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Bestseller Thor's latest thrill-ride begins in anguish. Scot Harvath, navy SEAL turned Homeland Security superagent, sits at the bedside of girlfriend Tracy Hastings, who's in a deep coma after being gravely wounded at the end of Takedown. Meanwhile, five terrorists have been released from Guantánamo Bay as part of a secret hostage deal forced upon U.S. president Jack Rutledge. When one of the terrorists starts targeting Scot's friends and family, Scot discovers that the president won't allow the assassin to be hunted down. Soon enough, Scot is on the run from his own government and in pursuit of the killer. Many characters make appearances from earlier books, in particular Scot's ongoing nemesis, the fascinating, intelligence-gathering expert known as the Troll. It's a long, violent, shoot-'em-up, blow-'em-up pulse-pounder that will leave Thor's fans cheering and begging for more. (Aug.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationBarely a month after the July 4 terrorist attacks on Manhattan (Takedown), counterterrorism agent Scot Harvath, the U.S. President's dog of war, and his girlfriend, Tracy Hastings, come under a sniper attack that wounds Tracy in the head. Determined to track down the sniper, Scot is shocked when the President orders him to back off. Unbeknownst to Harvath, the President had six months earlier violated the first commandment of the war on terror-never negotiate with terrorists. In order to avert a major disaster, he had approved the release of five of Guantánamo's most dangerous detainees. Now one of them is carrying out a series of brutal attacks on Harvath's friends and family, basing his actions on the ten plagues in the book of Exodus. As one horrific attack follows another, Scot is faced with the unthinkable: he will have to commit treason if he hopes to save those he loves and survive a confrontation with one of the world's most feared assassins. Always fast-paced and action-packed, Thor's novels have grown in moral and emotional resonance as Harvath demonstrates increasingly more depth and vulnerability. Sure to please his many fans and gain new ones; immensely satisfying and highly recommended for all public libraries.
—Ron Terpening
Chapter 1
Camp Delta
U.S. Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
When it was hot and humid, life in Cuba hovered somewhere between absolute misery and "the bath is ready does anyone have some razor blades?" But when it was cold and raining, Cuba was downright unbearable. Tonight was one of those nights.
When the guards arrived at the isolation cells of Delta's "Camp 5," where the most dangerous and highest-intelligence-value detainees resided, they were in a worse mood than usual. And it wasn't because of the weather. Something was wrong. It was written all over their faces as they pulled five prisoners from their cells and ordered them at gunpoint to strip.
Philippe Roussard hadn't been at Guantanamo the longest, but he had definitely been interrogated the hardest. A European of Arab descent, he was a sniper of extraordinary ability whose exploits were legendary. Videos of his kills played on continuous loops on jihadist websites across the internet. To his Muslim brothers he was nothing short of a superhero in the radical Islamist pantheon. To the United States, he was a horrific killing machine responsible for the deaths of over one hundred U.S. soldiers.
As Roussard looked into the eyes of his jailers, though, he saw more than the usual pure hatred. Tonight it was coupled with absolute disgust. Whatever middle-of-the-night interrogation tactic the Joint Task Force Guantanamo soldiers had in store for Roussard and his four colleagues, something told him it wasn't going to be like anything they had experienced before. The guards appeared on the verge of losing control.
Had an attack been successfully executed against the United States? What else could have put the soldiers in such a state?
If so, Roussard felt certain that the Americans would make the prisoners pay. Undoubtedly, they had devised yet another humiliating exercise designed to insult their prisoners' Muslim sensibilities. Privately, Roussard hoped the torture involved the attractive blond soldier and that she would disrobe down to her lacy, black lingerie and rub herself against him. Though he knew it was wrong, his fantasies of what he wanted to do to that woman were what kept him nicely occupied during the long, lonely hours of isolation he endured.
He was still speculating about his fate when he heard the door at the far end of the cell block shut. Roussard looked up, hoping it was the blond, but it wasn't. Another soldier had entered carrying five paper shopping bags. As he passed, he threw each of the prisoners a bag.
"Get dressed!" he ordered in awkward Arabic.
Confused, all of the prisoners, including Philippe, removed the civilian clothing from their bags and began to get dressed. The men cast furtive glances at one another as they tried to figure out what was happening. Roussard was reminded of stories he'd heard about Jewish concentration camp prisoners who were told they were being taken for showers when they were actually on their way to the gas chambers.
