The First Hostage

By: Joel C. Rosenberg

Narrated by: David deVries

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

"The president of the United States...is missing."

With these words, New York Times journalist J. B. Collins, reporting from the scene of a devastating attack by ISIS terrorists in Amman, Jordan, puts the entire world on high alert. The leaders of Israel and Palestine are critically injured, Jordan's king is fighting for his life, and the U.S. president is missing and presumed captured.

As the U.S. government faces a constitutional crisis and Jordan battles for its very existence, Collins must do his best to keep the world informed while working to convince the FBI that his stories are not responsible for the terror attack on the Jordanian capital. And ISIS still has chemical weapons....

Struggling to clear his name, Collins and the Secret Service try frantically to locate and rescue the leader of the free world before ISIS's threats become a catastrophic reality.

©2015 Joel C. Rosenberg (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Good story!

If you like action, thrills, and warriors, you'll like this. The lead character is a journalist who tangles with ISIS, gets in their crosshairs, and has to save the President from them. Worth a credit.

That said, there is a small downside. Rosenberg wanted to weave in Christianity, which as a Christian myself I have no problem with. However, it was clunky, feeling more like an afterthought than a story element. Every time the story veered into Bible and faith talk, the story slowed and the passage felt stilted. It never actually moved the story forward. I like the instinct but the execution could use some work.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Another great book by Joel Rosenberg

If you could sum up The First Hostage in three words, what would they be?

Suspenseful, captivating, entertaining

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

It was very hard to put down, but would be too long for one sitting.

Any additional comments?

I didn't think I would enjoy this book subject, but it was referred by many friends. They were right! I'm really looking forward to his next book!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Edge of my seat book just like the first..

I had no idea there was going to be or is another book out there about this.. being book 3? I'm so very ready to learn what is going to happen. I loved this book as did I loved the first .

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

WOW! Amazing book!

I have read all of Joel's books and he continues to amaze me. His stories are timely and thought-provoking... and The First Hostage is no exception!
I do recommend reading The Third Target first, as this is the second book in a series. If you like action-packed geopolitical thrillers, then listen to this series!
The First Hostage fast-paced, gripping, totally entertaining and will leave you on the edge of your seat!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A Bit Far-Fetched

A reporter who is welcomed into the presence and exclusive confidence of kings, presidents,and terrorist leaders. A reporter who has never killed being taught how to use a machine gun by a king. He then turns around and kills terrorists efficiently and is thanked by a general for his fighting skills.
The narrator was a bit juvenile sounding.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I Had to Buy the Next Book Before I Finished!!!!!

If you could sum up The First Hostage in three words, what would they be?

Frightening, action and adventure

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

Absolutely! Terrorists have taken the president hostage and somehow JB Collins, journalist, is right in the thick of things. An unlikely hero, Collins somehow seems to know everything about military maneuvers, handling any sort of weapon, etc.

Which scene was your favorite?

I cannot reveal that without giving away the ending. I will save the worst scene is what JB finds in caves and cages near the end of the story.

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

USA President Taken Hostage - Time Is Running Out

Any additional comments?

There are some pretty gruesome scenes and descriptions. A lot of violence, as well.

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2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Captivating but over the top

Story kept me engaged but at times totally unrealistic and worst case scenarios kept happening and felt very exaggerated.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great story, brilliant narration.

the story kept me at the edge of my seat it was a brilliant spy novel turn war novel.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Story is too much about a self righteous reporter

What did you like best about The First Hostage? What did you like least?

in general the story line is good. I did not care about how much the story is about the reporter himself. Way too much about how he demands access or thinks he is entitled to be involved in military planning.

What could Joel C. Rosenberg have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Move the story line off of the reporter and more on the events itself

What aspect of David deVries’s performance would you have changed?

none

Any additional comments?

The Jack Ryan series by Clancy is much better with novels about current events.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Rosenberg is excellent

As usual, his writing is excellent. But equally, as usual, is the mispronunciation of Biblical words and names. It's too bad.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful