The Expediter

Good story. Well paced. Thrilling. So what else can you ask for a SIX stars book?

There are only so many sure bets in life...death, taxes and a David Hagberg thriller. 'The Expediter' is NO exception to Mr. Hagberg's impressive and growing collection of action/adventure novels. I've often said that Kirk McGarvey could wipe the floor with Jack Bauer, Indiana Jones, Dirk Pitt and any other number of action heroes--and do it smarter, too. This book only helped solidify my belief. The way David Hagberg has an absolute CLEAR understanding of the world, it's leaders and potential/catastrophic possibilities we have/could/will face is absolutely weird. My first recollection of Osama Bin Laden was reading about him in 'Joshua's Hammer'...and man was that a hum dinger of a McGarvey tale! As of late, one of the main countries at the forefront of political unrest is North Korea, led by the difficult-to-define, Kim Jong (mentally) Il. You would think the LAST thing on anyone's mind is how do we help solve a potential world-class incident brewing between North Korea and China...however Mr. Hagberg once again rips a page out of a future edition of USA Today and tells us what MAY (or possibly WILL) happen if this type of situation sees the light of day (let us pray it never does). Did North Korea plan and carry out an assassination of a Chinese General? And if not, WHO is responsible for this act and better yet, how can they prove it before a nuclear meltdown results between the two increasingly unstable countries? Getting Kirk to agree to this whole operation was some pretty good storytelling right there, but thankfully, Hagberg made the rest of the novel good as well. What can I say that hasn't been said before about McGarvey? Without a doubt he is my #1 favorite action/adventure spy in print. I wonder just how much more Kirk can take, leading me to wonder how many more novels we'll get to see featuring him, but that's okay, I'm sure when Mr. Hagberg finally decides to lay him to rest his endless well of creativity will give us someone equally as entertaining to enjoy...although if I can be honest, I am NOT looking forward to it. Long live Kirk McGarvey!

Does Kirk McGarvey ever sleep? David Hagberg gets better with each new suspense novel. Able to keep his characters growing and energetic, The Expediter is simply a well written thriller that will hold your enthusiasm throughout the hectic worldwide pace. Although in his fifties and a little long in the tooth, protagonist Kirk McGarvey is able to maintain a solid presence and keep the action driving forward without a moments rest. How does he do it? Must use a lot of Viagra and V8 because he expends prodigious amount of energy in this top notch thriller. The story centers on who and why did 2 South Korean ex-special forces snipers posing as North Korean police kill a high ranking Chinese general in Pyongyang, North Korea. The mysterious killing creates extreme tensions between China and North Korea that appears to be heading for all out nuclear war between not only them but the entire Far East. Enter the indomitable ex-Director of the CIA Kirk McGarvey, who is asked by a North Korean operative, with the approval of Dear Leader Kim Jong-Il, to convince China that North Korea had nothing to do with the assassination. And the story takes off at a dizzying pace, as the two Asian nations inch closer to nuclear war. Lots of action and interaction between good guys, bad guys, politicians, state leaders, family, friends, and whoever else Mr. Hagberg can throw into the bubbling international pot of intrigue. Continued good character development both from the usual cast of Hagberg characters plus new plot characters. Excellent historical reference and associated development. Some violence but not excessive. No gratuitous sex or language. Hearty recommend if you like international suspense thrillers. Mr. Hagberg is a good solid writer who knows how to develop his characters and story to their fullest potential. From the excellent ending, there can be no doubt where the next Kirk McGarvey book is going. I just hope that Kirk is not too long in the tooth to take us there.

This Hadberg book begins in Pyongyang in North Korea. An important intelligence officer from China State General Ho Chang Li is to be picked up at the Chinese embassy for a meeting with Kim Jong II. The General is murdered by two assassins who are wearing North Korean police uniforms. This assassination sends shock waves across the Orient. China blames North Korea. Jong threatens to use nuclear weapons on China,South Korea and Japan in the event of a war. Things are not looking good. Colonel Pak Hae,State Security of North Korea makes a trip to the United States. His destination is to visit Kirk McGarvey at his retirement home in Florida. He asks McGarvey's help to prove that North Korea is not guilty of assassinating the Chinese General. He wants to avert a war. McGarvey agrees to help. He goes to North Korea where one of the assassins has been apprehended.He establishes the identities of the assassins. They are Huk Kim and Huk Soon. They are a husband and wife team who were former snipers in the South Korean Army. They are now professional assassins. They were hired and sent on this mission by an expediter named Alexandar Turov a former general in the KGB. McGarvey begins trying to find out who has hired Turov to trigger this confrontation between China and North Korea. There is never a dull moment in this book. McGarvey also discovers that Turov has help in the CIA. There is an ending that guarantees a sequel. Be sure to read this.

Very well written. Keep your intrest throughout the entire book. Highly recmmended to any one that enjoys action mystery,s.