2.5 Stars
A very slow start. I can guess where the story is going but a 1/4 in and it is not there yet. I love the previous book so I'm going to hang in there.

There are two plots in this book, "treasure hunt" and POTUS. This format doesn't work for me. The stories eventually intertwined, but it took too long, bored me to the point I almost gave up. ( )

A Russian incursion into Belarus, purportedly in self-defense, heightens world tensions, but a horrific attack on the United States mobilizes NATO and brings the country to the brink of war.

With the Taskforce on stand-down, the result of the actions of a rogue agent, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill are conducting Recovery Services business that has taken them to Poland to verify recently-discovered artifacts. While Pike and Jennifer investigate rumors of artifacts recovered from the infamous Nazi gold train, tensions mount and soon it seems that only the Taskforce will be able to keep World War Three at bay.

With a plot that might well have come from the headlines, the fast pace of this highly-charged narrative will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Action-packed and filled with easily-relatable characters, snappy dialogue, and chilling plots, readers will find much to appreciate in this tale.

Highly recommended. ( )

A Russian incursion into Belarus, purportedly in self-defense, heightens world tensions, but a horrific attack on the United States mobilizes NATO and brings the country to the brink of war.

With the Taskforce on stand-down, the result of the actions of a rogue agent, Pike Logan and Jennifer Cahill are conducting Recovery Services business that has taken them to Poland to verify recently-discovered artifacts. While Pike and Jennifer investigate rumors of artifacts recovered from the infamous Nazi gold train, tensions mount and soon it seems that only the Taskforce will be able to keep World War Three at bay.

With a plot that might well have come from the headlines, the fast pace of this highly-charged narrative will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Action-packed and filled with easily-relatable characters, snappy dialogue, and chilling plots, readers will find much to appreciate in this tale.

Highly recommended. ( )

Is WW III on the table? While Pike Logan and Jennifer and the Taskforce have been placed in a stand down position, they take a job helping their Israeli counterparts look for a Nazi gold train containing precious artifacts. Meanwhile, escalation between Russia and the US over actions in Syria heat up and the US president heads overseas to discuss the scene. Air Force I is blown up over the Atlantic and the VP is unsure if he is prepared to step into the president's shoes. The Taskforce finds itself now on two missions and the action is non-stop. Another addition to Mr. Taylor's serial collection and you will not be able to put it down. My thanks to the author and the Penguin First to Read program for a complimentary copy. ( )

Ghosts of War by Brad Taylor is another fine novel in the Pike Logan series. This story picks up at the end of the last novel. A terrorist that has the US Secretary of State is attacking a Mideast peace conference. The team is trying to stop the attack. They manage to stop the attack and keep the terrorist from exploding a car bomb at the conference. But the Secretary of State manages to step on the trigger as he evacuates the wrecked car resulting in his death.

This results in a deactivation of the Taskforce as the oversight committee decides whether to continue with the Taskforce mission. Pike Logan and Jennifer, as civilian members of the Taskforce, are forced to accept work for their cover company on providing security for archaeology sights. A similar private company that primarily works for Israel's Mossad hires them for help recovering a Torah that was taken by the Nazi's during WW II.

This leads them into the middle of a plot by Putin to retake some of the lost Soviet Union territory that is being run by a Russian oligarch. The oligarch is using a disgraced Mossad agent as his henchman. There are many subplots within this story. It is hard to keep track of who is working for whom and what their true aim is regarding the oligarch and Putin.

An enjoyable novel that is a good entertaining read. ( )