Rating: 
Summary: Non-stop action.
Review: An employee of Global Protective Services, Cavanaugh (an alias) is a special breed of bodyguard, a member of an elite group of highly trained professionals referred to as "protectors." An ex-Delta Force officer, Cavanaugh has survived many life-threatening situations, relying on his wits, training, and an almost addictive need for adrenalin to give him an edge.Cavanaugh's life changes forever the day GPS is hired by biochemist Daniel Prescott, supposedly to protect him from an international drug cartel that seeks the secrets behind a highly addictive substance he's created. After successfully extracting the paranoid scientist from the New Jersey warehouse where he has gone to ground, Cavanaugh and his colleagues escort him to a GPS hideaway. Shortly after they arrive, the GPS personnel find their facility under siege by an unknown but well armed (and apparently well briefed) paramilitary unit. Dropping out of sight during the melee, Prescott uses the knowledge he's gleaned from Cavanaugh's team to disappear. Cavanaugh then learns the unsettling truth about Prescott--his real breakthrough involved the discovery of a compound that multiplies the physical effects of fear in humans, thus incapacitating them. Hoping to sell his product to the highest bidder, Prescott used GPS to elude operatives of the US government and its rivals, who seek to exploit the obvious military potential of his invention. Outraged by Prescott's lethal duplicity, Cavanaugh vows to track him down. Competing with others who seek both Prescott's invention and his hide, Cavanaugh's search is complicated when he is exposed to Prescott's fear agent--ironically, the fear junkie is now crippled by the emotion he formerly thrived on. His struggles to overcome this malady and capture his prey provide the meat of the rest of this fast paced, exciting novel. THE PROTECTOR is a classic tale of revenge. David Morrell is in overdrive, as he deftly shifts from one action packed sequence to another, subjecting readers to all the twists and turns they've come to expect from him over the years, all the while doling out fascinating bits of tradecraft. The book moves at breakneck speed to an inevitable confrontation between Cavanaugh and Prescott, a meeting whose outcome will confound the expectations of readers who think they've figured out how everything will end. As Cavanaugh works though his problems, readers will also learn how professionals handle themselves, from the type of cars they prefer to the many and varied uses of duct tape. A high octane thriller, THE PROTECTOR is a genuine page turner--classic Morrell.
Rating: 
Summary: Good read
Review: Author did his research on this type of story and was creative about unusual bio-weapon to make a good story full of action, thriller and suspense.
Rating:
Summary: hyperspeed thriller
Review: Biochemist Daniel Prescott creates a drug that is supposed to help stop addiction, but instead is rumored to provide an incredibly addictive rush by stimulating the body producing adrenaline. Fearing that undesirables will harm him to get at his creation, Daniel hires Global Protective Services, a security firm not squeamish about crossing legal barriers. Former Delta Force commando Cavanaugh serves as the lead "protector" to keep the client safe from the Feds, foreign governments, and drug kings. However, Cavanaugh gets a taste of the elixir, but loathes the monstrous amount of fear he feels caused by the geometric stimulation of adrenaline. When his men die in a firefight that Daniel caused before the biochemist vanished, Cavanaugh assisted by his wife joins those seeking the missing scientist, but unlike the myriad of others in the chase he needs the antidote. Fans of action filled with "state-of-the-art tradecraft" gizmos will want to read THE PROTECTOR, a plot that flows so fast and furious as if David Morrell stayed on an adrenaline rush while writing this exciting thriller. Cavanaugh is a wonderful "tragic" hero, but the gadgetry and the careening from one loaded scene to another energy laden adventure overwhelms much of the rest of the cast. Except the star and his spouse there are no good or bad guys just readers elating with this ride. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Who Will Protect the Protectors?
