Jackstraw

By: Ron Faust

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

A gripping thriller of action, intrigue, and betrayal, in the tradition of Vince Flynn and Robert Ludlum.

Thomas Jackstraw, heir to a long family tradition of proud military men, was drummed out of West Point 20 years ago when he wouldn’t denounce fellow cadets for cheating. In the two decades since, he has traveled the world as a highly paid mercenary, training Third World armies and guerrilla factions and sometimes leading them into battle. After his young bride dies in a suspicious car crash, he grows disillusioned and retreats from the world of emotion.

His latest job takes him to a small backwater republic in South America, where he spends his nights drinking and his days trying to build an army from a ragtag group of rebels. So when Jackstraw, an excellent marksman, is offered a small fortune to fake the assassination of a U.S. vice-presidential candidate, things get really complicated - especially when he and the attractive, amoral politician, Rachel Valentine, meet and hit it off very, very well.

Jackstraw suspects a double-cross, however, and plots an alternate escape route. But he’s a step behind the trickery. When the staged shooting goes horribly awry, he barely survives and makes his way back to the U.S., where he becomes a fugitive hunted by every law enforcement agency in the nation. As he works his way across the country, he must use all his considerable skills to evade capture and turn the tables on the shadowy forces conspiring against him.

From the jungles of South America and the peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the backrooms and bedrooms of a presidential campaign, Jackstraw is both a thrilling adventure story, and a tangled tale of redemption, greed, power - and even love.

©2013 Jim Donovan (P)2014 Audible Inc.

FANTASTIC STORY

There is A LOT going on in this novel. Characters are very developed too. Tons of twists and turns.

Humm

Really unsure how I feel about this book. It kept my interest I went from hating the main character to liking him. There were periods when I was bored when I was on the edge of my seat. I guess if I’m really honest I have to say I did like it. I think it’s something I have to decide for yourself it was certainly different.

Ugh

Hard to get into but don’t like to just not finish something. I was really hoping it would get better. The voice of Jackstraw needed to be a younger and more virile sounding. I’ve listened to other books from this author that were definitely better but this one fell short. Sorry

Good book

Performance could have been better but good experience overall. Story was wonderfully entertaining. Maybe a bit unbelievable but good nonetheless.

Outstanding!

An excellent dark and twisted tale . The author takes his time to let the characters and events unfold. Author has beautifully, skillful prose and style. I will be looking for more of his books!

Decent

fairly good book by the author. pretty formulaic adaptation of your typical action adventure if you enjoy that genre. the author's pros and vocabulary really make it much more enjoying than your typical read. he knows how to put together a picture in words that few have the ability to bring to the page

Ruined from the start

As soon as this pudknocker starts talking about “clips” for an M-16, he lost me. Rifles and semi-auto pistols use magazines to hold rounds. The last American rifle to use clips was the Garand—M-1–from WWII.

outstanding!!

a pretty darn good book. held my attention the entire time. anyone who doesn't get the choice of narrator for this book didn't give it a chance. the narrator fit perfectly with the lead character.
there's definitely room for a part two to this story.

Intriguing

I enjoyed the twists and turns as the story developed. It was interesting seeing the lies and deception play out.

Weird plot and ending

A fine story with merc characters doing their thing. Fine side story showing how gubbermint and media mold public opinion. Some sex to show how some women exploit it to blind a man's judgement. Stupid mistake: where are F-86 aircraft still flying? ☹️