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[Jack Allen]

McCowan’s Second Time Out

Last year I reviewed an action / adventure novel by Jack Allen. The lead character in this novel is a Naval Intelligence officer named Joshua McGowan. Now he is back in an all new adventure. This one is called An Innocent Among Them. It is being published by Burping Frog Publications.

McGowan is basically a troubleshooter for a special branch of Naval Intelligence. His bosses there are going through some budget crunches and inquiries about the validity of their existence. Josh is even being farmed out to other government branches for scut work assignments to keep busy. Josh’s latest assignment is to provide bodyguard duty for the spoiled post teenaged daughter of the U.S. Ambassador to France.

An incident happens at the U.S. Embassy that puts Josh smack dab into the middle of a terrorist plot. People are killed in a bombing and it is due to Ismail Rafjani, a Pakistani terrorist who wants to wreck havoc on the world. But before Josh can get to deep into things, his agency is warned off by the Mossad. It seems the Mossad is placing an agent within Rafjani’s organization. This agent is Caroline Haffenberg, who Josh has worked with before.

But the Mossad isn’t the only ones hunting down Rafjani. A Columbian drug lord, Luis Calderia, wants Rafjani’s head on a platter, literally. A drug deal gone bad leaves Calderia without members of his family and now he wants Rafjani dead at all costs.

Josh in the meantime has been relegated to interviewing and vetting a new recruit to the agency. This guy’s girlfriend has gotten involved with some Middle Eastern people. A series of events throws Josh and the young woman together.

The things that impressed me about the first Josh McGowan novel still apply to this one. McGowan isn’t the typical James Bond/ Arnie / Rambo type of super-agent. He can be suave but gets roughed up and has an attitude about most things. And the terrorist network that is described is entirely possible, even probable. Ever since 9-11, the world has become acutely aware of terrorist cells.

An Innocent Among Them is a taut action / adventure novel. There aren’t too many plot twists, just solid writing with good attention to detail. Both the characters and the storyline are entirely believable.

An Innocent Among Them should be available by the time you read this. Check with your favorite bookstore to see if they have it. Or if you want some additional information, visit the Burping Frog Publishing web site. It can be found at www.burpingfrog.com.

Bruce E Von Stiers, www.BVSReviews.com
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Jack Allen
Burping Frog Publishing
jallen@burpingfrog.com

[Jack Allen]

Josh McGowan is up to his eyebrows in deception & coercion as terrorism threatens both a young woman & the Middle East.

Against all orders, Josh McGowan has sworn to protect a woman wounded by betrayal, an innocent woman caught in the middle of a deadly war. Or is she?

Senior Staff Reviewer David Brown writes:
Jack Allen is one of those writers who has seemingly crept up from nowhere & appeared like magic in front of my eyes. In An Innocent Among Them, a new Josh McCowan adventure, he has done it again!

An intensely created character that this reader finds enjoyable to be with, in a timely post-9/11 world.

Josh McGowan has rules. They are what makes his world go round. He doesn't break them & becomes very irritated when someone else does. & one thing you don't want is Josh McGowan irritated.

I like Jack Allen's writing, his storytelling & hope to see lots more of it. This is one author who has earned a permananet place on my ever-changing reading list. An Innocent Among Them is writing I can highly recommend.

Keep 'em coming, Mr. Allen, keep 'em coming!

David Brown, RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Staff Reviewer
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Jack Allen
Burping Frog Publishing
jallen@burpingfrog.com

[Jack Allen]

If you're looking for the suave James Bond type novel, then pass this one by, but if you're looking for action, adventure, suspense, and a real drama, then Josh McGowan is your man.

He is a new breed of spy that has the respect of his collegues and not is too bad with the ladies. Whether he's hopping continents or just across this country of ours, action seems to follow and find him. Deception, betrayal, and terrorism are keywords in this story and it lives up to all three.

This is a don't miss for anyone who really enjoys getting lost in a story. You won't be disappointed.

Louise Riveiro-Mitchell author of Autumn Sky, for www.bookreviewcafe.com
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Jack Allen
Burping Frog Publishing
jallen@burpingfrog.com