Review: Cavanaugh is a "protector" not a bodyguard! Bodyguards are thugs, crude muscle. Protectors, or protective agents, employ sophisticated talents and techniques. That point established, Cavanaugh is assigned to bring in a prospective client, who wants to completely disappear. As he does, he and client Daniel Prescott are attacked and almost taken. It seems that Prescott is a chemist and has developed a compound that creates and extreme panic reaction when someone breathes it. They become uncontrollable and often violent. He tells Cavanaugh that a Colombian drug lord is after him to get the formula. They escape, unite with a full protective team, and reach a hideout. Then they are attacked by what can only be military special operations forces-who want to kill Prescott, not capture him. And Prescott starts killing the protectors before fleeing with the beginnings of his new identity. Only Cavanaugh escapes, and thus begins the tale. And quite a tale it is. Morrell has done an exceptional job of building suspense and creating twists and turns in this action adventure thriller. Cavanaugh has been exposed to the fear chemical, and dreads the long term effects. He must find Prescott to get the antidote, and also evade both foreign agents (not druggies) after the chemical and rogue US forces trying to kill Prescott to cover up their black project. He knows what Prescott has been told about making a complete disappearance, and also what kinds of books and videos he had picked to entertain himself in his original hideout. With these clues he is on his way, seeking his own survival as well as payback for his murdered friends. This is a real page-turner.
Rating:
Summary: 'The Protector' can't be put down.
Review: Cavanaugh, a former Delta Force operator now working for Global Protective Services, a privately owned company catering to those in the most serious of situations, is the best at helping people escape their problems and begin anew. Daniel Prescott is a biochemist being hunted by a killer . Prescott has discovered a new drug and someone will stop at nothing to find out the secret behind it...even murder. Cavanaugh knows he can help Prescott, if Prescott can follow the rules; do as he's told, don't ask questions, and sever all ties with friends and family. Prescott proves himself capable of following these rules until a surprise attack on Cavanaugh and his men leaves many dead, and Prescott missing. As the only survivor of the attack, Cavanaugh wants revenge for the murder of his team, but when he finds evidence linking Prescott to a twisted plan of his own, he sets out on a personal mission to stop him only to find that things are not as they seem, and in the shadows is a powerful player with a hidden agenda. Teaming with his wife Jamie, Cavanaugh begins a carefully orchestrated plan, one that uses the latest technology, as well as intense covert tactics, to stay one step ahead of the mastermind behind this, and bring him down before anyone else dies. 'The Protector' is an adrenaline rush of an action novel. Starting off fast, and barreling ahead at warp speed the novel can't be put down as each turn of the page introduces a new twist in the plot with shocking results. Combining believable characters with razor sharp suspense 'The Protector' succeeds at being an extremely enjoyable novel, one that raises the standards in the genre. David Morrell is the master of the action/suspense genre, and he is at the top of his game with 'The Protector.' My words can't describe how good an author Morrell is, you have to read him to understand what I'm talking about, and you should because he has been setting standards in the field for years. 'The Protector' hooks you from the first page and keeps you spellbound for 400 more, it is one of the best novels out right now. Nick Gonnella
Rating:
Summary: A fun fast read by one of the top thriller writers
Review: Cavanaugh, a typical thriller hero, is a protector or bodyguard. He also helps make people disappear by creating new identities. Cavanaugh works for an agency called Global Protective Services. Their latest client is Daniel Prescott, a biochemist who has invented a hormone that may have military purposes and is being pursued by shadowy individuals trying to get their hands on the formula. When the organization goes to work, a disaster occurs leaving Cavanaugh to clean up the mess alone. He solicits the help of his wife, Jamie, who is most definitely not part of the business, to achieve his objective.
David Morrell is a veteran thriller writer who has, in fact, created the character of Rambo. Cavanaugh is, of course, an ex member of the Delta force which accounts for his many extraordinary talents. He is another excellent creation and, in a sense, the prototypical thriller hero. Pacing is never a problem with this book as the plot moves along in a strong sure manner as we are in experienced hands. David Morrell considers this a "trade craft novel" meaning that interspersed throughout the book are numerous references as to how to perform certain deeds inherent to the profession such as escaping detection, how to protect individuals and how to obtain ready cash when away from home (wear a Rolex watch which can always be exchanged for money). Of course, our villain is over the top and a quite worthy opponent to Cavanaugh. The book is overall a fun fast read as all thrillers should be.
