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The extraordinary new suspense novel from "one of the most exciting new thriller talents in years" (Vince Flynn).
Four years after the events of The Mullah's Storm ("an irresistible adventure story"-USA Today), jihadists strike the Afghan National Police training center in Kabul, killing many and wounding others, including Sergeant Major Sophia Gold. The injured are hurriedly loaded onto a C-5 Galaxy bound for Germany, but once airborne, the commander, Major Michael Parson, receives a message. The jihadists have placed bombs on some planes leaving Afghanistan, and the Galaxy is one of them. If Parson tries to descend-the bomb will go off.
Parson, Gold, and everybody else aboard are trapped at altitude, until either they or someone on the ground can figure out what to do. They can refuel in midair, but not indefinitely. The aircraft is deteriorating, the condition of the patients is worsening, the crew is tiring-and their biggest challenges are yet to come. The enemy is all around . . . and will take surprising form.
“Fans of Clancy, Coonts, and Dale Brown need to add Young to their must reads lists.”
This book is a fitting tribute to the men and woman of our armed services, who face danger throughout the world in an effort to bring peace and stability to people here and abroad. Told from the viewpoint of one who knows. No this isn't the first book about a bomb on an airplane. The uniqueness lies in the fact that the aircraft is a U.S. military aircraft. Terrorist bombs have supposedly been placed on this and other aircraft while they were at a secure base in Afghanistan. If you can get past this and allow the story to unfold, you will get a real thrill ride. The main characters are Air Force Major Michael Parson and Army Sergeant Major Sophia Gold, who met in Young's first novel, The Mullah's Storm, while transporting a terrorist for interrogation. This time they are trapped on a C-5, the U.S. Air Force's largest transport aircraft, with a load of critically wounded victims of an Afghan terrorist's attack. Major Parson doesn't know until after takeoff that terrorists have possibly planted bombs on many of the aircraft from his base of departure. When his worst fears are confirmed, he finds himself, his crew, and passengers trapped miles above the earth unable to land for fear the aircraft's descent will trigger the bomb. Add to this the mechanical failures of an aircraft built before any of it's crew were even born, as well as the creeping fear that any of the wounded on board may be another terrorist and you have a volatile situation ready to explode at any time. I would have liked to see a bit more character development in the secondary characters. This book was provide for review by the well read folks at Library Thing and G.P. Putnam's Sons.
2 out of 3 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 October 6, 2011
Just a fair read. An old story done over again. Almost a flashback on every page. The author clearly lets you know he's a pilot. So what? Too much detail about stuff nobody cares about.
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 June 17, 2011
This book is truly a thriller. New frightening problems continuously arise throughout the book and all this taking place in flight abroad a military aircraft that has a live bomb hidden in the tail section. The sensory emotions of his characters were in sync with the harrowing situation that they were facing. Their Silent enemy was with them throughout the book.
I also liked that the author also related the conditions in his novel with real life historical events.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a real thriller and also to those who love stories about military aircraft and those who fly them.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 19, 2012
It is a should read, and already ordered his new book Renagad
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.WallyWC
Posted September 28, 2012
Great book. Very riveting. Still enjoying the story.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kittyb1
Posted June 28, 2012
Tom Young again keeps you captive with this heart stopping saga of a bomb aboard a C-5 Galaxy with Major Parsons at the controls. As with his previous book, The Mullah's Storm, he grabs you from the first page and never lets go. Mr. Young is capable of putting you right there in the cockpit with the amazing Major and you feel every emotion he experiences. Sgt. Major Gold is back and she is stong, capable and enduring through this action filled flight. If you want to get completely absorbed in a book...this is the one for you.
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Posted January 18, 2012
This book a thriller from start to finish! I loved it even though there was a decent amout of profanity
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.oriole25b
Posted December 19, 2011
A riveting sequel to The Mullahs Storm. I enjoyed this book and found it hard to put it down. I am hoping there will be a third book to come.
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Posted November 1, 2011
Excellent, exiting read
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 12, 2011
Best book read in a long time
0 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.Silent Enemy begins with a bang, literally. The Afghan National Police training center is attacked with a bomb. The survivors, many of them injured, are evacuated by transport planes. Once the planes are airborne, it is discovered that bombs have also been placed aboard several of the planes. The story is told from alternating viewpoints through the eyes of the pilot, Major Michael Parson, and one of the teachers from the school, Sergeant Major Sophia Gold. The plane can't descend without triggering the bomb and no country wants to let them land. Almost the entirety of the story takes place in the air. The plane is on autopilot most of that time, and unfortunately, so is the storytelling. The two main characters are supposed to be engaging, I suspect, but I didn't feel much for either of them. There's an odd romantic angle, as Parson has romantic feelings for Gold; she seems unaware and doesn't really reciprocate. They never talk about their feelings and that element of the plot sort of remains limp and unresolved. Thin characterization in a thriller can be forgiven if the story or the threat they are facing is itself exciting, but that falls flat here as well. There are a few action sequences scattered throughout, but the intensity isn't quite there. The thrill of a mid-air refueling is not terribly exciting when all is said and done. There are exchanges with Major Gold's Afghani students, reminiscences from both Gold and Parson about past trials they faced together, and several passages describing clouds and water as viewed from 30,000 feet. There are a couple of obvious "what are they thinking" moments, but I wasn't invested enough by that point to really be upset. There are a few mildly exciting moments, but not enough to make this a recommended read. The premise seems like it had potential, and I was looking forward to it on that basis, but instead the book misses it's mark. I received an ARC of Silent Enemy by Thomas W. Young through Library Thing's early reviewer giveaway.
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Posted January 26, 2012
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Posted August 26, 2011
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Posted March 29, 2013
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Posted May 17, 2012
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Posted October 20, 2011
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Overview
The extraordinary new suspense novel from "one of the most exciting new thriller talents in years" (Vince Flynn).
Four years after the events of The Mullah's Storm ("an irresistible adventure story"-USA Today), jihadists strike the Afghan National Police training center in Kabul, killing many and wounding others, including Sergeant Major Sophia Gold. The injured are hurriedly loaded onto a C-5 Galaxy bound for Germany, but once airborne, the commander, Major Michael Parson, ...