems have been sitting in on some very interesting meetings, specifically with the Joint Chief of Staff. NORTHERN THUNDER should scare the hell out of every reader, because this story is playing out in Northern Korea as we speak. Hello! Is the United States government paying attention? If so, maybe someone should give Mr. Harp a call, and ask his opinion of this incredibly explosive situation. Ripped from the headlines? No way, NORTHERN THUNDER came out long before this rogue nation fired off two missiles. Part Jack Ryan (Clancy), part Mitch Rapp (Flynn), part Gabriel Allon (Silva), protagonist Will Parker will not only bite you in the throat, this man will draw blood. If and when teams are chosen for war, I'm taking Parker--he's one of those rare characters we love to root for. A terrific thriller, written by a gifted writer, who is apparently plugged in, I highly recommend NORTHERN THUNDER. If you're a Tom Clancy fan, you've come to the right place. When you come out with another book, Mr. Harp, please drop me a line.

Steve Besecker
Orchard Park, NY
[...]

I was told that Col. Harp crafted this novel for some time without any hint to friends or family. As the sun rises over the Eastern horizon, dawning a new day of life lived minute by minute, a masterpiece was brought to light in Col. Harp's debut A Northern Thunder: A pure fiction saturated with twists and turns at every chapter; Col. Harp literally keeps you holding your breath as you try to, though unsuccessfully, determine the fate of Will Parker and his supporting cast. With the turn of every page, Col. Harp delivers an action-packed, yet keenly insightful military thriller comparable to Robert Ludlum's trilogy about CIA assassin Jason Bourne. Engulfed in such a direct perception of truth and knowledge through immense geographical detail and accurate research in the way the characters are depicted, you finish the book with a crystal-clear picture of Will Parker's journey from the courtroom in Vienna, Georgia to the shores of North Korea. I can't wait for Col. Harp (and Will Parker) to take me through another adventure such as A Northern Thunder.

Andy Harp's NORTHERN THUNDER brings a military insider perspective to the North Korea threat. Harp combines great story-telling with fascinating reserch about the far east that informs and entertains. Please let there be a sequel. I need more from protagonist/hero Will Parker. I'm so glad I discovered this assassin thriller.

Andy Harp is the real deal. He not only knows his subject, he makes it understandable to those of us who aren't all that savvy on technical weapons systems.

I thoroughly enjoyed A NORTHERN THUNDER, especially since Andy made the DPRK (North Korean) villians think of themselves as the good guys (which they do, BTW)

Highly recommended to any fans of Tom Clancy, Dale Brown, or Stephen Coonts. Andy's in good company!!

"Although I don't limit my reading to fictional thrillers, this one is a MUST. It screams `movie, movie, movie!' It's refreshing in that it covers so much information in less than 300 pages. And it's an action-packed story based largely on real facts and actual current events. Plus one bonus: the more than occasional out-loud chuckle thanks to the author's wit!"
--NEAL H. HOWARD, ATTORNEY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA



"A smooth writing style and the author's military expertise add authenticity to the narrative (he's a retired US Marine Corps colonel) and make this state-of-the-art techno-thriller an above average read. Recommended."
--BOOKBITCH (JACK QUICK)

Introducing Will Parker
I said in a recent blog entry ("William C. Harris Returns," 10/31/07) that I have a special admiration for "gentleman authors," those for whom writing is an avocation. Among Georgia gentleman authors are William C. Harris, William Rawlings, Jr., and, of course, the granddaddy of them all, Ferrol Sams.

Now there's a new one to add to the list: Andy Harp.

Harp, who lives in Columbus, GA, is a civil trial attorney in a practice built around the representation of injured railroad workers. Prior to entering private practice, he worked as a District Attorney in Cordele, GA. He earned his law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1980.

Not only is Harp an attorney, he's also a retired U.S. Marine Corps Reserve colonel. He graduated from American University (which he attended on an athletic scholarship) in 1973 and signed up with the Marines.