Rating:
Summary: A Heart-Pounder
Review: Cavanaugh, an ex-Delta Force operator, is in the protection business. He works for Global Protection Services, a firm that protects those in dire circumstances. Their newest client is biochemist, Daniel Prescott. Prescott has developed a hormone that induces fear to be used by the military on the enemy. He is now hunted for the secrets that he has developed. He needs to disappear and enlists Global Protection Services. Prescott is not quite as helpless as he seems. Just as the plan for him to disappear comes to fruition, Cavanaugh's entire team is killed. Now Cavanaugh with the help of his wife, Jamie, is on the hunt for Prescott. With the use of every facet of his training, he and Jaime create a masterful plan to find a man with a brilliant mind trained by Cavanaugh himself in the art of disappearance. In a myriad of plot twists and turns there is non-stop action. The plot is fast-paced and so riveting it is hard to put down. Cavanaugh and Jamie are well-drawn sympathetic characters that you can really care about. David Morrell seems to fly a bit under the radar, but to me he is one of the best in his genre. If you are a first time reader, Morrell has a wonderful backlist of books. I would rank this one as one of his best.
Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A return to strong storytelling by one of the best
Review: For a period of several years, the novels of David Morrell could always be counted on for outstanding storytelling. The plots were always fast-paced, intelligent, well-researched, and just plain fun. But after the release of "Extreme Denial" in 1996, it seemed that he had lost his way. The three books released after 1996 were progressively horrible, and I had begun to wonder if Mr. Morrell had lost his creative touch. After giving him one last shot with "The Protector", Mr. Morrell has delivered the goods, and it seems that his knack for great writing has been resurrected. "The Protector" follows a former Delta Force soldier turned protective agent named Cavanaugh through a job that goes completely and spectacularly haywire. Looking for answers, Cavanaugh pulls the reader along at a frantic pace, through multiple twists and turns, conspiracies upon conspiracies, right up through an unanticipated conclusion that is alternately satisfying and yet calls for more. Mr. Morrell, like all great writers, drops enough plot threads and little details that almost go unnoticed as the reader races by. But inevitably, they come up later in helping resolve the plot and provide multiple surprises. Also, Mr. Morrell is very good at providing enough descriptive elements through his storytelling that don't leave the reader feeling cheated, but at the same time, do not interfere with the pacing of the story. Both of these traits were not as finely tuned in his previous three efforts, but are well-used in "The Protector". What also made "The Protector" a great read was that the characters were intriguing and - for lack of a better word - likable. The Cavanaugh character follows in the mold of those in his earlier classics; he is intelligent, determined, a bit world-weary, unassuming, but possessing the killer instincts to save his life and those closest to him. "The Protector" is also served well by a strong foil in the Prescott character. If there were any criticisms with "The Protector", they are relatively minor and pretty much constitute nitpicking. The story angle involving the foreign agent seemed unfulfilled, in that it was never fully realized who was chasing Prescott. It also seemed that there might have been more potential for the Rutherford character to be involved in the plot resolution, but instead, he is relegated to just popping up here and there throughout. All in all, "The Protector" was a very enjoyable read, and it was great to see Mr. Morrell back in fine form. I would normally give this a five-star rating, but I am reserving my evaluation just in case this return to form is sustained, or just a one-shot reminder of how good he used to be.