He doubted the Americans were dressing them in new clothes only to execute them, but nevertheless the uncertainty of what they were about to face filled him with more than a little trepidation.
"Why don't they try to make a run for it?" one of the guards whispered to his comrade as he stroked the trigger guard of his M-16. "I just want one of these fuckers to rabbit on us."
"This is bullshit," replied the other. "What the hell are we doing?"
"You two, shut up!" barked their commander, who then called in a series of commands over his radio.
Something definitely wasn't right.
Once they were completely clothed, shackles were placed around their wrists and ankles and they were lined up against the far wall.
This is it, thought Roussard as he held the stare of the soldier who had been hoping for one of the prisoners to make a run for it.
The soldier's finger went from his weapon's trigger guard to its actual trigger and he seemed about to say something when a series of vehicles ground to a halt just outside.
"That's us," shouted the Task Force commander. "Let's mount up."
The prisoners were shoved toward the door. Roussard hoped that once they got outside and he could see where they were going, things would make more sense.
That plan was dashed as one by one, black hoods were placed over each man's head before he was taken outside to a waiting column of green Humvees.
*
Ten minutes later, the convoy came to a stop. Before Roussard's heavy hood was removed, he could make out the distinct, high-pitched whine of idling jet engines.
On the rain-soaked tarmac, the prisoners stared up at an enormous Boeing 727 as their shackles were removed. A metal staircase had been rolled up against the side of the aircraft and its door stood wide open.
No one said a word, but based on the demeanor of the soldiers -- who seemed to have been ordered to keep their distance from the plane -- Roussard came to a stunning conclusion. Without being directed to do so, he took a step forward. When none of the soldiers tried to stop him, he took another and another until his feet touched the first metal step and he began climbing upward two at a time. His salvation was at hand! Just as he had known it eventually would be.
With the sound of the other prisoners pounding up the gangway behind him, Roussard stepped cautiously into the cabin. He was met by the plane's first officer, who compared his likeness to a photo on his clipboard, removed a heavy black envelope, and said, "We were told to give you this."
Roussard had received envelopes like this before. Without even opening it, he knew who it was from.
"If you wouldn't mind taking a seat," continued the first officer. "The captain is eager to be underway."
Roussard found an empty place near the window and buckled himself in. As the main cabin door was closed, several members of the flight crew disappeared into the rear of the aircraft and returned lugging odd-looking pieces of medical equipment, along with an equal number of large, plastic coolers.
None of it made any sense to Roussard until he opened the envelope and read its contents. A slow smile then began to spread across his face. It was done. Not only was he free, but the Americans would not be able to come after him. He was going to have his revenge -- and much sooner than he would have thought.
Opening his window shade, Roussard could see the soldiers climbing back into their Humvees and driving away from their airstrip, several with their hands hanging out the windows and their middle fingers raised in mock salute.
As the aircraft's engines roared to life and the heavy beast began to roll forward, cheers of "Allahu Akbar," God is great, erupted from the front of the plane.
Allah was indeed great, but Roussard knew it wasn't He who had arranged for their release. As he stared at the black envelope, he knew their gratitude was owed to someone much less benevolent.
Turning his attention back to the window as the soldiers quickly disappeared from view, Roussard cocked thumb and forefinger, took aim, and pulled an imaginary trigger.
Now that he was free, he knew that it was only a matter of time before his handler turned him loose inside America to exact his revenge.
