Clear by Fire: A Search and Destroy Thriller (The Search and Destroy Thrillers)

I found this two-book series absolutely captivating.When I first started the series I had a difficult time keeping the players organized in my mind, that was overcome swiftly as the story line played itself out. I can't imagine anybody describing war fighting any more accurately.This story had totally credible players (with their own human shortcomings) in a very complex and realistic story line, expertly revealed. I noticed a couple "doors" left ajar, I'm hoping they may lead to a third installment in the series?Thank you, Sir, for a great ride.BTW, Clay sent me. Thanks to you both.

A decent read. I am not sure I accept the basic premise but it IS, after all, fiction. The author has license to create whatever plot he wishes.I thought the action acceptable, the characters fairly realistic, and the various plot turns to follow logically what was going on. I am not sure I have ever run into a female with the combat skills the female protagonist has, but that is OK, too. Like I said, it's fiction.Perhaps the best part is that no one does things that are completely stupid or unbelievable. Authors often take such poetic license that real life just doesn't pop up anywhere in the work. Not true here.This may not be Daniel Silva writing, but it's definitely readable.

"Clear by Fire" by Joshua Hood is a pulse-pounding military thriller that thrusts readers into the heart of intense combat and the moral complexities faced by those on the front lines. The story follows Mason Kane, a skilled operative tasked with leading a Special Ops team on a mission to eliminate a high-value target in war-torn Syria.Hood's background as a former 82nd Airborne combat veteran lends authenticity to the novel, and it shows in the meticulous detail and realism of the military operations depicted. The action sequences are fast-paced and vividly described, immersing the reader in the chaos of battle. Hood effectively captures the camaraderie and bonds formed among soldiers in the crucible of war.Mason Kane emerges as a compelling protagonist, grappling not only with the physical challenges of combat but also the moral dilemmas inherent in his line of work. The exploration of the psychological toll of war adds depth to the narrative, making the characters more relatable and human.The plot of "Clear by Fire" is a rollercoaster of suspense, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the tension high throughout. Hood weaves in geopolitical intrigue, giving the story a broader context and relevance. The novel also raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of conflict, sacrifice, and the blurred lines between right and wrong in the pursuit of justice.Overall, "Clear by Fire" is a gripping and thought-provoking military thriller that delivers on both action and substance. Joshua Hood's first-hand experience and skillful storytelling make this novel a must-read for fans of the genre. It's a compelling exploration of the harsh realities faced by those in the military, and it leaves a lasting impact on the reader.

Yes, lots of action and (as a former Marine and +15 year SWAT member) mainly correct in the mostly conventional warfare tactics employed repeatedly.But.....Right off the bat, I was concerned with how THIS book could possibly be "Inspired by the experiences of a decorated combat veteran and a former member of the 82nd Airborne division..." The 82nd Airbourne is an elite, but purely CONVENTIONAL army unit. It is designed, organized, and trained to fight conventional war tactics (even in counterinsurgency environments). It is in the same category (as far as being an elite, conventional force) as the 101st Airmobile, the various Marine Corps divisions, etcetera. It is NOT a SpecOps unit, much less have ANY "Black Ops" sub units or capabilities. As far as a SpecOps unit, the Rangers would fit that category (along with Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, various Marine Corps SpecOps units - Force Recon, MarSoc - and especially Delta Force.Additionally, U. S. Military forces, including SpecOps troops, are neither trained for or assigned to Black Ops (the assault into Pakistan to take bin Laden as performed by SEAL Team 6 personnel with DIRECT SUPPORT by U. S. Army Special Operations Air Units and Army Rangers was a MILITARY RAID, not some type of "Black Ops"). The United States DOES have combat assets that engage in Black Ops however they are NOT military.They are paramilitary forces that are members of the CIA. They specifically are a part of the Special Operations Group of the Special Actvities Division of the Central Intelligence Agency (look them up... though being able to verify their existence, you will find out very little about them in print; unlike today's SpecOps - especially the SEALs, who seem to monthly have former members churn out highly exaggerated books about their exploits - they remain "the quiet professionals". And they are recruited by the CIA from the very upper tiers of the military SpecOps community, the most advanced operators - and then go into extensive training (and constantly between missions ongoing training) to become CIA SOG Paramilitaries. And THEY perform Black Ops.Not military SpecOps units.And assuredly not conventional military units (no matter how elite).Also, from the Intro:"But all that changed when his commander, as a part of a twisted scheme to force America’s continued involvement in the Middle East, ordered an innocent Afghan family murdered."Afghanistan is NOT in the Middle East (Iraq is), Afghanistan is in Southwest Asia and a completely different geographical area. This action "could" keep American military in Afghanistan - but not the Middle East.And I say "could" as numerous "innocent Afghan families" we're murdered - some right towards the end of our main pull out from Afghanistan... and those situations didn't keep us involved. Just a poor premise.Look up "Robert Bales" and "Panjwayi, Kandahar, Afghanistan". He is a former United States Army soldier who murdered 16 Afghan civilians in Panjwayi, Kandahar, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2012 – an event known as the Kandahar massacre. On the night of March 11, 2012, 16 Afghan civilians (nine children—some as young as two years old—four women and three men) were shot and killed in the villages of Balandi and Alkozai near Camp Belambai - as I recall members of at least two separate families. In order to avoid the death penalty, Bales pleaded guilty to 16 counts of murder and six counts of assault and attempted murder in a plea deal. On August 23, 2013, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.As I continue this through completion, I will edit the Review as necessary.

It took a while to get into this book. At first I thought the characters were just a little too dark and the plot seemed to drag, but about a quarter of the way through it really started to click. There was a great chemistry between the main characters and the plot was entirely believable. I found that this was a really great book and I highly recommend it. There are so many of this type of military action adventure out there that it is hard to separate the keepers from the duds. This one is a keeper. Looking forward to much more from this author.

What I have read so far it is going to be a good read.

A great action read, characters were real and lifelike. The authors experience in the field shows through.

First time read from this auther will certainly read more of his books.

Clear by Fire is a crisply written and tightly plotted military thriller, with great characters, cinematic action scenes and an overarching story-arc, which promises intrigue and betrayal for many novels to come.The protagonist is a special forces soldier with a troubled past and a lot of rage in his heart. It took me some time to truly connect to him, but he grew on me as the book progressed. His buddy Zeus an ex-Libyan intelligence officer was great fun and delivered the best one-liners. But the character stealing the show from the others, was Renee Hart. A female badass with both the brawls and the brains, who kicked feminine cliché in the groin! Her backstory is the most interesting one and still holds a lot of promise for future novels.Overall I really enjoyed this debut by Joshua Hood. Only because of some minor complaints did I not give it 5 stars. The prose was a bit sturdy at times, the protagonist appeared a bit too cold and brutal to be likable at first and there were some inconsistencies in the plot. But like I said, those things were all minor and since I have heard great things about the next one, I will definitely be around for Hood’s next ride!

Some characters totally unnecessary as they are killed off without being developed. As the book progresses with fewer characters, it builds nicely.