The Cobra
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Writers such as Lee Child may be brand names these days, but the name of Frederick Forsyth is something special in terms of conveying a certain kind of thriller to the reader. The technical brilliance of his debut The Day of the Jackal (with its forensically researched documentary style) virtually changed the face of the modern thriller, and its follow-up, the almost equally compelling The Odessa File (dealing with the still all-too-current themes of the Arab-Israeli conflict and chemical weapons), demonstrated that Forsyth had forged a very individual style. Subsequently, The Dogs of War utilised the author’s own African experiences, and his take on the ruthlessness of mercenaries and the corrupt states that employed them made for some blistering reading – that book was topical at the time, and has remained so. Frederick Forsyth admirers are aware that he can’t attain Olympian heights with every trip to the post, but know that he is always worth our attention.
As is the case with his new book, The Cobra, a globe-trotting thriller that evokes memories of the author's vintage work. Cultivated ex-CIA man Paul Devereux is handed a tough assignment: write finis to the lethal activities of the worst of the drug barons, and inflict damage on an industry that is worth billions per annum. He is given unlimited resources: money, weapons and manpower, and his ace-in-the-hole is the tough Calvin Dexter, who becomes executive officer of the new Project Cobra. It’s a highly dangerous business for everyone involved, and the team Devereux puts together is obliged to match in ruthlessness their pitiless drug-dealing opponents.
With the customary massive panoply we expect from him, Forsyth reminds us how this kind of thriller should be delivered. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Book Description
The stunning new thriller from the grandmaster of international intrigue
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
88 of 96 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Being a big fan of Frederick Forsyth since his debut book, The Day of the Jackel, I was looking forward to reading his latest, The Cobra. However, much to my surprise, The Cobra is a major disappointment and, in my opinion, Forsyth's worst book to-date by far. To Forsyth's credit, the premise of The Cobra is an interesting and timely one. The premise is that the President of the U.S has decided to destroy the cocaine industry once and for all, and paves the way for a man called The Cobra (who used to run Special Ops for the CIA) to develop and execute a plan to accomplish this assignment. The Cobra is given carte blanche for anything he needs to accomplish this assignment -- no boundaries, no rules, no questions asked. Unfortunately, Forsyth's book reads like a boring, overly detailed chronicle of the events taken to carry out the President's decision rather than a suspenseful story with good dialogue and well-developed characters. Forsyth wrote The Cobra in a style that is highly narrative, with dialogue kept to a minimum, making the book very slow-paced. And, The Cobra, unlike many of Forsyth's previous books, is virtually devoid of character development, which contributed to my feeling that I never got to know any of the characters well enough to like or dislike them. I imagine that many of you who read my review and are fans of Frederick Forsyth will be skeptical that this author can write a book as bad as I'm describing. All I can say to you is that I hope you heed my advice and not read The Cobra. I'm sure you have better ways to spend your time and money.
78 of 88 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This work of fiction was easy to read and it may be because I already had a working knowledge of almost ninety percent of the acronyms used. There is no need to have knowledge of all the acronyms for they are listed in the front of the book and explained as they are used in the narrative. The concept for the novel is rather bold, the president of the United States has decided that cocaine is a clear and present danger to the country; though those exact words are not used. An old school Central Intelligence Agency operative, Paul Deveraux, who was retired from the agency because of his violent yet effective methods is summon to accomplish the task.
From the formulation of the basic desire of the president and with an executive order in hand Mr. Deveraux begins his prep work of building the organization he will need to combat the world cocaine trade and try to stop it. The book does go into detail on this organization building and research performed on the cocaine trade. We the reader are also introduced to the inner workings of the cocaine trade from the inside and can watch the actions and reactions of both sides as the book progresses. The realistic action in the book spans the cocaine using world.
All the above mentioned background is told in great detail and takes about half the book to get us where most readers of action want to be, the actual operation. The reader is privy to the operations as they take place and the cocaine organizations response as these operations to destroy the cocaine industry unfolds. A calculated plan of action with a plot that is easy to read. The background of the inner details we learned earlier about the formation of the anti-drug teams and the drug cartel bear fruits as the story unfolds. A rich yet violent work of fiction that is filled with accurate facts on existing governmental agencies and their capabilities.
