Jack Slater has become my new favorite author. I have now read 15 of his books and am on track to read them all. He writes reminiscent of early Tom Clancy, only better. His books are sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, cover-to-cover thriller/suspense tomes.
Dark State is his first in a series of 11 (so far) books centering on a swashbuckling special forces operative named Jason Trapp. This book, like all the others, focuses on Trapp's extraordinary warfighting skills and a seemingly singular ability to rescue Western civilization from terrorist/evil state plots. Trapp somehow becomes a confidant and go-to guy of the American president in novel after novel. While Slater does an admirable job of developing his characters you never have to wait long for the next round of action to begin. Slater also seems very knowledgeable of the techniques of warfare, the array of weapons in use and the ins-and-outs of military life and military capabilities. Very believable stuff. Like most novels in this genre, Trapps nearly super-human skills test the limits of credibility but are nonetheless extremely entertaining.
One thing I really appreciate about Slater's novels is that they are all quite long (in the neighborhood of 400 pages hardcopy. I get annoyed with other authors who seem to take a 400-page novel and break it into three books so you have to buy all three rather than a single book.
What don't I like about these books? While not extensive and overdone, there are too many sex scenes, and a few that are brutal and too graphic. Also, too many F and S words. I realize that such language is common and especially among service members, but it does offend my Christian sensitivities. But his writing is otherwise so good that I either gloss over this stuff or in my mind replace words with other words that are acceptable to me.
I highly recommend Slater's books. He has the Jason Trapp series, another series centered on Gideon Ryker (another military guy). and a third series centered on a woman named Blake Larsen who was an Army criminal investigator. He also has an independent book or two.
Christine Smith
Irma Rose Frazier
Ryga