Tier One: Tier One Thrillers, Book 1

Introduction to the book:"Tier One: Elite, covert special missions units tasked with conducting counterterrorism operations, strike operations, reconnaissance in denied areas, and special intelligence missions. Their existence is often denied."Choosing a great book for a Kindle First has been like getting "snake eyes" at a Vegas craps game. But this time, I feel like the commando "Snake Eyes" in G.I. Joe. I am not normally a fan of military action books smattered with acronyms like SCIF, JSOC, SOCOM, etc. but "Tier One" is the exception. The author engages the reader with the first chapter. Jack Kemper, the protagonist, is member of a Tier One SEAL team engaged in missions centered around Muslim terrorist activities around the world but especially in the Middle East. The book begins with a mission to destroy chemical weapons and gather intelligence from an Iranian ship named Darya-ye Noor. However, As Jack and his team discover, the ship is not what given intelligence presents and it appears that the mission was a trap. Jack suffers many injuries on this mission including a broken spine that he survives and recovers from.While Jack and the SEAL team are busy destroying the Darya-ye Noor, Masoud Modiri, the U.N. ambassador from Iran, is actively negotiating the lifting of ALL U.N. sanctions, despite the discovery that Iran had been concealing uranium enrichment and heavy water-related development activities for nearly two decades. Iran agrees to the conditions of the U.N. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, including permitting inspectors at a heavy water-production plant. The U.S. ambassador, Felicia Long, is agreeable to the lifting of sanctions but Israel thinks it is premature. Modiri has a hard time hiding his revulsion of Ms Long because she is a woman but manages to maintain a fake friendliness.Modiri is summoned to a meeting where he is informed that twenty-four Sayyad-2 anti-aircraft missiles were loaded onto the Darya-he Noor, bound for Aden, Yemen. His son. a member of the Quds Force on that ship, dies when the Americans ordered a strike on this ship in the Arabian sea.So the thriller begins with the cat and mouse game of underground warfare and secret intelligence between the U.S. and terrorists. How does the action play out in world politics? How does the action affect the lives of individual men? The complex interaction never stops until the end.This is a thrilling story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The characters are mature and intelligent, not responding with senseless, juvenile thoughts and actions that is so prevalent in many books of this type. There no super heroes but there are men that act heroically. Some have good families and some have broken families.The book is well-written and well-edited. While sometimes graphic, it doesn't degrade with swear words or romantic scenes. It is an exciting read that would be enjoyed by both men or women who enjoy the suspense of an excellent thriller.

Team authors did not disappoint. This genre can have some really poorly written novels or unbelievable action, meandering plots, and generally unsatisfying reads. Not so with this new novel and the kickoff to a new trilogy.Action, equipment, and plot were all believable and well written. Yes, lots of gun blazing and equipment porn, but the narrative writing was well done, the pace was maintained, primary and secondary characters were more than just cutouts. Was really pleased to have read this and to be pleasantly surprised by the quality of [most of] the writing. Will definitely read the next in the series, due out on Feb 2017, which I've pre-ordered already.This was my selection for August Kindle First, a selection I made with difficulty as none of the other books really appealed, and I've read some real clunkers lately in the thriller department--or should I say, *started* some real clunkers. I was not familiar with these authors, but pulled the pin on this book. Definitely think I made the right selection. Greatly enjoyed this novel, and look forward to the next in the trilogy. Realistic in portrayals of aspects of the IC (Intelligence Community), Special Ops, and the complicated War on Terror.

Tier One is a top-notch action thriller with a strong emotional attachment. I was highly impressed with the characters, the action sequences, and the espionage laden story that unraveled throughout the book. The characters, especially the members of Tier One unit Dempsey comes to join in the book, are written as real life multi-dimensional characters as opposed to being treated as mere tools to advance the story. Jack Dempsey is already one of my all time favorite bad-asses, ranking up there with the best of the best in the genre such as Mitch Rapp, Scot Harvath, Logan West, Pike Logan, James Reece, and many more. Dempsey’s journey from a door kicking Teams guy to an operative working in the shadows with more brain than brawl was entertaining and enlightening to read. The bond that forms between the team instantly attracted me to the team itself, investing me emotionally into the team banter and some highly emotional moments. The action sequences were fantastic, written with sharp and accurate descriptions of weapon systems and tactical operational procedures, just the way I enjoy them. The villains are written in such a way that it makes the reader much more excited to see them go down viciously at the hands of Jack Dempsey and his Tier One unit. The witty team banter felt very natural to read between some serious heart pounding moments. The twists and turns did not stop till the very last page and the ending itself was a clear indication of the many more sequels that have already been published. I thoroughly enjoyed Tier One and I am officially a fan of the authors. Looking forward to reading the next books very soon. All in all, Tier One is a novel not to be missed by action thriller fans.