Copyright © 2007 by Brad Thor
This was the second book, a sequel, I read by Brad Thor. I enjoyed this book immensely. It kept me on edge from the very beginning, all the way to the end. I was glad I happened to read Takedown prior to this as that was the beginning of the story. I highly recommend both books.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 17, 2008
'First Commandment' is a well-crafted political thriller rife with action and plot twists. Nano-chapters and -paragraphs help kick the story along in high gear. Not only must the hero Scot Harvath fight the bad guys, namely the terrorists, in this one, he must also duel with the president of the United States, who wants him out of the picture, dead or alive, for reasons of his own. In short, everyone's got it in for Harvath. He must use all his wits to hunt down the villain who is terrorizing his family, and at the same time survive while the president assembles a team of Navy SEALS to do away with him. Brad Thor has done his homework with a lot of research for his book and it sounds like he has good sources as well. A la Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Harvath tortures and maims his way through the novel to a final bloody mano a mano with the terrorist on Lake Geneva.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.President Jack Rutledge authorizes a deal with terrorists. Although the American government leaders always insist they will never negotiate with terrorists even for the release of hostages, he secretly releases five hardcore known terrorists locked away at Guantomino as part of a deal to protect at risk children. In fairness his advisors told them they can keep this quintet under control with monitoring of the isotope they put in the blood of these killers. --- The President¿s advisors missed another slammed dunk when they lose sight of the fearsome five. Just under six months later, an assassin shoots Homeland Security agent Scot Harvath¿s girlfriend Tracy Hastings (see TAKEDOWN), leaving her comatose and he furious as isotopic blood is found at the crime scene. Soon afterward, his mother is attacked by locusts and some friends of Harvath murdered. He knows someone is coming for him, through his loved ones. Harvath begins to make inquiries, but is told to stay out of it. Even before these incidents he knew the leadership saw him as an expendable renegade so he ignores the order to take no action against the person methodically destroying his loved ones. --- TAKEDOWN is an exciting action-packed frightening thriller THE FIRST COMMANDMENT is as exhilarating and action-packed, but even more frightening as the plausibility of the plot will not be questioned. Harvath is at his anguished best in this often violent tale as he is ordered to do nothing although his counter terrorist instincts are screaming to go on the offense. The return of several characters from previous books enhances the feel of the long term concept of the war against terrorism as Brad Thor raises the adrenalin with this terrific thriller. --- Harriet Klausner
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 20, 2012
This was my second Brad Thor novel and it was worlds better than the first. Ill read more Scott Harvath novels
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.mtownsend
Posted February 1, 2012
eh, buy it if you read the series.
tired of the super-seal stories.
should of bought it on the discount shelf.
Anonymous
Posted December 25, 2011
Cannot wait to read the next book. This book is the middle of the series and I really like how the whole series is tied together.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.sbd1988
Posted August 1, 2011
Thou shalt not negoitate with terrorists... After finishing Takedown a few weeks ago, I knew I had to read The First Commandment by Brad Thor. The cliff-hanger ending had me anxious and excited about what would happen next. I'm glad I went ahead and read it. The First Commandment is as thrilling as the rest of the series, and when Scot Harvath wakes up to find his girlfriend Tracy has been shot and blood everywhere, his life and mindset changes forever. The president has ordered him to stand down on the hunt for the shooter and has kept him in the dark about pertinent information that could help him take out the terrorist. Harvath has been thrown under the bus by the people he protects, and therefore, he has to take the mission on his own.
With the help of an unlikely ally, Scot Harvath begins putting the clues together to figure out who is terrorizing his loved ones. He finds that the madman is making his targets and his methods as a parallel to the biblical plagues of Egypt - only backwards. Will Harvath stop the killer before the last plague of blood red waters reaches his friends and family?
I have enjoyed all of Brad's novels and would recommend them to anyone. They are fast paced and hard to put down.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Brad Thor is just a great writer - plain and simple. I thoroughly enjoy his books. The character development just gets better and better the further that you get into the Scot Harvath series. A number of characters from Harvath's past make a reappearance in this book, making it somewhat difficult to follow if you have not read any of the previous books (particularly PATH OF THE ASSASSIN). Regardless, the story is compelling, the technicality of Thor's writing, especially when it comes to military equipment and operation is outstanding, and the book is very easy to read.
If you enjoy counter-terrorism thrillers, you will enjoy the Scot Harvath series by Brad Thor. Ever book gets better than the last!
Brad Thor has not only become my favorite author, but his character Scot Harvath has become one of the most enjoyable characters that I've had the pleasure of reading about. In real life, the U.S needs more patriots like Scot Harvath to not only protect this great country, but also that is willing to do what is necessary to insure it's survival. While I don't really want to get into politics in this review, the main reason why we need people like Scot Harvath is to do the jobs that our current politicians won't do.
The story in itself is a really great story. Sure most people will say "Read this, this is the best" but I'm here to say that this particular story has been a most enjoyable story to read. It's a story that I've spent several nights thinking about long after I've finished reading it.