From the formulation of the basic desire of the president and with an executive order in hand Mr. Deveraux begins his prep work of building the organization he will need to combat the world cocaine trade and try to stop it. The book does go into detail on this organization building and research performed on the cocaine trade. We the reader are also introduced to the inner workings of the cocaine trade from the inside and can watch the actions and reactions of both sides as the book progresses. The realistic action in the book spans the cocaine using world.
All the above mentioned background is told in great detail and takes about half the book to get us where most readers of action want to be, the actual operation. The reader is privy to the operations as they take place and the cocaine organizations response as these operations to destroy the cocaine industry unfolds. A calculated plan of action with a plot that is easy to read. The background of the inner details we learned earlier about the formation of the anti-drug teams and the drug cartel bear fruits as the story unfolds. A rich yet violent work of fiction that is filled with accurate facts on existing governmental agencies and their capabilities.
32 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was really looking forward to this book, since reading a news article over a year ago that indicated Forsyth was writing a book about Colombian drug cartels. But The Cobra is no Clear and Present Danger.
This book turned out to be a major disappointment, and I'm being generous by giving it two stars. The subject matter and premise is great. The premise, like many of Forsyth's books, is a little outlandish or over-the-top but made believable through the author's extensive research, tight plotting, and detailed descriptions.
A major problem is that, like his more recent books, Forsyth seems to be getting lazy with the writing. The majority of the narrative is simply Forsyth very dispassionately describing the events that are taking place. It reads more like an outline of a novel or a non-fiction account of events. In what could have been a gripping, action scene, only one page is devoted to an assault by FARC guerrillas on a secret American military base in Colombia and the subsequent battle which kills a hundred people. And it's not the just action. Conversations between characters are quickly summed up in a paragraph or two. It's really annoying and feels more like an extensive outline than a proper novel. I can't believe it took him 3-4 years to write this. It feels like he wrote it in a couple months.
The first half of the book is good, as the US and British prepare for their covert war against a powerful Colombian cocaine cartel. It's toward the second half of the book where things go downhill. Navy SEALs and British SBS marines intercept drug shipments on the high seas. A contracted Brazilian fighter pilot shoots down aircraft carrying cocaine. This happens several times, over and over again, and each scene is just a repeat of an earlier scene with no new twists or surprises. Meanwhile, law enforcement and intelligence go after various agents of the drug cartel and corrupt officials.
It just goes on for almost 200 pages until the President decides to shut the operation down and then that's basically it. There's no suspense or sense of looming danger in this book, unlike the nuclear weapon in The Fourth Protocol, the impending assassination in The Day of the Jackal, or the terrorist plot in The Afghan. Just intercepting and destroying drug shipment after drug shipment, with no real threat or danger posed to anyone other than the drug smugglers. The book really isn't much of a thriller at all.
Finally, toward the end, something a little unexpected does happen and the book becomes mildly interesting again.
The characters are completely lifeless and interchangeable, and it's very convenient that there's a list of characters, because they do become hard to keep track of. Forsyth brings back ruthless CIA operative Paul Deveruex and vigilante/bounty hunter Cal Dexter from Avenger. But why? He could have changed these characters' names and it would have made no difference at all. They were great characters in Avenger, but completely wasted here (especially Dexter, the Avenger).
There are a few positives. Forsyth provides great insight and detail into the workings of the global cocaine industry, Colombian drug cartels, and international law enforcement and counter-narcotics agencies.
It's the worst Forsyth book I've read, but it could be worse. He's still way ahead authors like Brad Thor in terms of quality and substance.
This book turned out to be a major disappointment, and I'm being generous by giving it two stars. The subject matter and premise is great. The premise, like many of Forsyth's books, is a little outlandish or over-the-top but made believable through the author's extensive research, tight plotting, and detailed descriptions.
