This was pure action adventure! Parizad, a Persian warrior, as a boy saw American forces kill his father. His goal since then has been to destroy America. Sinclair is a very hands on American General who has spent the past twenty years with his team working on special projects for the government. The novel begins with Sinclair and his team rescuing Ben David, an old compatriot, from an Iranian cave containing dead bodies in unforgettable disarray. He and his team are then sent on a mission to locate Parizad, learn what is going on and put a stop to an American threat all before the inaugural of the first female President. The interaction among the characters is gripping and the plot riveting. Scenes between the two warriors remarkable. This reads like today. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin Press for an ARC for an honest review.

The workings of a counter-terrorism elite strike force are at center stage in this thriller. The team is threatened by a clever adversary who is taking advantage of the inauguration of a new president just days away. If this sounds like a story that is ripped from current events, it has plenty of realistic passages as the team struggles to figure out what is the exact nature of a threat that combines chemical weapons with potentially mind-altering drugs that could be dispersed across the Washington Mall the day of the inauguration. If you are a Clancy fan you will like the explanations of the military hardware and weaponry but there is a lot of spycraft to keep you entertained too.

The author has has a writing style that makes reading this book both enjoyable and fast paced. He does a good job with character development and keeping it timely (references to COVID among other things). The major drawback to the book is that a number of things are just too far out there to be even close to being believable. Leaving that part out it will be an enjoyable read for most action/thriller fans.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page.

Sorry. I do appreciate receiving an ARC, and I hate writing negatively about a book when the publisher has been kind enough to get me an advance look at it, but I'm really not a fan.

The prose was workman-like, no complaint there, but the storytelling was downright turgid. I found myself constantly skimming long passages that droned on and on without really advancing the narrative. They made the story feel padded, which might be understandable since the narrative was so goofy that it needed all the help it could get.

The author kept mentioning 'The Manchurian Candidate' just to make sure we got the point. Okay, I do get it, but the comparison between this novel and that classic film just made the book's plot look all the more silly.

Mixed reviews on this one..

The good.
The author, A J Tata can really tell a story. The action was non stop and I really liked the characters. the world building was excelllent as I was sucked right into the story. It felt really realistic in the military, and agencies and how things work.

The bad
The premise was confusing - either it was way the hell out there, or I am not very bright. I was having a hard time connecting the chemical weapon to how it controlled cell phones, or whatever was happening. I was just not getting what was supposed to be happening with the weapon.

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

A J Tata is the real deal. If you want your thrillers loaded with action and you just know that the author has "been there and done that", there is no one better.
The first book in the Garrett Sinclair series has all of the Tata trademarks. As a former General, Tata has seen and experienced much which lends a great deal of realism. The thoughts , fears and actions of his characters are people you feel and root for. Tata's plots always seem to be ripped from the headlines which make you wonder how much he hears that we don't.
Looking forward to book 2!

A general in JSOC, still an active operator, spars over decades with his foe in the Iranian Quds force. There are some in the joint chiefs who want to start a war with Iran, and our hero has to figure this out. At the same time, the villain, whose father was killed in the abortive hostage rescue mission in 1980, would love to destroy America. The two have met over the years, and while the plot gets a little convoluted at times, the action makes up for it.

Chasing the Lion features Lieutenant General Sinclair, a man reeling from the death of his wife but back out in the field. He leads a team hunting terrorists, the top one named Dariush Parizad, known as the Lion of Tabas. Rumor has it that Parizad has a new bioweapon and is set to deploy it during the inauguration of the first female president of the United States.

The concept here is solid. The world is terrified of contagious viruses and diseases after COVID and will do whatever they are told to combat it. Society is also addicted to technology. Combine them together and you get mind control. The author takes a bit of time selling this idea so that the reader's suspension of disbelief isn't stretched too much. What I had a harder time reconciling was the idea of a general in the field actually leading a special operation, doing hand to hand combat and busting down doors.

While there is action, it is slow moving due to the style of writing. Long, complex sentences lose the sense of danger and urgency. This is not family friendly due to language and violence.

Overall, this is a good novel with some interesting concepts. I enjoyed it.

Not my favorite but well done.Good development of characters and subject matter but too close to reality.Will look forward to his next book

I received an ARC copy from #NetGalley

Chasing the Lion is a military thriller from A.J Tata. The Lion of Tabas is a terrorist who has just come up with a new biological weapon call Demon Rain that can mind control it's victims. Lt. General Garrett Sinclair and his special team are called in to find the Lion and stop him before he can attack Inauguration Day. Sinclair believes that the Lion murdered his wife, making this hunt very personal.

This story is fast paced with a lot of action and good character development. However, everything about the chemical weapon is so far fetched that it's border line ludicrous. This weapon had every fantastical component imaginable, right now to being able to control people with cell phones. It really took away from the story.

Chasing the Lion by A.J. Tata is a superb and engrossing read which will keep you reading until the end. Well worth the read!

