Pressure Point [Paperback]

Dick Couch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993

When a group of terrorists abduct a U.S. nuclear submarine, only America's elite Delta Force Army Rangers and the Navy SEALS can retrieve it. Reprint. LJ. PW. NYT.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First novelist Couch sets this contemporary techno-thriller in Seattle, where Palestinian terrorists hijack a Puget Sound ferry, then use it to capture and tow away a Trident missile submarine from the Navy yard. Their demands are stark: either Israel surrenders the occupied territories, or they will destroy the sub, with Chernobyl-like results for the entire Pacific Northwest. The U.S. sends the cream of its special operations units, Delta Force and the Navy's SEALS, to deal wth the threat, but at the showdown, ferry captain Ross Peck and mate Janey McClure have something to say about the fate of their ship and its passengers. The author, himself a former SEAL, provides a state-of-the-art depiction of modern antiterrorist tactics. He also individualizes the terrorists and gives them believable motives in a swift-moving story whose credible plot development overcomes the shaky premise of extremely lax security at a major nuclear base. Taut writing and crisp dialogue further enhance the appeal of one of the year's better adventure novels.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A small band of well-armed, highly trained, and passionately dedicated terrorists hijacks a Seattle ferryboat and uses it to steal a nuclear-armed Trident submarine. Their demand: Israel must give up its possession of the occupied territories. The resulting negotiation and preparation for possible military action produces a pulse-quickening thriller, one of the best of the season. Couch ( SEAL Team One , Avon, 1991) concentrates on the American response to the threat, from the hostage ferryboat captain and crew to the competition among the army, navy, and FBI, each of which wants its team to be selected as the boarding party. The author has total control over his material, his characters are carefully and fully drawn, and the action is plausible, exciting, and topical. Recommend this book to your Larry Bond, Clive Cussler, and Tom Clancy fans--and everyone else who loves action novels.
- Elsa Pendleton, Boeing Computer Support Svces., Ridgecrest, Cal.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 370 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042513900X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425139004
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,212,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

DICK COUCH is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who has served as a Navy SEAL and as a CIA case officer. He has written six novels and the nonfiction works Down Range, The Finishing School, and The Warrior Elite. He lives in central Idaho.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Clancy, you should love Couch, June 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pressure Point (Paperback)

I love the technothriller. I love special operations type adventure novels. This one is a pretty darn good read. One of my favs of the genre. Terrorists seize a Washington state ferry to help seize a Trident nuke sub to threaten a China syndrome at sea. Delta Force, Army Rangers and a ' direct action ' SEAL platoon get activated to snatch it back and prevent a nuclear / environmental disaster. Great details and great action. Couch is a ex-Navy Seal / ex-CIA officer so his work has some backing to it. I would have loved to have seen it made into a movie. Is Jerry Bruckheimer listening???

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Story, April 11, 2002

By 

John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pressure Point (Paperback)

Given the current troubles in the Middle East this would be an interesting book to read. It has a lot of the mainstays from this type of action novel, but the author still puts together a great book. I thought the sub capture plot was interesting but I thought James Bond did it once before? Anyway you can tell this guy has first hand knowledge because the action, devises and tactics are all believable - not the "oh come on" type you some times get in these books. The story is well constructed and has a nice flow. The one down side for me would be that I assumed that this would be a bit more difficult to pull off, but it was the story - so go with it. Overall this is an interesting and fun book for casual reading.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I wasn't sold., July 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Pressure Point (Hardcover)

I've lived in Washington all my life and spent many a boring hour on the fine ferry boats here and when I read this book I just really couldn't buy that the plan would work. For one, ferries are too high profile a target. Why steal one when you could get a good sea going tug boat out of the ship canal, taking a couple of Norweigans from Ballard, or Fremont hippies as hostages while you are at it. Secondly, the Marines at Bangor are more on the ball than portrayed in this book. It is highly unlikely that a boomer would be able to be hijacked from right under their noses without more than a few pistol shots exchanged. Sorry Dick, I just didn't buy the premise.