As a young officer, he served with both the artillery and a small mountain warfare/arctic instructor survival group. He was a Regimental Battery Commander with the 11th Marines, and became Instructor in Charge of the Instructor Group at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. He also trained in the Arctic Circle and at Fort Greely, Alaska, where a typical day was 44' below zero. While in the Arctic and at Bridgeport, he lived in ice caves, rappelled off cliffs and out of helicopters, taught military cross country skiing, and taught both mountain and cold weather survival.

Once his legal career began, Harp continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves, rising through the ranks to become a colonel.

As a logistics officer he served in South Korea, Central America, the Persian Gulf, Europe, and at the Pentagon where he was assigned to the Secretary of Defense's Executive Support Center and to Reserve Affairs.

His final posting before retiring saw him serve as the Officer in Charge of the Crisis Action Team for Marine Forces Central Command and Marine Forces Pacific.

In 1997, he was elected National President of the Marine Corps Reserve Officer's Association. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal.

Now I don't know much about military service, but I can tell that Harp's time in the USMCR was action-packed and extraordinary. His bio reads like that of an action hero such as Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan or Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne.

It should come as no surprise then to learn that Andy Harp, gentleman author, has just published his first novel and it's a military/techno thriller titled A Northern Thunder (Bancroft Press, 2007).

In his debut, Harp introduces Will Parker, a Marine reservist plucked from retirement with a mission to infiltrate North Korea and identify the communist country's leading military scientist, a former roommate of Parker's, who's developing missile technology to undermine other countries' satellite surveillance systems.

Parker's mission is made all the more difficult when the North Koreans dispatch their top assassin to eliminate any international competitors or obstacles that might hinder their deadly project.

Now, Will Parker is not just a retired USMC reservist, he's also a small-town Georgia lawyer. Who else do we know with such a résumé? Mr. Harp himself of course!

Although I have not yet read A Northern Thunder, I suspect that Harp's bio gives Will Parker an authenticity that will resonate with readers, particularly those with a military background.

Harp's plot is well chosen with the North Korean nuclear threat currently looming in the American psyche. The terrifying possibility of North Korea firing a preemptive nuclear strike against the U.S. has been played out in the international media for the last few years and international diplomacy has so far failed to come up with a permanent resolution to such a threat. A Northern Thunder has an eerie timeliness about it.

The release of A Northern Thunder will be tomorrow, November 15, at 7PM, at a book signing at Barnes & Noble, 2900 Peachtree Road, in Atlanta's Buckhead.

In conjunction with the release, Harp has launched the book on the web at www.andyharp.com, and also with a video book trailer, produced by Hollywood filmmaker Jordan Bloch, on YouTube.

As Harp says in the media press release,
"We wanted to release this book in a big way. While it is fiction, A Northern Thunder exposes some mind-blowing military satellite and other technology that is little known, but certainly in existence.... Even more than being a page-turner, I wanted this book to be realistic."
Publishers Weekly has said of A Northern Thunder:

"The secondary characters aren't nearly as convincing as Harp's descriptions of satellite technology, submersible suits, and the like. But Parker has resilience, foresight, and fortitude to spare, and North Korea's repressive regime and rugged terrain make for deadly opponents."
I'm not qualified at this point to offer an opinion as to whether or not Harp has achieved what he set out to. I am just impressed by another "gentleman author" who has, by dint of sheer force of will, written and published a book that may turn out to be a huge seller.

Congratulations to another emerging Georgia author.

[I welcome your comments and questions about this or any other Cover to Cover blog entry. Email me at covertocover@gpb.org. I look forward to hearing from you.]
Posted by St.John Flynn at 8:01 PM

Andy Harp's "Northern Thunder" is a heart-thumper of a thriller. Action layered with suspense, like peanut butter and jelly. Ummm good.

Andy Harp's first book, A Northern Thunder, will grab you and won't let go. From the opening page to the end, this book delivers. I personally can't wait for the next book.