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The Libyan Diversion

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Member Reviews

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Joel C. Rosenberg, and Tyndall House Publishers for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Joel C. Rosenberg, thought to be one of the great prognosticators of Middle East political goings-on, is back with another novel in his Marcus Ryker series. Filled with wonderful geopolitical drama and on point writing, Rosenberg dazzles readers with his detailed stories that have a way of turning into newspaper headlines, while never skimping on action or extrapolating out of the realm of possibility. With a great deal left up in the air when the previous novel ended, Rosenberg offers series fans something intense and full of answers, while layering on more questions to ponder. Fantastic reading for those who have the time and inclination!

After locating one of the world’s more nefarious terrorist—Abu Nakba—Marcus Ryker is ready to make his move. He outlines his proof regarding the location of a man responsible for horrible bombings both within and outside the US, letting POTUS and the National Security Team decide to strike with a powerful drone. When the strike is done, all seems to be right in the world, until a news report shows that the intel was flawed and a number of disabled children in hospital ended up being killed when the strike took place.

While Ryker has been tasked with getting rid of the remaining members of Kairos, the most ruthless terrorist group with strong Middle Eastern ties, he soon becomes persona non grata as details of the drone strike surface. He is immediately suspended by POTUS, just before the Leader of the Free World is struck down by a horrible medical emergency, leaving the country in a political quagmire. What can Ryker do but face the music and remain sidelined, as he tries to understand how he must have been so wrong?

In response to the strike, Kairos is preparing for a retaliatory strike against the Great Satan, with a plan that will surely have reverberations all over the world. Keeping news of the president’s illness from the press, the vice-president must assume a role he never expected would be his, under the 25th Amendment. As new intelligence suggests that Kairos could not only be targeting America but be inside its borders, it is a scramble to crack the code before all is lost.

All the major players will have to make decisions well outside their comfort zones, in an effort to save the free world and keep the country safe from terrorist harm. With the clock ticking and a major event planned in the heart of the country, action must be taken. Will Marcus Ryder remain a benchwarmer, even with that major gaffe on his record? Rosenberg spins a story like no other and kept me begging to know more as I pushed through this book whenever time permitted.

Whatever the reader’s politics, Joel C. Rosenberg makes reading this book both enjoyable and thrilling. He has an insider’s view of the Middle East situation and uses it effectively with a strong narrative. There are so many moving parts to follow that Rosenberg relies on his key cast of characters to push things along before reaching the climactic moment. Mostly in the moment revelations, Rosenberg allows some of his characters to develop their backstories and progress, which is sure to appease series fans. Plot twists emerge repeatedly, with a number of events building on one another until the final event pits two opposing forces together. One cannot get enough of this, particularly as Rosenberg has a knack for predicting events in geopolitical spheres, unlike any other author I have read. With a number of threads left to dangle, the next in this series is sure to be even more impactful and I await its release.

Kudos, Mr. Rosenberg, for a stellar piece of writing and proof that political thrillers can be multi-dimensional.

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Abu Nakba—the man responsible for lethal attacks in Washington, D.C., London, and Jerusalem—is finally dead. Marcus Ryker has been tasked with hunting down and destroying what’s left of the terror group Kairos. But before Ryker can mobilize his team of CIA operatives with their new assignment, a disturbing report from Libya suggests all may not be as it seems. The U.S. bombing that should have taken out Nakba’s headquarters now appears to have been a disastrous mistake—and Ryker himself may be responsible. With Kairos gearing up for a major retaliatory strike against the U.S., time is short, and terror cells may already be inside American borders. Ryker won’t be able to stop this threat until he clears his own name, and his closest ally inside the White House can no longer help him.

I have several of Rosenbert's books on my shelf that I haven't read so decided to request this one to see if I liked his writing. The answer is an unequivocal ""yes"! He describes the scenes with such accuracy that you can see it as Ryker sees it, both in Libya and the United States. I thoroughly enjoyed the book that kept me reading late into the night to finish and see what happens. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request for this book, and I will definitely read the ones on my shelf now.

