Alpha Strike

The Third Option, Book 2

By: David Bruns, J.R. Olson

Narrated by: Justin Price

A hostage situation threatens to ignite a global crisis. A brutal raid in Africa takes an American hostage—Doctor Samantha Fremont—turning a regional strike into an international emergency. Because this captive isn't just any American—she's the daughter of a powerful senator. And the United States has one narrow advantage: her captors don't know who they've taken… yet.

Fremont finds herself at the center of a criminal alliance between Mexican cartels and extremists in Africa's Sahel region. The trans-Atlantic syndicate keeps the drug pipeline to Europe flowing and reaps billions in profits.

Harrison Kohl, Director of the CIA's Special Activities Center, is given an urgent directive from the President: find Fremont before her captors discover her true identity.

But Kohl faces an enemy with deadly capabilities on both sides of the Atlantic. Armed with cutting-edge weapons, cloaked by advanced operational security, and backed by billions in illicit funding, the syndicate is more than a threat—it's a revolution in organized violence.

As conventional methods fail, Kohl chooses to activate a disavowed asset and launch an off-the-books operation to rescue the doctor and destroy the syndicate—before it's too late.

Fans of Vince Flynn and Tom Clancy will tear through this explosive new thriller where global power, covert action, and moral compromise collide.

Praise for the authors:

"…compares with the best of the timeless classics by Tom Clancy, Dale Brown, and Stephen Coonts."—Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mission Critical

"These two guys have lived it. Now they're writing it."—Don Keith, author of Only the Brave and Final Bearing

"…some of the best combat writing I've seen since Tom Clancy."—Jason Kasper, USA Today bestselling author of The Enemies of My Country

©2026 David Bruns and J.R. Olson (P)2026 Severn River Publishing

An exciting new adventure!

Exciting new adventure awaits faithful readers of this “dynamic duo” of writers! Although starting our adventure in the Middle East, our story quickly moves to new territory: Africa! New scenery and new manifestations of international terrorism and criminal activity become the focus of the US government when an American is kidnapped. To what lengths will the government go to secure the release of one of their own?
I enjoyed this change of scenery and change of problems facing Don and Harrison. The major American players remain the same, with the exception of the kidnapped doctor. We also see a return of a character from an earlier book that has enjoyed a bit of a rest since her last appearance.
We are treated to being present in the president’s situation room during operations, getting a taste of what it must be like in real life. As the kidnapped American is a physician, there are several medical situations that are handled appropriately, which adds to the realism of the book.
In summary, excellent book taking readers to new places, new problems, a few new friends in addition to our tried and true characters.
For the first time, I downloaded the Audible version to allow me to continue the story while working at home. I was so glad to be able to ‘stay in the book’ when I could not actually read! Where will we be taken in the next book and what international challenges will be found? I eagerly await their next book1