Rating:
Summary: A return to strong storytelling by one of the best
Review: For a period of several years, the novels of David Morrell could always be counted on for outstanding storytelling. The plots were always fast-paced, intelligent, well-researched, and just plain fun. But after the release of "Extreme Denial" in 1996, it seemed that he had lost his way. The three books released after 1996 were progressively horrible, and I had begun to wonder if Mr. Morrell had lost his creative touch. After giving him one last shot with "The Protector", Mr. Morrell has delivered the goods, and it seems that his knack for great writing has been resurrected. "The Protector" follows a former Delta Force soldier turned protective agent named Cavanaugh through a job that goes completely and spectacularly haywire. Looking for answers, Cavanaugh pulls the reader along at a frantic pace, through multiple twists and turns, conspiracies upon conspiracies, right up through an unanticipated conclusion that is alternately satisfying and yet calls for more. Mr. Morrell, like all great writers, drops enough plot threads and little details that almost go unnoticed as the reader races by. But inevitably, they come up later in helping resolve the plot and provide multiple surprises. Also, Mr. Morrell is very good at providing enough descriptive elements through his storytelling that don't leave the reader feeling cheated, but at the same time, do not interfere with the pacing of the story. Both of these traits were not as finely tuned in his previous three efforts, but are well-used in "The Protector". What also made "The Protector" a great read was that the characters were intriguing and - for lack of a better word - likable. The Cavanaugh character follows in the mold of those in his earlier classics; he is intelligent, determined, a bit world-weary, unassuming, but possessing the killer instincts to save his life and those closest to him. "The Protector" is also served well by a strong foil in the Prescott character. If there were any criticisms with "The Protector", they are relatively minor and pretty much constitute nitpicking. The story angle involving the foreign agent seemed unfulfilled, in that it was never fully realized who was chasing Prescott. It also seemed that there might have been more potential for the Rutherford character to be involved in the plot resolution, but instead, he is relegated to just popping up here and there throughout. All in all, "The Protector" was a very enjoyable read, and it was great to see Mr. Morrell back in fine form. I would normally give this a five-star rating, but I am reserving my evaluation just in case this return to form is sustained, or just a one-shot reminder of how good he used to be.
Rating:
Summary: Explosive thriller isn't for readers w/high blood pressure!
Review: For thirty years David Morrell has been a leading talent in the thriller genre; not just a master at creating great realistic plots, but also writing some of the best (and most diverse) prose out there. With classics such as FIRST BLOOD, THE TOTEM and THE FIFTH PROFESSION to his credit to name a few; Morrell is the thriller writer's thriller writer.
Now over thirty years after FIRST BLOOD he returns with THE PROTECTOR, a book that may surpass even these other classics in terms of realism, page turning suspense and explosive action. In fact, THE PROTECTOR may be the best work Morrell has ever written.
The protagonist of the book is Cavanaugh, an ex-Special Forces soldier who is haunted by the violent massacre of his men on what was to be a routine training mission. Years later he is working for an organisation called Global Protective Services, a security organsisation that will bend the rules to ensure the safety of their clients.
Cavanaugh's latest charge is Daniel Prescott, a biochemist who has created a powerful new drug, and naturally the wrong people are hunting him down in order to learn its secret. On the surface Prescott appears to just be an annoying dweeb Cavanaugh has to babysit, but as is always the case; Cavanaugh finds out the hard way that Prescott is not a man to be underestimated... or trusted.
Fast paced, explosive, intelligent, brilliantly researched THE PROTECTOR may only be 400+ pages long, but Morrell throws up more action and intrigue than Tom Clancy has in his combined backlog (discounting the hideous BEAR AND THE DRAGON and RED RABBIT). And unlike Clancy, Morrell is a talented writer.
Strangely, Hollywood's long ignored Morrell. THIS IS THE MAN WHO CREATED JOHN RAMBO fer cryin' out loud! THE PROTECTOR is one of those books that as you read it, it actually feels like there's an action movie playing in your head. (A not so subtle hint to Hollywood execs).
If you've never tried David Morrell before then you've got a lot of great reading ahead of you. (But try and avoid the novelisations of RAMBO 2 & 3.) For novice Morrell readers just cutting their teeth, THE PROTECTOR is a great starting point.
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