From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gray Man series comes a startlingly realistic novel of World War III.A desperate Kremlin takes advantage of a military crisis in Asia to simultaneously strike into Western Europe and invade east Africa in a bid to occupy three Rare Earth mineral mines that will give Russia unprecedented control for generations over the world’s hi-tech sector. … the world’s hi-tech sector.
Pitted against the Russians are a Marine lieutenant colonel pulled out of a cushy job at the Pentagon and thrown into the fray in Africa, a French Special Forces captain and his intelligence operative father, a young Polish female partisan fighter, an A-10 Warthog pilot, and the commander of an American tank platoon who, along with his German counterpart, fight from behind enemy lines in Germany all the way into Russia.
From a daring MiG attack on American satellites, through land and air battles in all theaters, naval battles in the Arabian sea, and small unit fighting down to the hand-to-hand level in the jungle, Russia’s forces battle to either take the mines or detonate a nuclear device to prevent the West from exploiting them.
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Red Metal is red hot! Packed with action, intrigue and a plot ripped right from today’s headlines — you won’t be able to put this one down. If you enjoy finely-crafted military thrillers, you will love Red Metal.
Let me say right up front that I’m not really a fan of military thrillers. I read this one only because I am a fan of Mark Greaney and I wanted to see what he did with one. Well, hot damn, he did a LOT with this one. It’s simply so well written I don’t know where to start. A pitch-perfect, remarkably literate thriller that never flags, never lags in spite of the huge amount of material it embraces. Highly recommended.
Red Metal is a realistic portrayal of World War III. Greaney and Rawlings do a superb job of combining character development and narrative drive. A great substitute for all things Clancy.
Excellent modern-day military thriller. I read it in a single sitting on an intercontinental flight and enjoyed every page.
Greaney and Rawlings have tried to write a Red Storm Rising for today’s generation when there is only one superpower left on the planet. The set up is a Chinese move to take over Taiwan. While the U.S. moves substantial forces toward Taiwan to deter China, Russia decides to take advantage of America’s distraction to seize control of three rare earth metal mines in Kenya, but first they convince the U.S. that all of Europe is in danger by launching a strong feint through Poland and into Germany.
It’s an audacious plan and the action comes fast and furious throughout the phases of the attack. At first, surprised and disoriented NATO forces, reel under the Russian assault with a few heroic units rallying to the defense of the west. The European front really heats up when Russia tries to withdraw its feint and the Poles refuse to stand down and stop fighting against them.
While this is playing out in Europe, the invasion of Africa continues full force with quickly cobbled together forces trying to bleed the attacking Russians sufficiently to stop the assault. The action in both theaters is gripping and the range of military forces is quite broad—infantry, helicopters, tanks, fighter jets, and even a submarine take center stage at various times in this novel. So despite being a little slow to get started it ends with a blaze of glory.
If you can only read one technothriller this year, make it Red Metal. This story is one I’m certain Tom Clancy would’ve praised!
I spoke with Mark Greaney about this book in March 2019, and he explained all the extensive research he and Rip put into the project over several years. Every ounce of it pays dividends for the reader, and I love that this writing team didn’t flinch from the authenticity and realism such an undertaking demands. Despite the popularity of US-Russian conflicts across the thriller genre over the past two years, this novel tells a unique and detailed version that clearly demonstrates their marriage of real-world experience with Top Tier storytelling and craft. For those of us who grew up reading Clancy’s Cold War tales, Red Metal is a welcome and familiar return to that generations-old rivalry.
I can’t recommend this book strongly enough!
Feels like Clancy world building. Big powers going toe to toe.
new author for me, loved it!
RED METAL delivers Time on Target. A fast-moving, military thriller that Clancy fans will love. Highly recommend!
Red Metal is a sweeping, epic tale of modern warfare of the likes I haven’t read since Tom Clancy’s Red Storm Rising. Greaney delivers an original and captivating tale that is 100% plausible. The battle scenes, packed with the latest military hardware and tactics, are so detailed and graphic as to transport the reader into the trenches, Abrams battle tanks, or Apache attack helicopters. The plot had me holding my breath as I eagerly devoured line after line, rooting for the good guys and loathing the bad guys. But this is far more than an action-packed adventure tale. Greaney, a veteran himself, draws attention to the ugly brutality of battle, the pain of personal loss, and the utter futility of armed conflict. Will I read more from Mark Greaney? Damn straight, I will!
Like an early Tom Clancy, WEB Griffin or Harold Coyle (“Team Yankee”) book.
Greaney and his jar head co-writer pen a real world scenario in this page turning thriller. Desperate to keep their country afloat, the Russians look to invade Europe and Africa with lighting raids while the whole world is watching China.
This fantastic book is a spiritual successor to Tom Clancy’s Red Storm Rising from the 80s. Grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. Plausible events, realistic action, and a tide of battle that turns back and forth to keep the reader on their toes. Engaging throughout all 600+ pages. Great stuff!
Another great one from the author of the Gray Man series.
Very Tom
Clancy like. Felt like you were in the battle scenes