Patrick Robinson: The Admiral Arnold Morgan series

The Admiral Arnold Morgan series

  • Nimitz Class (1997)
  • Kilo Class (1998)
  • H.M.S. Unseen (1999)
  • USS Seawolf (2000)
  • The Shark Mutiny (2001)
  • Barracuda 945 (2003)
  • Scimitar SL-2 (2004)
  • Hunter Killer (2005)
  • Ghost Force (2006)
  • To the Death (2008)
  • Diamondhead (2009)
Patrick Robinson (born January 21, 1940) is a British novelist and former newspaper columnist.

Patrick Robinson’s series of techno thrillers, featuring the very interesting, intriguing and appealing Admiral Arnold Morgan is one of my favorite thriller series. The only series that can compete with it, in my opinion, is the Jake Grafton series by Stephen Coonts. Some of the classics in the series are Nimitz Class and Kilo Class – the early books that really launched Patrick Robinson into the top tier of thriller writers.

 

Hunter Killer, by Patrick Robinson

The plot in Hunter Killer focuses on Saudi Arabia, both its internal political and economic problems, and it’s role in the wider world economy as the prime provider of oil. In this book,Hunter Killer, by Patrick Robinson Robinson has created a scenario where the Saudi royal family and the numerous princes and other family members spend so much money that the Kingdom is getting into money problems. Indeed, Saudi Arabia is now on the brink of financial ruin.

However, the Crown Prince Nasir is more fundamentalist in his orientation than the King, and he feels that the wasteful spending has to come to an end. Thus he approaches the President of France, proposing that France assist him in staging a coup d’état to make him king. As reward, he is willing to give France exclusive oil rights and huge construction contracts. He will also put an end to American influence over Saudi Arabia. The French president, eager to increase his country’s geopolitical standing, agrees to support the coup.

With the assistance of two French nuclear submarines, ,French special forces led by the remarkable Colonel Jacque Gamoudi (also known as Le Chasseur – The Hunter) and the renegade Hamas General Ravi Rashood, the French successfully deposes the sitting regime.

The result is mass chaos – the oil markets are in turmoil, the economies of the Western world are in free fall and the global political situation is chaotic. The American President calls retired Admiral Arnold Morgan back into duty to handle the situation and make certain that Saudi oil once more becomes a world commodity. Admiral Morgan, with his no bullship approach to politics - comes up with a shocking set of solutions to the challenges facing America, a strategy that leads to a most severe confrontation between the US and France.

Hunter Killer is perhaps a little farfetched in its plot, but if you are willing to accept it, it is a very interesting and exciting book. Another weakness is that it takes a little while before the book really gets exciting, but when it does, it is full of suspense. Admiral Morgan, when he enters the book, is every bit as tough and salty as we know him. It is full of action. Hunter Killer is a very nice read, that had me alternately between biting my nails and laughing out load.

Praise:

"The New Frederick Forsyth." -- Guardian

"One of the crown princes of the beach-read thriller" -- Stephen Coonts


Nimitz Class, by Patrick Robinson

Nimitz Class was Patrick Robinson's first thriller and a very successful debut. It is also first in a series of political thrillers about Nimitz Class, by Patrick Robinson Admiral Arnold Morgan. The novel is based on a disaster scenario: One of the extremely powerful US Navy Carrier groups that dominate the oceans of the world is attacked and an aircraft carrier is sunk.

In Nimitz Class, the carrier USS Thomas Jefferson, manned by a complement of 6000 crew members, patrols the waters of the Indian Ocean. Then suddenly her blip simply disappears from the radar screens of the other warships in her battle group. The ensuing investigation by the Director of the NSA, Admiral Arnold Morgan, and nuclear expert Lieutenant Commander Bill Baldridge, uncovers a complex plot that has been executed by a foreign submarine with a brilliant commander.

Baldridge and Morgan are gradually able to pin down the submarine used to perform the terrible deed. Searching from Scotland to Russia to Turkey to the South Pacific, they also manage to identify the commander of the sub - Benjamin Adnam, an Israeli citizen. But finding out whom, how and why is only half the job. The second part of the job is to locate the submarine and to permanently stop it. That turns out to be by far the most difficult task for Baldridge and Morgan.

Nimitz Class is a great suspense thriller. It is apparently not 100% correct as far as technology and US Navy operation is concerned, but as a thriller it works very well. It is written in a clear and compelling style, creates an aura of tension and surprise, is intelligently told and is very suspenseful. I also have to admit that I really love the character of Admiral Arnold Morgan, one of the saltier characters in modern thriller series. Overall, Nimitz Class is one of Patrick Robinson’s best thrillers.



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