A major problem is that, like his more recent books, Forsyth seems to be getting lazy with the writing. The majority of the narrative is simply Forsyth very dispassionately describing the events that are taking place. It reads more like an outline of a novel or a non-fiction account of events. In what could have been a gripping, action scene, only one page is devoted to an assault by FARC guerrillas on a secret American military base in Colombia and the subsequent battle which kills a hundred people. And it's not the just action. Conversations between characters are quickly summed up in a paragraph or two. It's really annoying and feels more like an extensive outline than a proper novel. I can't believe it took him 3-4 years to write this. It feels like he wrote it in a couple months.
The first half of the book is good, as the US and British prepare for their covert war against a powerful Colombian cocaine cartel. It's toward the second half of the book where things go downhill. Navy SEALs and British SBS marines intercept drug shipments on the high seas. A contracted Brazilian fighter pilot shoots down aircraft carrying cocaine. This happens several times, over and over again, and each scene is just a repeat of an earlier scene with no new twists or surprises. Meanwhile, law enforcement and intelligence go after various agents of the drug cartel and corrupt officials.
It just goes on for almost 200 pages until the President decides to shut the operation down and then that's basically it. There's no suspense or sense of looming danger in this book, unlike the nuclear weapon in The Fourth Protocol, the impending assassination in The Day of the Jackal, or the terrorist plot in The Afghan. Just intercepting and destroying drug shipment after drug shipment, with no real threat or danger posed to anyone other than the drug smugglers. The book really isn't much of a thriller at all.
Finally, toward the end, something a little unexpected does happen and the book becomes mildly interesting again.
The characters are completely lifeless and interchangeable, and it's very convenient that there's a list of characters, because they do become hard to keep track of. Forsyth brings back ruthless CIA operative Paul Deveruex and vigilante/bounty hunter Cal Dexter from Avenger. But why? He could have changed these characters' names and it would have made no difference at all. They were great characters in Avenger, but completely wasted here (especially Dexter, the Avenger).
There are a few positives. Forsyth provides great insight and detail into the workings of the global cocaine industry, Colombian drug cartels, and international law enforcement and counter-narcotics agencies.
It's the worst Forsyth book I've read, but it could be worse. He's still way ahead authors like Brad Thor in terms of quality and substance.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beyond boring
This is possibly the most boring book I have ever read. The plot, about the US trying to destroy the cocaine industry, is no more or less far-fetched than those of most thrillers. Read more
Published 1 month ago by ditsele
Worst Narrator I've Ever Heard
I have to say I found the story a bit, well, "meh", but it was enjoyable enough. Other reviews have covered my thoughts so I shan't reiterate them. Read more
Published 2 months ago by James Lloyd
More a 'Biafra Story' Forsyth than the action laden variety; good but...
The Cobra - currently Forsyth's latest book has seemingly gotten a lot of bad press from people, who expected it to be something else. Read more
Published 4 months ago by AK
The race against time theme underlies this novel
]With the experience born of now decades in his genre the author delivers another tense and exciting plot. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Carl Zippa
Very disappointing: Forsyth can do much better than this
The US President decides to try to eliminate the global trafficking of cocaine by waging a no-holds-barred covert war. Read more
Published 5 months ago by James
War on the Cocaine Cartel
I thought that this was rather slow for the first two chapters but then I was hooked. I still don't understand the end!
Published 5 months ago by Ms. L. Copeland
gift
Bought this for my friend as it was on his Christmas wish list and it arrived promptly and in good condition - sure he'll love it
Published 5 months ago by K. L. Naylor
enjoyed the first half, but...
I enjoyed the first half of this but then it lost steam and I wonder why I invested time in the rest of it - little character development and the plot just died.
Published 6 months ago by Benedict Jenks
Fading Away
For his early books, Forsyth will always be the master for me. No one else can put together a thriller like he can. But it has to be said, he is fading away. This is okay. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Bruce Farley
Disappointing
Great premise, and the first half of the story is gripping. However, it felt like Mr Forsyth got bored about 2/3 of the way through, with a rather unlikely ending for the main... Read more
Published 8 months ago by L. Pannett
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