Operator Down

A Pike Logan Thriller

By: Brad Taylor

Narrated by: Rich Orlow, Henry Strozier

Length: 14 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times Best Seller

Former Special Forces Officer and New York Times best-selling author Brad Taylor delivers a heart-pounding thriller where Pike Logan's search for a Mossad agent and ally puts him on a collision course with a ruthless military coup in Africa - and tests his loyalties to the Taskforce.

It was to be a simple mission. Nothing more than assessing whether a merchant in the fabled Israeli Diamond Exchange was involved in a scheme that could potentially embarrass the state of Israel. But nothing is ever simple in the world of intelligence, as Aaron Bergman - a former leader of an elite direct action team under the Mossad - should have known. Executing the operation as a contractor, a cutout that gave the State of Israel plausible deniability, he disappears without a trace.

Pike Logan and his team know none of this, but he's tracking an American arms dealer in Tel Aviv who may - or may not - be attempting to sell sensitive nuclear weapons components to the highest bidder. When Pike's team breaks up an attempt at killing Shoshana, Aaron's partner, they stumble upon much more than they expected - a concerted conspiracy to topple a democratic African country.

Beginning to untangle a web that extends through both the American and Israeli intelligence community, Pike is forced to choose between his Israeli friends and his Taskforce mission, even as the execution of the coup begins to form. At the heart of it is Aaron, and his disappearance is the one mistake the plotters made. Because Shoshana is the greatest killing machine the Mossad has ever produced, and she will stop at nothing to help Aaron, even if it means killing Pike Logan.

©2018 Brad Taylor (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Real Good As Usual Enjoyed very Much

Good plot movement. Nice to have story not directly from front page .
Kudos Kudos Kudos

Great Pike book

I’ve enjoyed the series, with Operator down bringing the story into very different interesting settings. My only issue has always been the 2 narrators voices. I like Rich Orlow’s Pike voice as well as his distinction of the others. Changing narrators, with the same characters is distracting and takes away from the flow of listening. If you can handle that- you’ll enjoy another Pike adventure!

Brad's best work

Going through all of Brad Taylor's books starting with his first Pike Logan Book One Rough Man. Of all his books this is by far my favorite!

Brad Taylor's Pike Series is Off the Charts

Brad Taylor's story telling is so rich with images, detail and character development. The characters have depth and they seem real! The plot is great, the action plenty, there are twists and surprises. And along the way we learn a bit about the continent of Africa. Unlike some series, this one is always reaching new places and new plots. Brad has become my favorite author in this genre. If you like Vince Flynn, Jack Coughlin, and Mark Greany you will love this book and series. Well done Brad please keep them coming.

great story and performance.

It was good to hear a good story that was not a major news article. Brilliant plot and good performance.

did it again

great story line. can't wait to read another book of his that's in my library.

Brad Taylor never disappoints!

Operator Down is Book 12 in Brad Taylor's Pike Logan espionage series. (There are also 6 short stories in the series.) This novel takes place mostly in Lesotho (a diamond-rich mountainous small kingdom completely surrounded by South Africa). There is an early appearance in Tel Aviv, Israel with emphasis in the Israel diamond exchange. Unsurprisingly, the novel is mostly about espionage and terrorism related to diamonds in Lesotho, but also about illegal arms trade in triggers for nuclear weapons. The major characters in this novel, other than Pike Logan, are Logan's business partner/girlfriend/Taskteam member Jennifer Cahill and the now-married ex-Mossad duo Aaron and Shoshana. (Aaron and Shoshana have been in some earlier novels in the Pike Logan series.) Logan and the Taskteam find themselves in the midst of an attempted coup in Lesotho.

Brad Taylor again writes a marvelous espionage tale. Henry Stozier and Rich Orlow narrate perfectly, as usual.

Another Excellent Addition to the Pike Logan Serie

What did you love best about Operator Down?

I particularly liked the Lesotho setting. Brad Taylor's descriptions of the Maseru and the country side are exceptional. He is able to take you inside the country. Brad Taylor has become a master at weaving multiple threads into a coherent story.

What other book might you compare Operator Down to and why?

The early Tom Clancy books, particularly 'Red Storm Rising'. The character development along with the multiple story threads which weave into an exceptional novel.

Which character – as performed by Rich Orlow and Henry Strozier – was your favorite?

I've not been able to select a favorite. Pike and Jennifer are done perfectly but then so are Aaron and Shoshana. What is surprising is the excellent portrayal of each of the secondary characters from Knuckles, Blood, Kurt, Blane, etc. They are able to make them leap into the listener's imagination.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Leashing the 'dogs of war'

Any additional comments?

This is another exceptional 'Pike Logan' story from Brad Taylor and has already hit the best seller's list. While I may be somewhat prejudice, since I have read all of the books and short stories by Brad Taylor, his novel 'Operator Down' does not disappoint. This book picks up only a couple of months after the end of Taylor's latest short story 'The Infiltrator' where Aaron and Shoshana get married.

Now Aaron is on a non-Mossad mission to South Africa for the Diamond Exchange. Brad Taylor works Pike and Jennifer into a mission tracking an American arms dealer taking them by 'circumstance' to Tel Aviv and the exchange. Since they had attended the marriage of Aaron and Shoshana, they attempt a social (lunch) meeting with them but can only contact Shoshana. This leads to a rather interesting encounter where Pike and Jennifer help break up an attempt at killing Shoshana but because of their 'lunch' offer she is suspicious that Pike is somehow involved in setting her up.

I particularly enjoyed the setting within Lesotho with the comparison to the Italian microstate of San Marino. Taylor puts together a number of credible threats that is woven into the Taskforce's mission through a little manipulation by Curt Hale. I gave this book five stars and highly recommend it.

I kept rewinding, just so it would last longer.

Would you consider the audio edition of Operator Down to be better than the print version?

Not sure... I am a voice over artist and read for a living all day. This is why I enjoy audio books, so that I can have someone read to me. I am sure the print version is great, the Pike Logan series is. But, I truly have a hard time waiting for another Brad Taylor book after I finish one.

What other book might you compare Operator Down to and why?

This series is as close to Vince Flynn as I think one can get, but on a different character set... and, in some ways better.

What does Henry Strozier and Rich Orlow bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The character depth. Yes, it takes time to understand the 2 person narration in the beginning of the series, but once you get it, it is fantastic. I think any change now to the narration set up would be, well... terrible.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I totally could have run it in one sitting. But, it would be like opening all of your Christmas and Birthday presents at one time when you are 10 years old, then have nothing to look forward to for the rest of the year. This is why I find myself rewinding chapters. Not because I am confused, but because I don't want it to end.

Any additional comments?

Mr. Taylor - I have never met you and I doubt I would ever have the opportunity. But, I am truly a fan. Not in a stalker way, but in a "thank you for your service and sharing great stories with me" kind of way.

Now, stop reading this review and get back to the next book please.

Incredible Adventure

Do yourself a favor band listen to the backstory acknowledgement at the end. Incredible story.