Black Star: 5

Mr. Gandt knows how to write a book. He keeps the technical jargon to a minimum and when he uses it he lets the readers know what he means by it. Great combat scenes carry the book along with the reader being able to get inside the character's minds. The only drawback of this book is that the crew of USS Ronald Reagan is not in it as much as the previous two books. Other than that, an exceptional book that you will for sure want to read (but do not miss the first two books of the "Brick" Maxwell series). Mr. Gandt I am anxiously awaiting the next book and many more in this series.

Reviewer: Bill Vitale, fellow Marchetti pilot and avid Brick Maxwell fanIn his latest novel, Gandt's alter ego, Brick Maxwell, once again enthralls the reader with his hair-raising exploits as an F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in the South China Sea. An implacable malcontent has stolen the highly-classified plans for a Super Stealth fighter from the skunk works in Groom Lake, Nevada and has delivered them into the evil hands of The People's Republic Of China. In a desperate attempt to prevent an all-out war with Taiwan, Maxwell's mission is to defuse an imminent holocaust by slipping behind the enemy lines with a beautiful Chinese defector to search, seize and destroy. A bit far-fetched, perhaps, but nonetheless a well-told story by a master of intrigue. I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to Gandt's next episode.

Acts of Vengence and Hostile Intent were great, but I really loved Black Star. The realism and characters were super. I can't wait for the next book (assuming there is a next one). I have nothing to read now.

Open this book and it does not take long to figure out that Robert Gandt really knows his stuff. He has a "been there, done that" style you just can't fake. Mr. Gandt manages to be both thrilling yet technically accurate in his depictions of carrier operations, hairball dogfights and yes...trying to figure out the opposite sex. His latest in the "Brick" Maxwell series is also the deepest in terms of scenario and intrigue that introduces an interesting twist to a real potential threat. Gandt puts you front and center in the action. He had me sitting on the edge of my ejection seat. I highly recommend Black Star and look forward to his next book.

Gandt has stuck gold again in this "Brick" Maxwell novel about a conflict between Taiwan and China. It is an action-packed treasure of an adventure, with a great plot and lifelike characters.The measure of a technothriller author is his ability to write a work of fiction that reeks with realism. Gandt has done this for the third time. His experience in the Navy as a fighter pilot allows him to describe aspects of combat and life aboard ship that a bestselling accountant (you know who I'm talking about) can never seem to get right. For example, the first scene actually feels like you are there, landing a jet on the back of an aircraft carrier, and keeping your eye on the "meatball." And speaking of combat, there is plenty of it in this novel, some personal, some naval, most in the air, but thrilling and realistic. Gandt does not let up until the last page.If you are a fan of Coonts, Huston, Brown, or any other air combat author, this is a novel for you... and by the way, even though this is the third "Brick" Maxwell novel in the series, Gandt tactfully avoids giving away plots of previous novels, so they can be read out of order.Sadly, Gandt did not mention in the bio at the end of the novel if he is working on another novel...like he did in previous ones...so I'm hoping he'll keep writing...