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I've read the prior books in the series, and I do recommend reading them in order.

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much, but as always, it's an action-packed, and all too believable, thriller. Rosenberg is a master at research, and it shows in all his books, and he makes the reader feel that they're smack dab in the middle of all the action. Numerous twists and turns keep the reader engaged. The author's books are always realistic and timely, and this one is no exception. There are references to prior books, but it would still be advisable to read them in order. The list of characters in the book is helpful, as there are a large number of them. The religious angle is woven throughout, but it's not preachy. Christianity and Islam are both addressed.

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The Libyan Diversion by Joel C. Rosenberg is one of the best books in this series. I was a little doubtful at first to continue reading about Marcus Ryker but I am glad I read this one. The ups and downs is what makes it so good and of course the telling of the story is very well done by Rosenberg. The book is filled with suspense and action as well as political back stabbing. I wonder what problems lie ahead for Marcus. I must thank Tyndal House and Netgalley for letting me read this advance copy.

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The Libyan Diversion is the fifth book in Joel Rosenberg's Marcus Ryker books, and in humble opinion the best one yet. I just finished reading it and my heart is still pounding! Talk about edge of your seat, non stop action, Wow!. Now as much as I loved it I must caution that it is a political thriller and not for the faint of heart as there are some graphic scenes. I do love the realistic feel to Rosenberg's books. Living in Israel as he does, he gives an authentic view to events that could happen at any time.

Marcus Ryker and all of the other characters have depth and backstories, they are very realistic and as such I really cared what happened to them. Rosenberg uses great detail such that one almost feels a par of the action, I found myself flinching at times. I highly recommend the whole Marcus Ryker series starting with the Kremlin conspiracy. The only problem with this book is that it is over and now I need to find something else to read!

So settle back with a pot of tea for a fantastic, edge of your seat adventure!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

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Teeming with dynamic, ferocious, no holds barred action, The Libyan Diversion is one of the most tense and titillating thrillers you will encounter in 2023. Joel C. Rosenberg delivers yet another engaging and captivating novel that will leave you sweaty, breathless and stunned.

After Marcus Ryker presents evidence that convinces the President to bomb the supposed location of terrorist mastermind Abu Nakba, all signs point to a successful outcome with the Kairos leader dead and Ryker tasked with mopping up the rest of the terror organization. However, days later alarming images are shown on CNN purporting the bombing location wasn’t filled with terrorists, but of innocents. Setting in motion a firestorm in the United States that impacts the president, his administration, Ryker’s employment, and the planned visit of the Pope. Now an attack on American soil by Kairos seems imminent with little knowledge of where to start. Which means Ryker will have to quickly clear his name and do what he does best – figure out what the terrorists are planning then stop the attack before tens of thousands of his compatriots are murdered.

Did I mention this book is action packed? Because that’s an understatement. Bombings, gun battles, and missile strikes intertwined with kidnappings, crossing hostile borders, and intelligence gathering wrapped around a global manhunt with the clock ticking down towards doomsday…oh my! There is hardly a moment to catch your breath as the story goes from one intense situation to the next.

And while the action is relentless, The Libyan Diversion also runs the gamut of emotions. Elation, adoration and excitement give way to despondency, horror and anxiety before pivoting to awe, relief and love. And in the middle of it all is Marcus Ryker, singularly focused on his purpose despite all the turbulence around him, tracking down those who would do us harm and stopping at nothing to achieve success. His resiliency and effectiveness are impressive, all while remaining humble and overcoming adversity. Something we can all admire and learn from.

Are you in need of a gripping, balls-to-the-wall, nail-biting thriller? If so, look no further than The Libyan Diversion. It’s tremendous and needs to be on every thriller reader’s TBR pile in 2023.

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WOW! One of Rosenberg's best and definitely the best Ryker. I could not put it down until I finished it around 2 a.m. Thanks for a terrific read.

