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The First Commandment | 
 enlarge | Author: Brad Thor
Creator: Armand Schultz
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $17.41
You Save: $12.54 (42%)
New (21) Used (13) from $14.20
Rating:  61 reviews
Sales Rank: 148373
Format: Abridged, Audiobook
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Abridged
Number Of Items: 5
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 5.7 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 0743567218
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780743567213
ASIN: 0743567218
Publication Date: July 17, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW
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Product Description
A master assassin. A vendetta years in the making. And a counterterrorism operative who will risk everything -- even treason -- to keep the people he loves alive.Six months ago: In the dead of night, five of the most dangerous detainees in the war on terror are pulled from their isolation cells in Guantanamo Bay, held at gunpoint, and told to strip off their orange jumpsuits. Issued civilian clothes and driven to the base airfield, they are loaded aboard a Boeing 727 and set free. Present day: Covert counterterrorism agent Scot Harvath awakens to discover that his world has changed violently -- and forever. A sadistic assassin with a personal vendetta is wreaking havoc of biblical proportions. Unleashing nightmarish horrors on those closest to Harvath, the attacker thrusts everything Harvath holds dear -- including his life -- into absolute peril. Ordered by the president to stay out of the investigation, Harvath is forced to mount his own operation to uncover the conspiracy and to exact revenge. When he discovers a connection between the attacks and a group of prisoners secretly released from Guantanamo, Harvath must ask himself previously unthinkable questions about the organizations and the nation he has spent his life serving. A renegade from his own government, Harvath will place his life on the line as his search for the truth draws him into a showdown with one of the most dangerous men on the face of the earth. Brad Thor roars through this nonstop adventure full of international intrigue, twisted betrayals, and ultimate revenge.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 56 more reviews...
 Harvath, alone and on the hunt! July 19, 2007
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
I have been eagerly anticipating the release of this book since I finished "Takedown: A Thriller" last year, and let me start by saying it is worth wait! The story picks up where the last one left off: Tracy Hastings is in deep coma and Scot Harvath is by her side anxiously praying for her recovery. At this same time five terrorist are being release from Gitmo as part of a hostage deal. One of these characters begins hunting down Haravath's friends but President Jack Rutledge wont let Scot go after the bad guy. Of course this does not stop our hero who is soon on the hunt while trying to avoid capture by his own government. Many of our old friends are back in this one, including Scot's old evil opponent the Troll. Thore knows how to pack more pulse pounding thrills into a single page then just about any thriller author out there. Don't miss this one!
Not to be Missed!!! August 30, 2007
21 out of 24 found this review helpful
Brad Thor is one of the best. Right up there with Vince Flynn for writing topical thrillers that entertain and educate, this may be the most tightly written of his six novels that it has been my pleasure to read. The protagonist of these books is Scot Harvath a former Navy SEAL and Homeland Scurity operative.
This book picks up where the last one, "Takedown" leaves off. At the end of that book, Scot Harvath's girlfriend Tracy steps out on the porch of his home and is felled by an assassin's bullet which is just enough off target to spare her life, but serious enough to put her in a coma and on a ventilator.
Harvath does not realize it at the time, but that attack on Tracy is the first of several that are planned for people close to Harvath. Who is carrying out the attacks, who is planning them and why consumes not only Harvath, but the reader as events unfold. Someone appears bent on revenge, but for what?
It is a large onion that Harvath must peel his way through to get to the answers and telling you more than that could spoil the masterful writing effort that Thor has offered for our reading enjoyment.
Do not pass this one by.
Brad Thor hits it out of the park with this thriller November 29, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Okay, the plot is implausible. Many of the characters are stereotypes and the ones who aren't are not necessarily developed to any great depth. Further, those who believe that the world is really a place where evil exists only because the United States exists will find this novel reprehensible because the hero, Scot [sic] Harvath is a patriot who tries to protect the US. Worse yet, so do his friends.
