Joe Ledger: Special Ops

By: Jonathan Maberry

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

Captain Joe Ledger - former cop, former Army Ranger, and currently the top-kick of Echo Team, an elite squad of first-class shooters who roll out to face down the world's most dangerous terrorists. Not fanatics with explosive vests or political hostage takers. Joe and his team square off against terrorists who have the most advanced and exotic weapons of mass destruction, designer bioweapons, cutting-edge transgenics…real mad-scientist stuff.

If they have to call Joe Ledger - it's already hit the fan.

Joe Ledger: Special Ops collects several of the Ledger short stories and presents two brand-new tales exclusive to this volume. Bonus features include character profiles and a never-before-published glimpse behind the scenes of the Department of Military Sciences.

Join the hunt!

©2014 Jonathan Maberry (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

9 Joe Ledger short stories

Where does Joe Ledger: Special Ops rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've enjoyed all of Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger books. Special Ops has 9 short stories (several of which are available for purchase individually on Audible).

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Ray Porter does an excellent job narrating in all the Joe Ledger books.

Any additional comments?

9 Joe Ledger short stories:
1. Countdown (prequel story to Patient Zero)
2. Zero Tolerance (takes place a few weeks after Patient Zero)
3. Deep Dark (takes place after the events of Patient Zero)
4. Material Witness (takes place several weeks after Patient Zero)
5. Changeling (after events in The Dragon Factory)
6. Mad Science (takes place after the events of Assassin's Code)
7. Artifact (no info)
8. The Handyman Gets Out (no info)
9. Borrowed Power (set between Assassin's Code & Extinction Machine)

Great additions to the Ledger universe!

A few of the tales in this book were in the last collection, and some others appeared elsewhere. That threw me off at first since I started skipping through stories and ended up missing half of one I hadn't heard.

That said, they're all top-notch as usual. I especially enjoyed changeling, which added some more mysteries to the overall Joe Ledger universe.

I also enjoyed the last story in the collection, which starts off years ago and actually follows Mr Church before the DMS was formed before catching up to the present with Joe. It was good to hear a bit more of St. Germaine

Ahhhh - the more Joe the better

What did you love best about Joe Ledger: Special Ops?

Joe Ledger, of course

What did you like best about this story?

It's a bunch of shorts. Let me help everyone. Chapter 1 is a prequel to the entire series. Chapter 2 is several week after Patient Zero. Chapter 4 takes place after Zero Tolerance. Chapter 3 is a Prequel to the Dragon Factory. Chapter 6 is after the Dragon Factory. Chapter 8 is after Assassin's Code. Chapter 11 between Assassin's Code & Extinction Machine. Chapter 9 is after after Code Zero. Chapter 10 is after Code Zero. The only short NOT in this complication is Dog Days.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. But since I'm finished with Mr. Ledger until the next one comes out, I've just ordered and am downloading another book solely because Ray Porter is narrating.

Who was the most memorable character of Joe Ledger: Special Ops and why?

Really? Don't make me choose between Church, Joe, Bunny or Top. Don't make me do it.

Any additional comments?

Ray Porter brings these books to life. That being said, ALL of these shorts tell huge stories between the full Ledger books. You learn ALOT. Don't pass them up.

Another Winner!

Where does Joe Ledger: Special Ops rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Well, I love the Joe Ledger stuff. This collection of new and old short stories was as awesome as the novels.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yep! It was great to finally get a sliver of Mr. Church's backstory. I have a million questions after hearing "Changeling" and I hope Mr. Maberry revisits that story line at some point.

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

He is Joe Ledger. His performance ,as always, is superb.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The fight scene where Joe admits defeat. And (in a different story) I laughed out loud at Joe's "naked" fighting style.

Any additional comments?

This series is absolutely the best thing going. Keep it coming, Mr. Maberry. WRITE FASTER!!!

If you have already read Missing Files

Or any other of Maberry's other short stories, then most stories in this book have already been published.
I listened to the Missing Files book, and read 2 others from Amazon, so only one story was new to me.
If you haven't already listened to Joe Ledger, Missing Files, then this a great addition to the Ledger series.
Just a heads up.

A great way to get your Joe Ledger fix!

This book is a series of short stories that take place in timelines around those featured in the novels. While not required, I think these stories are best enjoyed once you have finished all the main novels. There are some "spoilers" in the short stories when the characters refer to events that happened at the conclusions of the different novels.

Even though the book consists of stand-alone stories, there is some context-setting at the beginning of each that explains when/where each one takes place.

Each story is substantial enough to be enjoyed in its own right. It actually felt similar to a regular Joe Ledger novel since those tend to be a series of action-packed episodes back to back anyway.

To me, it was every bit as enjoyable as any of the other novels, which means it was a rocking 5-star listen.

And there is an awesome bonus story at the end. An interview between Jonathan Maberry (the author) and Ray Porter (the narrator). It offers really terrific insight into how Ray goes about preparing for and recording the novels. It is also clear that Jonathan is as big a Ray Porter fan as I am! Worth the price of a credit all by itself. Enjoy!

As always Amazing!

Kick ass short action trillers! Joe Ledger and Echo team paired with Ray Porter reading them! what could go wrong!

Moderately Unhealthy Man-Crush on Maberry/Porter

Another fantastic collaboration between Jonathan Maberry and Joe Porter. If Manerry wrote a book about sword-wielding Smurfs time traveling to the Dark Ages to take over various and sundry fiefdoms and Porter narrated, I'd be there. To put it in simple terms, Mayberry/Porter are cooler than KISS before they took off the make up. Truly.

JL - Special Ops

Short stories were quite interesting as I have listened to all the zombie books.
Just love Ray Porter's way of getting each person so completely right

WOW, what a ride best one yet

If you could sum up Joe Ledger: Special Ops in three words, what would they be?

Action Adventure supense

What was one of the most memorable moments of Joe Ledger: Special Ops?

Too many to name enjoyed the new agents and their reactions to the unknown

Which scene was your favorite?

Near the end with the crowds in the casinos

If you could take any character from Joe Ledger: Special Ops out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Dr Rudy to ask him if he felt I was nuts along with everyone else around Ledger

Any additional comments?

Hopefully Mr Mayberry will continue to write more for our enjoyment

superb listen

loved this, it filled in background to all the stories, it is narrated superbly as usual and makes you live in the story.

just amazing.

another amazing job by Jonathan and Ray. love all the different stories. can't wait for the. next one

As I've said before Ray Porter is Joe ledger

Sadly that is the last scrap of ledger available, I have now been through every book and short story.

Two observations, Jonathan maberry has truly created something special with this series, they are incredibly engaging novels and I look forward very much to dogs of war.

Equally Ray Porter brings these books to life better than anyone I have experienced on audible, his characterisation is powerful, he truly is Joe ledger.

I have heard rumours of a movie, that brings truly mixed feelings, part of me hopes that doesn't happen as they will undoubtedly do a worse job than this.

Nice additional extra in the particular collection was the Q&A between Jonathan and Ray, that beautifully finished off a great collection of stories

Short stories

This is in effect a series of short stories which was not what I was expecting. Some of the characters and technology are explained several times and I found this rather disappointing, I while pay more attention to the synopsis next time.