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Christopher Whitcomb

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Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team Hardcover – September 13, 2001

by Christopher Whitcomb (Author)

4.4 264 ratings

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A veteran agent describes the role and operation of the F.B.I. Hostage Rescue Team, from its difficult training to its weapons and tactics, and provides firsthand accounts and assessments of some of its missions.

Print length

432 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Little, Brown
Publication date

September 13, 2001
Dimensions

6.25 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0316601039
ISBN-13

978-0316601030
See all details

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This close-up look at the FBI's most elite unit by a 15-year veteran including firsthand accounts of actions at Waco and Ruby Ridge is alternately funny, exciting and disturbing. With his liberal arts background and experience as a D.C. speechwriter, Whitcomb was an unusual candidate for special agent. Currently director of information management for the Bureau's Critical Incident Response Group, he recounts his 1980s epiphany, following a State of the Union address, that he wanted to help preserve American democracy; he chose the FBI as his medium. He details the tricky, competitive process of becoming an agent, and humorously recalls how, as a cocky, ambitious FNG ("fucking new guy"), he clashed with his conservative superiors, yet soon valued their expertise as he chased an assortment of fugitives, bank robbers and kidnappers from a rural Missouri field office. He details these cases and his own growing expertise, then depicts with gallows humor the "physical and emotional hell" of applying to join the Hostage Rescue Team's (HRT). He succeeded and became a sniper, and offers excellent insight into the science and mindset of this rarefied killing art. In skillful prose, Whitcomb upholds the FBI's party line. Alongside sharp observations of the rituals and absurdities of federal law enforcement, he fiercely espouses an unreconstructed "thin blue line" philosophy whereby he perceives figures such as David Koresh and Randy Weaver simply as evil men and incompletely addresses civic disillusionment with the Bureau following Waco, Ruby Ridge and the FBI crime lab scandals. Still, Whitcomb ably portrays conflicts between the agency's factions Washington bureaucrats, profilers and negotiators, and the gung-ho HRT during these major crises. This valuable book makes a compelling read for armchair G-men everywhere. (Sept. 13)Forecast: There's always a market for insider FBI stories, and Whitcomb's involvement in the controversial Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents gives this one extra currency. A six-city author tour and print advertising in major newspapers should lead to brisk sales.

From Library Journal

Special Agent Whitcomb here recounts his early years in the FBI, which included stops at Ruby Ridge and Waco as a sniper in the elite Hostage Rescue Team. Whitcomb is not only a true adventurer with interests in mountain climbing and sharpshooting but master of the "cold zero" shot the first, perfect shot. He is also a talented writer. Although he tends to go a little overboard with his patriotism and pride, this fast-paced memoir never lags. His realistic portrayal of the grinding training and work regimen coupled with the strains on family life make the "you-are-there" accounts of FBI operations in Waco, Bosnia, and, most recently, Vieques more gripping. A bit more background on these events would have helped with historical context. Still, it's hard to believe that Whitcomb has been an agent for only 15 years. Let's hope he stays with the FBI and continues writing. Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research Philadelphia
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown; First Edition (September 13, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316601039
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316601030
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #906,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,019 in United States National Government
- #85,757 in History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 264 ratings

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Christopher Whitcomb

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Christopher Whitcomb has worked extensively with foreign and domestic intelligence agencies in highly challenging environments, including Afghanistan, Kosovo, Israel, Somalia, Zambia and Timor-Leste. He has been awarded numerous citations and awards including the FBI's Medal of Bravery. Since leaving the FBI, Whitcomb has worked as on-air Global Security Advisor for NBC News, co-hosted Checkpoint CNBC with Martha McCallum (where he was nominated for a Peabody Award), and appeared on dozens of television and radio programs from Today, Meet the Press, and The Daily Show to Larry King Live, BBC programs and Imus in the Morning. He has spoken internationally to diverse organizations ranging from the British Parliament, the CIA and the United Nations to universities and Fortune 500 companies. Whitcomb is the best-selling author of three books, including Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (Little Brown, 2001), Black (Little Brown, 2004) and White (Little Brown, 2005). He has written for numerous publications including the New York Times and GQ magazine.

Customer reviews

264 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the interesting first-person account and the author's storytelling style. The pacing is described as absorbing and poetic at times, with intense moments.

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Readability Story telling Writing quality Pacing

23 customers mention "Readability"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the author's first-hand perspective and unbiased approach.

"...in a civilian capacity I might add, I can only say that this experiencial book is unbiased and an absolute must read for anyone who wonders what the..." Read more

"...Good stuff." Read more

"...Excellent book and highly recommended." Read more

"Interesting read. Sometimes insightful, other times fails to flesh out interesting lines of inquiry...." Read more

13 customers mention "Story telling"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's story telling. They find it interesting and well-written. The story provides an insight into the author's life as a sniper with real-life experiences. Readers appreciate the author's skill in describing his experience.

"...So, this book was very enlightening to me. The author was lucky (or unlucky) enough to be involved in some the Team's most controversial moments...." Read more

"...His prose is great, sometimes poetic. He weaves a tale in a wonderful way...as when his tale of his first killing, a New Hampshire deer, shifts..." Read more

"Interesting read. Sometimes insightful, other times fails to flesh out interesting lines of inquiry...." Read more

"...The book is a well written, extremely interesting first person account of the author's experience in the FBI...." Read more

12 customers mention "Writing quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the author an excellent storyteller who describes events in an interesting way.

