The Aide

Ward Carroll's new series about Navy SEAL Ash Roberts has started with a bang with The Aide. Fresh from a mission in Iraq where a mysterious incident occurred, Roberts is abruptly assigned to an admiral's staff at the Pentegon. While Robert's attempts to find out more info about the mysterious incident produces no results, he is informed that his comrades on the mission are dying. Meanwhile, the admiral's activities do not exactly seem ethical. With a blend of action, adventure and humor, Carroll writes a thriller that showcases the lives of the U.S. military.

In "The Aide" Ward Carroll again takes readers into the world of a junior Navy officer with a new lead character, the likeable Lieutenant Ash Roberts. This time though, that world is not a carrier-based fighter squadron, but a Special Operations team led by Roberts, a Navy SEAL. The opening scene details a seemingly successful covert mission led by Ash that has unforeseen and tragic consequences for his men. Carroll creates Lt. Roberts quickly and the reader is motivated to follow him into his new non-combat assignment as he keeps asking questions about his former teammates and the intelligence they uncovered while in the field. Although now trapped in a "staff" (i.e. boring) job, Ash is a warrior and not the unlikely hero he sometimes seems to think he is, and he is soon on the trail of international terrorism hidden in the unlikeliest of places. I think this book is more "mainstream" than the "Punk" novels, and will appeal to a broader audience than those. Readers who enjoy intrigue, a little unexpected humor, some steamy romance and even a macabre moment, will find that this is a fast and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Ward Carroll takes us to a little explored part of military careers: the inevitable staff tour. The hero, Ash Roberts, is a combat hardened Navy SEAL thrust into a role he dreads as an Admiral's aide. While navigating the drudgery of Pentagon bureaucracy, Ash finds that his boss has gotten involved in some shady dealings. Ash has some hard choices to make and struggles with loyalties to his boss, to his nation and to his conscience. Nice character development, great plot, and a superb surprise ending round out this entertaining read. Well Done!!