If there is any real Scot Harvaths out there, it's my hope that they not only continue doing what's necessary, but I hope they know that there are a few of us that are grateful. Thanks.
LenCW
Posted December 5, 2009
Can't wait for his next book!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Pretty much the first word I uttered after finishing this book.
"The First Commandment" is the first book I have read from Brad Thor; and I must say, Wow! It won't be the last.
I could not put this book down. Exciting does not compliment this story in the slightest. Thriller, definately, and I believe Brad Thor has found the formula to create great thrillers. Fast paced story telling with real characters; some colorful; gets you hooked right away.
I am definately adding this author to my favorites list. I also recommend this book to fans of this genre. I will be looking forward to reading more of Brad Thor's novels.
It's a classic thriller/adventure , great for rainy days or just relaxing in the park or at the beach.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.gmcdon3242
Posted August 1, 2009
excellent read
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 1, 2008
When you get started reading one of Thor's books you better have some time on your hands. Chances are nothing else will get done because you won't be able to put the book down until you're done. I've read all of Brad Thor's books and am looking forward to the new one coming out. He is a sure thing and you won't be disappointed.
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Posted January 4, 2008
I assume this will be a good novel based on previous experiences with his other books. Based on other ideas, it seems to be a good read. Also, the books and authors I listed below all have books like this, except for R.A. Salvatore. He write Sci-Fi books. Vince Flynn is Brad Thor's parallel. His CIA operative, Mitch Rapp is as hardcore if not more hardcore than Harvath. Any of Flynn's books are great.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 2, 2007
This is the first Brad Thor novel I have read and as a very limited reader of novels I was hooked. If you like the subject matter of this book, then buy it. Once you do, you will want to read his books from the beginning. After reading 1st Commandment, I have read Lions of Lucerene and Path of the Assassin. State of the Union is waiting for me. Brad Thor is this era's Tom Clancy. Note to Brad, don't sell out to Hollywood and make your books into movies, because we all know that Hollywood writers are awful at depicting novels. - Dave Colbert, Pittsburgh, PA
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 10, 2007
It was good book it sure wasn't 'State of the Union'. The story line had quite a bit of potential, but I fell he could have developed the story and the characters little better. Where as in 'Takedown' an obvious attack, but he made up for it by developing great characters. Scot was almost a one man show in this book and the only character that you really got a look at was the Troll. At the end of the Day Brad is the Man and you can¿t go wrong with any of his books. I am the Monday morning QB. I suggest you read this book and all of the others as well.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 27, 2007
I hate to be a naysayer in light of the adulations this title is receiving, but there are some gaping holes that disappoint a reader who desires plausible and developed details, not ones that dangle. The 'loose threads' unravel a good story to one riddled with holes: Chapter 2 ends with Tracey lying on the threshold and a knife to Harvath's throat, and chapter 3 begins with Harvath in a hospital room. HELLO? Lacking in transition much? There was absolutely NO segue, and I wondered if pages had been torn out! Next, Harvath is interrogating Palermo,yet he escapes through a glass window, even though his hands were tied behind his back and two top trained professional operatives were in the room! When one jumps out of a window, one would fall to the ground... what were the interrogators doing - having a tea time? Very unrealistic scenario. I kept on reading, as the overall plot really is good ... but the BIG FRUSTRATION of all comes into play: what is the big deal of getting Horvath out of the picture, even to the point of accusing him of treason and killing him when he seeks to hunt the assasin, when the CIA and FBI are allowed to hunt the assasin? The Prez indicating that Horvath can not be involved in the search for the assasin, but he allows other operatives to hunt for him! Flawed logic there.... editing is needed for these inconsistencies. A satisfying read is in the DETAILS!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 1, 2010
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Overview
When the president of the United States is blackmailed into releasing five detainees from Guantanamo Bay, a sadistic assassin with a vendetta years in the making is reactivated. Suddenly, the people closest to counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath are being targeted and he realizes that somehow, somewhere he has left the wrong person alive. With his life plunged into absolute peril, and the president ordering him to stay out of the investigation, Harvath must mount his own covert plan for revenge—and in so doing will uncover shattering revelations about the organizations and the nation he has spent his life serving.