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Duplicity is a well written thriller with a multitude of action and mysterious events. The characters and situations are believable with the story taking the reader to Ireland, Washington DC, Chicago and Las Vegas. The pace is nonstop acceleration and the reader is constantly wondering where it will lead next — whether it is investigating a cold case or a current disappearance/kidnapping.

I highly recommend this novel to all who enjoy this genre and I thank NewGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

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I very much enjoyed this book. It was well done, fast paced, intriguing and enjoyable. I would recommend others to read and enjoy it for themselves.

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Rosenberg writes a great story and Marcus Ryker is one of the best protagonists out now. This is one of several in this series and Marcus Ryker finally thinks he has gotten his nemesis only to find out his elusive prey is still out there. A really great book that keeps the action going where Ryker seems to be a few steps behind Abu Nabka as the race to avoid a terrifying event that may happen at any moment somewhere in the US. I enjoyed the character development for Ryker and how him and his old gang put aside everything to save the day. I hope there are many more Ryker adventures forthcoming.

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Nine-Eleven-type terror courses through the pages of this mystery cum thriller. Marcus Ryker, is the main intelligence chap jet-setting globally to ferret out and pre-empt fanatically radical moves terrorists make against those they hate. He, himself, not left physically unscathed, perseveres. Yes, this work by author Joel C. Rosenburg, has strong nailbiting lure but I did feel it was a bit too much of a copycat scenario of Osama bin Laden-like staging. Nevertheless, I would recommend this to those who like to see justice done to terroists and to see behind-the-scenes politics, not only among "friendly" intelligence groups but even the give and take between countries who are usually not very good friends. Another point that sets favorably with me is the injections of Christian faith elements; little tweaks but enough to win me over. Therefore, the toss up between 3-4 stars, came out as 4.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

January 2023

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the Publisher.

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THE LIBYAN DIVERSION by JOEL C ROSENBERG is a political thriller which will keep you on the edge of your chair! It is the fifth novel in the Markus Ryker series, and, although it can easily stand alone, I am glad that I have read them all. It is a story of courage and determination in the face of evil, of betrayal, false accusations and bad choices made by those in authority. This author has an incredible knowledge of American and Middle Eastern politics and the book is very relevant to the times in which we live.
Marcus Ryker has hardly recovered from the beatings and torture he experienced, when he is called upon to lead his team once agan. After an attack that seems to have gone terribly wrong and for which he is blamed, he is aproached by the president to come back and find and destroy “The Libyan” and the other Kairos operatives……
There is an element of faith, much intrigue and some romance. I found the novel interesting, gripping and inspirational.
I cannot reommend The Libyan Diversion highly enough to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers The opinions in this revew are completely my own.

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What a book! This is the fifth book in the series focusing on Marcus Ryker; I would highly encourage you to read all the books in order to get the full scope of the story being told. Mr. Rosenberg has become one of my favorite writers with his political thrillers that are so good you can almost see them happening in real life. I feel like each book in this series has gotten better. I don’t want to spoil the book because it is so good but it definitely kept me glued to the story the whole way through!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read this early; you won’t want to miss this one when it is published in 2023!

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' Exciting!


The Libyan Deception is the fifth book in Rosenberg’s thrilling series featuring CIA Agent Marcus Ryker, who is pretty much everything you want in a main character. In Ryker, Rosenberg’s protagonist has the right touch and balance between humanizing him and allowing him to remain slightly larger than life. Put more simply, he’s flawed, yet extremely capable.

I won’t describe the plot of The Libyan Deception, as this can be found in the Amazon or Goodreads Book Descriptions. I’ll just say that, while, comparatively, I didn’t find it to be quite as compelling as the first three '
excellent books in the series, I did enjoy it a lot and highly recommend it to any thriller lover for the following reasons:
... It is virtually un-put-downable from beginning to end, and has almost as much of a nail-biter plot as the other books in the series.
;...Rosenberg does an excellent job in researching the subject matter of this book.
;...Typical of books by Rosenberg, the subject matter is so topical that you feel that one day it could be the front page headline of your favorite newspaper; and
...The author’s writing style enables the reader to feel transported right into the middle of all the plot's twists and turns..

