User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Jack Carr main character James Recee is back in the awesome explosive third book in the series. I couldn't stop reading and Jack Carr knows how to keep you reading. The plot was really good and Ioved the turncoat CIA agent and the Russia gangster. He's one of my fav authors and awesome storyteller
Rating: really liked it
”The platforms that hosted illicit activity on the Dark Web changed as international consortiums of law enforcement built cases on a virtual battlefield. Silk Road, AlphaBay, and Hansa were but a few of the cyber auction houses whose specialities catered to the dark side of man. Weapons, child pornography, human trafficking, and illicit drugs were the mainstays of the realm, trading with bitcoin cryptocurrency, moving people and destroying lives at 50 megabits a second. The Dark Web was where Aleksandr offered a specific service to the discerning and niche customer. It was where Aleksandr offered the hunt of a lifetime.
To those who had adorned their walls with most every species the planet had to offer, a few longed for one more trophy, one they wouldn’t be able to brag about at cocktail parties in polite society. They yearned to experience the hunting of man.”Many positive things have come from the advent of the internet, but as we acquire more data, we are learning that there are very negative aspects to the internet, and one of those is the ability of psychopaths and those with deviant desires to find one another. In the past, these people felt alone and knew they would have to control their darkest cravings, but now they can easily find others with the same urgings, and they encourage and facilitate each other’s most aberrant behavior.
Aleksandr Zharkov has risen through the ranks of the SVR, a Russian intelligence organization John le Carré (from the glossary in the back of the book) describes as the “KGB in drag” .
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Rating: really liked it
Jack Carr returns with his third instalment in the James Reece series, which has just as much action as the previous novels. While he coalesces after brain surgery, James Reece has plans to rest up in a Montana cabin. On the other side of the world, Oliver Gray, who was responsible for killing Reece’s father, has his targets set on finishing the job, knowing that it will be a case of strike before being targeted by Reece himself. Gray works with members of the Russian Bratva to secure the attack, one that will require stealth, as Reece was once a SEAL and now has been working for the CIA. When Reece and his new belle settle in the cabin, a strike team inches forward. No one could have predicted that Reece’s long-time friend and fellow SEAL, Rafe Hastings, will also be in the area. After the strike goes awry, Reece knows that he is in big trouble and will not be able to hide for much longer. Even worse, the Russians are able to nab Hastings’ little sister in Europe, only adding pressure to an already jarring situation. It will not be enough that Reece knows the Russians are after him. He must annihilate them and find Gray for a final standoff, while a man who hunts humans for fun arrives to play a little game. A well-paced novel that is full of plot twists and wonderful storytelling. Recommended to those who love a good thriller, as well as the reader who finds an interest in military-type novels, full of gun technology and scouting tactics.
I stumbled upon the first book in this series after a friend recommended it to me. While I am not as keen on military thrillers, I do love the espionage stories that Carr has been able to create. James Reece is an interesting character who continues to grow before the reader’s eyes. Now on the defensive, after a few novels where he was hunting his enemies, Reece must show how sharp he can be without being prepared with everything he might need. He appears to have moved on from the murder of his wife and unborn child, letting the walls down so that he can be happy. There is no lack of action when it comes to Reece or those around him. Other characters do a wonderful job of complementing the protagonist and adding their own added flavour to an action-filled read. The numerous plot lines kept the story interesting and the perspectives of all the characters did well to keep the story on point. The novel itself was quite well paced, even as the reader must leap over some of the redaction pits placed throughout by the US Department of Defence. Carr knows his stuff and does not write in too inflated a manner, but is able to get to the root of the plot without issue and keeps the reader right there with them. Full of military and gun talk, this helps to add depth to the plot rather than lose the reader from the get-go. Carr brings his experiences to the entire novel and the read can bask in the attention to detail. The mix of chapter lengths pull the reader in and sustain their interest in equal measure. There’s little time to catch one’s breath, as the story is so full of action and locales that it will be a fast ride throughout. I hope to see more from Carr, as there always seems to be a thread that is left hanging for Reece to tug upon.
Kudos, Mr. Carr, for another winner. I hope others find your series and enjoy it as much as I have been to this point.
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Rating: really liked it
This is the third book by Jack Carr starring protagonist James Reece. After THE TERMINAL LIST, which was nominated for many awards, both in print and audio, Carr knocked it out of the park with his follow up novel, TRUE BELIEVER.
