Pirate Alley (Tommy Carmellini Series #5)

by Stephen Coonts, Eric G. Dove (Read by)

Overview

Grafton and Carmellini are back, battling terrorists on the high seas alongside a top-notch team of Navy SEALs in an action-packed tale by New York Times bestselling author Stephen Coonts.

A luxurious vacation cruise to the exotic locales of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden turns into a nightmare for passengers and crew when their ship is suddenly attacked and captured by a band of bloodthirsty Somali pirates. An initial rescue mission ends in failure, and the decks are covered in blood. Unless they are paid a ransom of $200 million within seven days, the pirates threaten to execute all their hostages. But information gleaned from a captured Al Qaeda operative indicates that there is a far more dangerous conspiracy afoot.

Once the ransom is paid, Islamic militants intend to swoop in and slaughter the passengers in an orgy of terror, hoping to provoke a massive American military response that will set the Muslim world aflame. Jake Grafton is assigned to negotiate with the brutal pirate chief while his right-hand man, Tommy Carmellini, and a team of CIA and Navy SEAL operatives mount an undercover operation to save the hostages and keep the United States from being maneuvered into a murderous war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781480576377
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	02/25/2014
Series:	Tommy Carmellini Series , #5
Edition description:	Unabridged
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Stephen Coonts is the author of seventeen New York Times bestselling books that have been translated and published around the world. A former naval aviator and Vietnam combat veteran, he is a graduate of West Virginia University and the University of Colorado School of Law. He lives in Colorado.

Eric G. Dove is an accomplished singer, guitarist, recording artist, songwriter, actor, and voice artist. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous independent films and stage productions. In addition to two album releases of his own, Eric’s songs have been cut by multiple Nashville artists.

Date of Birth:

July 19, 1946

Place of Birth:

Morgantown, West Virginia

Education:

B.A., West Virginia University, 1968; J.D., University of Colorado, 1979

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Stephen Coonts proves once again, he is the master of the ship. This time in the terrorist infested high seas where Grafton and Carmellini, are fully-kitted, synched, and on target.  Pirate Alley is full-steam-ahead, action-packed, chaotic, and final—but with black cladded Navy SEALs in the mix, the fight is anything but fair." —Dalton Fury, New York Times bestselling author of Kill Bin Laden

 

“Pirate Alley is fast-moving, scary, and realistic.  Starting with a bang, it then gets even better. Steve gives us real pirates, not Johnny Depp with eye shadow.” —Larry Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Exit Plan

 

"The one-sit read champion of the season, Stephen Coonts's Pirate Alley races though a maritime terrorist attack in the Red Sea, creating a vivid cast of heroes, victims and villains. It has the feel of a documentary but the soul of an intimate drama, a trick that's extremely hard to pull off."

—Stephen Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of I, Sniper, Point of Impact and The Third Bullet

 

“Steve Coonts is a masterful storyteller—and PIRATE ALLEY his most chilling thriller yet. Never will you see the duplicity of world politics—let alone cruise ships and Somali bandits—in the same light again.” —W.E.B. Griffin & William E. Butterworth IV, bestselling authors of EMPIRE AND HONOR and THE LAST WITNESS

 

“Start with a band of ruthless Somali pirates in a story that has too often shown up on the front pages of the New York Times, add Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini, plus a heavy dose of SEALs on the hunt, and Stephen Coonts’s new novel PRIATE ALLEY is one hell of a read!  A tale of modern day swashbucklers whose leader is the most ruthless pirate since Blackbeard makes for a book you simply cannot put down.  Hats off to Steve for another rip roaring story.” —David Hagberg, author of Abyss

 

“A great, realistic read that could mirror current events.  Coonts details this ship high-jacking and take-down as if he has first hand experience WITH the SEAL Teams.  After reading this, you will want to postpone that cruise that goes anywhere near the Horn of Africa.” —Howard Wadsin, author of Seal Team Six 

 

“Stephen Coonts takes another master turn with Pirate Alley. . . . Coonts weaves a realistic and frightening multi-layered story. . . . The buildup and final denouement will cost more than a few readers a good night’s sleep—and change the way you view pirates, cruise ships and Washington forever.” —Jim DeFelice, best-selling author of American Sniper and The Helios Conspiracy

 

“Start Pirate Alley at your peril and then plan for a long night. You won't be able to put it down....Filled with the courage and smarts of Stephen Coonts' SEAL Team heroes. —Former Defense Secretary William Cohen