Scot Harvath has nebulous job in the US government, ostensibly with the Department of Homeland Security. But he reports to the President, whom he also regularly saves from the plots of evildoers. (In other Thor novels, Harvath has rescued the kidnapped President and saved New York from an al-Queda attack.)
If you don't like overblown heroes and plots that go beyond plausibility, you probably won't like Brad Thor's work. For example, Mitch Rapp, the creation of Vince Flynn, is far more believable than Scot Harvath. And Fynn's plotting has more substance than Thor's.
But when it comes to rip-roaring, old-fashioned patriotism, Thor goes over the top - which adds to the entertainment value of "The First Commandment".
The story begins with five major terrorists being released from Guantanamo. There's a murky backstory behind the release of these five men which I will not reveal here. Suffice it to say that the backstory, as it is disclosed in the novel, has more holes than a Swiss Cheese. But that's not really important now or ever. What counts is President Rutledge telling his one-man army, Scot Harvath, to keep his nose out of the matter.
This, of course, offends Harvath who promptly disobeys the President because he and his girlfriend have been attacked by person or persons unknown. The girlfriend, Tracy, is in a coma as a result of an assasination attempt. Harvath sets out to find the shooter.
Harvath stops at nothing. Torture - which is meticulously described - is simply a tool to Harvath. Harvath's mother is attacked. Harvath gets angrier and more determined to find the attacker(s). He calls upon powerful friends with tremendous intelligence resources. He also calls upon the Troll, an unlikely dwarf (really) who has played a part in another novel. The Troll is a lonely dwarf who deals in information to anyone with a check that won't bounce. It is an unlikely pairing.
The key element in a Thor novel is action. Unremitting action in the name of America, truth, justice and good guys everywhere. Thor writes breast pounding heroic stuff. It is not for the weak or squeamish. It is for those who like their action two-fisted, unforgiving and patriotic.
Brad Thor treats plot and characters much as Clive Cussler does. Both are frequently unbelievable, but because both men are such phenomenal storytellers, the reader simply doesn't care.
This is just plain great thriller action.
I have one tiny bone to pick. I do wish Brad Thor and other authors would realize that some in their audience really do understand computer technology and when they try to fool the knowledgeable reader, it is immediately apparent. I'm not going to say where Thor makes a big mistake with the technology because only an expert would spot it. But it is jarring to those who recognize the error.
Aside from that, Brad Thor has written another powerhouse, page turner, rip-roaring "I Love America" thriller. For those who appreciate such qualities, it's a great book.
Jerry
A quick, exciting read September 11, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Another hit for lovers of fast paced, exciting action. The plot moves along briskly and keeps you going from start to finish.
Brad Thor raises the adrenalin with this terrific thriller. August 11, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
President Jack Rutledge authorizes a deal with terrorists. Although the American government leaders always insist they will never negotiate with terrorists even for the release of hostages, he secretly releases five hardcore known terrorists locked away at Guantomino as part of a deal to protect at risk children. In fairness his advisors told them they can keep this quintet under control with monitoring of the isotope they put in the blood of these killers.
The President's advisors missed another slammed dunk when they lose sight of the fearsome five. Just under six months later, an assassin shoots Homeland Security agent Scot Harvath's girlfriend Tracy Hastings (see TAKEDOWN), leaving her comatose and he furious as isotopic blood is found at the crime scene. Soon afterward, his mother is attacked by locusts and some friends of Harvath murdered. He knows someone is coming for him, through his loved ones. Harvath begins to make inquiries, but is told to stay out of it. Even before these incidents he knew the leadership saw him as an expendable renegade so he ignores the order to take no action against the person methodically destroying his loved ones.
TAKEDOWN is an exciting action-packed frightening thriller; THE FIRST COMMANDMENT is as exhilarating and action-packed, but even more frightening as the plausibility of the plot will not be questioned. Harvath is at his anguished best in this often violent tale as he is ordered to do nothing although his counter terrorist instincts are screaming to go on the offense. The return of several characters from previous books enhances the feel of the long term concept of the war against terrorism as Brad Thor raises the adrenalin with this terrific thriller.
Harriet Klausner
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