- Paperback: 480 pages
- Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group; Reissue edition (April 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0425178587
- ISBN-13: 978-0425178584
- Product Dimensions: 17 x 10.7 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,044,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When Navy pilot Mick Craik's fighter jet is terminally damaged by an Iranian SAM, his son, Navy Intelligence Analyst Lt. (jg) Alan Craik, watches in horror from a refueling plane as his father's aircraft crashes into the Persian Gulf. While brooding about the circumstances of the incident, Alan comes to the conclusion that Dad was deliberately set up to take the fall by an unidentified traitor serving aboard a US aircraft carrier. But who's going to listen to a very junior IA?
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT spans several years as the younger Craik and his crackpot theory gain credibility within the Naval Intelligence community as pieces of confirmatory evidence fall into place. Finally, evolving events and opportunity combine to send Alan chasing across continents to capture his father's killer.
The jacket of this paperback lauds the novel as a "can't put down book". Although a solidly crafted yarn, it's not quite that until the last third or so when the plot picks up enough speed to justify the description. Until then, the pace is comparatively sedate as Craik matures both professionally and personally. And it isn't until then that this reader got very interested in the young officer's crusade. One major plus is the marriage of Alan to a fellow naval officer, helo pilot Rose Siciliano. It's a nice touch that Rose outranks her husband, and, furthermore, is overtly more ambitious than he to climb the command ladder. (You go, girl!) However, when the two cross operational paths at the very end, it seems too convenient a plot gimmick.
The successor to the USSR's KGB, the SVRR, plays a support role in an odd alliance with the CIA. The two spy organizations are represented by mid-level, female executives, Darya Ouspenskaya and Sally Baranowski respectively. The collaboration between the two was given too little print space, an expansion of which would have made the storyline significantly more interesting.
This is the debut potboiler by Gordon Kent, actually a pseudonym of a father-son writing team. I'll buy their next book with the expectation that it'll be even better.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
11 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
a clever, riveting modern military thriller
4 Nov 1999
Format:Hardcover
an excellent first novel showing a racy, narrative style and a credible storyline with finely-drawn characters. The novel starts out aboard a US carrier, moves to naval intelligence and a several year investigation into espionage, culminating in a chase over many international frontiers into a military denouement in Africa. Good understanding of military matters and inter-service rivalries and a few subtle touches of romance make this a very good read for those who like Clancy, Patrick Robinson, Michael diMercurio and Peter Deutermann
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A mix of genres
31 Dec 2000
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was a refreshing change from the "traditional" action-oriented techno-thriller. The story starts as a war story and transitions seamlessly into a detective story. This reminded me somewhat of a P.D. James novel--we know who the bad guys are and we read to see how the protagonist puts the pieces together. Not only was this successful, but the authors manage to leave out the right-wing political drivel that so many techo-thrilller authors feel compelled to include. Not too deep, but very entertaining!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
An intelligent thriller
6 Feb 2000
Format:Hardcover
I loved this book. The technical information about naval aviation was fascinating. The only complaint I have is that the author should have included a glossary of all of the initials he used. Some were easy to figure out, others were a puzzle. The combination of mystery, intrigue and romance were perfect. The end of the book is like a James Bond movie ending but the author is forgiven for getting just a little out of hand at that point. It was a fast read due to the fact that the reader is always in anticipation. It was written with great intelligence and clever plot weaving. I have to give it my highest rating despite its several flaws because of its great entertainment value.
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