I know former or. Current military will like this story. We have two mortal enemies Darius Parizad “Lion of Tobas” who has spent most of his life plotting and planning to cripple UniteStates and one Lieutenant General Garrett Sinclair, back to service after his wife’s death, who has spent most of his life in service to protect the US. Deniable missions to suppress terrorists. Destined to meet one day to destroy the other but biding their time until necessary. We also have the politicians who want for their own gain. Determining the good from the bad is almost impossible. Then the inauguration of the new president is happening soon. This offers Pazizod the perfect time to execute his plan. Garrett knows something is up but he has been detained by who he doesn’t know CIA? Parizod? And who is framing him for murders and disgracing his near perfect record? Now he’s on the run. How can he stop the terrorists and avoid the CIA, FBI, and every law enforcement out there? I found the beginning slow but necessary to learn all the different threads of action taking place. It gets faster. There is a lot of action trying to survive and keep his kids, team and the country safe.. if you are into this type of book you’ll enjoy all the action for the good of our country. Not sure I’ve heard of a Lieutenant General on the front line but he makes a good super hero. Thank you A. J. Tata, NetGalley and the publishers St. Martin’s Press New Yorkfor allowing me to read this eARC this is my own opinion.

Chasing the Lion features Lieutenant General Sinclair, a man reeling from the death of his wife but back out in the field. He leads a team hunting terrorists, the top one named Dariush Parizad, known as the Lion of Tabas. Rumor has it that Parizad has a new bioweapon and is set to deploy it during the inauguration of the first female president of the United States.

The concept here is solid. The world is terrified of contagious viruses and diseases after COVID and will do whatever they are told to combat it. Society is also addicted to technology. Combine them together and you get mind control. The author takes a bit of time selling this idea so that the reader's suspension of disbelief isn't stretched too much. What I had a harder time reconciling was the idea of a general in the field actually leading a special operation, doing hand to hand combat and busting down doors.

While there is action, it is slow moving due to the style of writing. Long, complex sentences lose the sense of danger and urgency. This is not family friendly due to language and violence.

Overall, this is a good novel with some interesting concepts. I enjoyed it.

Chasing the Lion is a fast-paced story. An evil mastermind, called the Lion is targeting America with a bioweapon to turn the people against the government. Enter our hero Garret Sinclair and his team.
The writing is particularly good, and the story moves fast. I did read it in a couple days.
I did think the storyline is very farfetched. If you like to read a good story with lots of action with good guys and bad guys this is for you. Thank you, Net Galley, for an advance copy for an honest review.

I have just finished reading Chasing the Lion by Anthony J. Tata.

This was a rather fun book to read, with nonstop action, although a bit over the top. for the most part.

The main character Garrett Sinclair is assigned to stop the terrorism, and the recently discovered biochemical weapon. The story takes place mainly in the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S..

It is very current, with mention of Covid-19, and the upcoming Inauguration of the U.S.’s first female president

This is the first book that I have read by the Author

3.5 Stars

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Anthony J. Tata, and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy to read and review

#NetGalley

Chasing the Lion is a political/military thriller full of action and suspense and a tough guy hero that would make an awesome movie script. Army Lieutenant General Garrett Sinclair and his team of Rangers have participated in lots of deep cover ops. The latest mission goes sideways and Garrett finds himself trying to stop a terrorist attack on the US while chasing his long running nemesis, The Lion of Tabas. Set up as the scapegoat, Garrett is trying to stop a MK Ultra type chemical attack after he was injected with the same chemical. Finding out that his wife was murdered and not knowing who to trust, Garrett is in a race with the clock to stop the worst terrorist attack on American soil of all time. Ending with a surprising twist, the story keeps you on the edge of your seat and the pages fly by with pulse pounding suspense for an exciting thriller with a realistic premise. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Holy Cow. This was a fun book to read, but far fetched does not even come close to describing the plot. It speaks well of Mr. Tata's story telling ability that one continues to be drawn to the conclusion even as the mind rebels saying this is just plain ridiculous. It is like there was a thriller writers convention, and everyone sat around and said what are the craziest things anyone could throw at a thriller reader. Sinclair, his family, and his team are really interesting, Parizad is an interesting antagonist, but the plot ... geesh. Only today's FBI and DOJ could be so corrupt and self absorbed, but they never show up. Ah well, it was fun to read.

A good work of fiction involving the search for a terrorist. The characters were well developed and the book had an interesting storyline.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The lion is Dariush Parizad and his hatred of America goes way back.
As a farm child, the family plot was the staging ground for the failed attempt at rescuing the American hostages in Tehran. In the process, his father was killed by the Americans. Afterwards, the Ayatollah himself visited and called the young boy The Lion of Tabas (looks like the Ayatollah knew the value of a good photo op). Dariush grew to become an Olympic class boxer who especially enjoyed pummeling any American opponent. Next was the military where he rose in rank and eventually became head of the Quds Force when an American drone attack took out his boss and mentor.

