Blue Darker than Black

A Thriller

By: Mike Jenne

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Length: 20 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

In the second book of the Blue Gemini trilogy, air force majors Scott Ourecky and Drew Carson continue to fly highly classified missions to intercept and destroy suspect Soviet satellites. But after experiencing numerous close calls in orbit, the astronauts soon discover that not all perils reside in the sky.

With his marriage already at risk because he cannot explain his frequent absences and strange activities to his wife, Ourecky learns that his unborn child may be in grave danger as a radiation consequence of his flights into space.

Even as Ourecky and Carson accumulate successful mission after successful mission in space, other crucial events occur much closer to home. Interservice rivalries reach new heights as a caustic but highly influential navy admiral schemes to steal control of the project from the air force. Realizing that a Soviet GRU agent is operating in their midst, a shadowy team of counterintelligence operatives scramble to shield the project's secrets from discovery, leading to a confrontation that bears fatal consequences.

As they train to accomplish more difficult missions against complicated targets, Ourecky and Carson are asked to volunteer to risk their lives one more time in an extremely hazardous rescue mission. The stakes are high; even as they leave the launch ad, there is no certainty that either man will return.

©2016 Mike Jenne (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

brilliant techno thriller

if you want a ride to REAL space, this is your ticket. wonderful hours of adventure. can't wait for next... Pale Blue

The 70's Space Cold War continues!

If you could sum up Blue Darker than Black in three words, what would they be?

Detailed
Dynamic
Dramatic

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blue Darker than Black?

The last few chapters are very intense and fascinating.

What does Kevin Stillwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Kevin owns these characters and their individual nuances. He is consistent and the performance is honest and compelling.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At times the book made me research and think. Nothing dramatic, but I will be sure to get the next iteration.

Any additional comments?

This series covers a close to reality alternative history of the US military space program from the 60's onwards. It is very well researched , and this 2nd book of the series is , to my ear, better in all aspects than the original. A 3rd is out now. Highly recommended .

The Trilogy in General

Wow, can't wait until his next book(s) come out. Rather than review each of the books, I shall address all three. His characters are developed wonderfully. Kevin Stillwell is excellent in his performance. I won't give up the plot, but the last 1/4 of the last book had me in tears. It was that emotional. I don't give many reviews, but these books were so great, I would recommend them to anyone. Take the time, and you won't be disappointed.

Not sci-fi

Decent story but the title came to my attention from a Space Opera list. Interesting, but not what I was expecting.

Believable Story

With the various secret projects of the time, it is believable that this project could have actually existed.

A home run.

This second book in the series was a thoroughly enjoyable listen. Mike Stillwell brought it to life. He definitely gets 5 stars, only because I can’t give him 6.

Must read for space geeks

I was sad when I got to end of Into the Blue Gemini, but upon discovering that I still had two books left in the series, my spirits immediately lifted. Of course, now that I’ve finished the series, I’m sad again all over.

These books are a must-listen for any space geek or even just a lover of Cold War thrillers. Jenne’s technical accuracy is utterly impeccable to my amateur ears, and his character development is even better. As well, the story itself never slows, and you always seem to want to listen for, “just one more chapter.”

Likewise, the narrator for the series, Kevin Stillwell, was a perfect choice. Stillwell nailed at least eight different regional accents and offered perfect impressions of two different presidents. His reading and acting truly brought the story to life. I sincerely hope that Stillwell voices more of Jenne’s work, and I will be patiently waiting.

Captivating!!

one of Nelson Demille's best! I would love to see something new from him!! the narrator was excellent as well.

Fantastic follow up

What made the experience of listening to Blue Darker than Black the most enjoyable?

It was a great continuation and the story picked up and built on previous happenings. There are several embedded stories in the book. I particularly liked the development of the capsule recovery unit story and how Haiti and its culture were used in the book. It really added a lot of depth to the book overall.

What did you like best about this story?

The continual battle and balance of personal life and professional life for the good of the country. There are lots of highs and lows throughout the story and the 3rd iteration should be a great close to the story.

What about Kevin Stillwell’s performance did you like?

Kevin continued to do a great job of bringing the characters in the book to life.

Transported back in time!

The depth of characters and the intricate details of the space race transported this Boomer back to the late 60’s! I love the way Mike intertwines the personal challenges of the major and supporting characters within the storylines of the main plot. In the first book, we met the characters...but by the end of the second book they are our friends. You begin to identify with them. And with all this personnel development the accuracy of the technical details in the text are spot on! I’m downloading Pale Blue as I type this review!!!