"...His prose is great, sometimes poetic...." Read more

"...The book is a well written, extremely interesting first person account of the author's experience in the FBI...." Read more

"...He is a superb writer, and I enjoyed every page.If you want to know how FBI agents are trained, and the cases they solve--read this...." Read more

"...encountered by Navy Seals and Delta Force. The author is an excellent storyteller who describes events in an interesting fashion that keeps..." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and absorbing. They appreciate the poetic prose and detailed descriptions of training and mindset.

"...His prose is great, sometimes poetic...." Read more

"...The book goes into great detail about the training and mindset that it takes to become an HRT operator but also gives a great lesson about the..." Read more

"...I hope the author writes more books. His style is engaging and absorbing...." Read more

"A great look into the mind of what an FBI Agent thinks and his observations of our nation's greats pitfalls..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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Lynda Dostal

Cold Zero: A must read for people skeptical about the readiness of our FBI

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2012

Verified Purchase

Having worked backgrounds for one of the largest police departments in the country and in a civilian capacity I might add, I can only say that this experiencial book is unbiased and an absolute must read for anyone who wonders what the FBI does and why and when they are called in to a crisis situation. The author shares his experience in preparing for events that usually never take place but sometimes do with only one thing in mind; That is to always be 100% ready to defend the innocent while doing your best to bring a violent situation to a peaceful resolution. Sometimes that happens and other times the outcome is less than ideal. The book is one I never put down. I was always on the edge of my seat as the author tied years of experience together into a wonderful story where the reader clearly knows the difference between the good guys (and sometimes gals) and the bad. He was brutally honest in his telling and never tried to make himself or the FBI Hostage Rescue Team heroes (even when they were). He just told it like it was. If you wonder what life is like on the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, this is the book for you. Having seen the best and the worst in a large city police department, I can easily understand why and when you need the very best, the FBI is called in to assist.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Lost Gaijin

Good Read

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2013

Verified Purchase

Having been interested in the elite military units since I was young, I knew of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team. But, I didn't really know much about it, and I had never any books written by former operators. So, this book was very enlightening to me. The author was lucky (or unlucky) enough to be involved in some the Team's most controversial moments. This gives the book a bit more relevance than it would have if it were just a story about a guy joining the HRT.

Odds are if you are interested in this kind of thing you already know you want to read this book, but I think that someone who has never read this type of book before might enjoy this. It gives the reader a good idea about the type of men who join these units, and what they go through to get there. Good stuff.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Michael E

Chilling and thoughtful all at once, and thus VERY hard to put down

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2006

Verified Purchase

I met Chris recently at a college reunion. I had not known him in college, but when I saw that someone from our small rural liberal arts college would discuss being on the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and more, I was intrigued. His tales were intriguing and I ordered up the book. Better still! For clearly this is a product of much thought, of much living even, and here is someone who feels like one of us doing things quite amazing, exciting, frightening, and sometimes very deflating. His prose is great, sometimes poetic. He weaves a tale in a wonderful way...as when his tale of his first killing, a New Hampshire deer, shifts brilliantly into a key moment in his role as a sniper. His reflectiveness is what grabbed me, as he has much depth of thought to add to some stark tales. I have read this book while walking, late into the night, and when I really should have been doing other things. And this despite some clear breaks between parts of the book. A rare gem. Wish I had known Chris better in college!

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Sk

Well written and thoroughly engaging

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023

Verified Purchase

The words drew me in from word one and held me there until the final period. I felt like I was "there" in each and every situation being described.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

BlackSheepAce

Very interesting read on a little known subject

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2013

Verified Purchase

I don't know about anyone else but I have not found much information about the Hostage Rescue Team outside of this book. This is a very small and unique unit and this book was written by someone who not only was in this unit but in it at a time of great hostility and change. If you are a military or police science person then I feel you will really enjoy this book. The book goes into great detail about the training and mindset that it takes to become an HRT operator but also gives a great lesson about the history of HRT itself. I am very surprised to see how many times the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team is mentioned in the news in some very high profile cases yet very few know the details about how or when this team does business. Excellent book and highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Shannon Hill

Interesting insight into FBI sniper's life.

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2015

Verified Purchase

Interesting read. Sometimes insightful, other times fails to flesh out interesting lines of inquiry. Give a real look at the type of person who chooses to be a sniper. Interesting discussion of investigative techniques: treat criminals with basic respect and it pays off.
However, no real consideration of poor ATF decision making that lead to his two most prominent assignments: Waco and Ruby Ridge. I understand you need a boatload of ego to be a sniper and might not see your own agency's failings, but you would think that an FBI agent could recognize and point out a mistakes made by another agency that put him in a bad situation. Why NOT throw ATF under the bus. . .women and children died because ATF couldn't wait to arrest the ring leader the next time he went to town to shop.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Cdub, Manchester, UK

Great read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2019

Verified Purchase

Had this as a paperback at Uni but got lost in a move.

Rod conlon

One of the best books I have read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2014

Verified Purchase

One of the best books I have read. Although not written by a writer, the storytelling ability puts you in the front line. Thank you

J. Hyde

Not bad for a 1st novel but needs polish

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2015

Verified Purchase

Ok but a bit disjointed and does not flow, but as a first novel you can excuse this to an extent, I will read the next one to see if a style develops.

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