Customer Reviews

Rogue Threat

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

It is a rare occasion that I would purchase an action-thriller novel, much less spend time reading a selection from this genre. However, Rogue Threat captured my interest from the beginning, and I found myself spellbound for hours at a time. The author's style of writing allows the reader to enter the notorious and sadistic world of war and international conflict, while gaining a glimpse into the complexities grounded within an individual's political and personal agendas. Rocke takes you inside the minds of each character, allowing the reader to develop a deep sense of compassion or distrust for each. The author also provides the reader with an uncanny understanding and awareness of violent predators within the mist of our society through a series of twists and unimaginable dilemmas. Rogue Threat is a vital reading for those individuals whose quest is to understand the dynamics of the political, international arena. Because of his ability to captivate readers, I personally believe that we will be reading more of Rocke's work. If only he could materialize Matt...

Rarely has one novel so captured my attention from the opening pages. Author Aiden Rocke delivers us a real knockout punch with his debut terrorist thriller "Rogue Threat". He does not wade through the pages but plows right ahead and into the story plot right from the beginning. His writing style is easy to follow and it is packed with adrenaline and action. It will be hard for the reader to put down once they start reading it.

The story deals with side issues such as brotherly love and revenge but the main plot makes 9-11 pale by comparison. We are talking some full scale mass destruction that is not so far fetched and that is what should scare the hell out of the readers. It is not such a fantasy plot as it appears. That realism makes the story plot move at greater speeds through the reader's brain and emotionally hook them into what is happening.

There is a mystery man whose life has been saved and who is programmed to kill a terrorist. He doesn't know who he is nor does he recall his past but his enemies know all too well. The author takes us along on his mission as we jump out of an airplane with him and begin our hunt for the "bad guys". There is enough action in this book for four novels and enough twists and turns to delight all fans of thriller novels. But the heart of the book is in the author's well developed characters. They are alive and feel like real people. His bad guys are really bad and the heroes are not perfect. However, you will find yourself rooting for Matt Garrett, our former CIA operative as he puts the pieces of the puzzle together and discovers a conspiracy.

The story is riveting entertainment at its best! One of the very best thriller novels I have read this year. The writer has talent and one can only speculate how great his next novels will be like; but this one is a must read book. It receives the MWSA's top book rating of FIVE STARS.

Posted on Book Review Pages Military Writer's Society of America

The story turns on the fulcrum that America has lost its focus. 9/11 did not wake us up. A more drastic attack is required to wake up America. I agree. So does bin Laden, but for a different reason--his next goal is to kill ten million Americans. I am afraid such an attack has to succeed in order to wake us up.

The author uses an economic theory from Walt Rostow's The Economic Stages of Growth as its main theme. Interesting concept and used well by the author. Rostow's fifth stage is "High Mass Consumption"--secular spiritual stagnation. Again, I agree. America appears to be in the fifth stage.

A U.S. government official assisting the terrorist in order to wake up the country is an interesting concept, but not original. A bunch of kooks have already claimed the government imploded the twin towers. Another bunch of kooks is making a "documentary" about how the CIA(?) brought down Building 5. Such acquisitions must be true, because Rosie O'Donnell, a renowned world authority on these matters, has said so.

Rouge Threat is a good thriller in the genre of Tom Clancy's Op-Center, Power Plays or Splinter Cell series. It has an interesting plot, with several creative twists, and lots and lots of action. Like the protagonists in the above Clancy series, Matt Garrett is a superhuman hero, able to absorb huge amounts of punishment and keep on ticking.

U.S. World and New Report's review says the author is better than Tom Clancy; and that Rocke is a pseudonym for the real author: a member of the Army brass who has fought in Afghanistan. The latter may be true, but the author knows nothing about chemical and nuclear ordnance. Take everything in the book with a grain of salt. Sarin is GB nerve gas, not VX. One hundred pounds of explosive in a beer keg would destroy most of the agent when detonated. Low grade C-4? I have used a lot of C-4 and never found any to be low grade. C-4 is the best high energy explosive for everyday use, and it can take the impact of a .30 caliber rifle bullet without detonating.

