Among Wolves

A Jericho Black Thriller, Book 1

By: Jordan Vezina

Narrated by: Conner Goff

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

In the Jericho Black series Will Hessler goes up against neo-Nazis, radical jihadists, East German assassins, and even the KGB, but how did he get his start? How did a starving artist from San Francisco become Israel's most lethal deep-cover operative?

It all starts with Book One: Among Wolves. Growing up in 1970s San Francisco as a young artist, Will finds himself at odds with his Nazi war-criminal grandfather and radical jihadist mother.

After Will's mother spearheads a terrorist attack in San Francisco, the boy must decide if he is going to turn a blind eye, or take part in an operation that can only end with the destruction of his own family.

As the conflict within the family unit comes to a boil, Nazi hunter and Mossad spymaster Saul Greenbaum steps out of the shadows to recruit Will Hessler, and forge him into the agent that Mossad needs to defend the homeland.

Can Will grow up fast enough to survive a clash with a PLO splinter group that has already buried far more seasoned operatives?

©2015 Jordan Vezina (P)2018 Jordan Vezina

Even better than anticipated

I got this book from a fellow Marine. In fact, the Marine that wrote it. I figured it would be good. Because, and maybe it’s with a bit of arrogance, it was written by a Marine that served in one of the same units I did. And we didn’t do things half way. We sunk our whole selves into things. That was one of the things that happened when I started listening to this book. I had sunk myself into it. It sucks you in. It was so realistic and made you feel every emotion. It made me believe that the author was indeed the person that these things actually happened to. As if it was his life story. Compelling, heart breaking, suspenseful, fulfilling, and amazing. Great job. Truly, I will be getting the next book. Jordan, congratulations, thank you and Semper Fi.

Intriguing read

This audiobook exceeded my high expectations from the Kindle sample I downloaded. It is a fascinating read that had several twists that I didn't see coming, but added to the depth of the story as well as I believe set up the series flow. The setting of San Francisco during the Viet Nam War & early Haight Ashbury emergence (late 60s), was a great framing for how the Nazis and anti-semitism were prevalent in the US after WWII.

An unusual take on an old genre

The story is 5 Star Plus. The narrator is very monotone but not horrible. Which is a shame because this book is so fascinating.
About the book...I guess you could call it a “Coming of Age Spy Story”. Most books give a brief back story to their main characters. Some quick blurb about some tragedy that happened that made them who they are today. THIS book tells the entire story of growing up that way. What it’s like to be pulled in two different worlds. What it’s like not to just have one tragedy visited upon you but many. What I found refreshing in this book is that you saw how Will deals with it as he grows up. Not as some super hero soldier but as a regular person. It shows the systematic progression of what happened to make our relevant Will who he became.
Absolutely loved the take on it. The human dynamics were great. Watching enemies become frenemies, strangers become enemies etc was very suspenseful. Can’t wait for the others. Only reason it got 4 stars was because of the narrator.

Excellent narrator making more exciting than reading

I read this book a while back and found the audio accents and inflections now enhanced the multilayered complexities of the characters to add even more anticipation as to how, where, and who was going to do something next with greater color and intrigue.

Hate and Family Values

From World War 2 to the aftermath what evil is capable whether man woman mother father grandfather and the only one trying to live a moral life. It is Virtually impossible to navigate the horror of hate.

Great Character Development

There is a lot of detail for an origin novel, but helps build the depth of the character.

Was a bit slow in the beginning but then picked up at the wand. Really enjoyed, looking forward to the next book

I don't even know what to say....

seems like this whole book is the back story for will hessler. definitely a very twisted and I'd almost assume useless lengthy back story. honestly has me questioning whether or not to get the next book. I kept listening hoping that it would get out of the whole jew hating nazi thing but it held onto that the whole way to the end. idk if od recommend this book to anyone and and am very disappointed by the whole. I wish I could figure kit how to return book cause this one would totally be in the top 5 to return.