Barracuda 945 FROM THE PUBLISHER
Admiral Arnold Morgan, the President's National Security Adviser, meets his greatest enemy yet. He is a shadowy figure, a former high-ranking SAS officer who is both brilliant and determined - and the new leader of the most vicious terrorist group in the Middle East. Sponsored by rogue nations, the man formerly known as Major Ray Kerman embarks on a breathtaking plan to acquire a nuclear submarine, train a crew, sail the Pacific...and bring the United States to its knees.
The submarine is Barracuda 945, the ultimate weapon. A jet-black Russian nuclear hunter-killer, it runs deep, and its silence and speed are fearsome. It can stay submerged indefinitely and can fire land-attack guided missiles from below the surface. Invisible to any pursuer, it is nearly impossible to track in the thousands of square miles of ocean water.
Morgan valiantly marshals America's forces, nearly helpless in the face of an 8,000-ton nemesis they cannot detect, a nightmare of modern warfare.
SYNOPSIS
The master of naval thrillers returns with a chilling scenario: a diabolical terrorist wields a nuclear submarine against the United States.
Patrick Robinson takes you into the heart of international terrorism with an explosive blend of military suspense, cutting-edge technology, current events, and superb storytelling.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Terrorists lay siege to the West Coast in this engrossing if frustratingly digressive naval thriller that features a turncoat British officer matching wits with Robinson's series star, National Security Adviser Arnold Morgan. The crusty, steel-nerved Morgan, making his sixth appearance (The Shark Mutiny, etc.), goes up against former SAS commando Ray Kerman, who has become a leader in the terrorist group Hamas. Kerman has spearheaded such daring missions as a $100-million bank robbery in Jerusalem and a raid on an Israeli prison that freed 47 of the most feared Arab terrorists. With the help of the Iranians, Kerman is now taking his battle to the West. He has purchased a Russian nuclear submarine, the Barracuda 945, and has begun using it for missile strikes against Alaskan oil supplies for California's electrical grid. Along with strategist and sidekick Lt. Jimmy Ramshawe, Morgan directs the might of the U.S. Navy, as well as his raging temper, toward capturing the Barracuda. After weeks of fruitless pursuit, U.S. forces finally pin down the elusive sub in the confines of the Panama Canal. Though marred by a pallid finale, Robinson's latest is the work of a skilled storyteller and researcher. Some readers may chafe at his tendency to drift into pedantry-on the history of the Panama Canal, presidential speechwriting and the Academy Awards, among others-just when the plot gets hot. Those who don't mind such lectures will be treated to an audacious, richly told tale with action both above sea level and below. 8-city author tour. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Terrorists get hold of a Russian nuclear submarine and head for the United States. There's a one-day laydown; let's hope the terrorists also lay down their arms. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
AudioFile
In a vicious and sudden turn of events, British Special Agent Ray Kerman defends a Muslim family in the heat of battle—and kills his fellow SAS agents. Realizing that his sympathies are with the Palestinians, the seasoned commander vanishes into the Muslim territories and develops a plan to buy a Russian nuclear submarine, the Barracuda 945. His goal is to destroy the power grid of the U.S. West Coast, causing darkness, chaos, and hysteria, and ultimately to force the U.S. to exit the Middle East. Erik Steele handles the narration with consistency and fluidity, differentiating the various accents with clear modulation. His voice transitions well from the initial mood of preparation to the tense moods of all the characters in the midst of battle. F.L.F. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
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