Now comes SAVAGE SON - first, I would highly recommend reading the first two books of the series if you haven't yet. It truly sets up for this third book. SAVAGE SON is a brilliant piece of writing. The plot is nonstop and riveting, with Reece developing more and more with each book. Carr's writing continues to get better and better - creating vivid scenes, his in-depth knowledge of weaponry, knives, and combat. It's obvious how well his books are researched. The fiber of details from these locations is woven so well into each scene, if truly feels as if you're standing there. I won't go too deep into the plot, as you can read many reviews which talk about it. My main focus is how good of a novel this is overall.
A lot of authors get solidified in history from one or two books which seem to encapsulate their career. For authors like Vince Flynn, it was TRANSFER OF POWER and CONSENT TO KILL. For Tom Clancy, it was THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER and WITHOUT REMORSE. Stephen Hunter, it was POINT OF IMPACT. I think that this novel, SAVAGE SON, will go down as one of Jack Carr's greatest novels, and I truly believe that this, without a doubt, will propel Carr to the hallways of thriller fame and emblazon him into the thriller Mount Rushmore.
With the details of Clancy, guns of Hunter, writing and characters of Flynn, depth and realism of Morrell, field knowledge and research of Thor, and poetical writing style of Silva, it's easy to say that Jack Carr has written one of the finest novels of the modern era.
Rating: really liked it
Savage Son Jack Carr A fictional military action story. 3rd instalment with more great action, weapon descriptions, chaotic fights, cool technology. Story line as in previous stories, continues with the theme of dirty sneaky backstabbers from your own side. We now have a treacherous, cunning, turncoat scumbag CIA agent and an absolutely killer crazy psychotic Russian gangster who join forces and want James dead for obvious reasons, James is cool and they suck eggs. After a botched attempt to kill James at home. They regroup, manage to kidnap a bestie's friend's sister to be the mad Russians plaything in his own sick version of the Hunger games. Anyway what follows is some serious planning with a few good time boys actually competent war buddies and the "A team" goes to the rescue, but this A team kills you dead. Repeat myself all the technology, gadgets are here with more, EMP pulses, halo jumps, scanners, miscellaneous mystery machines, scobby would be proud, they're all here, it's like James Bond on steroids, over the top, extreme prejudice, ragier and heartier, lovely.
Rating: really liked it
I care neither for the cadence of this story or plots. The lack of an interesting worthy character is likely the reason. 1 of 10 stars
Rating: really liked it
Third book in James Reece series and continues to be sooo good! Praise to Jack Carr as he proves to be a fabulous story teller. If you like Scot Harvath and haven't checked out James Reece, you are missing out.
Rating: really liked it
Freaking great! Reece is, in just three books, one of the best characters I’ve read. Carr is incredible. And to know that Amazon is making this into a show rounds things out perfectly.
The entire series has been about the hunt but this was the best one yet, a little more satisfying even than the first two. The evil guys got what they deserved. Where does Reece go from here? Can’t wait to find out.
Rating: really liked it
From the first chapter of Savage Son, it becomes crystal clear this is no ordinary action thriller. Savage Son is a gritty and brutal action thriller fueled not just by a superbly evolving protagonist, cinematic and tactically beautiful action sequences, but also by strong and overpowering emotions that drive the story forward.
Savage Son picks up after the intense and action-packed events of True Believer, with James Reece finally being home among his friends, pondering whether it is truly time to let go of his past and focus on his present. Consequences of his actions in True Believer bring the wrath of Russians, in the form of both proxy Bratva gang members as well as a twisted and demented adversary who hunts people for sport. The narrative is cranked up from the very first sentence, each page invoking a sense of dread of what is to come next.
No thread from Terminal List or True Believer is left unraveled, with Jack Carr brilliantly tying up readers’ burning questions in the best possible manner, all the while setting up more intriguing plot threads to be pulled on in the future books, particularly related to Reece’s father.
The action, as impossible as it may seem, is even better than in Terminal List and True Believer. Each shootout fantastically syncs up every gunshot with the right tactical information pertaining to weapons and bullets, along with providing cinematic action sequences that will sit with readers long after they have finished the book. A hand-to-hand combat sequence in the end between Reece and a Russian giant is a work of pure art, in which every melee weapon from fists to tomahawks is utilized in an ultimate battle to the death. Every sentence is written with the intention of putting readers in the front seat of the entire experience.
James Reece feels like a real-life character, undoubtedly due to Jack Carr’s own experiences as a highly skilled student of war. Each thought and each action of Reece feels insightful and relatable in ways that may not have been possible if not for Jack Carr’s brilliant writing. As said before, this thriller is greatly motivated by emotions.