Definitely worth your consideration.

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The way I would describe this book is wonderful, exciting, good characters, great plot line, and whatever other superlatives I can think of right now. The story focuses on Marcus Ryker a distinguished, if somewhat unconventional and brash, operative in the war on terror.

Throw in an unrequited love story, a famous fighter pilot father, and a terrorist plot and you have the makings of intriguing reading. Forgot to mention fighting within the administration over what Ryker sees as most important.

Without giving too much away let it be said that Ryker recommended a devastating missile strike on a compound known to be inhabited by the Kairos terrorist faction. But was it really? Nonetheless the terrorist group has plans to mount a devastating 9-11-type attack on the US. With Ryker being a person non grata his range of movement is limited, at least for a while.

One of the best books, Ive read in a while and I whole heartedly recommend it.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Libyan Diversion" by Joel C. Rosenberg.
The latest in the Marcus Ryker adventure thrillers is here, and boy is it a doozy! The diversion in the title is at the heart of this one, and spurs on all of the action that follows.
Returned from his ordeal with Kairos in Lebanon, Marcus Ryker is once again plunged into intrigue; it has been determined that the leader of Kairos' lair has been discovered, and Ryker immediately urges the President and his Cabinet to launch a strike at the heart of terrorism.
Even in the middle of a massive sandstorm, the strike is launched and is successful - but is later appears that what was struck was not a terrorist haven, but a civilian building, and the President and Marcus are condemned and excoriated by the press, by Congress and by the people of the USA.
In the meantime, in retaliation for the strike, Kairos launches their most audacious attack of all time: the Pope is about to visit the USA, in the wake of the recent peace accords with Israel, and he will be holding mass in four American cities, one of which will also see the President and First Lady as communicants.
Ultimately vindicated of the civilian strike, when actual proof of what occurred is uncovered, Marcus and his team must seek out the Kairos operatives before they can strike at the heart of democracy.
As usual, Mr. Rosenberg's story incorporates religion at the heart of his stories - both Islam and Christianity. Of course, the terrorists are truly evil and the Christians are ultimately good. But that doesn't detract from the absolute heart-pounding action that is at the heart of all of the Marcus Ryker thrillers.

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A huge thank you to NetGalley, Joel Rosenberg and Tyndale House Publishers for an ARC copy of this book.
If you are looking for a gripping, action packed political thriller then this book is for you. Marcus Ryker is the main character and he and his team fight against terrorists and terrorist attacks. Being that this is book 5 in the series, I would would recommend reading them in order if you haven’t read them previously.
Joel Rosenberg is a great author and one of my favourite. His books are extremely realistic and relevant to events happening in the world today. He makes you feel like this could actually be happening right now. The story is well thought out and entertaining. I love the author's flashbacks to previous events that are relevant to the story without over doing it. Also love that he puts a cast of characters at the front of the book.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. Loved it and highly recommend it.

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Ryker had submitted his paper work he was done, only to be sucked back into combat. Terrorists once again to battle around the globe then finding it now on home turf. A bombing he ordered, they are saying was not successful. Ryder has to clear his name before he can continue to serve and protect his country.
It is tense, tight woven plot in a great series. From the first pages it catches your attention.
Given ARC by Net Galley and Tyndale for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

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I inhaled this book in two days around my day job and writing. It grabbed a hold and wouldn't let me go with fast pacing and characters I've come to love. The race between a terrorist attack and stopping it is taunt and gripping. Like most of Rosenberg's books, the action circles the globe before coming to rest in the United States. His books remind me of the Gabriel Allon series with hard charging pacing and characters that feel like family. Add in faith and this book is the full package for thriller lovers.

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