REDUX: A Black Flagged Thriller

The Black Flagged Series, Book 2

By: Steven Konkoly

Narrated by: John Farrell

Book Two in the Black Flagged series

Two years after shocking Washington, D.C., with a brutal betrayal, General Terrence Sanderson prepares for his triumphant return. With his illegal covert operations group resurrected, he waits in the shadows for the right moment to demonstrate the grim necessity of the Black Flag program. His opportunity may arrive sooner than expected.

At Langley, Karl Berg is appointed to a new position within the CIA's National Clandestine Service. As senior liaison to the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Intelligence Center, he makes a disturbing discovery. Russian Federation intelligence services are secretly scouring Europe to find Anatoly Reznikov, a rogue Russian scientist at the top of every nation's WMD watch list.

Criminally obsessed with reviving a project long banned by the Russian government, Reznikov has finally found partners willing to fund his horrifying research. While the Russians pursue Reznikov, Berg goes "off the books" again and sends one of Sanderson's Black Flag teams to investigate.

Led by Daniel Petrovich, the team uncovers a twisted and devastating conspiracy aimed at the United States and its European allies. With the help of Berg's shadowy network, an unlikely team of "illegal" operatives races against the clock to find Reznikov, before the Russians eliminate their only link to the emerging worldwide threat.

As always, nothing is quite what it seems in this gritty world of covert operatives, rogue extremists and back room Washington agendas.

©2012 Steven Konkoly (P)2013 Steven Konkoly

Fast moving action story

This story about a fugitive and hidden covert operations group sends a team of its top operatives to dangerous locations to stop a possible terrorist attack with biological weapons. The team of operatives heads off from one location to another with little or no planning. They take on and miraculously survive conflicts with larger units of Russian Spetsnaz special operators. It is an action-packed story for action lovers.

Redux

Great storey.
Maybe too close for confort. ...the way the world is today. Can't wait for number 3.

Great Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but there's a subtle story-line here that is a bit too patronizing of the federal agencies. As a veteran of the military and many year in overseas special operations I assure all readers that the FBI, ATF, NSA, and DHS are NOT in business to protect and serve American citizens. They exist to protect and serve the most powerful political elite in Washington - and no one else. The military services, and to some degree the CIA, are generally of a different camp. These "overseas-oriented" communities are generally distrusted by the domestic agencies, and for very powerful political reasons. Mr. Konkoly does good service to the reader in this regard.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am a bit troubled that Steve Konkoly would give any deference at all to the "good" intentions of the DEA and ATF's anti-firearms initiatives. The Justice Departments anti-2nd Amendment initiatives have sinister origins and are principally focused on control of Americans, and the drug-control war is a secondary altruistic interest that serves for convenient info-op purpose.

Any additional comments?

I ask the reader's patience with my diatribe here: It took me nearly 30 years as an officer in uniformed service to wake up to what the US Government is all about. As a vet of some of these programs somewhat cloaked in Steve Konkoly's "Black-Flagged" series, I assure the readers that at the core of their purposes, the senior leadership of the FBI, ATF, DEA, NSA, and DHS are NOT in the business to protect and serve American citizens. Their main priority above anything is to protect and serve the most powerful political elite in Washington - and no one else. The military services, and to some degree the CIA, are generally of a different camp (though not always). The defense community especially, tends to draw the "incorruptible" at an early age. These young soldiers, marines, sailors, and air-warriors grow up in their branches with a first-hand disgust of politicians. When they assume high offices, former military people are, as a general rule, distrusted by the Washington insiders and for very powerful political reasons. Mr. Konkoly does good service to the reader in this regard.

Great story, but the narrator is a deal killer.

What did you like best about Black Flagged Redux? What did you like least?

The story was thrilling. Not quite Tom Clancy, but close. But the narrator John Farrell is a deal killer. It was difficult to tell when he changed to different character. And supposedly gruff men sounded like women's voices, and the women sounded like men. It makes me appreciate just how talented other narrators are

But I will NOT buy anything narrated by John Farrell again. Too bad.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Black Flagged Redux?

The detailed descriptions of the equipment used. Very informative.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of John Farrell?

John Guidell is one.

Do you think Black Flagged Redux needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No.

A fun ride that pulled me in!

The second book in the Black Flagged series delivers for the spy loving thrill seeker. Separate from the first book, Redux is really the start of the series. I recommend reading the first Black Flagged book, it’s good and it gives you some background on the main players and their situation but it’s not necessary to enjoy Redux which gives you enough background so that you’re not left in the dark. It takes a little while for it to get going but when it does the action keeps coming non-stop to the end with a little twist to keep with the structure established in book 1. The book pretty much wraps everything up, but leaves some things hanging so it gets a push for me on my complete story test. Redux grabbed me and pulled me in finishing it in less than 7 days, I highly recommended it.

The narration was very good but there were a couple of editing issues which the author has said he will have the audio team fix. Either way it doesn't take away from this great story which you can get lost in.