Editorial Reviews

Naval aviator Jake Grafton joins forces with CIA operative Tommy Carmellini, the hero of his own series (The Disciple, etc.), in bestseller Coonts’s 11th Jake Grafton thriller (after 2003’s Liberty), a can’t-put-it-down plunge into the fast-growing Somali pirates subgenre. A team of pirates, led by ruthless, brutal Mustafa al-Said, who works for warlord Sheikh Ragnar, seizes the 850-passenger cruise ship Sultan of the Seas after a hard chase. American forces under the command of Adm. Toad Tarkington aboard Chosin Reservoir, an amphibious assault ship, are ready to intervene, but they operate under constraints. Politicians far away control the action and may in the end pay the pirates’ ransom. After the liner is taken to the port of Eyl, Somalia, and the passengers are locked up in an old fortress, Grafton and Carmellini put boots on the ground and face down the bad guys with the help of SEALs, Force Recon, and other military units. This is a stomach-clenching nail-biter that will leave readers exhausted and satisfied that justice—very rough justice—has been served. Agent: Deborah C. Grosvenor, Grosvenor Literary Agency. (May)

Publishers Weekly

A first-class thriller.” —Denver Post

“Swashbuckling…Thriller lovers will enjoy this one for its fast pace, colorful locale, and satisfying conclusion…Coonts takes us on a heck of a good ride.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A stomach-clenching nail-biter that will leave readers exhausted and satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly

“[With] a plot that's ripped straight out of the news…this is one for your must-read list.” —Sunday Gazette-Mail

“Coonts details this ship hijacking and take-down as if he has firsthand experience with the SEAL Teams.” —Howard Wasdin, author of Seal Team Six

“A realistic and frightening multilayered story...[that will] change the way you view pirates, cruise ships, and Washington forever.” —Jim DeFelice, bestselling author of American Sniper and The Helios Conspiracy

“Coonts is a masterful storyteller—and Pirate Alley his most chilling thriller yet.” —W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV, bestselling authors of Empire and Honor and The Last Witness

“Pirate Alley is full-steam-ahead, action-packed, chaotic, and final—but with black- cladded Navy SEALs in the mix, the fight is anything but fair.” —Dalton Fury, New York Times bestselling author of Kill Bin Laden

“Fast-moving, scary, and realistic...Starting with a bang, it then gets even better. Steve gives us real pirates, not Johnny Depp with eye shadow.” —Larry Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Exit Plan

“One hell of a read! A tale of modern-day swashbucklers whose leader is the most ruthless pirate since Blackbeard.” —David Hagberg, author of Abyss

“Filled with the courage and smarts of Stephen Coonts's SEAL Team heroes.” —Former Defense Secretary William Cohen

“The one-sit-read champion of the season, Stephen Coonts's Pirate Alley races through a maritime terrorist attack in the Gulf of Aden, creating a vivid cast of heroes, victims, and villains.” —Stephen Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of I, Sniper

“Coonts carefully builds his plot using a wide cast of characters, from insider Iranian spies to cutting-edge aircraft pilots and government officials both high and low. Hardly a page passes without nerve-stretching tension or flat-out action. One can only hope the U.S. president, the head of the CIA, and the Israeli prime minister will have this book on their nightstands for easy reference in case fiction turns to reality, an all-too-real possibility as evidenced by recent headlines.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on THE DISCIPLE

“Exciting…. The action moves swiftly to its Hollywood ending.” —Publishers Weekly on THE ASSASSIN

“Tommy has been the star of the last two Grafton books, and in The Assassin he matures and develops into a complex and compelling character that should provide Coonts with many new and refreshing plot opportunities...An abundance of intrigue and betrayals...This is the best thriller that Coonts has written in some time. However, all recent books featuring Carmellini are superb.” —The Roanoke Times (Virginia) on THE ASSASSIN

“This book has more twists and turns than an old staircase…Coonts remains the master of the great techno-thriller.” —James Myers on THE ASSASSIN, The Entertainment Critic Book Review

“An assured international thriller.” —Publishers Weekly on THE TRAITOR

“The prevailing spook mode shifts from cloak to dagger, and suddenly the guys they thought were watching their backs are aiming at them.” —Kirkus Reviews on THE TRAITOR

“The Traitor contains layer upon layer of deceit and deception...plenty of fistfights and explosions.... Coonts's trademark excitement keep[s] the pages turning to the book's ultimate conclusion.” —Bookreporter.com on THE TRAITOR

“This book is vintage Coonts...plenty of action and intrigue, with the added benefit of a new lead character.” —Dallas Morning News on LIARS AND THIEVES

“Coonts knows how to write and build suspense…this is the mark of a natural storyteller.” —The New York Times Book Review on LIARS AND THIEVES

“Former Grafton sidekick Tommy Carmellini, ex-burglar and CIA operative, has been promoted to star in what's sure to be another excellent, long-lived series…Tommy is smart, brave, skilled, and possessed of enough self-deprecating, wise-cracking wit to endear him to readers…readers of the Jake Grafton series will easily make the leap to Tommy Carmellini, and new readers can be expected to sign up for this hipper hero.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on LIARS AND THIEVES

“Tommy is a self-deprecating and wise-cracking narrator who brings a welcome energy to the genre. And fans will be pleased to see a now retired Jake Grafton and his wife, Callie, make an appearance.” —Library Journal on LIARS AND THIEVES

