Book Review: Sudden Threat

Have you ever read a book that sounded like it was going to be really great when you read the description on the jacket or back cover, only to be disappointed when you discovered that all of the good stuff was in that little blurb?

Well, this book wasn't like that... exactly.  The basic premise for this story is that in the days prior to the invasion of Iraq, a cabal of high ranking American government officials planned to sandbag the rush to military action in Iraq, by fomenting an Al Qaeda-styled insurgency in the Philippines.  The plan involved having the Japanese build small arms for the Filipino Abu Sayaff muslim rebels, and supplying them with other military aid.  The Japanese major player in this whole operation was playing a double game against the US and was planning, with his own government, to use the Philippine insurgency to set the stage for the re-emergence of Japan as a major (expansionist) military player in the far east.

The plan looked foolproof, but none of the major players considered the involvement of Matt Garrett!

Garrett is a paramilitary operator for the See-Eye-Eh(that's for you Canucks), and he is uncovering all of the links in the conspiracy, even as the United States armed forces clash with the forces of Japan in the Philippine jungles.

OK, that is the story... there is a minor love interest, but I won't spend any time on it.  This book told an interesting story.  It had all of the characteristics of what a techno-thriller should have: exotic locations; combat action; gadgets; aircraft; spies; a pretty woman; and nefarious bad guys.  This book had it all.... except for good writing.

The author of the book, A.J. Tata, who retired from the United States Army as a Brigadier General, should have done his homework a little more diligently, and should have had better editors (which wasn't really his fault).  There were a few places in the story that were totally disjointed, and should have had better transitions.  Lastly, the characters... even the main characters were paper thin and in some cases, even cartoonish.

Again, I liked the story, but it was an amateurish attempt.  I can't really recommend it, but I will not say "don't read it", either.

I am currently reading his follow-up in hopes that he has had a bit of polishing.  I'll  let you know how it turns out.

***NOTE***Giving the author his due, it must be said for the record that General Tata is donating all of the royalties from this book to the USO Metro Hospital Services fund for Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda National Naval Medical Center.   For that, and his honorable service, I say good on him.