This book is an easy read that is very engaging. I liked how the storyline progressed as well as the twists and turns. Portions of the book were quite predictable, while others were a bit of a surprise. Aside from the story the language is heavily loaded with TLAs (Three Letter Acronymns), which can get confusing when you cannot remember what a TLA stands for. One of the problems that I really have with this book, is the main character is severely injured at one point in the book, but his recovery only lasts a few months. The other is that after a specific point in the book (I'm trying not to divulge too much of the story), this newly formed team is able to gather all of the intelligence that they need to go after the enemy. It seemed a bit unrealistic to me. That said, I like how in the early portion of the book the US was luered into a situtation that they believed was too good to pass up. This is a critical fault of humans, where we will often ignore refuting data because we want the information to be true.

I was given the opportunity to read Tier One via NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. This is my honest opinion of the book.John Dempsey, once known as Jack Kemper, was an elite Tier One Navy SEAL with covert missions in counterterrorism. After a particularly devastating mission in which Dempsey is injured, he is forced to parlay his experience into a new career as a spy.Tier One is all action, whether it be military maneuvers or chasing terrorists, and there is very little by way of character development. The use of acronyms is excessive, but actually added a realistic flair to the dialogue. My suggestion to the authors would be to move the glossary of terms to the beginning of the book, so that readers will know that it is there for reference if needed. Tier One read like a summer blockbuster movie, which is not a bad thing for a military thriller. Parts of the plot were telegraphed early on, but not to the point where it ruined the flow of the novel. Readers who enjoy military thrillers, especially those who are familiar with the lingo, will appreciate the realistic nature of this book. I am a big fan of spy thrillers and this one does miss the mark regarding the surprise factor and the character development. That being said, Tier One was a good read and one I would recommend to readers who enjoy this particular type of thriller.

A fabulous read. Exceptional writing, great characters, & accurate portrayals. Sometimes you forget how good a book can be…this one will remind you.

***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***While stories involving tactical military operations are filled with violence, action, and excitement, one element of these stories that adds realism can also alienate unknowledgeable readers: jargon. I am fortunate to know enough of the terms and acronyms from my own day job, but if a story like this needs an acronym and definitions list in the back, I can see it being difficult to really get into for the casual reader. They might be able to push through it and make assumptions on what’s happening, but knowing what’s being discussed helps the reader to understand the level of importance for each action.Of course, in this post-9/11 world, Islam has now taken the role of stereotypical “bad guy” that used to be held by the Nazis. I’m almost surprised by how many antagonists are Muslim in the books I read. From apocalyptic stories like Dark Ages: 2020 to science fiction novels like The Starchild Compact , these characters are always the extremist jihad warrior. Without understanding the culture in a more well-informed manner, I usually have to roll my eyes at the clearly stereotypical (and practically racist) representations of these characters. Tier One is no different in its portrayal of Muslims, thus resulting in rather one-dimensional antagonists.Even though the action sequences were really well written, and most of the events were tied together quite well, I only had a few qualms with the plot. The largest of these minor qualms was the “twist” at the end, which involved a character who appeared early on and was easily forgotten. They didn’t even have much of an influence on what happened, so when the twist occurred, my only reaction was, “Huh?” Then again, I also had trouble relating to the “meathead” Tier One operator as well, but that’s probably because I related more to the character with synesthesia.An exciting story heavily ensconced in military jargon, I give Tier One 3.5 stars out of 5.

A former SEAL who finds a new identity as a spy, Jack Dempsey has a score to settle. Traveling the globe with his new team that is just beginning to form a bond, he will face perhaps the most serious terrorist plot since 9/11. Racing against time, will he and his team be able to figure out the plot and intervene before time is up?I love a good thriller, and Andrews and Wilson do not fail to deliver in Tier One. I found myself consistently engaged in the storyline and loved the characters, especially Jack Dempsey. The plot was so realistic it could have been ripped from the headlines (though thankfully it was not!). The action was non-stop, and the authors' writing style flowed well and was authentic to the events portrayed in the book.I was hesitant about choosing this as my August Kindle First selection I realize this is a bit silly, but I do tend to judge books by their cover, and I really did not like the cover artwork for this title. However, I was very pleased with the book and found it to be one of the best Kindle First selections I have read in some time. I am looking forward to reading future installments in this series, and can't wait to see how the characters will develop over time. The brotherhood and bond between the team members really added to the character development, and the authors also left room for some romance in future sequels. Thomas and Mercer have another hit series on their hands!

One of the best series ever!!!! Lots of action, twists and turns, unforgettable characters. Couldn't put it down!!!!!

They really don't come any better than this. Navy Seals, terrorists, foreign intrigue, murder, deceit, clandestine operations, and one crackerjack of a great cast. This is one book that is actually better than even Amazon's description. And believe me, that's rare. The author's have outdone themselves here. If you're into heart stopping, page turning, edge of your seat Black Ops, than look no further. You've arrived. Any fan of any of the aforegoing that passes on this book has just made the mistake of the year. Two thumbs up - a total and complete recommend from here. You really have gotta read this book.

Tolle suspense geladene Geschichte, vom Anfang bist zum ende

Great book and an easy read. I look forward to book 2!

A rollercoaster ride, both in action and intimate characters’ lives, reactions and emotions.Character driven, fast paced, realistically executed with present day circumstances.I felt every single moment, every emotion, the excitement, the nervous tension before an op, during and after. The storyline is so 3D, it felt like I was there in the middle of the action!A great plot. A phenomenal story.Onto book-2!