“Readers who have not previously treated themselves to a Coonts thriller should definitely pick up this one.” —Bookreporter.com on LIARS AND THIEVES

“Fast-paced…reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen or even the master himself, Elmore Leonard.” —Hintonnews.net on LIARS AND THIEVES

“Gripping…Coonts's naval background and his legal education bring considerable authority to the story, and the narrative is loaded with detailed information about terrorist networks, modern weaponry, and international intrigue…the action is slam-bang” —Publishers Weekly on LIBERTY

“An action-packed thriller…[a] high-octane tale.” —Midwest Book Review on LIBERTY

“Frighteningly realistic.” —Maxim Magazine on LIBERTY

“This master of the techno-thriller spins a bone-chilling worst-case scenario…[Coonts] rivals Clancy for fiction-as-realism and Cussler for spirited action…[He] never lets up with heart-racing jet/missile combat, suspenseful submarine maneuvers, and doomsday scenarios that feel only too real.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on AMERICA

“Coonts's action and the techno-talk are as gripping as ever.” —Kirkus Reviews on AMERICA

“Give a hearty ‘welcome back' to Admiral. Jake Grafton….Thrilling roller-coaster action.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer on AMERICA

“High octane….[Coonts] skillfully captures the postmodern flavor of Hong Kong, where a cell phone is as apt as an AK-47 to be a revolutionary weapon.” —USA Today on HONG KONG

“The author gives us superior suspense with a great cast of made-up characters…But the best thing about this book is Coonts's scenario for turning China into a democracy.” —Liz Smith on HONG KONG, The New York Post

“Enough Tomahawk missiles, stealth bombers, and staccato action to satisfy [Coonts's] most demanding fans.” —USA Today on CUBA

“Dramatic, diverting action…Coonts delivers!” —Booklist on CUBA

“[Coonts is] a natural storyteller [with] a rare gift....Fortunes of War is crammed with action, suspense, and characters with more than the usual one dimension found in these books.” —USA Today on FORTUNES OF WAR

“Steve Coonts is a masterful storyteller—and PIRATE ALLEY his most chilling thriller yet. Never will you see the duplicity of world politics—let alone cruise ships and Somali bandits—in the same light again.” —W.E.B. Griffin & William E. Butterworth IV, bestselling authors of EMPIRE AND HONOR and THE LAST WITNESS

“Start with a band of ruthless Somali pirates in a story that has too often shown up on the front pages of the New York Times, add Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini, plus a heavy dose of SEALs on the hunt, and Stephen Coonts's new novel PRIATE ALLEY is one hell of a read! A tale of modern day swashbucklers whose leader is the most ruthless pirate since Blackbeard makes for a book you simply cannot put down. Hats off to Steve for another rip roaring story.” —David Hagberg, author of Abyss

“A great, realistic read that could mirror current events. Coonts details this ship high-jacking and take-down as if he has first hand experience WITH the SEAL Teams. After reading this, you will want to postpone that cruise that goes anywhere near the Horn of Africa.” —Howard Wadsin, author of Seal Team Six

“Stephen Coonts takes another master turn with Pirate Alley. . . . Coonts weaves a realistic and frightening multi-layered story. . . . The buildup and final denouement will cost more than a few readers a good night's sleep—and change the way you view pirates, cruise ships and Washington forever.” —Jim DeFelice, best-selling author of American Sniper and The Helios Conspiracy

“Start Pirate Alley at your peril and then plan for a long night. You won't be able to put it down....Filled with the courage and smarts of Stephen Coonts' SEAL Team heroes.” —Former Defense Secretary William Cohen

From the Publisher

A swashbuckling thriller from Coonts. The Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa sees heavy commercial traffic as ships ply their way to the Suez Canal. Given the great poverty on the continent, some men take to piracy—they commandeer a cruise ship or freighter and hold cargo, passengers and crew for ransom. One such victim is the Sultan of the Seas, a luxury liner with almost 900 souls aboard. Sailing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, it catches the attention of Muslim pirates operating out of Mogadishu, Somalia. Once they board the unarmed vessel, they kill a few infidels to frighten the rest, then issue their demand to the world: $200 million, or everyone dies. Meanwhile, passenger Mike Rosen secretly sends emails to his employer about deteriorating conditions on the ship, and his messages become worldwide news. The CIA and Navy SEALs get involved, since the U.S. thinks the pirates may intend to kill everyone onboard regardless of whether they get the ransom. Former Navy pilot Coonts expertly builds the tension as plans develop to take back the ship, conflicts brew between pirate factions, copious blood flows and an old coastal fortress turns into a potential bomb. Coonts' fans will welcome back series characters Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini, who see to it that readers have fun while lots of bad guys take the express route to Paradise. Meanwhile, readers considering an Indian Ocean cruise might want to pick something less adventurous. Thriller lovers will enjoy this one for its fast pace, colorful locale and satisfying conclusion. There's never a doubt as to which side will win, of course, but Coonts takes us on a heck of a good ride.

Kirkus Reviews