Red Frost

Writing under the guise of Don Pendelton here, Alan Philipson delivers what he has been doing for well over 25 years - all out explosive action/adventure. Except he's gotten better at it with time and age. This terrific action/adventure novel has it all - submarines, spestnaz, gimmicks and gadgets, colorful and cool characters, and an abundance of adventure mixed with high-octane action that only one of the biggest and best action writers out there today can deliver. A must read.

Right off the bat I will admit that I have never read a Stony Man book before, so I have no idea how the characters and storyline compare to any other entry in the series. That being said, I really enjoyed this book quite a bit. For starters, the bulk of the action takes place in and around the Pacific Northwest where I grew up. The author clearly has intimate knowledge of the areas around Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula, and has definitely spent some time on the Washington State Ferry system. The action kicks off with a Russian sub grounding itself in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Able Team is called to be on hand. When the main threat is revealed, the fate of millions of innocent lives are at stake. The action is vividly rendered, and the story propels along at a breakneck pace. The entire story takes place over the course of only a few hours, and the Able Team story is counterpointed by the work of Phoenix Force in coordination with spetsnaz soldiers in the Republic of Georgia. If you have a weak stomach you might want to avoid this book, because the author really knows how to go for the gross-out. Of course, that's one of the reasons I liked it...