The Threat

Lenson, assigned to a slot on the National Security Council, now serves in the White House and gets an unusual view of what it all looks like from the top, including a harrowing trip into an African refugee camp. Dealing with various crises, he sees just how tangled high command gets, as presidential staff, military staff, the Defense Department, law enforcement and Congress all get their fingers in the pie. He must advocate the policies of a Clinton-like president, unpopular with the military. Trying to combat a Latin American drug lord, Lenson worries about who is leaking sensitive information. He and Blair, now a deputy defense secretary, live together for the first time in their marriage. Their demanding jobs, combined with the post-traumatic aftermath of Lenson's confronting a nuclear explosion, take a toll on the marriage. Punished, as usual, for stepping up during a crisis when others wouldn't, Lenson is transferred to what's seen as a merely ceremonial job, but which becomes a much more fateful one. Lenson must not only confront the threats to the nation from outside the White House, but those within. Poyer's plot are gradually taking a liberal line, with bad guys being right-wing militarists. This is disappointing, I expect better of him, but it's still a good book. The White House detail is particularly good.

Poyer handles his characters growth well. Much action is off screen. As it would be given the character's position. The author's insights are always interesting and sometimes enlightening.

As is expected, Pyron has all of the military and technical details spot on. However, I found some of the plot to be a wee bit unbelievable and the ending extremely abrupt. In sum, though, it was still a true page-turner and as difficult to put down as the other Dan Lenson tales. Pyron is truly spell-binding in his yarns!

I am a fan of David Poyer. The long-suffering Dan Lenson feels like my friend. But, in his early books Poyer had what I call his "Crazy Captain" theme. Seemingly every Captain that Dan served under was a nut case. I can only assume that David had some "Crazy Captain" experience of his own that makes the theme so real for him. I was thrilled when he left that theme behind in "The Command" for example. But in "The Threat" the theme of the psychologically tortured mind makes my friend Dan into a bumbling jerk who screws up every good thing in his life. David, your readers don't buy your books in order to read about screw-up heroes with performance problems. We have enough problems of our own. Stick with the great settings and high adventure. Drop the mental angst. Buy the book and read it. But, don't be surprised if you come away angry at Poyer over what he does to our friend Dan.

This is easily the best Lenson story in the entire saga. I got the book and read it in a day and a half. I was riveted. The action was great, moving along constantly. It literally had me on the edge of my seat. Character development was super. As was the descriptiveness of it. I could see myself there. I also developed an extreme dislike for some of the characters. If that is what it is like in DC, I want nooooooo part of politics. I could see this one being made into a movie pretty easily. I think it would play well on the screen and would be pretty easy to do I think. Get this book. If you haven't read the rest of the series, or Mr Poyer's other series' get them to. I'm retired Navy, and this author has it down pat. Almost feel like I'm still in when I read them. Great Read!