Intel from a trusted Mossad agent sends Dagger into a cave in the Gaza Strip. Dagger is the call sign of CENTCOM’s strike team. In the cave are dozens of dead captives who’ve been sequestered via mind control that combined cold war era drugs and cellular technology. Parizad is testing something. Evidence in the cave sends Dagger to Germany where they find the same thing. Parizad again. Next stop is Japan. Same thing, only this time Dagger is wounded.

The head of Dagger is Lt. General Garrett Sinclair. His 6-man team has been together for decades. Sinclair was a West Point alum and carved out a career as a soldier skilled and wise enough to handle any mission, so far. But he’s a wounded man as his wife Melissa recently died of cancer. A death he missed due to a mission. How many ways can you spell guilt?

In the Japan assault, a crossbow arrow brings Sinclair down. The arrow is laced with Demon Rain that affects the central nervous system. He is whisked away for medical treatment. One of this team is killed, another gets lost in ‘the system’ and the rest are in hiding.

Taken to an Army base hospital? Nope. How about Ft. Dettick in Maryland where all the chemical warfare research goes on. During his ‘recovery’ he learns enough to fire up his rage. For example, during an earlier mission, wife Melissa had been taken to Dettrick and interrogated. Five Akula-class subs that Iran bought from Russia have slipped under the net and are creeping up on both US coasts. The upcoming inauguration of our first female president (college bestie of Melissa) is a couple weeks away and to keep some semblance of continuity, she will be keeping the current SecDef, SecState, and CIA Director in place. All three were West Pointers a year ahead of Sinclair and the air around them is beginning to stink. The Pointer's goal is simple: they want a ground war with Iran.

Parizad’s plan is careful, intricate, and planned to strike within the US to both shock the country and cripple the economy. While Sinclair continues to have issues from the poisoned arrow and the ‘treatment’ he was receiving at Ft. Dettrick, he still has to find out more about his wife’s death, protect his two kids, find Parizad, and convince the incoming president of the threat to the country.

That’s a mouthful. Sinclair has a ton on his plate and not a lot of time to stop Parizad. The story is complex, told over maybe a month at best, and enfolds at a breathtaking pace. A very satisfying thriller told by one who knows of what they speak. AJ Tata is a former Brigadier General (a 1-star) with command stops with the 82nd Airborne, the 101st Airborne and the 10th Mountain Division. His last tour was in Afghanistan. Now he writes books (14 so far) and hits the news shows for expert commentary when asked. Earlier book series were the four 'Threat' books, the six-book 'Jake Mahegan' series, and the three 'Reaper' books. I read one reviewer who said that Gen. Sinclair was a combination of Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne. That sounds about right. Apparently, this is the first in Tata's latest series.

While I liked the book and read it in just a few sittings, I did have a few issues. First, how likely is it that a Lt. General (3-stars) will be a boots-on-the-ground leader of this small team? A 3-star slicing throats, cutting off fingers, jumping out of a helicopter while in pursuit, being the first through the door? Just wondering. Second, the use of cell phones (stimulated by a mind control drug) to control the population seems a bit of a reach. Conspiracy-wonks will say, ‘that’s absolutely possible’. Third, the drug, Demon Rain, is a failed cold war remnant that the Iranians have somehow figured out how to combine a variant of LSD with cell phones to trigger mass mind control and population manipulation. I may be naïve, but that seems to be a bit of a stretch. Fourth (and this might actually be true), is Ft. Dettrick still studying Cold War drugs? Got a neighbor who used to work there. Maybe I’ll ask. Finally, how important, really, was it to wrap covid-19 into this story? Maybe just to keep it current. No matter. They all kept the story hopping.

Regardless of my minor story telling issues, this is a cracking read. As breakneck paced thrillers go, this is first rate. Suspend a few realities and hang on. The Reaper series is about a sniper. I may see if the local library has any.

Available June 1, 2021.

An Iranian Terrorist Plans To Bring The United States To Its Knees

Dariush Parizad plans to attack on Inauguration Day, spreading his biochemical weapon, Demon Rain, over the dignitaries and swarms of civilians attending the ceremony. Demon Rain is designed with mind-control properties that will turn people into weapons against the United States government. At the same time, he has planned a physical attack on the nation that must be stopped.

Army Lieutenant General Garrett Sinclair is assigned to stop Parizad, but this mission is also personal. LG Sinclair is convinced his wife’s recent death was not due to cancer but believes she was actually murdered by Parizad or his minions in their attempt to gain secret information. As he searches for Parizad, LG Sinclair is captured and subjected to the chemical agents which are meant to control his future actions. He manages to escape, but the effects of the chemicals continue to affect him as he races to get his team together to stop the attacks.

As I read this novel, I couldn’t help envisioning Al Qaeda’s attack against the United States on 9/11. Some of the narration felt so real I was glued to the pages as the events played out. References to COVID-19 brought the whole attack into actual current events. My moderate recommendation is due to two factors, a very slow start that had me wishing the meat of the story would commence, and the fight scenes where much of the action was too over-the-top to feel realistic. Nevertheless, Chasing the Lion is a well-written, gritty, and suspenseful novel that will keep your tension high as you turn the pages.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and A. J. Tata for an ARC copy of Chasing The Lion.