Nightwatch

Rating:
Summary: Horrible! I beg you not to waste your money!
Review: Calling this a book is perhaps too kind. I use that term only because it is in the physical shape of a book i.e., words arranged on paper bound together with glue.

How this 'book' ever got published is beyond me. Maybe Henrick has one of those nasty high-tech guns pointed at the head of the publisher. Why is it so horrible? Let me count the ways: 1. It's poorly written. 2. You don't believe the characters. 3. The situations are ridiculous.

If I was one of the people who contributed to this travesty of a 'book' I would ask to have my name removed from the credits.

The only reason I kept reading it was for the perverse pleasure of exclaiming, "Oh my God! Is he kidding? That's the stupidest thing I've ever read!" Please, for the love of all things good, don't read this book.

Rating:
Summary: A great read by a pro.
Review: Great characters, great locales, and a great plot all add up to a great read. UN-DOWN-PUT-ABLE!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book About Sappers
Review: If you're expecting Clancy, Brown, or anyone else who can at least write, you'll be disappointed reading this. The plot is initially intriguing, but the situations don't even begin to be believeable.

Rating:
Summary: Henrick captures the spirit of the Army Combat Sappers.
Review: Just finished reading NIGHTWATCH, and in all honesty, I had a hard time putting it down! As a former Army Combat engineer, this is the first book that I've ever read that captures the true spirit of the Sapper. The story itself is part airborne version of CRIMSON TIDE(which I loved), and part DELIVERANCE(in the Missouri Ozarks). And yes, the movie will be awesome. Sappers lead the way!

Rating:
Summary: Gagged me
Review: Nightwatch is a modern airborne command center. It is designed to fight a nuclear war in the event the National Command Authority or the land based systems (e.g. USSTRATCOM) can not. Mr. Henrick has done his homework when it comes to painting a picture of current/near future nuclear readiness posture. He knows his systems and weapon platforms. It is nice to read something where the author took the time to get it right (or as right as one can get from non-classified sources).

The gist of the story is a coup d'etat initiated with leadership decapitation. Both the President and Vice President are attacked and isolated. The problem comes down to understanding who the bad guys are. Just like in Seven Days in May, the JCS is distubed by a pending treaty that would virtually dismantle the American nuclear deterrent.

While Mr. Henrick does an outstanding job on the nuts and bolts end of the story, I found his characters flat. I wondered at the motivation for such drastic action and I did not get the feel for what would cause American soldiers to turn their weapons on each other.

That said, Nightwatch does create the tension between the good guys and the bad guys - once you figure it out.

Rating:
Summary: Too Unrealistic - too chintzy -Really poor plot development
Review: This was truly a book that was hard to put down. It started off with a bang and ended with a bang. On a secret negotiating trip to the Crimea the President is assasinated. Another attempt is made on the life of the Vice-President whil he is on a rafting trip. He is rescued and hidden by a very alert secret service agent. This is where the excitement begins. The Vice-President is in a constant state of danger from this point on. The identities of the conspirators is surprising as well. The network that they have established is also extensive. The crew of the Nighthawk and the Secret Service agent have their job cut out for them. The fate of the free world is in the balance. This is definitely a good book. Read it. You will not be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Gagged me
Review: Typical dialog: Hero to villain - "You're a disgrace to your uniform!" My favorite - "Don't you think Mariani is a little psychopathic?" Unless you're the type who reads anything at all that's military (like SAM schematics and the instructions on the back of a box of hand-grenades) please don't waste your time with this book.

Rating:
Summary: BEST READ OF 1999!
Review: Was more than surprised to get this book as a gift and then to find how very excellent it turned out to be. Henrick got me hooked from the first sentence, pulling me right into the action. There's never a dull moment, and it's remarkable how Henrick puts together all the fascinating plot lines into a final climax that sent shivers up my spine long into the night! I'm certain that the movie version will be right up there w/ Henrick's CRIMSON TIDE, and I can't wait for the next Kellogg book to be released. So by all means, read this novel--you won't be disappointed!