My two novels provide accurate descriptions of weapons.

Rogue Threat is a good story, but the ending is predictable. Hero and girl save the world.

As an author, Aiden Rocke is comparable to Tom Clancy's spinoff series authored by: Steve Pieczenik, Martin Green, and David Michaels. Rouge Warrior compares favorably to books in their series--but not Tom Clancy.

Rogue Threat by Aiden Rocke--Fiction or Prediction?

Other than for sleeping and eating, I read Rogue Threat straight through! I think the most chilling thing about this book is that the beauty of the author's words (e.g., "The ferns and shrubs reached up toward him like the hands of begging children." P. 84) are used for such a terrifyingly real chain of events! Every reader will immediately be caught up in the story and realize that this may very well be a book predicting our future.

Two sets of brilliant, brave brothers--Jacques and Henri Ballantine and Zachary and Matt Garrett, all fighting for countries they love. The Ballantine brothers had their names changed when their parents moved to France, but when they were old enough, they returned to their homeland to fight for their close friend, Hussein. It was there in Iraq that Lieutenant Zachary Garrett captured General Jacques Ballatine and during their struggle, Garrett had killed Henri as he rushed to aid his brother. Jacques was never able to forget the sight of his brother's head being blown apart as he ran to save him.

Matt Garrett, recovering from wounds received in the Philippines years later, also had nightmares, memories, and anger as the result of not being able to save his brother Zachary, who had been killed during combat against Al Qaeda rebels. Hatred and anger over the loss of loved ones are not soon forgotten or forgiven.

Worldwide hatred has become the norm. This story of two sets of brothers is merely a typical example.

Jacques Ballantine sought revenge; he would make Zachary Garrett understand what he had done by killing his brother. Revenge was always in the back of his mind, controlling his actions. And when Hussein asked him to continue his fight, even if he himself were captured or killed, Jacques agreed. He moved to Canada and started a fishing service. Flying a unique stealth-like small plane, he was able to work year in and year out to bring in supplies and build the complex necessary to fulfill his assignment. He became a major power force, more dangerous than either Hussein or Bin Laden, "because he not only had means, motive and the courage of his convictions, but he was on nobody's screen." (p.17)

And even when Jacques learned that Zachary was already dead, his revenge turned toward Matt Garrett.

Matt Garrett had a visitor, Peyton O'Hara, a beautiful, tough woman who rode in on a Harley Davidson Fatboy, and who had been sent by the Vice-President of the United States. She wanted to find out all he knew about the Predator project (eighteen lost unmanned aerial vehicles). Had he seen them in China? Did he know where they were?

Matt was still recovering from his injuries and was now being considered by the President to serve as a special assistant to the CIA Director. Matt kept quiet, not willing to share with this stranger--until the Vice-President phoned and directed him to meet him at the Dulles Airport in an hour. "Bizarre," Matt murmured, but he didn't think he could say no to the Vice President. . .even though he wanted to, for he had lost his fiancé after she had become a senior executive assistant for a vice-presidential program he was developing. As directed, Matt got on a plane, along with Peyton O'Hara. As Matt left the Vice President, he said "think about the term, `secular spiritual stagnation.' Then we'll talk later." (p.18)

Their plane was highjacked . . . Matt and Peyton then continued through an unbelievable chain of events that altogether make up one of the best action thrillers I've ever read! Rocke's detail is excellent, his graphic illustrations are perfect--"he...could sense that he was ripping the man's shoulder out of its socket the way a father pulls a turkey leg off the bird on Thanksgiving."--Perfectly gruesome sometimes! (p.31)

For, you see, Phase II had begun for America. Phase I had been 9-11.

·This time, malls, athletic facilities, and other people-gathering places were the targets.
·This time, more countries were involved, and even the drug cartels joined with them for their hatred of the rich Americans who consumed their drugs. While Americans bought drugs, the people from their countries still lived in poor conditions where there was much hunger and disease.
·This time, they also had a newly designed secret use for those Predators, a design that brilliantly digitized pheromones that allowed control without continued involvement of man.
·And, this time, they had a high-level inside U. S. government man."