With such a dark and violent thriller, there are a multitude of emotions in this narrative including sheer loyalty to brothers in arms, love for family, and a burning desire to exact vengeance on behalf of those wronged by the wicked. Savage Son mixes all these emotions to drive the story to great new heights. The story ends with Reece making a new discovery that gives him a new purpose in life, as with each previous James Reece thriller ending with Reece finding a new reason to keep on fighting the good fight.
I highly recommend this action thriller read, that is the best James Reece book yet.
Rating: really liked it
Magnificent care to detail in describing weapons, ballistics, and battle. Great build-up and release of tension in the plot. I loved the strategic point-of-view! I know my share of rifles and hunting, but the main characters showed such skill and patience: in stalking a mortal enemy or a bull deer. This was a fascinating read.
The main characters, Reece and Raife, are well-rounded ex-SEALS, brothers in arms, with a broad set of combat and hunting skills. Both know that staying on guard at all times is a necessity.
The minor characters: too much background info dumped onto the pages to my liking, but I'm an impatient reader, like a rodent on amphetamine. I removed a half star for that. Otherwise, this book is worth five stars on any day.
You can tell the writer was a professional soldier in the special forces and Jack Carr moves among the operators of the different intelligence communities like a shark in the ocean. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect. As a writer of spy thrillers, I learned a lot, once again from a great writer.
The villain, Alexandr Zharkov is a psychopath with interesting hobbies, like hunting humans and strangling women in bed. The beginning of the book starts with him, and what a start! His background in both organized crime and at the Russian SVR makes him a prominent opponent. I wouldn't want to bounce into this beast in a dark alley.
This book is smooth action, the political assassinations, and black ops believable to the last red dot from a laser sight centering on the forehead of a president. The passages in the heart of darkness, Africa, haunted me a long time after I finished reading. I have a new respect for ants and chili peppers.
I recommend this book to any lover of thrillers. If you like military thrillers, go for Savage Son (a clever title).
Rating: really liked it
The third book in Jack Carr's James Reece series has been bit of sticky wicket for me. I actually finished this a couple weeks ago but I've had a hard time trying to write a review of it.
This would be due to the fact I am of two minds regarding the story. When the story sticks to the main plot, things move along swimmingly. James Reece is recovering from brain surgery to remove the brain tumor that kicked off the series in THE TERMINAL LIST and followed with TRUE BELIEVER.
Unbeknownst to Reece and his various allies, he's a hunted man. While recovering, a psychopatic Russian government official who likes to hunt the world's most dangerous animal (re: man) is baiting a trap in order to draw Reece to him and hunt him down in a far more challenging "hunt" than the Russian is typically enjoying.
The trap is baited with something guaranteed to draw out Reece and his allies, a "bait" that can't be resisted. But before that trap is sprung, Reece is still looking to track down an ex-CIA spy who turned traitor for the Russians. He's protected but that doesn't mean Reece won't try to get to him.
This is where the story excels. The action set pieces ring with an air of authenticity. No surprise there since the author is a former SEAL himself. Those action pieces are so visually described that you feel a part of the action yourself. The slower bits of the story where Reece is recovering and just living a slower paced life are richly detailed as well. His interactions with others enrich his life and the story for the reader. The growing relationship with his new girlfriend seems very realistic.
As the story moves forward, everything comes together nicely especially as the tale moves towards a final resolution where the implacable determination of Reece comes to the forefront.
With all that said, you may wonder why I wasn't completely sold on the book as a whole. The reason I felt that way was the level of technical information given about various situations and weapons employed throughout the story. I'm not any kind of expert on guns and the like so there's always going to be stuff that just goes over my head. But moreso than in the first two books of the series, there seemed to be an overabundance of information given about damn near every gun used by every character. It basically pulls you out of the story as the author goes on and on about how and when a weapon came into existence and how and why a particular weapon is used.
There is always a need for exposition about weapons used in military thrillers but it was relied on a bit too heavily in the story. I'm sure those who are keenly interested in that stuff might feel it a great addition to the story. However, I just thought there was so much to absorb that it takes the reader out of the narrative. I don't know what would be the happy medium between story and tech talk but since I do love the series and the characters, I hope the next book to feature James Reece is a little less reliant on the tech.
SAVAGE SON is a good book but it would've been even better if it had been less of a primer manual on the weapons of war.
Rating: really liked it
Reading a Jack Carr novel is like indulging in a fine wine or aged brandy. It is to be savored. Carr is analogous to the Masters of old with each stroke of the brush creating a masterpiece. Carr paints the canvas of human action, with each sentence or paragraph creating a visualization of what is to come. Each of the novels has the reader asking of oneself, to what degree would you protect your family?
