From BooklistAfter a decade-long absence, Coonts first and most popular protagonist, Jake Grafton, returns to action, ably assisted by Tommy Carmellini, who in addition to costarring in a few previous Grafton novels has also top-lined a handful of books of his own. When a cruise ship is taken by Somali pirates, Jake and Tommy attack the problem on different fronts, Jake trying to broker a truce with the pirate overlord while Tommy spearheads an undercover mission to rescue the hostages. Full of action and anchored by a pair of strong protagonists (not to mention an equally strong supporting cast, most notably the captain of the cruise ship), this one will definitely appeal to Coonts legion of fans, who have been eagerly awaiting the return of Grafton and Carmellini. Coonts is one of those writers whose name on the cover pretty much guarantees a certain level of quality, and he doesnt disappoint here. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The track record tells the story: there have been 16 New York Times best-sellers with Coonts name on the spine. --David Pitt A first-class thriller. Denver PostSwashbucklingThriller lovers will enjoy this one for its fast pace, colorful locale, and satisfying conclusionCoonts takes us on a heck of a good ride. Kirkus sA stomach-clenching nail-biter that will leave readers exhausted and satisfied. Publishers Weekly[With] a plot that's ripped straight out of the newsthis is one for your must-read list. Sunday Gazette-MailCoonts details this ship hijacking and take-down as if he has firsthand experience with the SEAL Teams. Howard Wasdin, author of Seal Team SixA 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 ConspiracyCoonts 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 WitnessPirate 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 LadenFast-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 PlanOne hell of a read! A tale of modern-day swashbucklers whose leader is the most ruthless pirate since Blackbeard. David Hagberg, author of AbyssFilled with the courage and smarts of Stephen Coonts's SEAL Team heroes. Former Defense Secretary William CohenThe 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, SniperCoonts 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 DISCIPLEExciting. The action moves swiftly to its Hollywood ending. Publishers Weekly on THE ASSASSINTommy 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 ASSASSINThis book has more twists and turns than an old staircaseCoonts remains the master of the great techno-thriller. James Myers on THE ASSASSIN, The Entertainment Critic Book An assured international thriller. Publishers Weekly on THE TRAITORThe prevailing spook mode shifts from cloak to dagger, and suddenly the guys they thought were watching their backs are aiming at them. Kirkus s on THE TRAITORThe 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 TRAITORThis book is vintage Coonts...plenty of action and intrigue, with the added benefit of a new lead character. Dallas Morning News on LIARS AND THIEVESCoonts knows how to write and build suspensethis is the mark of a natural storyteller. The New York Times Book on LIARS AND THIEVESFormer Grafton sidekick Tommy Carmellini, ex-burglar and CIA operative, has been promoted to star in what's sure to be another excellent, long-lived seriesTommy is smart, brave, skilled, and possessed of enough self-deprecating, wise-cracking wit to endear him to readersreaders 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 THIEVESTommy 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 THIEVESReaders who have not previously treated themselves to a Coonts thriller should definitely pick up this one. Bookreporter.com on LIARS AND THIEVESFast-pacedreminiscent of Carl Hiaasen or even the master himself, Elmore Leonard. Hintonnews.net on LIARS AND THIEVESGrippingCoonts'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 intriguethe action is slam-bang Publishers Weekly on LIBERTYAn action-packed thriller[a] high-octane tale. Midwest Book on LIBERTYFrighteningly realistic. Maxim Magazine on LIBERTYThis 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 AMERICACoonts's action and the techno-talk are as gripping as ever. Kirkus s on AMERICAGive a hearty welcome back' to Admiral. Jake Grafton.Thrilling roller-coaster action. The Philadelphia Inquirer on AMERICAHigh 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 KONGThe author gives us superior suspense with a great cast of made-up charactersBut the best thing about this book is Coonts's scenario for turning China into a democracy. Liz Smith on HONG KONG, The New York PostEnough Tomahawk missiles, stealth bombers, and staccato action to satisfy [Coonts's] most demanding fans. USA Today on CUBADramatic, diverting actionCoonts 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 WARSteve 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 WITNESSStart 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 AbyssA 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 SixStephen 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 ConspiracyStart 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 CohenAbout the AuthorSTEPHEN COONTS is the author of many New York Times bestselling books that have been translated and published around the world. His books include The Disciple, The Assassin, and the Deep Black and Saucers series, among many other bestsellers. 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. where can i get pdf books for free Pirate Alley: A Jake Grafton Novel (Jake Grafton Novels)
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A realistic look at the threat of piracy off the Horn of AfricaBy Dan BergerThis book compares favorably with another Coonts offering touching on piracy. "Sea of Terror", part of the "Deep Black" series, had a somewhat far-fetched scenario involving a hijacking in the North Atlantic and how high-tech NSA operatives might be used to reclaim it.This one focuses on a real, major problem - piracy in the Indian Ocean off the coast of lawless Somalia. Coonts' treatment of it is quite realistic.A large cruise ship is captured by pirates. Although both the ship's and nearby naval fleets see the attack coming, there's only so much they can do to try to repel it, and they fail. The fleet is too far away, its choppers don't have the range and are too vulnerable to small arms fire, and fighter planes can't fire on the attackers once they get close to the ship.Meanwhile, civilian leaders in Washington micromanage rescue attempts, overruling the choices of recurring series character Toad Tarkington, now the fleet's rear admiral. Jake Grafton and Tommy Carmellini, who is already on the ground in Somalia on another mission, have to stage a daring attempt to free the hostages who are now ashore in a lawless pirate's lair.Coonts has a good feel for the pirates: their willingness to kill hostages and, indeed, need to to instill fear in the others and back off any approaching military; their indiscipline leading to rape; their mental calculus when it comes to hostages, ransom and how much risk they're willing to take.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. There should have been more Tommy in a "Tommy Carmellini" novel.By adrenalnjunkyI'm not sure how to say it - but I've just read this and the newest Dale Brown book (Starfire) back-to-back and I was less than impressed with either - and both authors have always been near the top of my list for good reads. I've especially enjoyed the Tommy Carmellini series for the unique point-of-view they're written in, and the fact that Tommy is completely different than Grafton and the other characters in other books. The other Carmellini books were 92% Tommy, and 8% Jake, and it worked, but this book had too much Jake, and Tommy really took a sidekick role. I also liked that Tommy wasn't an expert operator in the previous books, but now his character has become some super-spook CIA Operative, and it takes a little of the character with it. Here's to hoping the next book has a lot more Tommy doing sneaky things.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Should Not Be MissedBy Jeffrey WaitzmanPirate Alley:A Jake Grafton Novel is a wonderful action thriller that should not be missed. It will leave you breathless. Rarely will you read a novel that is a gift that keeps on giving!