Punk's Force

A Novel

De: Ward Carroll, Tony Peak

Narrado por: Paul Heitsch

In the electrifying fourth novel of the Punk series, Admiral “Punk” Reichert faces a critical mission that could redefine naval warfare. With the future of the USS Gerald Ford—and the entire aircraft carrier program—hanging in the balance, Punk must prove that America’s pride can defend itself against the most advanced hypersonic missile threats. If he fails, long-range bombers may replace carriers, and the Navy’s legacy will be forever altered.

Tasked with Operation Blue Aegis, Punk assembles a formidable team of former squadmates and brilliant engineers to deploy a cutting-edge directed-energy weapon, leveraging the latest in machine learning technology for battlefield supremacy. Yet, as he battles bureaucratic obstacles and personal crises—including his wife’s cancer diagnosis—he soon realizes that a far more sinister plot is unfolding.

Enter Justin Wolfe, a ruthless tech magnate whose ambitions stretch from machine learning to supplying drones to terrorist groups. Wolfe’s vendetta against the Navy drives him to orchestrate an elaborate scheme involving a traitor within Punk’s ranks. With the stakes escalating, Wolfe will stop at nothing to see the Ford sunk, believing it will usher in a new era where technology reigns supreme over traditional military might.

As tensions rise, Punk’s team grapples with internal conflicts and the shocking murder of a young engineer, heightening suspicion and anxiety. With only one directed-energy weapon at his disposal, Punk fights to maintain focus and morale among his team as they prepare for the test of a lifetime.

On the day of the operation, chaos erupts as Wolfe hacks the Air Force’s systems to launch live hypersonic missiles at the Ford. The Navy and Air Force engage in a high-stakes showdown off the California coast, pitting the best pilots against the clock. In a heart-pounding race against time, Punk must rely on his leadership and the unwavering spirit of his team to counter a barrage of missiles that threaten to annihilate everything they’ve worked for.

Punk’s Force is a gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. As Punk navigates the storm of treachery and innovation, he learns that in the face of unprecedented threats, it is the human connection and teamwork that ultimately lead to victory. Join Punk and his allies in this thrilling installment, where every decision can mean the difference between survival and destruction, and the future of naval warfare hangs by a thread. Will they rise to the occasion and secure their legacy, or will they be lost to the tides of technology? The answer awaits in Punk’s Force.

©2025 Ward Carroll and Tony Peak (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

it felt like I was there

I like that detailed description of the ship and the aircraft and using the existing characters from the other novels

Another great Punk Reichert yarn from the keyboard of Ward Carroll. Should appeal to Yom Clamy fans.

The story is great: well written characters, and a twisty plot,
I wasn’t thrilled with the narration.

Carriers in a drone`s world

Punk´s Force is about the future of naval warfare, but also about the way testing and applications of new weapon systems, about the need to perform with less then optimal resources, and the pressure to preform to the satisfaction of the legislative the holders of the purse.

It is also a personal story about the sacrifices that the members of the armed services have to give every day, the toll it takes on their families. Along all with this you have the story of men with megalomaniac egos and perspectives that are warped because they live in a world apart from us mere mortals, how their point of view is so far out of the norm is interesting reading about.

There are some technical and very deep dives into the possibilities of future hypersonic and drone weapons, that can be a bit hard unless you are into the material, but it is very topical for today since both these technologies are the part of the future and may be used in a future conflict.

story was well done.

the story fit well with the other three books, I hope there'll be a fifth in the stories.

A lesson in hypersonics!!

I’ve read all the Punk books at least twice. A huge amount of knowledge about carrier and naval aviation operations can be gleaned from them. This one is a little more suspense-driven that the others, but still a good listen.
As in the previous 3, EXCELLENT narration.

Good ..not great. Entertaining but not as good as the originals

Getting the gang back together sequel vibe to this. It was nice to see some old familiars but the story took some plot liberties that were far beyond believable. The original 3 felt solidly within reality to this old Navy officer. The comment that “the Surface Warfare community eats its young “ was delightfully on point though….

Ward, Please don't do this again

The ghost writer must have been using a formula when creating this. The story is no where near as good as the first 3. Very disappointed. Probably won't do another.