SAVAGE SON’s protagonist, James Reece,is first introduced in TERMINAL LIST, a story of scapegoating of a Navy SEAL to cover up a hideous medical experiment gone wrong. It’s a conspiracy that leads to the centers of power for this nation. It culminates in the assassination of Reece’s family and friends, thus unleashing a revenge-minded warrior who summarily executes all involved. He leaves the battlefield, licking his wounds, ready to die.
TRUE BELIEVER sets the scene in Africa where Reece finds peace in the daily rhythms of life on the veldt. His success at countering poaching on a game preserve brings him to the attention of authorities, especially those stateside, namely the CIA. The US Government offers dispensation to Reece and abetting friends in exchange for his hunting and eliminating an international terrorist causing havoc with US Allies. He encounters assassination, WMD, and the loss of more family. What was redemption for taking revenge comes full circle. Reece is now on the hunt. He has devolved into the ultimate hunter, the hunter of man.
In reading the Preface to SAVAGE SON, the author makes clear that those who have evolved to become warriors are also world class hunters. Whether they hunt to provide for and protect family, or hunt to protect a nation and way of life is irrelevant. It is one and the same. The question remains- is it all civilized behavior, or is it civilized primal behavior, exposing the dark side of man’s psyche, his soul.
Reece antagonized the Russian Mafia and threatens the existence of a treasonous CIA defector mole. They both go after him and family, the Hastings,and transgress boundaries. The question remains who is the hunter and who the hunted. It also raises the question of what would you personally do, what are you capable of doing if forced.
As I read this book, I ponder what has the author seen, or heard, or even action performed that is like this? What do we as a civilized society ask of our warriors? A piece of their soul? As you read the battle scenes, hand-to hand combat to the death with knives and tomahawks, yes I said tomahawk consider what the author has experienced to write so brutal, so vicious, so graphic a series of battle situations.
Jack Carr gives you a glimpse into his former world of using the same skills and weapons as the ancient warriors. The hand to hand combat is breathe arresting, stunning, in its complexity and execution. You realize why he has a weapon in front of him as he writes. He is visualizing the scene. Carr has a fine appreciation and knowledge of weaponry, be it guns or bow and arrow. He uses his novels to educate less experienced hunters on excellent equipment that will give the hunter an edge in preparation for the ultimate hunt, be it for beast or man. This book is a hunter’s dream-the study of the psychological aspects of a warrior, an intellectual’s dream.
There is a reason for the opening chapter to finish with the prey, escaping the hunter, choosing her own time to die, and not rendering victory to the hunter. This novel is an action, battle-packed series of fights from start to finish. It relates the basic tenets of warfare. Carr is a master at the psychological study of the more primordial, the darker side of man.
What a superb piece of literature! It stamps Carr as creator of the new protagonist of the 21st century - James Reece. This is not a book you put down and come back to later. The action is so visceral and stunning , it leaves you gasping and reading rapidly to seek a conclusion. It is a fist pumping scream of “YESSS!” It is breathtaking in its presentation of warriors engaged in the ultimate battle. It is a tapestry of emotions found on the battlefield.
Thrillerists, do not wait to pre-order this book. Do not wait to buy this book on release date of 4/14/20. Do it NOW or you will regret it! This exceeds beyond anything I could imagine. Jack Carr, this is indeed your Masterpiece. I like the sound of Pulitzer in writing. KUDOS!
Rating: really liked it
James Reece vs the Russians, again. Decent plot but I found way too much"skip over" material. Carr added it to make up the story, but it really didn't enhance the plot. As I wrote in a review of one of the other novels, this was written for his fellow SEALs. No other reason to be so specific as to types of weapons. Just fluff.
For me, the peak of Carr's work was book one of this series.
Rating: really liked it
If you haven’t read The Terminal List and True Believer yet, I highly suggest you read both especially before getting into Savage Son! Jack’s first two thrillers are absolutely incredible stories, but this one blows them both out of the water. Definitely his best one yet!
This one starts off with Reece recovering after surgery and trying to move on with his life after the events of the past two years. There’s always something lurking though. This problem more troubling than others. You won’t be able to turn away.
One of my favorite things about the book was the friendship and banter between James and Raife. Their friendship never lost a beat. It was also fantastic to see some of the awesome characters from The Terminal List back strong in this one, along with all the new characters introduced! These relationships are tested to the max, but come away even better.
Thank you Jack and David for sending me an advanced reader’s copy. I can’t wait for others to read it and see what’s in store! 4-14-2020