Even though there had been the 9-11 attacks, most of the military personnel had been sent by the government to fight in other countries. Americans had joined together after that attack, but they had soon once again become complacent. Rocke has used the words of Walt Rostow in highlighting what has happened to Americans, that we are past the fourth stage of "High Mass Consumption" and that we are in his idea of the final stage, secular spiritual stagnation. "In other words, nobody cares about anything but themselves [sic]..." (P. 170)

While some may argue against the application of Rostow's stages, many of us have questioned the increase in consumption and the seeming decrease in care and concern for people. Is the Rogue Threat merely another exciting and suspenseful action thriller or is the underlying storyline a real possibility of the future for us to consider?

For this reviewer, I found myself accepting it as both an exceptionally well written and exciting must-read tale, as well as a warning that tells important possibilities that should perhaps make it "mandatory reading" for all Americans!

What I do know is that I'm looking forward to Aiden Rocke's next novel!

It's not too often today that I find a book that is both a page turning thriller and a meaningful commentary on society. Aiden Rocke has pulled the hat trick though and fills Rogue Threat full of fast paced action, edge of your seat suspense, and a meaningful message. Matt Garrett, a hero that men will wish to emulate and women will wish was available, is pulled into the middle of a fiendish plot by the beautiful Peyton O'Hara, a political appointee working for the Vice President. Garrett learns that Jacques Ballantine, a former Iraqi General from the first gulf war, is behind the treachery that confronts the nation. Garrett's dead brother, killed in the Global War on Terrorism, has a startling link to Ballantine's past that brings a scandal from the 1st Gulf War to the fore. Garrett and O'Hara are in trouble from the starter's gate and determining who to trust is as important as stopping what is surely to come next. The nanotechnology angle is fascinating, primarily because it is a capability that scientists and researchers are experimenting with today. This book keeps you turning the pages and leaves you pondering the very important questions the book poses. Is there a divergence between the citizen and the state? What is a citizen's responsibility to the nation? With the New York Times leaking state secrets to the world, including our enemies, Rocke's book is especialy poignant. Rocke shows us that the country is at a fork in the road, and Yogi Berra's solution "to take it" won't last much longer.

The characters in the book are vivid and the prose is fast paced. Reads much like a screenplay.

Very strong recommendation from this Georgian

Aiden Rocke writes a brilliant, captivating and current narrative. This is an incredibly relevent story with multiple storylines which effectively and efficiently tie together to keep the reader fully engaged. This should be read by our countries lawmakers, military leaders, and most importantly every conscientious american.
I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel.

Aiden Rocke knows something about the real terror threat that faces America. He brings the threat into the streets of the U.S. and realistically details the account of how it could happen. Clancy like, without getting bogged down in the irrelavent minutae. The characters come to life as this book takes you on a wild ride.

Found the book interesting and have forwarded it to a friend. Wish their was more about the author included.

I would have given this book 5 stars on sheer audacity, but nothing is perfect. It is bold and thoughtful. The pace is quick and the subliminal message is thought provoking. The characters come to life and carry a purpose throughout the story. If you're looking for a book that challenges conventional norms and assesses the state of affairs in this country today while completely entertaining you, then Rogue Threat is for you. Good first effort from Rocke, here. I'm impressed. The below prose is characteristic of the writing style of the author. Clear and crisp. By the way, does this quote sum up the state of affairs, the real questions we confront, or what?

"I see the nation uniting again, for now, but I wonder if it can last. What comes next? How do we maintain the momentum of patriotism? Maybe there's a seventh stage to this theory where people feel reconnected to the ideals of our nation. Where they understand that mass consuming leads to this sickness of a stagnant spirit. Maybe now we can come out of the darkness with a new enlightenment where all the people of this nation know they have a stake in its future."--Matt Garrett, Rogue Threat

This book is gripping.

From start to finish it is a great story with excellent characters.

I found the writing to be quite excellent, particularly the dialogue. Fast paced and intelligent, the story reads almost like a screenplay.

The plot is imaginative and fun, yet totally believable and scary. A nice escape.